Attitude

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

Attitude – An outward expression of an inward feeling.

What is an attitude?

It is the “advance man” of our true selves.

It’s roots are inward but it’s fruits are outward.

It is our best friend or our worst enemy.

It is more honest & consistent than our words.

It is an outward look based on past experiences.

It is a thing which draws people to us or repels them.

It is never content until it is expressed.

It is the librarian of our past.

It is the speaker of our present.

It is the prophet of our future.

The good news is that we can choose our attitude! As we grow older, our attitude transitions from being formed by conditions to being formed by choice.

Two construction workers sat down to have their lunch. One opened his lunch box and angrily screamed, “I can’t believe it! Baloney again! I hate baloney sandwiches! This is the 4th time this week I’ve had baloney! I can’t stand baloney!” His friend tried to settle him down, “Take it easy. Why don’t you just tell your wife that you don’t like baloney sandwiches? Ask her to fix something else.” “Wife?” Replied the 1st man, “I make my own lunch!”

The fact is, most of the baloney in our lives, we have put there ourselves. It is possible for us as Christians to have the “older brother” attitude concerning others, as we see in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Note the following negative possibilities:

First, it is possible for us to assume the place & privilege of a son while refusing the obligations of a brother. The older brother outwardly was correct, conscientious, industrious and dutiful, but look at his attitude. Also note that a wrong relationship with the brother brought a strained relationship with the father.

Second, it is possible to serve the Father faithfully yet not be in fellowship with Him. A right relationship will usually cultivate similar interests & priorities. Yet the older brother had no idea why the father would rejoice over his son’s return.

Third, it is possible to be an heir of all our Father possesses yet have less joy & liberty than one who possesses nothing. The servants were happier than the older son. They ate, laughed, & danced while he stood on the outside demanding his rights.

A wrong attitude kept the older brother away from the heart’s desire of the father, the love of his brother, and the joy of the servants. Wrong attitudes in our lives, will block the blessings of God and cause us to love below God’s potential for our lives.

My Time With God

1.) Preparation Time

List the areas in which your attitude needs improving:

2.) Waiting Time

Think about the Father’s incredible love for the prodigal son and the older brother.

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 attitude in my life.”

Show You

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

3.) Confession Time

When our attitude begins to erode like the older brother’s, we should remember two things:

Our Privilege: “My child, you have always been with me.” (Vs. 31)

Our Possessions: “All that is mine is yours.” (Vs. 31)

Confess your ingratitude to God & what He has provided for you.

4.) Bible Time

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

…Read Philippians 2:3-8 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.

In this passage, Paul talks about the attitudes we should possess as Christians.

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 for whom you will now intercede.

Name Request

7.) Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How to Petition God Properly

A. Talk to Him about the “little things.”

B. Be honest with God.

C. 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 upon me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to take in my obedience to God

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

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 and Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS.

Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE.

David’s Three-fold Process of Praise – Psalm 34:1-3

1. Praise begins with the will – “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Vs 1) His attitude reflects a determination to rejoice, regardless of the situation.

2. Praise flows to the emotion – “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord.” (Vs. 2) Now David is praising the Lord not only because it’s right, but also because he feels like it.

3. Praise spreads to others – “The humble shall hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (Vs. 2-3) David demonstrates that the desired performance — “praise” — begins with an attitude that is determined to do it.

The conclusion of the chapter records David’s triumphant “The Lord redeems the soul of His servants…”

This Week’s Memory Verse – (Philippians 2:3-4)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This lesson

Tuesday – Choose a friend and evaluate their attitude. Write down several words that describe it. What is their performance indicator as a result of that attitude? Now do that for yourself.

Wednesday – List two problems that are presently a part of your life. Beside the two problems, write down your present reactions to them. Are they negative? Your challenge: Discover at least 3 possible benefits from each problem. Now attack the problem with your eyes on the benefits, not the barriers.

Thursday – Challenge: For one week, treat every person you meet, without a single exception, as the most important person on earth. You will find that they will begin treating you the same way.

