time with god week 3

8/3/2019 Time With God Week 3

1/9

4-Week

Devotional Challenge(Week 3: January 22-28,2012)

Name

_____________________


2/9

Lectio Divina (Spiritual Reading)

This spiritual reading practice (Lectio Divina) is something I first encountered incollege during a Spiritual Formation class with Dr. Tom Schwanda (yeah, I know, its afun last name to say). We practiced it in class by reading a Psalm or a portion of a

Psalm and picked out a word or phrase and then just spent a few minutes thinkingabout that word or phrase in great depth and detail, letting God speak to us throughit. Then we would read over the passage again and pick a new word. Sometimes wewould do it a third time.

This new approach to reading the Bible - less for analyzing the history, background,and meaning, more for finding a deep connection with God - was life changing for me.God spoke so much through his Word this way and I had never felt so close to Him inthis way before. I pray the same for you.

Read the instructions below. Pick a Psalm, go through the process 2 or 3 times.

Suggestions for Psalms: Psalm 63:1-8, Psalm 61, Psalm 33, Psalm 31

Reading (lectio) - Slowly begin reading a biblical passage as if it were a long awaitedlove letter addressed to you. Approach it reverentially and expectantly, in a way thatsavors each word and phrase. Read the passage until you hear a word or phrase thattouches you, resonates, attracts or even disturbs you.

Reflecting (meditatio) - Ponder this word or phrase for a few minutes. Let it sink inslowly and deeply until you are resting in it. Listen for what the word or phrase issaying to you at this moment in your life, what it may be offering to you, what it may

be demanding of you.

Expressing (oratio) - When you feel ready, openly and honestly express to God theprayers that arise spontaneously within you from your experience of this word orphrase. These may be prayers of thanksgiving, petition, intercession, lament, orpraise.

Resting (contemplatio) - Allow yourself to simply rest silently with God for a time inthe stillness of your heart remaining open to the quiet fullness of God's love andpeace. This is like the silence of communion between the mother holding her sleepinginfant child.

Live (Operatio). Sacred reading is a way of letting Gods word shape us and changeus. Consider the transforming effects of your prayerful reading in your heart and inyour daily life. Ask how you are different as a result of this encounter with the wordof God: How is your life changing and being shaped through your Lectio divina? Howdoes God want you to be different today as a result of this encounter?

Sunday


3/9

Drama

Do you ever watch or listen to talk shows? (or maybe youve just been in the room while someone

else is watching) Im talking about the ones where people are yelling at each other, all talking at

the same time, insisting theyre right. Im not judging you for watching these shows. Instead I

want to look at our lives with these shows in mind.

Read Proverbs 17:19. Proverbs was a collection of wise sayings, an ancient method for passing onthings learned from experience. The overall theme is simple truths that lead to a peaceful and

righteous life. Traditionally considered King Slolomns project, nobody knows exactly how many

proverbs were originally his or collected from other people, but the Bible is clear that Solomon had

incredible insight. This guy had it all, literally. Unprecedented wealth. Unrivaled power.

Innumerable women. Unequalled wisdom. After trying everything life had to offer, Solomon

concluded that a life spent loving God is the only thing thats satisfying and meaningful.

Do you constantly find yourself in the middle of some drama? A wise man once said that people

who live that way end up with serious problems. Im not talking a little messed up, or in a bad

phase, but headed for destruction. Loving yourself so much that youre always defensive or

offensive will ruin your life; it builds walls. This pushes others out of your life, and doesnt leave

room for God either. Arguing a lot is evidence of pride. Pride is loving yourself more than anything

else, thinking you deserve whatever you want. Thats really what all sin boils down to. If you love

sin, you dont love God, and it doesnt take a genius to know thats just asking for trouble.

Write your responses to these questions:

1. Do you ever gossip?Do you ever back talk?

Do you ever throw a fit when you dont get your way?

What do you think this says about your love of self, God, and others?

2. In what environments do you find yourself most likely to argue or become prideful?

What about that setting encourages that behavior in you?

3. What changes in behavior and environment to you need to make, so that you can bring morehonor to God and less honor to yourself?

