“I must have an immense quantity of mind. It takes so long to make it up.”-Mark Twain-

The personnel manager had advertised a job opening, and a large group of applicants was waiting in the waiting room. The first young man was ushered into her office, and she began explaining the job to him.
“We need someone in this job who can make fast decisions,” she said, “someone who can really think on his feet. Can you show me that you’re capable of doing that?”
Without a word, the young man got to his feet, stuck his head out the door, and announced to all the other waiting applicants, “Okay, you guys. You can all go home – this job’s just been filled.”

This lesson deals with the daily decision-making process in the life of a Christian. A look at the life of Christ will help you develop a game plan for the continued decisions you must make in life.

Decision-making Principles in the Life of Christ
The Lord always dealt with stressful situations in the same way, whether it was temptation in the wilderness or the hour of decision at Gethsemane. He made the right choice and obeyed. Why, and how?

He held to His objectives. It is impossible to make difficult decisions without a sense of personal destiny. Jesus knew His divinely-appointed assignment and would not be side-tracked or seduced. His heart was fixed on the cross. Every decision He made was tested against His calling.
In order to hold to my God-given objectives, I must wear blinders, like a racehorse, that remove potential distractions from my life, for “my heart is fixed.”

He heeded God’s Word. Jesus didn’t make decisions based on human reason, but stood firmly on the sure Word of God saying, “It is written.” God’s Word answers questions and clears away the fog of confusion that comes from listening to too many voices.
Life can be simpler when we live in accordance with His Word. Most of the struggles in our lives are the result of not doing what we know is right. My dad’s spankings certainly taught me that. If we heed God’s Word, He will fight for us, not against us.

He helped others before Himself. Many people feel used at times, but being used is different than LETTING yourself be used. Serving means unselfishly choosing to put others first without harboring bitterness, anger, or resentment. Jesus said, “No one takes My life; I give it.” When you truly live for others, decisions are much easier to make. You’ve already decided to put others first. J.H. Jewett said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”

He honored God’s will. Jesus said, “I only say what I hear my Father say, and I only do what I see Him do.” He restricted His decisions to the will of God. When He spoke to people, He was only saying to them what God the Father had already been saying to them.
Life can be simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If I resist His will, my destiny rests solely in my hands, but if I am obedient to His will, my future rests with Him.

He humbly prayed. Jesus prayed all the time. That was His custom. His faithful example is a constant reminder that the weapons of warfare at our disposal are heavenly, not worldly.
On the night before He named His 12 disciples, He climbed up onto a mountainside and talked to His Father through the night.
In Gethsemane, the night before He went to the cross, He wrestled in prayer through the long dark hours, while the disciples slept.
Scripture says, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). We understand it by coming before Him and saying, “Well, Father, I want Your will in this situation, but it’s not clear to me what it is You want me to do.”

My Time With God

1.) Preparation Time
“Rather than viewing our circumstances as God-caused, we should view them as a point on a continuum. Our vocation as human beings is to make decisions, and God’s part in our lives is to work with us. He plants His Holy Spirit in our heart and He begins to change the kind of person we are. When we change, our values change, then our decisions change. Our relationship with God is a process of changing our values to agree with His so that the decisions we make will be godly ones.”

-John Boykin, author of “The Gospel of Coincidence”-

Prayer: “God, change me into the person of your desires. May my heart beat as Yours, so that my thoughts will be Your thoughts, Amen.”

2.) Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…

Love You.
“God, I feel Your love today, especially in the area of…”

Search You.
“God, you have permission to reveal any wrong motive in my life.”

Show You.
“God, is there anything that I need to know as I enter this day?”

3. Confession Time
Confess the areas where your heart is NOT like God’s. Right decisions are a result of a right heart.

4.) Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read Proverbs 3:1-12 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes and allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

5.) Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind.

6.) Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving for the people for whom you will now intercede.

Name Request

7.) Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How to Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “little things”
Be honest with God
Pray “Thy will be done”

Prayer Requests

8.) Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing that God has impressed on me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to Take in my Obedience to God:

9.) Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying through your eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

10.) Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse: (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This Week’s Time Alone With God
Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Memorize the 5 decision-making principles in the life of Christ.

Wednesday – Go to the Preparation Time: How is God changing you? Is it making a difference in your values? What decisions are different today than the ones you would have made a year ago?

Thursday – Go to the memory verse; circle the 4 verbs. What are your responsibilities? What are God’s responsibilities?

Friday – The memory verse has 3 applications:
God will do His part, but we must do our part…
God wants our total trust…no games…
God can handle every area of our life…

There is no limit to what God can do through the man or woman who is fully committed to Him.

