31 Days of Christmas – Day #1

Christmas at Becki’s House

Becky was 4. She wanted to play that December afternoon, but Mother pushed her aside. “Becki, I’m just too busy today. There are presents to buy, cakes to bake and rooms to clean. It’s Christmastime, you know.”
So Becki played alone.
When Daddy came home she rushed to the door with arms outstretched, ready for her usual hug and kiss. But Daddy’s arms were already full of boxes and bags.
“Oooh, for me?” She gasped.
“No, for later. It’s Christmas, you know. Run along now.”
So Becki played alone.
At supper, both Mommy and Daddy were so busy talking and planning the Christmas celebration, with Grandma and Granpa and all the relatives coming over, that Becki couldn’t get their attention.
So she reached for the butter by herself. Somehow her elbow got all tangled up with her milk glass and over it went.
“Oh Becki, not tonight,” Mommy moaned. “Everything is so busy. It’s Christmastime! Run on to bed now. I’ll be there in a minute to help you say your prayers.”
She was already kneeling when Mommy walked in. Becki’s prayer was simple, but maybe one we all need to pray, as well: “God, forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us.”
AMEN!

SHARING YOUR FAITH

Successful witnessing is sharing Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.

The story is told of an apprentice demon, soon to be sent to earth on his first mission, who is preparing for a last-minute strategy session with his master. The young demon is a fast learner. He has realized that the unbelieving world is already in his master’s power and that it would be a poor use of his time and resources to focus his schemes on those already lost. Rather, his strategy is to focus on neutralizing the Christians in their evangelistic work. “They could do the most harm” he reasons, “so I must keep them from the destructive work, modeled so well by Paul 2000 years ago, of ‘opening the eyes of the unbelieving that they might turn to God from Satan’ (Acts 26:18). He shudders at the thought of Paul’s success.
The demon then shares his strategy with his master. “I’ll try to convince Christians that there is no such thing as sin,” he says. “Then they will stop sharing the good news. The answer will soon become irrelevant if I eliminate the question.” “This is only a part of my plan,” says Satan, “but it cannot be the focus, for most of our enemies realize the reality of sin. Even those in our power sometimes, in rare moments of clear thinking, realize sin’s destructiveness. You’ll confuse some of the enemy, but not all of them on this.”
“Well then, I’ll convince the church that there is no hell, that even if there is sin, there are no eternal consequences.” “Good thinking,” replies Satan. “You will confuse some with this, but still, the prospect of judgement is so ingrained in people, even those in our power, that this will not neutralize the enemy. Most will see through the deception.”
The young demon thinks for a moment, and then a look of triumph floods his face. “I’ve got it! I’ll convince them that there is no hurry. They can have their doctrines of sin, heaven, and hell. I’ll just help them rationalize away their lack of conviction on these matters by whispering in their ears, ‘There is no hurry; don’t inconvenience yourself. Save it for later.’ They are all so prone to be concerned with their own cares and problems anyway, that they will buy right into it.”
“You have done well,” says Satan. “You will see great success in neutralizing the enemy with this strategy.” (C.S. Lewis)

Acts 1:8 gives us God’s command and perspective. Read it.

1.) We are all commanded to be His witnesses.
2.) Witnessing is an indication that the Holy Spirit is in control of our life.
3.) Witnessing begins in our local area, and then reaches beyond.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Read 1 Peter 3:15.

Who are the people in the following areas of your life that God might be calling you to be ready to share your faith with?

Personal Life –
Family Life –
Church Life –
(Don’t assume that everyone in your church is a Christian)
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, have I lost my urgency and heart for the lost?”

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

Confession Time
Read 2 Corinthians 5:18.
Is it a “privilege” for you to share your faith? Do you have God’s heart and passion for the lost? Confess to Him how you feel.

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

…Read Romans 1:16-17 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
List non-Christians and intercede on their behalf. Pray 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 for them, that “in the name of Jesus, the blindness would be removed from their eyes that they might see their need for Him.”
Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself
How to Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “little things.”
Be honest with God. Ask for His heart for the lost.
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 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 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 – (Acts 1:8)

This Week’s Time With God

Monday – This lesson.

Tuesday – Memorize Acts 1:8

Wednesday – Get & read one of the following books:
“Out of the Saltshaker” – Rebecca Pippert
“Tell It Often – Tell It Well” – Mark McClosky
“I’m Glad You Asked” – Boa & Moody

Thursday – Schedule a time to observe a strong soul winner in action. Go out on a witnessing “call” with them.

