Week 3
Intro: how to use this booklet What you have in your hands could be a powerful tool. Think of this book as a map that could help guide you in drawing closer to God and help you hear what He may want you to hear about yourself, your world and Himself. By carving out these moments with God, your sense of purpose may become stronger, your self-reflection may become clearer, and your love for others may grow as you understand Him and yourself more. Or you could throw it in the recycling bin. The choice is yours. But if you do choose to use this booklet to draw closer to God, here is the blueprint we suggest:
Set aside 10-30 minutes each day (I recommend the morning). Set reminders for yourself so that you will be consistent and won’t forget. Some suggestions to help you prioritize this time with God would be to schedule it in your day planner or cell phone calendar.
Remove any distractions during this time. Find a quiet place where your television is off, your phone is set to silent, and if possible, that you won’t be disturbed by people interrupting you.
Start by praying. Not sure what to pray? Try this: “God, as I take this time with you now, help me to hear you. Help me to focus on you. Help me to listen to you. Please speak to me God, I want to listen. Amen”
Reflect on and answer the questions asked each day.
End your time by praying again. Not sure what to pray? Try this: “God thank you for your grace in my life. Help me to
Some of the material found in this booklet is adapted from David Sherbino’s book Re:Connect. We recommend this book as a great resource for anyone who wants to go even deeper in their relationship with god.
Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness Mattew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He
will
command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him
Monday: To hear and listen to the voice of God There are many different voices competing to be heard in our life. Smart phones, televisions, tablets, car horns. The noise never seems to stop. How can we hear what is important in a world that never stops making noise? How can we hear God in the midst of this noise? If the world won’t stop making noise, then maybe we need to. 1) Find a place that is quiet and free from distractions. Make this your regular place of ‘sanctuary.’ 2) Sit quietly before the Lord and offer this time to God expressing your desire to be with Him. Say nothing but just sit in silence for 5 minutes. 3) Read 1 Kings 19:1-18. Write down any thoughts you might have from this passage.
4) Listen to hear the ‘still small voice of God.’ 5) Write out a prayer that expresses your desires as you identify with Elijah.
6) Conclude your time by sitting in silence for 5 minutes and then give thanks to God for His presence in your life.
Tuesday: To be renewed physically and spirituAll of us need to take a break sometimes. It is easy to be busy in this world. There are jobs to do, kids to drive, meals to make and friends to see. Being busy is easy, resting is not as easy. We need rest, God instructed us to seek rest through the Sabbath once a week. God designed us not to be over run with busyness but to find rest and peace in Him.
1) Take some time to look over your schedule. Do you regularly take time for rest and renewal? When did you do it last? What did you do? When you take time to rest and be renewed do you feel guilty?
2) Read Mark 6:30-56. What do you discover about Jesus as He ministers to people? How would you describe His approach to ministry?
3) Make a plan this week to take some time off. What will you do? When will you do it? Ask God why He might want you to take some time off and what you might do with your time.
4) What prevents you from resting?
5) When do you know you need to take time to rest?
6) How might taking time to be silent and alone before God help you find rest in your everyday routine?
Wednesday: To Learn to Trust God John Ortberg once wrote “We buy anything that promises to help us hurry.
The top-selling shampoo in America rose to the
top when it became one of the first to combine shampoo and conditioner in one bottle, eliminating the need for all the timeconsuming rinsing.
[…]We worship at the shrine of the Golden
Arches not because they sold good food or cheap food but “fast” food. Still, people had to part their cars, go inside, order, and take their food to a table – all of which took time. So we invented the drive-thru lane so families could eat in their vans on their way to soccer practice, as God intended.” We like things fast, but at what cost? We feel there is always so much to do we need to rush through life at times. When is the last time we sat still? To sit still, to rest in silence and solitude waiting upon god is an exercise in trust. An exercise that challenges us to see if we really trust God with our lives, or think we can do a better job by rushing through things.
1) Slowly read Psalm 62 2) Having read the text sit in silence before God 3) Write any thoughts that come from the reading here or in your personal journal.
3)What does it mean to trust God as you contemplate your situation in life today? Is it difficult for you to leave this with god? What do you think He wants you to do?
4) Read Philippians 4:6-7, write a prayer that applies
this truth to your life.
5) Memorize Philipians 4:6-7 and recall it during the day, especially when you become anxious.
Thursday: Develop a Sensitivity towards Others It is not uncommon for people in professions surrounded by people to struggle. Constantly being with others, it while can be a blessing, can also be a burden. It is not uncommon for nurses, teachers, police officers, doctors, pastors, social workers and customer service persons can over time grow tired and burned out. Regardless of our profession, we all need time away from people, but not to escape people, actually to be better when we are with them. Thomas Merton wrote, “ solitude is not turning one’s back on the world; it is turning one’s face toward God.” When we learn to take time for ourselves and God, we end up being of better service to others. It is through our time with God that we can truly love others.
1) Take five minutes as you enter into silence to repeat the ‘Jesus Prayer’ “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” 2) Having prayed this prayer take another five minutes to allow the meaning of the prayer to resonate with your soul, what does the mercy of god mean to you?
3) Read the parable of the Pharisee and the tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14. 4) Which one do you identify with most closely? How will this story help you to develop sensitivity toward people? What next steps do you need to take?
5) Think about some of the people you ill encounter today. What resources of grace do you need to be Christ to them today? As you pray ask the Lord to enable you in very specific ways to be sensitive toward them.
Friday: Facing temptation Before Jesus began his ministry he was led by the Spirit into the desert and for forty days in silence and solitude he struggled with the Devil. Matthew records the three different temptations Jesus encountered to entice him away from his calling. Henri Nouwen in his book “In the Name of Jesus” says these three temptations Jesus faced are ones we all face. When we spend time in solitude temptation can come to us stronger than we expect. Each of us will be faced with the temptations to be relevant, spectacular and powerful. But like Jesus we do not have to give into these temptations, God has a better path for us.
1) Take some time to recall an experience where you faced temptation of testing that came in solitude. What was the experience like? What were the feelings you experienced?
2) Read the account of Jesus temptation in Matthew 4:1-11 and his testing in Luke 22:39-46 3) As you recall your experience did you deal with it well? Do these two accounts of Jesus’ experience help you to see how you might deal with temptation and
testing differently?
4)If you are dealing with some temptation or testing at this moment write out a prayer that expresses not only your struggle but also your desire.
4) Write our 1 John 4:4 below. Spend some time
reflecting and memorizing this passage. Make this your prayer and offer it several times during the day.
CONTACT US: Senior Pastor | Rob@bromleyroadbaptist. org Kids’ Pastor | Christina@bromleyroadbaptist. org Youth Pastor | Sarah@bromleyroadbaptist. org Office | info@bromleyroadbaptist. org
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