Friday – Our attitude does not remain stagnant. A balloon half blown up is full of air but is not filled to capacity. A rubber band pulls the object it holds together and is effective only when stretched. What are you encountering that demands the stretching of your attitude? Are you adjusting? Write a statement that identifies what you feel will be your next “storm.” Now think through the strategy you’ll use to counter a possible bad attitude regarding that situation.

WORSHIP

Most middle class Americans tend to worship their work; work at their play and play at their worship.

 

A small boy was watching a parade come through his city one day. His only problem was that he stood on the wrong side of a six-foot high fence. He could only see the parade through a tiny knothole in the fence. He saw only what was directly in front of him at any given time. Consequently, it was a volatile experience for him. When the lions came by, it was scary.When the clowns came by, it was funny. When the band came by, it was exciting. Then, something happened to him that gave him all new perspective. A man walked up to the boy and hoisted him up onto his shoulder, so that he sat above the fence and could see the panorama of the parade. It was only at  that point that the young boy understood what a parade was really all about.

 

I believe our worship experience is supposed to do what that man did to the boy. Through worship, we gain a new perspective; we begin to see the “big picture,” and look at the panorama of life through God’s eyes. We are reminded of His sovereignty & control over all things, and in this process — an eternal perspective and understanding come to us.

 

In Hebrews 13:10-15, we learn the importance of praise & worship to our Christian experience. The sequence of verses covers the Old Testament sacrifice of animals (vs. 11); the New Testament sacrifice of Jesus Christ (vs. 12); then, we are encouraged to offer up a new kind of sacrifice to God in this new day and age. It is referred to as the “sacrifice of praise.”

 

The passage does NOT say we no longer need to prepare sacrifices for our church services. On the contrary, we are to continue to offer up a sacrifice constantly before God. However, the sacrifice has changed. The central act of a corporate church service is to offer up a sacrifice of praise. Further, the writer of Hebrews describes how our praise is to be offered:

 

  1. Continually    (vs. 15a)   Not just weekly or monthly.
  2. Sacrificially   (vs. 15b)   Not just when we feel like it.
  3. Audibly   (vs. 15c)  Not just an internal, but an external act.

 

The Result of Authentic Worship

  1. The Presence of God (Psalm 22:3)
  2. Conviction & Direction (Psalm 40:3; Acts 13:2-3)
  3. Deliverance (Psalm 32:7; 2 Chronicles 20:18-22)
  4. The Power of God (Acts 16:25-26)
  5. Sensitivity to His Voice (1 Samuel 3:1-11)
  6. Perspective On Life (Psalm 73:16-17)

 

 

My Time With God

 

  1. Preparation Time

 

Worship is not a text, but a context; it is not an isolated experience in life, but a series of life experiences.

 

List below how your worship experiences affects (or not) your…

 

  1. Personal Life
  2. Family Life
  3. Church Life
  4. Business Life
  5. Other

 

  1. Waiting Time

 

Worship is, in part, listening to what God might say to us, through music, through words, through fellowship. It is also our response to what He speaks. Worship has occurred when life responds with an openness to how God could change our lives.

 

During your waiting time, let God…

 

  1. Love You

“God, I feel your presence & love today, especially in the area of..”

 

 

  1. Search You

“God, you have permission to reveal any misdirected worship in my life.”

 

  1. Show You

“God, is there anything You want to show me about Yourself to deepen my worship of You today?”

 

 

 

  1. Confession Time

 

“Jesus said…It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'”

 

The entire message of the Gospels is related to this attitude. I think the emphasis can be condensed into a single phrase: “What we worship determines what we become.” If we worship material possessions, we will tend to grow more materialistic. If we worship self, we will become more selfish. That is why Christ continually tried to direct people’s worship.

 

Confess the things that you have been prone to worship that displaces God from His rightful position in your life & ministry…

 

 

 

  1. Bible Time

 

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

 

Read Isaiah 6:1-8 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.

 

 

  1. Meditation Time

 

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

 

 

 

  1. Intercession Time – Praying for Others

 

Begin this time with a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving for the people of whom you will now intercede.

