Page 90-104
God uses our lives to bring glory to Himself (Isaiah 43: 6-7). Everything in us must point the world to God’s love and in His direction. If you are experiencing a limitation, God will, ultimately, use it to bring glory to Himself (p. 101). When we live in our limitations too long, we are prone to forget that God is all powerful. We need to develop the third Next Level heart attitude, a heart of expectancy toward God. Expectancy is a place of trust, and trust is the basis of our friendship with God (p. 104). Take this week to meditate on the questions below and memorize this week’s scripture.
Mile Marker:
In what areas of your life have you quit expecting God to show up and turn on the light? In what areas are you living in resignation about your circumstances? Ask God to help you cultivate the Next Level heart attitude, a heart of expectancy toward God.
Remembering the Words of a Friend:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidenced of things not seen.
-Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
Week by Week
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Your Designer Prison
( Pages 76 - 90)
I was in jail. In the mid 1990s, as I sat in the cold, colorless cell in the Norfolk City jail, I tried to imagine how I was going to feel spending time there. Thankfully, I was only in there a couple hours-- to preach. My wife and I had moved to Norfolk in 1990 to establish Calvary Revival Church; during our early years, we started the prison ministry, Jonah. While sitting and thinking in that cell, I realized that God was utilizing each prisoner’s jail experience. In other words, for each person there, God had a “designer prison” – one that would work for their good. In a sense, God is crafting our lives the same way. Even in the midst of your circumstances, “God is preserving you, fixing you, building you, and using your limitations to prepare you for the coming phases of your journey” (McBath, p. 76).
Mile Marker: Can you identify a few of the ways God may be making your limitations serve as a “designer prison” in your life? Can you identify some of the ways God is reaching out to you, using your losses and issues to build your friendship with him?
Remembering The Words of a Friend:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28
I was in jail. In the mid 1990s, as I sat in the cold, colorless cell in the Norfolk City jail, I tried to imagine how I was going to feel spending time there. Thankfully, I was only in there a couple hours-- to preach. My wife and I had moved to Norfolk in 1990 to establish Calvary Revival Church; during our early years, we started the prison ministry, Jonah. While sitting and thinking in that cell, I realized that God was utilizing each prisoner’s jail experience. In other words, for each person there, God had a “designer prison” – one that would work for their good. In a sense, God is crafting our lives the same way. Even in the midst of your circumstances, “God is preserving you, fixing you, building you, and using your limitations to prepare you for the coming phases of your journey” (McBath, p. 76).
Mile Marker: Can you identify a few of the ways God may be making your limitations serve as a “designer prison” in your life? Can you identify some of the ways God is reaching out to you, using your losses and issues to build your friendship with him?
Remembering The Words of a Friend:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Keys to Transforming our Frustrations
Pages 63-77
Our last reading discussed developing stamina in limitations. We discovered that making the decision to see things from God’s perspective can strengthen our ability to endure. This week, we will review three essential tools that will help mitigate the frustrations that prevent us from experiencing fulfillment through our friendship with God.
Tool #1: Worship
True worship is a lifestyle. Worship is not limited to singing a song or lifting our hands before God. It is completely surrendering to God and finding security in His sovereignty and unparalleled, faithful character. Peter is a perfect example of this. On the night before his trial, Peter slept in his prison cell, surrendered to and trusting in God’s will.
Tool #2: “Forget” the Past
When we find ourselves in limited circumstances, it is tempting to dwell on events of the past. However, in order to avoid stagnancy, we must do as Paul and forget what is behind and reach forward to what is ahead (Philippians 3:13-14). “As long as you are holding on to what’s behind you, you are hindered in reaching forward” (McBath, p. 67).
Tool #3: Make Plans
At times being proactive about pursuing our dreams and goals ease our frustrations. On the other hand, remaining passive increases the likelihood of us giving up on our dreams completely. Therefore, we should prayerfully make plans and then take steps-even small steps-to pursue our goals.
Scripture for the week:
Memorizing God’s word is imperative. As Psalm 119:105 says, God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path.
The scripture to memorize this week is James 1:2-3 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Our last reading discussed developing stamina in limitations. We discovered that making the decision to see things from God’s perspective can strengthen our ability to endure. This week, we will review three essential tools that will help mitigate the frustrations that prevent us from experiencing fulfillment through our friendship with God.
Tool #1: Worship
True worship is a lifestyle. Worship is not limited to singing a song or lifting our hands before God. It is completely surrendering to God and finding security in His sovereignty and unparalleled, faithful character. Peter is a perfect example of this. On the night before his trial, Peter slept in his prison cell, surrendered to and trusting in God’s will.
Tool #2: “Forget” the Past
When we find ourselves in limited circumstances, it is tempting to dwell on events of the past. However, in order to avoid stagnancy, we must do as Paul and forget what is behind and reach forward to what is ahead (Philippians 3:13-14). “As long as you are holding on to what’s behind you, you are hindered in reaching forward” (McBath, p. 67).
Tool #3: Make Plans
At times being proactive about pursuing our dreams and goals ease our frustrations. On the other hand, remaining passive increases the likelihood of us giving up on our dreams completely. Therefore, we should prayerfully make plans and then take steps-even small steps-to pursue our goals.
Scripture for the week:
Memorizing God’s word is imperative. As Psalm 119:105 says, God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path.
The scripture to memorize this week is James 1:2-3 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
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