Today’s guest on the blog is Diane Sanabria, a dynamic Bible teacher whose heart is for women to know their identity and worth in God. As a curriculum writer with over 10 years of experience and 500 students, Diane’s mission is for women to live out God’s promises daily. Let’s dive in!
How would you describe yourself?
I’m passionate and bold when it comes to speaking the truth and love connecting women to Jesus. I’m pretty fun-loving meaning I love being with people in general: entertaining, and making sure people enjoy themselves.
Tell us about the Bible study curriculum you were inspired to write?
I have gone to church my whole life but knew very little about spiritual warfare. So I signed up for a class and what an eye-opening experience! I’ve seen people delivered from demonic influences and recognized how the enemy played me as well.
During this time, the Lord began to put women in my life. He told me something about the women I would talk to, He said,
“They are Mine, but they don’t know who they are in Me”.
Women who struggled with depression and low self-esteem; women who were dealing with the effects of occult affiliations.
I had been teaching about 13-15 women for about 10 years. As the bible study group ended, I began to pray for what the Lord wanted us to study the following fall. Right away, I knew I needed to find a study that dealt with our identity in Christ and spiritual warfare. After all, our identity in Christ is what Satan targets so knowing what that means is how we stand firm.
When I got to the Christian bookstore, I began to seek a study that included both. I wasn’t in there for 3 minutes, and I heard a voice say, “You do it!” It was so audible to me, I turned around thinking there was a man behind me. That was the beginning of a wonderful year! He took me to Ephesians chapter 1, and I listed all the spiritual blessings in that first chapter.
I knew the main battleground is in our minds. The first 4 chapters of the bible study are about identity; the next 3 chapters tackle our thoughts according to scripture. The next 2 are on basic spiritual warfare which we all experience every day. The final chapter is on the abundant life that Jesus came to give (John 10:10). In order to live that life, we have to know who we are in Christ, not just believe in God but believe what He says. We need to stand firm in the truth. Live a joyful, grateful, and humble life because of the grace God has shown us.
When I wrote this study, I thought it would only be for the 13-15 women I had been teaching. Since then, God continues to open the doors for the study to be taught. I have probably taught it to 500 women.
In your years of discipling, did you find that women struggled with this area? Why?
Absolutely, I believe most if not every woman struggles with this. How different things would be if we truly believed and lived as though we are loved unconditionally. We have been chosen and redeemed. We are forgiven and saved. God sees us holy, blameless, and if we truly believed Him then we should all be walking without fear, without worry, totally secure in who we are in Him.
What are three things you would tell someone who is struggling to find their identity in Christ?
I would share with them the story of the Israelites who were led out of Egypt about to cross into their promised land which represents our abundant life. There were only 2 spies out of 12 who were sent to scope out the land who actually believed God. They trusted their God when He ordered them to go, conquer the land, and God would be with them. It wasn’t that the rest didn’t believe in God, they did, they just didn’t believe Him. In the same way, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to make what Jesus has done for us, real to us. If He was willing to die in our place, we have to know He has also provided all we need in Him to stand firm.
What scripture in your opinion provides a good foundation on this topic?
Ephesians chapter 1 is foundational to knowing all that has been given to us that makes up our identity.
As a Bible teacher, what other areas would you say women battle with?
The same obstacles the Israelites faced in the promised land:
• low self-esteem
• condemnation
• pridefulness
• worldliness
I believe we do the exact same thing as the Israelites who were too fearful to enter that land and fight. We believe in God, but we don’t believe Him. We don’t believe that we are more than conquerors. We don’t believe that God loves us more than He is disappointed in us. We don’t know how to use the armor He has given us! We don’t believe that these weapons are powerful. We doubt that His promises are true. One of those promises is that He will go into battle with us and will give us victory.
In your opinion, what could the Church do to help women overcome?
I believe the church needs to talk more specifically about our identity. I believe they need to speak more about what the enemy whispers so we can recognize those thoughts for what they are- lies! I believe the church needs to communicate more about knowing what is in God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to talk to us through it. All of this takes time. And our biggest hindrance is the busyness our society thinks we need to have. If Satan can keep us so busy that we don’t have time to be with the Lord each morning, his mission is accomplished.
We need Jesus, we need to know Him and love Him, and receive the love He so wants to give.
What resources can you recommend to women who are seeking out to go deeper with God and overcome their weaknesses?
The Bible is first and foremost. I’m guiding a group of women through Anne Graham Lotz, Jesus in Me. It is a study that teaches you how to take just a few verses at a time. These are the steps she outlines: (1) write down the facts, (2) what is the lesson, (3) what does this passage mean in my life, (4) what is my response. It is a slow meditative way to read scripture. I know I am getting so much from it.
For any questions regarding the Bible Study written by Diane, contact her via email- Snobbies@hotmail.com
**Blog photo credits- Unsplash
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