 

Name Request

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

 

How to Petition God Properly

 

  1. Begin by taking time to adore Him. Sing through Psalm 103 & declare the qualities God possesses.
  2. Be personal & intimate in your worship.
  3. Pray “Thy will be done,” in those areas where you need to allow God to assume His Lordship in your life.

 

Prayer Requests

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Application Time

 

The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

 

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

 

 

  1. What am I going to do about it?

 

 

Steps to Take in my Obedience to God this Week

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

 

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

 

 

  1. 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 Lordship and your acceptance of that Lordship. Visualize yourself as one of God’s children seated on His lap, loving Him intimately with your words & thoughts. Embrace Him. How does He respond? Someone once said: “Those who are wise consider how God responds to their worship.”

 

 

  1. Praise & Thanksgiving Time

 

Praise God by Recognizing WHO HE IS

Thank God by Recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE

 

This Week’s Memory Verse: Hebrews 13:13-15

 

 

This Week’s Time Alone With God

 

Monday – This lesson.

 

Tuesday – Today, journal your thoughts about your personal worship experience. To get you started, try responding to the following questions…

 

Q: Describe your own experience of worship. Be honest; do not write what it ought to be, but what it is, right now. Is it consistent? Is it a routine; cold; sterile? Do you sing? Are you intimate with God? Are you good at expressing your love to Him?

 

 

Q: How has worship affected your perspective on life? On your difficult days? On your view of God?

 

 

Q: Now, write out how your worship experience will look in the future, by faith. Jot down your beliefs about its place in your family life. Your workplace. Your ministry. How central of an act is it to you?

 

 

 

Wednesday – At the beginning of the week, you were given a list of the divine results of authentic worship. For the purpose of meditation & application, jot down how you have (or have not) experienced these results in your personal worship experience:

 

1.) The Presence of God (Psalm 22:3)

 

 

2.) Conviction & Direction (Psalm 40:3; Acts 13:2-3)

 

 

3.) Deliverance (Psalm 32:7; 2 Chronicles 20:18-22)

 

 

4.) The Power of God (Acts 16:25-26)

 

 

5.) Sensitivity to His Voice (1 Samuel 3:1-11)

 

 

6.) Perspective on Life (Psalm 73:16-17)

 

 

 

Thursday – Earlier in the week, we read & prayed the Scripture in Isaiah 6:1-8. What an incredible worship experience Isaiah had! In the text, we see a sequence of stages that a person typically goes through as they grow in worship. It’s a step-by-step process that deepens a person from one phase to another, leading up to an obedient response to God in the end. The process of worship looks like this:

 

  1. A Revelation of God (vs. 1-2)
  2. A Realization of His Holiness (vs. 3-4)
  3. A Recognition of your Sinfulness (vs. 5)
  4. A Renewal of Your Perspective (vs. 6-7)
  5. A Response of Your Lifestyle (vs. 8)

 

Reflect on each of these stages of worship. Which of them has God brought you through?

 

 

Which of them are you experiencing now?

 

 

Pray about taking a step forward. Ask God to reveal Himself to you in fresh ways and in new dimensions of His character, so that your life will be a response to your worship of Him.

 

 

Friday – Earlier, we looked at Psalm 103. This psalm declares several qualities of God, in a worshipful manner. It is a hymn that adores & blesses the Lord in its lyric.

 

Take a moment and jot down those qualities of God’s character that you see in Psalm 103. Then, pray these back to the Lord in worship, adding your own observations to the list, and making personal application to the declarations of God’s person.

GRACE

God’s grace is mine for free, because it is based upon Jesus’ performance . . . And not mine.

 

Author Keith Miller became extremely transparent when he told then story of how he’d once planned to commit adultery. He had planned to meet a woman in a certain hotel, out of state. But when he got to his hotel room and picked up the phone to call her — his mind was flooded with Scripture. Interestingly, he said, it was not passages dealing with the sin of adultery, but with the love of God. God was clearly communicating that no matter what happened that night, God still loved Keith, as a son. Keith slammed the phone down. It became very difficult to proceed with his sin when he was being consumed with God’s unconditional love. He picked up the phone again, but again — more grace & love. When he tried to call the woman for the 3rd time, he was so overwhelmed with God’s love for him that he slammed down the phone and cried out: “It’s no use! God — I am hopelessly in love with you!”

