Stamina in Limitations

Blog #4 (pages 48-62)

In our next reading we take a look at stamina in limitations. We all have limitations. The author mentions his unique limitations his first year of college. He found him self socially, physically, and even academically limited at first. This is where the rubber meets the road. Are we to give in and throw in the towel or dig in regardless of our limitations. The author chose the latter and determinded to "hang on in faith, believing that God had a purpose for me at MIT and remembering who I was: God's Friend" (page 61). Seeing things differently is one way you endure during limitations. It's easy to see the giants of frustration, confusion, economic hardship in the promised land of purpose God has called you to. What we have to do is see yourself the way God sees you, hold on to his purposes for your life and that fact that he is your friend. The paragraph below will give you some insight into how important it is to see yourself as God see's you.

"... the enemy is so frightened by who you are he's working overtime. He has placed whole attachments and drigades and squads of frustrating, limiting, even devastating circumstances around you just so he can prevent you from seeing who you really are - God's empowered friend" (page 62)

Wow! What a revelation. We are in a battle but we serve the victor, the King of Kings. As you reflect on this weeks reading, what are some strategies and principles of God's word you have used to endure during times of limitations in your own life?

When the Friendship Journey Takes an Unexpected Turn (Page 33-47)

In our third reading we are introduced to the story of Peter and how his limitation of imprisonment played a part in his life. We learn from him that God works in our personal prisons and uses the thing that holds us down to build us into the people he intended for us to be. There are three particular limitations we can learn about. They are limitations that you can't control, limitations that result from your own actions or decisions, and limitations that result from life's happenings. The reading ends with trusting God through all of these limitations. How has your trust in your prison times been affected and what are some ways we can develop our trust during limitations?

Courtney McBath: A Friend of God - CBN.com

Dr. McBath talks about Living @ the Next Level on the 700 Club.

A Friendship Journey

Blog # 2 (pages 18-32)
We were made to be God’s friends. “If we are going to learn how to live at the Next Level, then we must cultivate a heart for Friendship with God”(McBath 17). The Bible is simply a story of God’s pursuit of an intimate relationship with you. When we lock into that purpose, the fight begins. Satan, a fallen angel, is after you because he can’t have what you have been given access to – a friendship with God. Though he is real, we know that we ultimately have the victory in the end because of the work of Jesus Christ. We know that even when we are walking in friendship with God, we will have frustrations, disappointments, and struggles. Some of it may be the enemy’s attack, and some are simply everyday troubles we will face (John 16:33). These troubles can either build up or tear down our relationship with God. What have you taken away from this week’s reading that has shed light on your friendship journey with God? How have you allowed the frustrations and disappointments in life to bring you closer to God’s love? How does God’s love keep us from condemnation when we encounter disappointments and failures?

What is Living @ the Next Level?

In our first reading of Dr. McBath's new book, Living @ the Next Level he asks the question, What is Living @ the Next Level? He goes on to explain it is not a matter of arriving to a new place in life, not a breakthrough, but simply friendship with God. This is where we walk at the Next Level.

After your first reading you may have had a paradigm shift. What was your previous thoughts about being at the Next Level? How has this first reading helped you adjust the frustration of trying to get to the Next Level and actually start living there?