don’t go it alone
There’s a lot to chew on this week! And as we talked about at the beginning of the week, gathering and sharing our journey with each other is a vital part of growth. God designed us to thrive most when we’re together! Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].”
Part of that growth is seeing each other as God sees us. Imagine looking at yourself as an infant, but knowing who you are today and where you’ll be in 10 years. God knows exactly where you’ve been and where you’re going! He has given you your own very special path that only you can walk. He knew the storms that could surround you and how He could use those storms to transform you. When you’re with your friend(s) having this conversation, picture how God sees each of them. Aren’t they beautiful? Aren’t they dazzling?
Here’s the question we want to keep coming back to:
HOW IS GOD CHANGING YOU THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE?
Meaningful spiritual conversation isn’t about how much you know or don’t know; it’s about being in awe of God, and discovering together how God is showing His hand in our everyday lives.
Use the questions below to grow…TOGETHER!
ACCESS TO THE KING
In Romans 5:2, it says that, “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
The bible says we have access to God! This means Jesus is in the throne room praying on our behalf. We can have a daily audience with the King to pray for ourselves and others! (Dictionary Moment: this is called intercessory prayer)
How does that change the way you want to pray?
HARDSHIPS
Romans 5:3 says we should rejoice in our hardships and that hardships produce endurance and character.
Do you usually view hardships as God showing His love, punishment, or an opportunity to grow? How did you arrive at this viewpoint?
Think about a recent or current hardship or struggle: how could you view it the lens of Romans 5:3?
RESTORED THROUGH GRACE
Abuse means to use something in a way that is not intended to be used and restoration means to return something back to its original use. We’ve all been on both sides of these actions and God knew He’d need to step in if He wanted a relationship with us. He also thought it was worth it! It was worth it to send His Only Son to die for us and it was worth it to wait for us.
Which of these things demonstrate how you think God sees you:
Dazzling
Beautiful
Valuable
Precious
Worthless
Sinful
Disappointing
Needs Rescue
God is our biggest fan! When He created the stars in the sky, he already had us in mind. How can this transform the way you see yourself?
PRACTICE AND GROW TOWARDS LOVE
When we purposefully get close to God on a daily basis, it shows! People can see it through our actions and our love. Hebrews 10:24 says, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” But if we don’t allow God to change us by allowing God’s words to get into every corner of our lives, it actually stunts our growth.
Did you do any of the practices? What did you do and how did it impact your life this week?
Did you memorize (or attempt to memorize) any of the scripture verses this week? What did you memorize and how did it impact your life this week?
Make a plan together: how can someone else help you prioritize at least ONE of these practices over the next few days?