 

Isn’t it interesting that it was not the law (“Thou shalt not commit adultery”…) that empowered Keith to avoid the sin? It was grace. For God to demonstrate love in that moment didn’t make sense — but it got the job done. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus teaches the priority of grace. Martha is troubled over her inability to pull off a perfect dinner. Jesus, refusing to be impressed by her human effort, taught a valuable lesson: Do not attempt to serve God until you are first served BY Him. Mary was experiencing the grace and relationship and presence of Jesus before she attempted to “perform.” Many of us have jumped directly into a “performance trap”, without a prior empowering of the grace of God.

 

GRACE FOUNDATIONS. . .

  1. God’s grace is available because it is based upon Jesus’  performance – not mine.
  2. God does not love me and save me for what I can do for Him.
  3. I must die to the old law and stop relating to God on that basis.
  4. God’s grace accepts me as I am, then enables me to live above  my own ability.
  5. My service is actually greater under grace, because gratitude,  not guilt, is the motivation.
  6. All I must have to receive and grow in grace is humility; I need  and must ask for grace.

 

 

MY TIME WITH GOD

 

1.) Preparation Time

 

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed . . . .”  List the issues you are wrestling with regarding experiencing God’s grace and escaping a performance trap in your…

 

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, you have permission to reveal any wrong motive in my life.

(Guilt, ego, approval of men, etc.)

 

Show You

“God, is there any area in which I need to receive your grace today?”

 

3.) Confession Time

 

“But God gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit, therefore, to God.”    (James 4:6-7)

 

Confess areas in which you boast or have fallen into a performance trap:

 

 

4.) Bible Time

 

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

. . . Read this passage 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.

 

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

 

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 for God to pour out a “greater grace” on the people of whom you will now intercede:

 

NAME REQUEST

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.) Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

 

Pray for God to reveal areas of your life where you are “performing” in the flesh, then ask for His grace to transform you and empower you:

PRAYER REQUESTS

 

 

 

8.) Application Time

 

The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

 

  1. What is the main thing that God has impressed upon me today?
  2. What am I going to do about it?

 

 

Steps to take in my obedience to God this week:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

 

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 the 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: (2 Corinthians 9:8)

 

 

This Week’s Time Alone With God

 

Monday – This Lesson

 

Tuesday – God’s grace really is sufficient! Not only does it enable us to endure tough times, but it empowers us to move forward in ministry and service.

Below are some fundamental truths about God’s grace. Interact with them, & jot down your thoughts: How deeply do you embrace the statements? Can you give examples from your life on how you’ve personally experienced them?

 

Truth #1:   Grace is absolutely free. It never manipulates because you “owe” something. You can’t pay for it.

 

 

Truth #2:   Grace enables you to live beyond your own ability. It is God’s sufficient power at your disposal to meet any need.

 

 

Truth #3:  Grace means God gets all the glory. This is true because God becomes the one who does all the saving and empowering.

 

 

 

Wednesday – Refer to James 4:6-7

 

  1. Write down the areas in which you take pride or have fallen into a performance trap:

 

 

  1. The above text speaks of God giving a “greater grace.”This simply means that the same grace that saved you, is what will sufficiently enable you to face all other needs in life! God longs to pour out doses of “greater grace” each day of our life to empower us, but many of us struggle receiving anything beyond the grace that will save us. In what areas of your life do you need this “greater grace?”

 

 

  1.  Begin asking God to pour out His grace in these areas. Humble yourself, acknowledge your need, and trust Him for it.

 

 

 

Thursday – Go back and look once again at 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. If you have experienced times of powerlessness, or times when you’ve felt like you’re facing your struggles alone, or times when you’re caught in a “performance trap”, try walking through these…

 

STEPS INTO GRACE

  1. Reveal – Honest personal examinations & diagnosis of myself.
  2. Relinquish – Surrender performance issues to God  (Ego/insecurity).
  3. Recall – Note the people/reasons for which I’m performing.
  4. Release – Forgive & let go of wrong views & perceptions.
  5. Request – Ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s grace.
  6. Renounce – Refuse to allow wrong motives to rule me.
  7. Respond – Return to serving God with a loving, responsive heart.