4. Pray for a peaceful attitude. Ask God to give you the ability to admit when you are wrong and tolearn from others when they are right.

He

wh

o

loves

a

quarrellove

sin;

He

who

builds

a

high

gate

inv

ites

destruction.

Proeb17:19

Monday


4/9

God is God (No One Like You)

Read these translations of Psalm 100 two times each.

My parents are amazing people, devout in their faith and intent on bringing up my sister, two

brothers, and me up in a godly manner. Their parenting was brilliant, really. There were

unexpected lessons hidden at every turn. But I, like most children, raised an issue every once in

a while regarding the rule and reign of the sovereign Zoet territory. One thing that I found

rather disturbing was my parents purchase of certain off-brand or generic food.

I suppose the reasoning behind much of this was to pinch pennies. You have to understand

that my parents are huge Dave Ramsey fans. If you havent heard of Dave Ramsey, let me just

tell you that he is a well-known speaker/author on the subject of budgeting your money. But

my childhood is pre-Dave Ramsey. My parents were on the wagon of saving, budgeting, and

pinching pennies long before Ramsey came on the scene. They saved every receipt, counted

every penny, and used every coupon imaginable. Thats great. I wish I was more like them with

my money.

Psalm 100 (NIV)

1Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

2Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.3Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his[a]

;

we are his people, the sheep of his

pasture.

4

Enter his gates with thanksgivingand his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.5

For the LORD is good and his love endures

forever;

his faithfulness continues through all

generations.

Psalm 100 (The Message)

1-2On your feet nowapplaud GOD! Bring a

gift of laughter,

sing yourselves into his presence.

3Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.

He made us; we didn't make him.

We're his people, his well-tended sheep.

4Enter with the password: "Thank you!"

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank him. Worship him.

5For GOD is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever.

Tuesday (page 1)

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5/9

But I could no longer handle their money saving schemes when it came to my cereal. We had

all the imitation cereals boxed imitations, bagged imitations on the bottom rack, probably

even the occasional black and white generic too. Fruit Rounds, Fruit Rings, Fruit Hoops, we

tried them all. All of them disgusting, ranging between the taste of sugar-coated cardboard and

bad roast beef, and I made sure to let mom and dad know this. They always claimed that Theytaste the same. You cant even tell the difference. OH YES I CAN!, I retorted.

One week, I dont know ifHell had frozen over, or if the value price of pork had gone up (my

dad was a pig farmer), but we finally got the real deal: Fruit Loops! I savored every bite. I

enjoyed sipping the sugary milk left at the end of every bowl. But then, without my knowledge,

when the box was getting low, when I had taken in most of the goodness that it once held, my

mother filled it up with Fruit Rounds. UGH! Inconceivable! She put Fruit Rounds in the box of

Fruit Loops to prove to us that there is no discernible difference between the two tastes.

Immediately, the morning of the heist, I spit out what I had just so joyously delivered to my

mouth, something most certainly and surprisingly of the sugar-coated cardboard variety.

MOM!

Here in this psalm we are reminded that there is only one true Yahweh God. Hear His name

again. Yahweh. There is only one ever-present Maker; there is only one Center. Oh, sure,

there is constant competition for His replacement, but it is just impossible. All the little gods at

whose feet we place our affections dont even have it in them to be ever-present. Yahweh God

doesnt have it in Him to not be present. He cant. It would defy who His is to be anywhere but

here and now, wherever that may be. There is no substitute that will taste right. Everything

else is just a choking powder, a mist, a vapor, a melting, watered-down attempt atdisplacement. We did not create this God. We did not dream Him up. There is no dream or

imagination that could contain Him. He is beyond dreaming. Let your mind wander, let it

stretch to bounds it hasnt dared before, in search of an end to this God, and you will find only

spaces more vast and wide and open than your eyes and heart can take in. There is no end, I

tell you. There is no beginning even. And we have lived for temporal pleasures, for but a

moment here and there, we have grasped for things near and attainable, we have ingested

what was illusory fulfillment, and I beg you now to spit it out. It is of the wrong flavor. It is

breakfast cereal that tastes of sugar-coated cardboard and bad roast beef, and is only edible

because we have the wrong ideas about what is good. There is no substitute for the Ever-

Present God of gods. He is complete beauty. Stare into the most faithful of loves until He is

burned into your retinas, until everywhere you look He is superimposed upon the landscape.

