Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved. Scripture verses marked nkjv are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture verses marked tlb are taken from The Living Bible, Copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved. Harvest House Publishers has made every effort to trace the ownership of all poems and quotes. In the event of a question arising from the use of a poem or quote, we regret any error made and will be pleased to make the necessary correction in future editions of this book. Names and minor details have been changed in the real-life stories shared in this book to protect the privacy of the individuals mentioned. Author Photo by Guy Gerrard Cover photo George Doyle / Stockbyte / Getty Images Cover design by Koechel Peterson and Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota The book text is based on transcripts from Vonette Bright s Women Today radio programs. Beginning Your Journey of Joy, a version of the Four Spiritual Laws, written by Bill Bright. Copyright 1965, 1994 Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. A WOMAN S WALK IN TRUTH Copyright 2011 by Vonette Bright Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com ISBN 978-0-7369-3929-4 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed in China 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20/ RDS-SK / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
75 Candles Have you taken an inventory of what s important in your life? Birthdays are a great time to reflect and look forward. Imagine you were blowing out 75 candles on your birthday cake. What would you want to have accomplished by then? Before Bill and I were married, I never would have imagined the Lord would use my husband and me so dramatically. God guided us to start Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization that has become a worldwide ministry with more than half a million workers. Our goal from the beginning was to put God first in our lives and do all we planned for His honor and glory. So, dear one, let me ask: Have you let God be the center of your life goals? Are you willing to let Him use you? Ask God today to take over every area of what you do. He will do a marvelous work with your life too. Whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9). You can never go wrong putting God first in everything. 7
Always a Reason Stonewall Jackson was abandoned as a penniless orphan at the age of three. He grew up and, when a young man, enrolled at West Point. This man who would become a great Civil War general developed the habit of constant prayer. He once said, I have so fixed the habit of prayer in my mind that I never raise a glass of water to my lips without asking God s blessing, never seal a letter without putting a word of prayer under the seal, never take a letter from the post without a brief sending of my thoughts heavenward. In 1 Thessalonians 1:2, Paul wrote, We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. I encourage you to keep praying too. The everyday events of life can crowd out the ever-present reality of God. A quick, simple prayer brings life into focus. When you fully depend on God, it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. And just as Stonewall Jackson learned, you always have a reason to pray. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Every breath I breathe is the essence of a prayer. 8
Anybody Listening? Have you ever prayed and thought no one was listening? Think of God listening in this way: It s like a little boy who begs a man for a dollar. If the boy is a stranger, the man will likely walk away. When the same boy asks his daddy, since his father knows it will be used for a good purpose, he will happily give his beloved son the money. When you ask Jesus Christ into your heart, God becomes your heavenly Father. He has promised that He will hear and answer the prayers of His children including yours! Have you asked God to be your Father? If you haven t, why not stop right now and invite Jesus into your heart? When you have, you can be assured He always hears you and will provide for your needs. Th e LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29). My heavenly Father s love is ever present. 9