 

 

Friday – In order to experience a lifestyle of grace, you must adjust your heart & mind to think like God does. To walk in this grace on a daily basis, there are 3 essentials that will enable you to do so:

 

  1. The Essential Of Repentance

You must turn loose of pride and self-sufficiency.

 

  1. The Essential Of Family

God created families to be laboratories of grace & love. They are to be safe places of relationships; grace-distribution centers.

 

  1. The Essential Of Trust

You must believe that God will do what He says in His Word.

 

Q: Do you consistently walk with a repentant heart, leaning on God?

 

 

Q: Do you have a family “laboratory”, whether it is your biological family, or church family, or small group?

 

 

Q: Do you really trust God and His unconditional grace for you?

Intimacy With God

Most of our spiritual problems are rooted in a false conception of who God is.

A few years ago, the Boston Globe interviewed Dennis Wise, an avid Elvis Presley fan. His words of both passion and despair are striking:

“I loved Elvis. I followed him, his whole career. I have every album he has recorded, and seen every movie he’s made. I once even bought some boots when I was in junior high school that looked just like his. The kids called them ‘fruit boots.’ But I didn’t care — they looked like Elvis.

Later, I even got a face lift and a hair contour like his. I have won Elvis look-alike contests, and wanted him to notice, so I would storm the stage during and after concerts he would do. I don’t think he ever saw me. I have ticket stubs from concerts, Elvis clippings from programs all over the world, and even some Elvis pillows from Japan.

Yeah, Elvis was, and is my idol. My only regret was…that I never really saw him… I mean, really saw him. Sure, I went to concerts, but there was no contact. I once even climbed the walls around Graceland to catch a glimpse of him. I think it might have been him that was walking through the house as I was looking through my binoculars. But…I never really saw him. It’s funny…all the effort I put into following him — and I never could seem to get close.”

In James 4:6-10, we are told how to get into position to see God. So often, our story sounds too much like Dennis Wise. We want to experience intimacy with God, but if we were honest, we’d have to say: “It’s funny, all the effort I put into following Him…and I never could seem to get close.” Our Christian life, becomes a series of predictable routines, and we even take pride in mastering those routines through human effort and sacrifice. But we don’t experience intimacy. Our journey is academic and sterile. We fail to see that our first step must be brokenness and heartfelt desire for God to manifest Himself to us, who, by nature, are aliens to His ways. He has made Himself available to us, if we’ll take the conscious, deliberate steps to abide in Him and linger in His presence.

Three Foundations We must Build Upon:

  1. Intimacy with God is not automatic, but is the result of right  choices.
  2. Intimacy with God begins in our own submission, humility, and brokenness.
  3. We naturally oppose God and must now make our move toward Him.

 

My Time With God

1.) Preparation Time

Exodus 33:11 – “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to  face just as a man speaks to his friend.”

Reflect and Respond to these questions…

  1. What barriers keep me from experiencing intimacy with God?
  1. What will it take for me to become intimate?
  1. Have I bought into any “myths” about God that keep me distant?
  1. Am I really hungry for God, enough to act on what I need to do?

2.) Waiting Time

During your waiting time, let God…

  1. Love you…

God, I feel your love today, especially in the area of…

  1. Search you…

God, You have my permission to reveal any barriers in my life.

  1. Show you…

God, is there anything that I need to know that will enhance  my intimacy with You?

3.) Confession Time

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment.” (Matthew 22:37)

“…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge… (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Confess areas in which you are alienated from the love of God.

Confess areas in which you do not love God with all your heart, soul, and mind:

4.) Bible Time

…Read the passage below slowly, a couple of times.

…Close your eyes and allow this Truth to surface in your heart.

…Pray the Scripture and personalize it as God’s truth to you.