Daniel knew the meaning of commitment. When he and his 3 teenage friends were carried away captive to Babylon, he knew trying times would come. He “made up his mind that he would not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8) And he didn’t. He took a risk — made his stand — and God blessed him and his friends. They were sharp young men who excelled in their training. Soon, Daniel found himself on top of the heap — if being second to the king can be called that. Jealousy and rage flew about the palace.

The king made a stupid decree that all people could pray only to him. The palace plotters knew well Daniel’s practice of praying to God 3 times a day in view of anyone who wanted to look. With full knowledge of the consequences — being thrown to the lions — Daniel kept his commitment to God. He didn’t hide. He didn’t scratch his head thoughtfully as he pretended to work on other things. He knelt and prayed. And the plotters caught him.

Daniel had no promise of deliverance. He counted the cost and kept his commitment. He was thrown to the lions. Of course, you know that the lions kept him warm through the night and waited for a morning breakfast of palace plotters. But Daniel didn’t know that would happen. The choice belonged to God. Hebrews 11:32-40 records a list of events that went both ways for committed believers — some to victory and some to suffering and death.

Jesus gives the cost of commitment in Luke 14:25-30. Please find and read this passage.
In this passage, Jesus teaches us 3 things about commitment:

1.) Count the cost before we commit.
2.) Costly, life-changing commitments flow from a life of smaller commitments.
3.) We make the commitment & leave the results to God.

MY TIME WITH GOD

1.) Preparation Time

Read Luke 6:49

What commitments is God calling you to make in the following areas?
Personal Life:
Family Life:
Church Life:
Business Life:
Other:

2.) Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…

Love you.
“God, I feel your love today, especially in the area of…”

Search you.
“God, are there any commitments I have made that I am not acting upon with full completion?”

Show you.
“God is there anything I need to know as we enter into this day?”

3.) Confession Time
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)

Confess to God any commitments you have made to people or activities that were made without thoughtful prayer or wise counsel:

4.) Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read Hebrews 12:1-3 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

5.) Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind:

6.) Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people of whom you will now intercede.

Name Request

7.) Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How to Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “little things.”
Be honest with God.
Pray “Thy Will Be Done.”
Prayer Requests

8.) Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing that God has impressed on me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to take in my Obedience to God this Week

My Goal: To implement the above steps in the next 7 days.

9.) Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying through your eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

10.) Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by Recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse: Psalm 37:5

This Week’s Time Alone With God:

Monday – This Lesson.
Tuesday – Memorize Psalm 37:5.
Wednesday – Prioritize the commitments in your life.
Thursday – Read & Meditate on Proverbs 20 & 21.
Friday – Review your Memory verses.

“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for and deserted by everybody.” (Mother Theresa)

C. S. Lewis said that to love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness, but in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken, but it will become unbrakeable, impenetrable, irredeemable. And he said the only place outside of heaven where you can be safe from all the dangers of love is hell.

What God Says About Love
1.) Love is a matter of choice.
“And over all virtues, put on love, which binds them all together.” (Colossians 3:14)

If love were just a feeling or an accident, then God couldn’t command it. He wouldn’t command us to do something that was just a feeling, but He can command an action in our lives.

2.) Love is a matter of conduct.
“Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth.”(1 John 3:18)

My Time With God

Preparation Time

“For now there are faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these, is love.”(1 Corinthians 13:13)

Love is a matter of choice and of conduct. Take a few moments and answer these questions:

In what areas do I find it easy to love?

In what areas do I find it difficult to love?

Waiting Time
Jesus DIDN’T just say, “Love one another.” He said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

The enduring example to help us understand God’s love toward us is the cross of Christ. On the cross, God the Son defined “agape” love by dying a shameful and humiliating death for a humanity that loved Him – no, that hated Him. The Roman soldiers couldn’t wait to confiscate his clothes. The Jews were so envious of His personal presence and force of character that they had wanted to kill Him for quite some time. Pilate just wanted to wash his hands of the whole affair. And the crowd ranted and raved for Him to be crucified. And you and I would have been in there somewhere. But Christ gave His life out of the purest unconditional love right at His darkest moment of human hate. This is not human love, which in its highest form might make one die for a friend during a time of war. This is the love of God, in Christ, that quietly dies in love in the face of screams of hate, and it loves us to the end in spite of that hate.

During your waiting time, let God…

Love you
“God, I feel your love today, especially in the area of…”

Search you
“God, because of your unconditional love to me, you have permission to reveal any wrong motive in my life…”

Show you
“God, is there anything about receiving or giving love that I need to know as I enter into this day?”

Confession Time
Read John 21:15-17 and place your name in the blanks:

“When Jesus and His disciples had finished eating, He asked, ‘_________, do you love me more than the others do?’ __________ answered, ‘Yes, Lord, You know I do!’ ‘Then feed my lambs,’ Jesus said. Jesus asked a second time, ‘________, do you love me?’ ________ answered, ‘Yes, Lord, You know I love You!’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus told him. Jesus asked a third time, ‘________, do you love me?’ ________ was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, ‘Lord, You know everything. You know I love You.’ Jesus replied, ‘Feed my sheep.’ “

Begin to confess to God the areas where your love falls short in relationship to Him:

Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind.

Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Spend time praying for those whom you find hard to love.

Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself
How to Petition God Properly

…Talk to Him about the “little things”
…Be honest with God
…Pray “Thy will be done”

Prayer Requests

Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q. What is the main thing that God has impressed on me today?

Q. What am I going to do about it?

Steps to take in my obedience to God:

Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying, through your eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS.
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE.

This Week’s Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:2

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Read the following paragraphs & begin to implement this principle in your life:

Have you discovered the amazing truth that your actions tremendously impact your feelings? By the way you act you can change the way you feel. If you haven’t discovered that, it’s one of the most exciting discoveries of life. Many times, people come in for counseling about relationships and this comment is often made: “I don’t love him/her anymore,” or “I don’t love my parents/kids, etc. anymore. What’s wrong with me?” The advice I always give in those situations is “Begin to act like you love them.” Their response is always, “Act like I love him/her? How can I act like I love him/her when I don’t feel like I love him/her?” So many times we get the cart before the horse. The way you act can change the way you feel. When you begin to act in kindness toward somebody, compassionate, tender hearted, forgiving – it can change the way you feel about them.

Here is God’s advice about how to do that: 1 Corinthians 13 – “Love always protects.” Even though I feel like abandoning you, I will protect our love. That’s the action. Love always trusts. Even though I feel like hating you, I will learn to trust you. Love always honors. Even though I feel like there’s no future, I’ll look forward to a future with you. Love always perseveres, even though every bone in my body says I want to run & hide, I’m going to stick through this with you. Love can act it’s way into a brand new way of feeling.

Wednesday – Find one area in your life that you need to take action in order to change your feelings. Then do it!

Thursday – Go to Bible time. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. What is the weakest area in your life? Pray about it.

Friday – Henry Drummond said, “You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you really lived, are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”
This weekend, practice the spirit of love in all occasions.

“You can’t get holy in a hurry — but you start taking steps in that direction right away. Beg God, ‘Put within me some holy motivation.’ “
-Malcolm Cronk-

Augustine is considered one of the great theologians of church history, but his lifestyle before coming to Christ was rebellious & sensuous. He was quite the “life of the party.”
One day after becoming a Christian, he was walking in front of a bar he used to frequent. In front of him & walking toward him was a prostitute, smiling as she assumed Augustine had finally returned after his ridiculous little “phase” of religion. As they approached each other, however, he continued to look forward & would pass her without even looking at her. “Augustine,” she said. “Don’t you recognize who you just walked by? It’s me!” For a moment, he stopped, turned to her and simply said, “Yes — but I’m no longer me!”

In 2 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, “Since we have these promises…,” we should perfect holiness in our lives. In other words, the promises should affect our behavior. But what promises is he talking about? And, how do they affect our conduct? The promises are from the previous chapters, telling the readers who they are, and what they have in Christ(2 Corinthians
5:17, 21). Holiness is an internal quality perfected or completed in our lives by our claiming those promises of a new identity/possessions, and by faith letting that changed self-image change our behavior. What we see is what we get. We tend to live out what we see within.

Conclusions about Holiness:
Becoming holy is accomplished by faith, just like salvation.
Therefore, God is the source of it, no your human effort.
We partake of His divine nature as we allow His exceeding great & precious promises to paint the picture inside us of who we are: The righteousness of God in Christ.

My Time With God
Preparation Time
2 Peter 1:2-4 – “Grace and peace be multiplied to you …seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness…for by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature….”

In what specific areas of your life are you NOT experiencing holiness or God’s divine nature?

Personal Life –
Family Life –
Church Life –
Business Life –
Other –

Waiting Time
During your waiting time, Let God…

Love You:
“God, I feel Your love today, especially in the area of…”

Search You:
“God, You have permission to reveal any fleshly or unclean areas in my life…”

Show You:
“God, is there any truth from Your Word that I need to embrace as I pursue holiness?

Confession Time
Romans 6:11-14 – “Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Confess areas in which you have drifted away from the holiness of God because you’ve not considered yourself “dead” to sin:

Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read 1 Peter 1:13-16 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray this Scripture & allow God to minister to you.

Meditation Time
After praying the Scripture, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind.

Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer for holiness for the people of whom you will now intercede.
Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself
Begin to ask God to paint a picture inside of you of what your righteous position in Christ is to look like. Then, pray for that to come to pass in your life.
Prayer Requests:

Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing that God has impressed upon me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps To Take In My Obedience to God This Week:

My Goal: To implement the above steps in the next 7 days.

Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few minutes praying through the eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

Praise & Thanksgiving Time
Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This week’s memory verses:
2 Corinthians 7:1
2 Peter 1:4

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Read 2 Timothy 1:9. What a great truth this Scripture contains. We learn here that God not only “saved” you from the consequences of sin & hell, but He called you with a “holy” calling. What are the practical implications of being called out with a holy calling? What does that mean to your daily life? Now, check out the good news about this calling. Note the last half of vs. 9. What is this call NOT based on? What is it based on?

Write a prayer below on how this truth liberates you from the “performance trap.” Celebrate God’s power and His faith in you!

Wednesday – Read Paul’s prayer in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13.

What does he pray will increase in their lives? What is God’s goal or ultimate outcome for us, according to this prayer (vs. 13)? How are your answers to the above questions related?

List the changes in your own heart/mind that still need to happen before you are “established unblameable in holiness.”


Thursday – Exercise in Holiness

Go to a trusted friend who knows both you and God very well. Ask them how they define holiness. Ask them how they can spot it in the life of someone else. Finally, ask them what areas of your life exhibit “holiness unto the Lord,” and which areas need improvement, in their opinion.

Friday – Read Romans 12:1-2
This is a classic text on what we are to do to cooperate with God in the sanctification process in our lives. Note the four areas the apostle Paul speaks of, and list what is happening (or needing to happen!) in your life, concerning these specific areas. He makes a plea for the:

Presentation…of your body (vs.1) How are you doing this?

Separation…of your lifestyle (vs. 2a) How are you doing this?

Transformation…of your mind (vs. 2b) How are you doing this?

Demonstration…of God’s will (vs. 2c) How are you doing this?

Stewardship is not just an investment of time, talent, and treasure in the kingdom of God, but an investment of self.

Jesus talked much about money. 16 of the 38 parables He taught were concerned with how to handle money & possessions. In the Gospels, an amazing 1 out of 10 verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2000 verses on money & possessions.

Martin Luther astutely observed, “There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind, and the purse.” Of these three, it may well be that we modern people find the conversion of the purse the most difficult.

A mature Christian has experienced that conversion and has become a good steward. Stewardship is the proper management of my life in order to enhance God’s kingdom.

Practicing stewardship enables people to…
* Find their spiritual gifts – 1 Corinthians 12
* Increase their faith – Malachi 3:10
* Become spiritually sensitive – Malachi 3:8-10
* Be fruitful in God’s kingdom – Matthew 25:14-30
* Receive blessings from God – Malachi 3:10-12
* Be a blessing to others – Galatians 6:10
* Make a lasting contribution to God – Matthew 6:20

There is one inlet of power in the life — anybody’s life — any kind of power, just one inlet — the Holy Spirit. He is power. There are 5 outlets of power; 5 avenues through which this One within shows Himself and reveals His power.
Through our Life – What we are.
Through our Lips – What we say.
Through our Ministry – What we Do.
Through our Money – What we Give.
Through our Prayer – What we claim in Jesus’ name.

My Time With God
Preparation Time
Who is #1 in my life? If God is, doesn’t He deserve the first of everything I have…including my finances?

“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase.” (Proverbs 3:9) This means that giving should take first priority over all other uses.

“On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper.” (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Prepare yourself for this time with God by committing your finances to Him.

Waiting Time
“Whatever you have received more than others — in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious condition of home life — all this you must not take to yourself as a matter of course. In gratitude for your good fortune, you must render some sacrifice of your own life for another life.” (Dr. Albert Schweitzer)

My indebtedness is three-fold:
To God
To the last generation
To the next generation

Write down the ways you are indebted to…
God:

The Last Generation:

The Next Generation:

Confession Time
Confess areas in which you have failed to put God first.

Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

Read Malachi 3:7-12 slowly a couple of times.
Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
Pray the Scripture & allow God to minister to you.

Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind.

Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people for whom you will now intercede.
Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself
How to Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “Little Things”
Be Honest With God
Pray “Thy Will be done”
Prayer Requests:

Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing that God has impressed on me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to Take in my Obedience to God:

Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying through the eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

Praise & Thanksgiving Time
Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse – (Luke 6:38)

This Week’s Time Alone With God
Monday – This Lesson
Tuesday – Begin to live the “river principle” – Our life is to be like a river, not a reservoir. God will give to us what he knows will flow through us.
Wednesday – Begin to live the “cheerful attitude” principle – Stewardship begins with loving not giving. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that our giving should be done…“Not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Thursday – Begin to live the “who has who” principle – Until God is in control of my life, I’m out of control. Stewardship deals with the PERSON, not just the PURSE.
Friday – Figure out your tithe, write it out to your church, and place it in the offering plate this Sunday at church.