Friday – Review your memory verses.

PASSION
“Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish!” (Jean de la Fontaine)

The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat. If you find yourself lacking in persistence, this weakness may be remedied by building a stronger fire under your desires.
The Apostle Paul met his defeat not at Thessalonica (where he was mobbed), nor at Philippi (where he was beaten), nor at Corinth (where he was persecuted), nor at Jerusalem (where he was torn by the mob), for he built churches in all these cities; he met his defeat at Athens, where he met only indifference. He found no faith there and consequently built no churches there.
Among the great number of books authored by C.S. Lewis is the highly provocative, “The Screwtape Letters.” In it, the profound Englishman has the devil brief his nephew, Wormwood, on the subtleties and techniques of tempting the people. The
goal, he counsels, is not wickedness, but indifference. Satan cautions the nephew to keep the prospect or patient, comfortable at all costs. If he should become concerned about anything of importance, encourage him to think about his lunch plans; not to worry, it could induce indigestion. And then, this definitive job description: “I, the devil, will always see to it that there are bad people. Your job, my dear Wormwood, is to provide me with the people who do not care.”
Tony Campolo once said, “We are caught up at a particular stage in our national ethos in which we’re not only materialistic, but worse than that – we’re becoming emotionally dead as people. We don’t sing, we don’t dance, we don’t even commit sin with much enthusiasm. Kierkegaard once said this age will die, not from sin, but from a lack of passion. There is a deadness everywhere. High School are apathetic. Colleges are apathetic. I mean, everybody’s gone to sleep!”
Jesus had a warning along that line for the church at Ephesus. While acknowledging their accomplishments, hard work, and doctrinal purity, He looked them right in the eyes and said (in effect), “You’re doing all this stuff in My name, but I don’t think you even love Me anymore” (see Revelation 2:1-6).
His prescription? Stop dead in your tracks. Set aside your pre-occupations. Turn around. Remember your first commitment to your Lord. Do the things you used to do in that first flush of wholehearted surrender and joy. And watch yourself!

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Zeal is a burning desire to please God; to do His will; to advance His glory in the world in every way possible. It is a quality that we are all to possess. In fact, it is part of the purpose of redemption that we should demonstrate zeal. Titus 2:14 says that Christ “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”
Commit yourself right now, to start a “fire” within you.

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 apathetic spirit in my life.”

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

Confession Time
Questions: No Somewhat Yes
Has your love grown cold for God? ( ) ( ) ( )
Do you have a burden for the unsaved? ( ) ( ) ( )
Is there great joy in serving God? ( ) ( ) ( )

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

…Read Philippians 3:7-16 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.

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:

Passion is shown by your action. For example, it will be shown by a great desire for personal holiness. It will reflect the attitude of Matthew 5:29-30. Read that verse.
In other words, anything will be sacrificed that prevents a Christian’s growth.

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 – (Titus 2:14)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday through Friday – Below are some great verses on passion. They tell of a work that He puts within us that will make us different. Read these verses each day and ask God to do a work within you that you cannot do for yourself.
Job 38:36 Isaiah 63:1 Ezekiel 11:19
Psalm 4:7 Jeremiah 31:33 Ezekiel 36:26
Isaiah 42:1 Jeremiah 32:40 Ezekiel 36:27

God works from the inside out, not the outside in. God does a work in our hearts. He changes our thoughts and attitudes, which changes our choices, which changes our actions, which changes our very lives.
We, like Nehemiah, are to work out what God has worked in. God never asks you to do a work outwardly, unless He has first done a work inwardly. But it is our responsibility to respond. When God has worked in our lives, then we are to adjust our lives to His agenda, not ours.

INTEGRITY

“Doing what is right even though no one is looking.”

In 1 Kings 9:1-9, a conversation between Solomon and God is recorded that reveals God’s passion for integrity of heart, and how that translates into our lives as Christians. Read the passage.