“But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the water, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Sebastian in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.”  (Isaiah 43:1-4)

5.) Meditation Time

After praying the scriptures, writ down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind…

6.) Intercession Time – Praying for Others

Pray for 3 people in your life, who you would especially love to see become intimate with God. Pray for revelation to come to them, and for them to experience what you’ve thought through today.

Name Request

 

 

 

 

 

7.) Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

Pray for God to reveal Himself to you in fresh, new ways, and pray specifically for the barriers to be removed that stand between you and God.
How To Petition God Properly

  1. Talk to Him about the “little things.”
  2. Be honest with God.
  3. Pray “Thy Will Be Done.”

Prayer Requests:

 

 

 

 

8.) Application Time

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

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Q: What steps do I take in my obedience to God this week?

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 and Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS.

Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE.

This Week’s Memory Verses:

Matthew 22:37

Ephesians 3:17-19

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson.

Tuesday – Each of us is as close to God as we have chosen to be. We have not taken further steps toward intimacy with Him because of barriers that exist between a holy, perfect God and sinful, weak humans. God’s ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Getting to know Him is a “cross-cultural” experience for us all! Take a moment, and write below the barriers you are aware of that keep you & God at a distance:

What can be done about these barriers? Are there steps you can take? Are there requests you can pray? Jot them down.

Wednesday – One of the hurdles we must jump en route to intimacy with God, is the set of “myths” or misconceptions we’ve come to believe about Him and spirituality. Below is a simple list of the most common myths on intimacy with God that people unconsciously believe:

  1. The Emotions vs. Truth Myth

Myth: Intimacy with God is just an issue of the emotions.

  1. The Knowledge Myth

Myth: The more Scripture I know, the more intimate I must be.

  1. The Feelings Myth

Myth: When I feel close to God, I must be.

  1. The Good Deeds Myth

Myth: If I’m a good person, I must be close to God.

  1. The Positional Myth

Myth: Intimacy with God is my possession as a Christian.

  1. The Intensity Myth

Myth: If I am a deep & intense person or serve God with great  fervor, I must be close to Him.

Q: Have you bought into any of these myths? How about any others you can think of?

Q: Why would these myths hinder us from intimacy with God?

Begin to pray for God to replace these myths with truth, in your relationship to Him.

Thursday – Look again at Exodus 33:11

“Thus, the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face just as a man speaks to his friend.”

Earlier in Exodus 33, Moses demonstrates the price he paid for this kind of intimate friendship with God. Look at this price tag below, and respond on how you are doing at paying what it costs to be intimate:

Moses Teaches The Price Of Intimacy:

  1. You must be willing to separate yourself regularly, vs. 7

Key: Outside the camp

  1. You must be willing to seek after God with all your heart, vs. 7

Key: Sought the Lord

  1. You must be willing to be watched by the public, vs. 8

Key: Gaze after Moses

  1. You must be willing to learn to listen & obey God’s voice, vs. 9

Key: Lord would speak

  1. You must be willing to enter covenant partnership with God,
  2. 10-11

Key: Partnership, trustworthiness, commitment

Friday – In John 15:1-15, we read about what it means to abide in Christ. This text defines the experience of intimacy with God. In it, we learn that…

  1. The practice of intimacy with God is essential (vs. 5-6).
  2. The product of intimacy with God is fruitfulness (vs. 4).
  3. The proof of intimacy with God is obedience (vs. 10-14).

Unfortunately, most of us run straight to the results. We want to produce. We want fruit in our lives. We fail to see that intimacy with God comes first. The proper order should be:

  1. To Know God

In this first step, we experience God’s initial love for us.

(Ephesians 3:17-19)

  1. To Love God

Ultimately, we obey out of a love relationship with Him.

Q: Have you experienced this sequence in your life?

Q: How have you short-circuited the process by switching the order?

Q: What can you do now to re-prioritize the love of God?

Introduction to Spending Time With God

Richard Foster wrote, “To pray is to change. As Christians, we will either allow prayer to change and grow us in the image of Christ, or we will stop praying.”

Does the idea of spending time with God overwhelm you? Think of it this way — it’s like sitting down for a leisurely meal with a friend rather than ordering a burger & fries at the drive-up window. As you spend the time together, you find a lot of things to say — you get to know each other in a much deeper way.