Listen to the song, No One Like You by David Crowder Band. Listen to the lyrics with fresh

ears and a fresh heart of worship to the Lord who is God. (if you search it on YouTube, be sure

to type No One Like You David Crowder Band. If you just type No One Like You, you might

end up listening to an 80s hair band song by the Scorpions)

Tuesday (page 2)


6/9

A.C.T.S.

The A.C.T.S. acronym is an easy way to pray a well-balanced prayer. Often our prayers

are only focused on asking for things, and we forget to praise, confess, and thank.

In the open space provided, write down some of your prayer. Use the back side if youneed more room.

Adoration (Praise) - Praise be to God!-Psalms 68:35

Tell God how much you appreciate Him. Express your love for Him. Praise His power and

majesty. Go outside or look out a window and praise God for the beauty of His creation.

How awesome are your deeds!-Psalms 66:3

Confession - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins andpurify us from all unrighteousness.-1 John 1:9

Tell Him where you have fallen short. Be specific.

Thank Him for the forgiveness You have in Christ, and ask for help and strength to turn

away from future temptations.

Thanksgiving - Always glorify him with thanksgiving-Psalms 69:30You have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Thank God for His love, His faithfulness, His

patience and a million other things. Express gratitude for what Hes doing in your life.

Thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you. Thank the Holy Spirit for indwelling you, and

never leaving. Thank Him for being your conscience, your counselor and that still small

voice.

Supplication (Asking for things) - Make your requests known to God.-Philippians 4:6

Tell God what you want, no matter how small it seems to you. Do you really think any of

your requests are big to God the Creator? Pray for others, for whats going on in your life,

pray for other youth doing devotions, pray for your church, etc.

Wednesday


7/9

If possible, stand up and read this passage aloud in a loud and excited tone of voice, imagining yourself

before the throne of God.

Revelation 7:9-12 The Message (MSG)(emphasis added)

9-12I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was thereall nations andtribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palmbranches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

Salvation to our God on his Throne!Salvation to the Lamb!

All who were standing around the ThroneAngels, Elders, Animalsfell on their faces before

the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

Oh, Yes!

The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,The honor and power and strength,To our God forever and ever and ever!

Oh, Yes!

Have you heard it said that our sole purpose in life is to worship God? Read again the words that the

worshipers sing in this scene. How does this relate to you worship of God?

Salvation to our God. What has God saved you from, specifically?

The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, the honor and power and strength. What

comes to mind when you think about these words? What are you feeling about the God described by

them? Why?

Write down a few sentences or paragraphs telling God how grateful you are for him and for what he has

done, is doing, and will do.

Listen to the song Facedown by Matt Redman. (On the album Facedown by Matt Redman)

As you listen and worship, kneel or bow facedown as you find yourself in the presence of the Most

Holy God. If you have never kneeled before God or lie down on your face before God, I strongly

encourage you to try it. Its puts both your body and heart in place that says, God, you are holy and

great and too amazing for me to grasp.

Thursday


8/9

WorshipListen to Beautiful Jesus by Kristian Stanfill (Albums you can find the song on:

Passion: God Of This City and Hello (by Kristian Stanfill or another worship

song (Listen in your headphones if possible). You can find the song using

YouTube, Spotify, or Grooveshark.

Look up the lyrics online, listen to the song again, or use your memory.

What do the lyrics tell you about who God is? List everything you can think of

from the song.

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Which lyrics speak to you the most? What words really touch your heart?

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What can you give God praise for?

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Listen to the song one more time, letting your heart and soul sing it to God

Friday


9/9

Read: Joshua 1:6-9

(If you cant find a Bible, look up the passage onwww.biblegateway.com)

The main thing I remember or learned from this Scripture is

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Here is what God is trying to teach me through this Scripture

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As a result of this, today (or tomorrow) I will.

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Right now I need to pray about.

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Saturday
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