Four Biblical Conclusions About Integrity:
1.) God Expects it.
2.) It’s a Matter of the Heart.
3.) There are Blessings for a Life Lived with Integrity.
4.) There are Consequences for a Life Lived without Integrity.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Read Psalm 15:1-2.
List any issues that may hinder you from living a life of integrity in the areas of:
A.) Integrity with People
B.) Integrity with your Pocketbook
C.) Integrity with your Priorities.
D.) Integrity with your Marriage Partner
E.) Integrity with your Professional Life

Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…

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

Search You.
“God, I give You permission to reveal any area in my heart that does not have full integrity.”

Show You.
“God, is there anything I need to focus on in the various areas of integrity?”

Confession Time
Read Matthew 5:8 and list the areas you need to confess concerning your personal integrity. Consider these questions before you write down your confessions:

1.) Do you always do what you say you’ll do?
2.) Do you always tell the truth?
3.) Do you act the same when people are looking as when they are not looking?

Confessions:

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

…Read Job 2:3-10 & Job 27:1-6 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
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
Remember that integrity begins with honesty.
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.

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 – (Psalm 15:1-2)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Review your memory verse and pray about the issue that God lays on your heart from the 5 options listed in your Preparation Time (People, Pocketbooks, Priorities, Marriage Partner, Professional Life).

Wednesday – Meditate on Matthew 5:8. What does it mean to you to be “pure in heart”?

Thursday – Meditate on Psalm 51:1-12.

Friday – Review your memory verse.

FAITH

“Unbelief puts our circumstances between us & God. Faith puts God between us and our circumstances.”
-F.B. Meyer-

Years ago, a small town in Maine was proposed for the site of a great hydroelectric plant. Since a dam would be built across the river, the town would be submerged. When the project was announce, the people were given many months to arrange their affairs and to relocate.
During the time before the dam was built an interesting thing happened. All improvements ceased! No painting was done. No repairs were made on the buildings, roads, & sidewalks. Day by day the whole town got shabbier & shabbier. A long time before the dam was built and the waters came, the town looked uncared for and abandoned — even though the people had not yet moved away. One citizen explained: “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.”

Some one has offered this erroneous definition of faith: “The ability to believe in something without evidence.” Not true! Faith is always based on evidence although it may not be in the form of scientific data. God’s handiwork in creation, the life, death and resurrection of Christ, the miracles and growth of the first century Church, and the change that is produced in the hearts of converted men & women are all bits of evidence that God does exist and that He intervenes in the lives of people.

Hebrews 11 is referred to as the “faith chapter” in the Bible. This chapter identifies several characteristics of true faith:

1.) Faith Sees the Invisible.
A young man lost both eyes in an explosion in World War 2. When a British entertainer attempted to comfort him, the soldier said, “It doesn’t really matter; I’m going to be a minister some day and you don’t need eyes to please God.” That young man possessed the inner eyes of faith.
2.) Faith Hears the Inaudible.
There are about 9000 TV signals in a large metropolitan area, but without the aid of TV equipment, the pictures & sounds go undetected by us. Likewise, faith is the equipment which enables us to sense God’s direction and reassurance.
3.) Faith Believes the incredible.
Many say, “I just can’t believe in miracles or in heaven & eternity; I can’t believe the Creation story.” Hebrews 11:3 answers, “Through faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God.”
4.) Faith Thinks the Unthinkable.
While the doubters and pessimists are declaring, “It’s impossible, it can’t be done,” the person with faith is thinking of ways to accomplish what the cynics refuse to consider.
5.) Faith Accomplishes the Impossible.
After faith thinks the unthinkable, it accomplishes the impossible. According to Charles Spurgeon, God delights in impossibilities: “One man says, I will do as much as I can. Any fool can do that. He that believes in Christ does what he cannot do, attempts the impossible, and performs it.” And of course, it was Jesus who said, “…if you have faith as a mustard seed…nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
6.) Faith Inherits the Indestructible.
Only treasures stored in heaven are protected from rust, moths, thieves, inflation, and taxes. It is faith manifested through our acts of service that inherits these eternal and indestructible rewards.

Faith is an aptitude which can increase in strength and improve in quality when properly exercised. The greatest faith one can achieve is the ability to believe when God’s voice is silent and His hand is still. A victim of the German holocaust scratched these words into the crumbling wall of his cell before his death: “I believe in the sun – even when it does not shine; I believe in love – even when it is not shown; I believe in God – even when He does not speak.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
George Mueller said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.” Begin your time with God with great expectations. Remember, “You have not because you ask not.” We fail to ask because we lack faith.

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 wrongful doubts in my life.”