Starting tomorrow, right here on our website and Facebook page, you are about to begin a topical, self-paced, daily discipline of prayer, Bible study, and personal application. The benefits you will receive during the next 52 weeks will depend upon the time you invest and the depth you permit the Holy Spirit to penetrate your heart.

In my own personal life, I would say that 90% of my spiritual growth has been a result of my quiet time with God. It is in that quiet time, that God comforts me, provides ideas, gives me wisdom, and reveals His will. Most importantly, my quiet time is where I get to know God better and enjoy spiritual intimacy with the Father.

Every Monday morning during 2016, I will post on our church website (johnsonchurch.org), topical material that will be the framework for your study. The format will be the same as I am sharing with our congregation this morning (Sunday, January 3) in our worship service. There will be enough material for an entire week’s study. It will be arranged with Monday as the day for the study in that particular topic. Then, use the remaining 6 days of the week for reflection, meditation, memorization, and application. Consistency is beneficial — a little bit each day is better than skipping several days.
Each week you will be encouraged to memorize a scripture verse and each lesson will provide an opportunity for written responses. But keep in mind, our lives are not transformed by writing answers on paper. Personal spiritual growth is a process. Getting close to the heart of God, hearing and responding to His voice, and developing Christ-like character, will transform your life as you make time alone with God a priority.

Remember, the best plans are never realized because of procrastination! So, I encourage you to set a time and find a place for your daily time alone with God, and get started! The time you spend with God will permeate your entire day — providing you with more than sufficient love, grace, wisdom, power, and encouragement to eagerly embrace God’s daily plan for your life.

Have fun and enjoy your personal spiritual journey! The first post will be tomorrow morning. May God Bless You Richly!

I Love You!
Pastor Ben

31 Biblical Virtues To Pray For Your Kids – Part 2

Here are the last 16 of the 31 Biblical Virtues to pray for your kids and grandkids that we started yesterday:

16. Peace-loving. “Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace” (Romans 14:19).

17. Joy. “May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

18. Perseverance. “Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them” (Hebrews 12:1).

19. Humility. “God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all” (Titus 3:2).

20. Compassion. “Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion” (Colossians 3:12).

21. Responsibility.“Grant that my family may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load” (Galatians 6:5).

22. Contentment. “Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength” (Philippians 4:12-13).

23. Faith. “I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them” (Luke 17:5-6; Hebrews 11:1-40).

24. A Servant’s Heart. “God, please help my children develop servant’s hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men” (Ephesians 6:7).

25. Hope. “May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

26. Willingness and the Ability to Work. “Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

27. Passion for God. “Lord, please instill in my children, a soul that ‘followeth hard after Thee’ (psalm 63:8), one that clings passionately to You.”

28. Self-discipline. “Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair” (Proverbs 1:3).

29. Prayerfulness. “Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests”
(Ephesians 6:18).

30. Gratitude. “Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 2:7).

31. A Heart for Missions. “Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).

31 Biblical Virtues To Pray For Your Kids – Part 1

As we begin the new year, here is a prayer request list for all you parents and grandparents to pray for your children & grandchildren during the 31 days of the month of January…

1. Salvation.“Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (Isaiah 45:8; 2 Timothy 2:10).

2. Growth In Grace. “I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
(2 Peter 3:18).

3. Love. “Grant Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them” (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:2).

4. Honesty and Integrity. “May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection” (Psalm 25:21).

5. Self-control. “Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

6. Love For God’s Word. “May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb” (Psalm 19:10).

7. Justice. “God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do” (Psalm 11:7; Micah 6:8).

8. Mercy. “May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

9. Respect (for self, others, authority). “Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands” (1 Peter 2:17).

10. Biblical Self-esteem. “Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10).

11. Faithfulness. “Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts” (Proverbs 3:3).

12. Courage.“May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

13. Purity. “Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions” (Psalm 51:10).

14. Kindness. “Lord, may my children always try’s to be kind to each other and to everyone else” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

15. Generosity. “Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so, lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Timothy 6:18-19).

I’ll share the last 16 with you tomorrow. God Bless You!