This October, I began Walking with Purpose and you can too! Walking with Purpose isn’t about a daily walking routine. It’s about something that is near and dear to my heart – the Walking with Purpose bible study program.
Each October, I participate in a new season of the women’s Walking with Purpose Catholic bible study at my local church. For three years now, I’ve participated in the program founded by Lisa Brenninkmeyer, a convert to the Catholic faith. She saw an increasing need for a Catholic bible study designed specifically for women and especially mothers. Today, Walking with Purpose reaches over 350 parishes in the United States, Europe, and Canada and touches the lives of over 42,000 women and young adults.
What is Walking with Purpose all About?
Walking With Purpose is designed to draw women into a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping women like us realize that our value and worth is not in the work we do as women but in our identity as precious daughters of God. The program addresses issues we all face every day such as how to keep our marriages strong, parent our children in the faith, and devote time to prayer.
But, Walking with Purpose touches on our emotional side too — specifically our thought life. I know from first-hand experience that this can be an area where we may feel discouraged, worried, and confused about our worth and value.
What Happens In a Walking with Purpose Group?
Walking with Purpose participants are guided through a workbook focusing on a specific topic for the study. Topics range from opening your heart to God, to keeping your life in balance, and living fearless and free. The program offers solid biblical teaching, thoughtful and reflective questions, video teaching from the founder, Lisa Brenninkmeyer, teachings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and stories from the lives of the saints. But, what I enjoy most of all, is the sharing time in our small groups. Through the group’s honor code, we commit to respecting and keeping confidential what is shared during our group discussion time. It provides a safe place for us to share our faith journey.
What I love about the Program
Walking with Purpose has shaped my faith life unlike any other bible study I’ve encountered. Here’s what I love about the program…
- Being Connected to Other Women of Faith
Before joining Walking with Purpose, I wasn’t always comfortable sharing my faith with others, but Walking with Purpose has changed all that. I can now confidently ask questions about the teachings of the Catholic Church that I don’t understand or ask my group for help on how to defend my faith. The women in my small group don’t criticize or judge. They listen. And, so many times, I’ve shared something that was on my heart and someone else was going through the same thing. Or, I needed Godly advice or encouragement, and the women in my group were there to support me. In fact, joining a Walking With Purpose group is what led me to start this blog! I realized how important faith is in my life. These days, it’s what keeps me going. And, so does having a group of faith-filled women in my life. I wonder if you feel this way too?
- Drawing me Closer to the Catholic Church
Through the support of the women in my group and the components of the program, I’ve developed a deeper connection to my Catholic faith. I still have a way to go, but my attitude and, most importantly, my heart, have changed. Now, I want to go to mass every week instead of seeing it as an obligation. In addition, I began attending weekly adoration. I look forward to spending quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament to thank Jesus for what he’s done for me and to bring my cares and concerns to him. - Recognizing the Power of Prayer
At the end of each Walking with Purpose meeting, we pray for the intentions of the members of our group. We write down each prayer request and commit to praying for these intentions during the week. I wasn’t always comfortable asking someone to pray for me or having someone ask me to pray for them. But, I’ve learned the importance of prayer. We all have something we are going through. And, sometimes we don’t want or need to share the details. But, we still need to lift it up in prayer. We need hope, and prayer brings hope and draws us closer to God. As we make a commitment to lift these intentions to the Lord each week, I see first-hand how powerful prayer can be.
- Keeping me Humble and Grateful
Being a part of a Walking with Purpose group has taught me the importance of being humble and grateful. Sometimes when I’m facing a challenge, I think I’m going through it alone. Or, it feels insurmountable. But that’s not the case. I’ve learned that everyone is going through something. Sometimes it’s so very easy to focus on our own needs. But, by sharing as a group, and praying for each other’s intentions, I’m able to recognize the blessings in my own life. It’s teaching me to be grateful, and it’s reminding me how important it is to be a blessing to someone else.
How Can You Join a Walking with Purpose Group?
Walking with Purpose offers bible studies for adult women, middle school aged girls, and young adults. If your own parish isn’t offering this study, I encourage you to join a Walking with Purpose program in a nearby parish. This is what I did, and I made many new friends along the way! And, it led to a Walking with Purpose program being offered in my own parish this year.
Click here to see if a Walking With Purpose program is offered near you. I know it will make a difference in your life just like it did in mine.
If you have an experience with a Walking with Purpose group, please share in the comments section below.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. – Matthew 18:20 (NIV)
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