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

Confession Time
In Mark 9:24, the father of a demon-possessed boy brought him to Jesus and said, “I do believe, help my unbelief.” Take a moment and confess to God areas of unbelief in your life.

Bible Time
“I prayed for faith, and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the 10th chapter of Romans, ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ I had closed my Bible, and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.” -Dwight L. Moody-

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

…Read Hebrews 11: 32-40 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
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people for who 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 minutes 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: (Hebrews 11:1)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Review the Hebrews 11 outline at the beginning of this lesson. Are the characteristics of true faith evident in your life?

Wednesday – When Arthur Rubinstein, the famous concert pianist, was in New York, someone invited him to attend church. His answer: “Take me to a church that will challenge me to attempt the impossible.”

Thursday – Do the same exercise in regard to your work.

Friday – Do the same exercise in regard to your family and personal life.

Discipleship

Whenever the Word of God and the life of an obedient Christian converge on a person, there is conviction and convincing by the Holy Spirit. Discipleship is spiritual reproduction. It is not filling in the blanks, it is changing lives.

Read Matthew 28:18-20.

Biblical Truths about Discipleship:
1. Jesus has given us His authority to make disciples.

2. “Making Disciples” is the main Greek verb in this passage. The process of making disciples is to “Go” (share Christ), “Baptize” (help them publicly identify with Christ), and “Teach to Obey” (teach application of His Word, not just knowledge).

3. Discipleship is the means to reach the world for Christ.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Read 2 Timothy 2:2.

Who are your spiritual mentors?

Who are the people God is calling you to disciple, to spiritually mentor?

Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…

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

Search You.
“God, what do You want to say to me in the area of discipleship?”

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

Confession Time
What has God given you that you have been unwilling to pass on to others? Confess these areas to Him…

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

…Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 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
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people of 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 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 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 – 2 Timothy 2:2

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Memorize 2 Timothy 2:2.

Wednesday – Write a note of gratitude to a spiritual mentor in your life.

Thursday – Read and meditate on Luke 10.

Friday – Review your memory verses.

COMPASSION

“Next to love, compassion is the most powerful gift we can give or receive.”

A pastor went to dinner in the home of one of his church families. The evening began with a pleasant exchange of conversation and warm fellowship. The pastor, however, noticed that the parents were unusually strict with their 5 year-old daughter. Perhaps they just wanted her to be on her best behavior for the pastor.

Halfway through the dinner, the little girl knocked over her drink and instantly looked up at her parents with mortal fear written all over her face. The pastor, watching all this, purposefully knocked over his drink. Another couple present knocked over theirs. The anger on the faces of the parents slowly melted away and turned to a smile. They both reached out and knocked over their drinks as well! The whole group broke out into hysterical laughter and had a wonderful rest of the evening, all because of the compassion of the pastor for the little girl.,

Jesus teaches us compassion in another situation found in Matthew 9:35-38. Read about it.

3 Biblical Truths on Compassion
Compassion requires being with people & looking for their needs.
Compassion requires identifying with the people’s situation and what they feel.
True compassion results in action.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Read Psalm 111:1-4.

Which area of your life does your level of compassion need improvement and why?

Compassion with your Spouse:
Compassion with your Children:
Compassion with your Friends:
Compassion with your Co-workers:
Compassion with Strangers:

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 lack of compassion that You see in my life.”

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

Confession Time
Read Matthew 25:40-46.

Confess the issues that God is speaking to you about in the area of compassion:

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

…Read these Scripture passages slowly a couple of times:
Psalm 78:37-39
Psalm 111:2-4
Mark 1:40-41
Mark 5:33-37
…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. Pray God’s mercy & compassion over them.
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 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 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: Psalm 111:3-4

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Wednesday – This Lesson

Thursday – Write a prayer describing the compassion Jesus had for us when He went to the Cross.

Friday – Make a list of hurting people and pray for their needs.

Saturday – Ask God to lay a name on your heart of someone who needs a touch of compassion; then YOU do it!

Sunday – Review your memory verse.

BROKENNESS

“My greatest strength is that I have no weaknesses.”
-John McEnroe, Tennis Player-

Contrast that statement with 1 Corinthians 1:26-27.

