Week 7: Thy Kingdom Come

Who ascend to the hill of the Lord?

Psalm 24:3-4

Who shall dwell in the hill of the Lord?

Psalm 15:1

Thoughts to ponder

 

Goats are very intelligent animals. They can be trained to pull carts and walk on leads. Goats are also known to test their fences and escape.

Sheep are related to goats but they have a flocking behavior. Not only do they stick together but they also follow their leader to greener pastures.

On the day of judgement Jesus will separate the goats and the sheep. 

Read Matthew 25:31-46

Are you a goat or a sheep?

Do you test your fences and escape to greener pastures or do you follow your leader's call to the right pasture?

Is God welcome in your home and in your heart? Do you flock near Him?

Action Steps

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

Consider the story of Manasseh.

Read 2 Chronicles 33:1-20

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people but they paid no attention.

Pray and ask God to reveal to you the times when you did not pay attention.

The king of Assyria captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze.

What bondage are you in? Are you aware of that bondage? Pray that God will show you your areas of bondage.

Manasseh prayed to God and God was moved. Then he knew that the Lord was God.

Do know that you know that you know that the Lord IS God? 

The voice in the wilderness is still crying "repent for the kingdom is near."

Prayer

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior but have felt the calling, run back to your shepherd and accept him in your heart.

 Maybe you have been a Christian for a while but have wondered away from the flock tempted by the "freedom" that others seem to enjoy. Repent and return to your shepherd. He will keep you safe and lead you in the best pastures for you.

"When you get up in the morning, there is a presence and you do not feel it. There is a light and you do not see it. You get up in the morning and there is a voice but you cannot hear it."  

Tozer, "And he dwelt among us"

Pray for His Kingdom to come, right here, right now in your heart that you may feel, see and hear.

Memorize Psalm 139:23-24

 

Week 4: Family

What makes a family?

If you are following the news and/or Hollywood you will know that family has been broaden to same sex couples and the right to have children outside of wedlock. If you value the judo-christian model of family you are qualified as an outdated and old fashioned snob. I can live with that. Can you?

Family is God's design and His first covenant with us. Family is important to God and therefore family is important to us. Strength comes from family.

So what makes a family?

Prayer focus

Remember that you are part of God's family. John  3:16
As part of God's family pray that you will always honor the name you bear. Proverbs 11:29
Be mindful and watchful over your family. Proverbs 31:15

Thoughts to ponder

"Commitment, prayer, romance, forgiveness and even Legos are all part of growing a spiritually strong family. I challenge you to become a part of a family revolution, one that reclaims our world for the glory of God—one heart, one marriage, one home at a time." Dennis Rainey

Action Steps

Share God's words with your children Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Pray for your husband Proverbs 31:30
Pray for your children
Pray for your extended family
Lift up the family of believers Hebrews 10:25
Make God the cornerstone of your home Psalm 127:1


Memory Verse Ecclesiastes 4:12

Week 3: Wisdom

I have found it difficult to ponder wisdom. The topic is so wide and I am not wise. Then I remembered this quote by Dr Seuss "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

What is wisdom?

According to the Hebrew culture, "Chokhmah (wisdom) is a response to the teaching (torah) of the personal God (YHVH), who is holy and just, and who expects those who know him to exhibit His character in the affairs of life."

Wisdom is a response to the teaching of God. 

From the NIV version there are 219 mentions of wisdom and 189 mentions of the word wise.

This seems like a good place to start.

Prayer Focus

Ask God to fill you with wisdom James 1:5

Ask God to reveal to you times when you have been wise in your own eyes Proverbs 3:7

Pray that when making decisions you will fear God more than men Psalm 11:10

Ask God to reveal to you how you react to heated situations Proverbs 29:11

Thoughts to Ponder

"knowledge is knowing the tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in your fruit salad." Miles Kington.

Ray Ortlund Jr. wrote that "Wisdom is more than brains. It is more than morals. We could memorize the whole Bible, and mean it from the heart, without wisdom. Wisdom is skill, expertise, competence that understands how life really works, how to achieve successful and even beautiful results." (Click here to read the rest of this article)

What wisdom do I speak? Proverbs 10:19

Do I rely on the wisdom of men or on the power of God? Proverbs 19:21

Do I walk in wisdom? 1 John 1:7

Do I think wisely? Luke 6:45

Action Steps

Pray, pray, pray and when you are done pray some more. 

Fear God in everything you say, think or do.

Look up all the verses on wisdom and memorize the ones that speak to your heart.

Read Job 28 and meditate on it.

 Memorize Job 28:28

Watch and sing along :)

Week 3 of "7 Weeks to a Healthier Heart" series

Week 2: Surrender

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be they name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done...
Matthew 6:9-10

                                                                                                                                               

I have been crucified with Christ 

and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 

The life I now live in the body, 

I live by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2

Prayer focus...

Pray for a spirit of repentance, asking God to make you "faithful and true". 

Spend time in quiet prayer  examining your heart/mind for areas of  disobedience, disbelief, anxiety, rebellion, idolatry, unforgiveness...

Ask God to show you, to teach you, to empower you to "surrender" all to Him.

Ask for FAITH to believe.

Thoughts to ponder...

Have I surrendered my life to God and received eternal salvation?

Do I TRUST God? 

Am I following the ways of the world? Or am I following the way of God?

Am I faithful with my money, my time, my resources, my family....?

What do I need to surrender  today, right now?

Action Step...

One day or every day this week - physically “open your hands”, kneel, or lay down in position of surrender to the LORD asking Him to help you to trust Him fully.

Listen to praise and worship music and meditate on what it means to "surrender"

 SONG - Lead Me to the Cross

Share "your story" of surrendering to CHRIST with your family & with a friend this week.  

Pray with someone this week concerning these things. Be real & be specific as you pray.

Memorize: Galatians 2:20

Week 2 of "7 Weeks to a Healthier Heart" series

Week 1: Praise & Thanksgiving

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens!  Ps 150:1

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are His*;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name.For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. 
Psalm 100    
 *Psalm 100:3 Or and not we ourselves

Prayer focus...

Think on the words of this Psalm and Worship Him.

Spend extra time this week focusing on praising His name privately and publicly.

Pray for a joyful and thankful heart despite circumstances.

Thoughts to ponder...

What are 10 things off the top of your head you are thankful for?  

What trial or challenge are you presently or recently thankful for? 

How can you “enter His gates with thanksgiving & His courts with praise” this week?

Action Step...

Keep a praise/gratitude journal for self and/or family.

Make a praise jar for the summer and decide together a way to celebrate when the jar is filled.

Commit to waking up each morning with praise on your lips! Let the first words out of your mouth be a word of thanks or praise. "Thank You God for this day" Phil 4:4-13

Share your list of things you are thankful for with someone.

Memorize: Psalm 100  

Week one of "7 Weeks to a Healthier Heart"