Learning Objective: Expose your negative attitudes, emotions and motives to the love of Christ and allow Him to shift you into the light of HIS attitude and pure motives.
Scriptures: Matthew 5:8 | 1 Corinthians 2:16 | Psalm 51:10-12 | Philippians 2:5-11 | John 5:1-15 | 2 Corinthians 5:20
Dear God, Help me to edge YOU into my attitude, emotions and motives more today than yesterday. I know that whatever you call me to that you are faithful and you will give me the strength to conform my thoughts, will, emotions, motives to yours. You weigh my motives, help me to do the same so that whatever I do I will do it for YOUR glory not mine. Help me to overcome myself to make room for a PURE heart grounded in and through your love for me.
Dear God, put within my hand the seeds YOU want me to sow that deepen the roots of your love in this world. Too often I focus on what I think, need and want and so seeds of self-focus rather than focusing on YOU in me. HELP me to feel your love and recognize all of the ways you come to me throughout my day. For I know I cannot give out what I have not experienced within. Sift my motives so that my heart is convicted to release selfishness that fuels ugly behavior. I want your LOVE to be the motive behind the seeds of my behavior. More of you, less of me.
Learning Objective: Learn how to get unstuck and move forward. Understand the powerful connection Jesus made between positive transformation and taking action.
Scriptures: Matthew 16:24-26 | Mark 2:4-12 | Luke 9:23-25| John 5:1-12 |Matthew 14:22-33
Dear God, help me to understand the powerful 3 step invitation Jesus often used to free people from bondage to their situation: Stand up, pick up your mat and walk forward. Help me to apply the learnings contained in today’s scripture to my own “mat” that too often keeps me stuck. I want to know what it feels like to trust that you have my back in all situations. That you call me out of the boat of familiarity into unchartered waters to accomplish things beyond what my eye can see, ear can hear or mind can comprehend. Have your way with me in spite of myself. When I pray and ask for your help I trust that you will give me an action step to take that will transform me out of the ways of the world into the grace of your freedom.
Sweet Jesus help me to understand and experience the depth of your love for me. For I can not give out to the world around me what I have not experience within.
Learning Objective: To Flip your interior script into the power and authority of Christ within you…1 thought at a time.
Scriptures: Luke 9:1 | Luke 10:19 | 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Dear Lord, HELP! Too often we are highjacked by the negative thoughts that slither around between our two ears. Teach us Holy Spirit what it means to live within the Authority and Power of Christ within us. Lead us out of confusion and accusation. The devil comes to kill and destroy and YOU came that we may have life to the fullest. Today help us to take every thought captive and flip it into your wisdom, guidance and victory over death and destruction.
Learning Objective: Understand the POWERHOUSE link between forgiveness and love that Jesus showcases in Luke 7
Scriptures: Luke 7:36-50
Sweet Jesus, I want to experience the depth of your mercy and love, so much so that it spills out into the lives entrusted to my care. Help me to love first and then lead. To forgive myself and those in my life who have behaved in an ugly way, resulting in pain. Help me to set healthy boundaries to protect myself now moving forward. It is for freedom you have set me free, help me to stand firm and not allow myself to be burdened by the yoke of slavery due to lack of forgiveness.
Learning Objective: To Complain Less Today than Yesterday
Scriptures: Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:13-17
Holy Spirit, help me to give more authority to the strength of God within me than to dissatisfying circumstances outside of me. Forgive me when I forget that you are ALWAYS working on my behalf behind closed doors for a greater good when I place my trust and confidence in you.
Strengthen our weak minds and hearts that are too often ruled by the Teach us the power of a surrendered life to be used for your purposes which far outweigh momentary trials and tribulations we face on this earth-bound journey. Forgive us for forgetting that we are created by you, in you for your glory. This day YOU SET before us life and death, blessings and curses help us dear God to choose LIFE in you that we may LIVE in you for you and your glory.
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.â€
How to Flip Your Suffering into Courageous Victory in Christ
Learning Objective: Understand the value and power of suffering in, with and through Christ for a greater good than had the suffering never occurred. Romans 8:28
Dear Lord,
we are blind to the power of suffering in our lives. So much so that we seek
out ways to destroy that which causes us to suffer. We give you permission to
transform our understanding of suffering as it relates to the wisdom of those who
have gone before you and after your death and resurrection. Those who lived and
died in faith, believing in, relying on and trusting in YOU as their hope and redeemer
over circumstance. Help us to release the fear around the very experience that
delivered salvation into this world: suffering and persecution. Strengthen our
weak minds and hearts that are too often ruled by the worldly ways rather than
your will and death to self. Resurrect the power of the Spirit within us, the
very Spirit that rose your dead, scourged body from the grave. Too often we give
ourselves authority and permission to do what we feel is rightfully ours to do.
Forgive us for taking into our own hands the power of life and death. Teach us the
power of a surrendered life to be used for your purposes which far outweigh
momentary trials and tribulations we face on this earth-bound journey. Forgive
us for forgetting that we are created by you, in you for your glory. This day
YOU SET before us life and death, blessings and curses help us dear God to choose
LIFE in you that we may LIVE in you for you and your glory.
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set
before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life in order
that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by
obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the
length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your
fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.â€
Discern the shadows in your life and take back your ability to dwell in the shadow of the Most High. Understand the gift of refuge you receive as a result of your choice to rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Dear Lord,
You are the only shadow I want to hide in. Deliver me from all the shadows in my life: past, present, future that hijack my true identity and confidence in you. Help me to recognize when I have jumped into someone else’s shadow, diluting the gifts and talents you have blessed me with along with my ability to own and act on the purpose you have for me on this journey of life. More of you…less of me. I want to dwell in YOUR shadow more today than yesterday and experience the safety and confidence that results from my choice to remain in you.