Bible Paradoxes

If I want to… I must…
…save my life… …lose my life; Luke 9:24-26
…be lifted up… …humble myself; James 4:7
…be the greatest… …be a servant; Matthew 20:20-22
…be first… …be last; Matthew 19:30
…rule… …serve; Luke 22:26-27
…live… …die; Romans 8:13
…be strong… …be weak; 2 Cor. 11:30; 12:9-10
…inherit the kingdom… …be poor in spirit; Matthew 5:3
…reproduce… …die; John 12:24

The goal of this time is for you to be broken in the right places.

BROKEN vs. BEATEN
“I care” “I don’t care”
“I can’t – God can” “I can’t”
“I can help others” “I can’t help, I need it”

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Prepare yourself by thinking on the things broken in God’s Word that became very effective:

Broken Pitchers (Judges 7:18-19) – and the light shone out
A broken box (Mark 14:3) – and the ointment was poured out
Broken Bread (Matthew 14:19-20) – and the hungry were fed
A broken body (1 Corinthians 11:24) – and the world was saved

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 unbroken area in my life.”

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

Confession Time
Confess to God the areas of your life that need to be broken by Him:

Bible Time

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

…Read Luke 22:39-45 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.

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 and 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 upon me?

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 – John 12:24

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Friday – This Lesson

Saturday – Study the Bible Paradoxes. How are you doing?

Sunday – Go to the Bible Time. Notice when the angel came and ministered to Jesus. What is the relationship between consecration, obedience, and an angel ministering to Jesus?

Some of the “One Another’s” of the New Testament

Be at peace with one another… (Mark 9:50)
Love one another… (John 13:34)
Be devoted to one another..Honor one another. (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another… (Romans 12:16)
Stop passing judgment on one another… (Romans 14:13)
Accept one another… (Romans 15:7)
Instruct one another… (Romans 15:14)
Greet one another… (Romans 16:16)
Serve one another… (Galatians 5:13)
Carry one another’s burden… (Galatians 6:2)
Be patient, bearing with one another in love… (Ephesians 4:2)
Be kind and compassionate to one another… (Ephesians 4:32)
Forgive one another… (Ephesians 4:32)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…
(Ephesians 5:19)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ…
(Ephesians 5:21)
In humility, consider one another better than yourselves…
(Philippians 2:3)
Teach one another…Admonish one another… (Colossians 3:16)
Encourage one another… (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Build one another up… (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds…
(Hebrews 10:24)
Do not slander one another… (James 4:11)
Don’t grumble against one another… (James 5:9)
Confess your sins to one another…Pray for one another…
(James 5:16)
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…
(1 Peter 5:5)

WISDOM

Wisdom – Knowing the right things to do at the right time for the right purpose.

A small factory had to stop operations when an essential piece of machinery broke down. No one could get the machine operating. An outside expert was finally called in. The fellow looked over the situation for a moment, then took a hammer and gently tapped the machine at a certain spot. It began running again immediately and continued to run as if nothing had ever been wrong. When the expert submitted his bill for $1000, the plant supervisor hit the roof and demanded an itemized bill. The bill the man submitted was as follows: For hitting the machine, $1; for knowing where to hit the machine, $999.
In James 1:5, we are taught that wisdom comes from God in response to prayer. When James writes of “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17) he uses a present tense participle to make his point. He says, “wisdom is coming from above. Wisdom from above is not available in one time allotments, nor is it to be procured on the installment plan.” James presents it as a steady flow from the mind of God to His children. It just keeps on coming. The supply of God’s wisdom never runs dry. It comes to us continually from above to meet the demands of each hour. When we walk with Him in the light of His Word, He daily gives us the wisdom we need for our lives.

Three Biblical Conclusions About Wisdom:
1.) It comes from God.
2.) We must ask for it.
3.) It comes on a daily basis.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Read Ecclesiastes 1:17.

List an issue you are “wrestling with” in your…
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 wrong motive in my life.”

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

Confession Time
Read Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Confess areas that you boast in, that have no eternal significance.

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

…Read James 3:13-17 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.

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 and thanksgiving for the people of 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

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 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 (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Write a letter to God that acknowledges the 3 Biblical conclusions about wisdom. Incorporate each conclusion in your letter.

Wednesday – Practice boasting today according to the Scripture, Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Thursday & Friday – Read again James 3:13-17. What kind of wisdom is from above (vs. 17)? Spend these two days demonstrating to others the qualities that are in your life because of this heavenly wisdom.