Get More Of God!

Week 8

Prayer is how we communicate with our Lord and Savior.  It's not a long list it's the beginning of a true relationship with a friend. We are called friends of God and a friendship can't grow and flourish if it's not being taken care of. If there's no communication then people drift apart. Whether it's an old friend from school or a family member they drift away and God's love letter to us (the Bible) says he wants to restore us (the family of God). It tells us he never leaves us. He sticks around closer than a brother so even when people stop talking to us God is still talking he's still waiting on us. That is why prayer is so important. The Bible gives us guidelines for what to do or say when we need something. If we need wisdom ask and God will give it to us (James 1:5). If we need healing go to the elders in the church and let them lay their hands on you in prayer (5:14). Praying in tongues helps build your faith up (1 Corithians 14:4). You can't love others til you love God (Matthew 22:37-39). And there are so many more. There are many bibles out there that have a list of things in them and Bible verses if your Bible doesn't have one Google it. There's a Bible verse for worry, fear, sleep, peace, love, faith, etc. The list goes on. When God speaks to you you should be thankful and speak back to him. Thank him that his word says you are healed, forgiven, strong, chosen, a friend of God, whatever it is that his word says, he cares for you more than the lilies in the field that get tossed into the fire tomorrow. He cares for you so tell him thank you and let him know that you can for him not because of the list you have for him but because he is your creator he doesn't have to answer your list he chooses to take care of you. Just sit back and relax and know God's got this he is more than capable of handling every situation of your life. 

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for being my friend, help me to acknowledge you in all my ways and exalt you not the things on my list. Help me to put my trust in you ans surrender my everything to you. thank you for taking the cross so i can live in freedom, from sickness, and from sin, and from sadness. Thank you Jesus for creating me. Help me to do good and share your love with the world. Amen

Refrence verses: 

James 2:23, Joel 2:25, 1 Peter 5:10, Ephesians 2:19, Hebrews 13:5, Proverbs 18:24, Matthew 6:25-34

Week 7

We need to get ready. It's time to get serious about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He's coming back and as believers it's time we get ourselves positioned for his return. That means stop being part of the world stop doing worldly things stop saying worldly things. We live in this world but we are not of it we are just passing through on a journey to get back home to heaven. We need to be imitators of Christ. We need to say and do what we believe Jesus would do. Stop speaking negatively over your neighbors stop gossiping. We can't control every sin that we commit because by nature we as humans were born sinners in a sinful world however we can control some repeated sins we were given the power of self control to control our tongue and every word that comes out of our mouth. We were given forgiveness and grace because Jesus knew we needed a savior that we are not a perfect people. He knew we needed forgiveness he knew we would fall short. He knew we wouldn't be able to make it to heaven on our own. The law is there to prove that we need Jesus. So get ready for his return. Repent and wait upon the Lord he will renew your strength.

Reference verses: John 14:2, Revelation 1:7, (Note: there are several places in Revelation where the Lord says I am coming soon), John 17:16, 1 Corinthians 29:15, Hebrews 13:14, Philippians 3:20, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 John 2:6, Leviticus 19:16, Proverbs 16:28 & 20:19, James 1:26, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, Ephesians 2:3, Romans 5:12 & 7:15-20, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Timothy 1:7, Titus 2:11-12, Romans 3:23, John 14:6, Isaiah 40:31

Reflection 

1) Am I ready for the return of the Lord?

2) Do I believe in the return of the Lord?

3) What do I need to ask the Lord to forgive me for? What area(s) do I need his help?

4) Am I producing good fruits? 

5)Can people tell I have Jesus in my heart?

Week 6

This week I'd like to encourage you to read your bible. Its important that we know what the bible says. We have already talked many times about how his sheep know his voice and how he speaks in a still small voice, but we haven't talked about the other voices in the world. There are many voices out there voices that speak curses, death, neagativity over your life and sometimes we speak those things on ourselves. Not everyone is serving the Lord. The power of life and death are in the tongue. Only God can bring a dead thing back to life only God can change negativity into a good thing. Only God can. But he gave you authority in Jesus' name to prophecy to dead things that they come alive in the name of Jesus. When we call his name he is present. And no evil thing can stand firm in his presence. The demons tremble at his name. Don't let the rocks cry out for you shout his name, proclaim his victory he is the God of the hills and valleys. He will lead the way where there is no way.

Instead of me giving you the reference verses take this week to look them up for yourself. See how many you know and how many you need to memorize. 

Reflection

1) How often honestly do I open the bible whether on an app or the actual book, in one day how about in one week?

2) How often do I think of a scripture? It can be sent to your phone inside your head heard on the radio or seen on social media but how often does a scripture come across your mind?

3)How often do I pray? How about starting with three words every 30 minutes.Thank you Jesus (I'm here another day) I need you Jesus, help me Jesus, Encourage them Jesus, Use me Jesus, heal me Jesus, heal them Jesus, touch them Jesus, touch me Jesus, forgive me Jesus, 

Week 5

We need to get ready! Stop worrying about the future. Its time to live in the present. The Lord doesn't promise that you will remain on the earth for the future, he promises a hope and a future whether that future is on the earth or in heaven we don't know the answer to that. However the choices we make each day affect the future, the choices you make right now will affect the type of person you will be in three years as well as whether you make it to heaven tomorrow or not. I don't want to talk to you about the rapture but believe me its real, the Lord is coming and we need to be ready. I want to talk to you about the glory of the Lord that encamps around us like a cloud. The glory cloud went with the Isrealites It went with them by cloud during the day and fire during the night. When you read Exodus 13:21-22 you interrupt the cloud as the presence of the Lord going with the Israelites and guiding them, but the glory cloud is so much more than that. It is the Glory of the Lord. What does that mean? It means God's favor, God's protection, God's love, mercy, grace, his guidance all of these things and more fell on his people. the cloud encompassed around them they walked in the favor of God's glory, they lived in it. You can too. Well how is that possible, by making a choice everyday the Lord knows we are sinners who fall short of his glory every single day, but he forgives us, he cleans us and makes us white as snow. Ask him to walk with you daily to show you ways to express your grattitude for him, that is what he wants you to show him thanks for what he has done for you and he will continue to encamp around you his glory and warm you with his blazing fire at night.

Reference verses Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 27:1, Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 91:11, Exodus 33:15, Romans 3:23, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Questions

1. What type of person do I want to be in 3 years? What choices do I need to make to get me there?

2. Am I rapture ready? Do I really believe Jesus is coming back?

3.Do I feel the presence of the Lord?

4.Am I choosing to walk with God on a daily basis?

 5. Ask God daily to surround you with his glory and give him thanks. He knows your heart. Trust Him.

Week 4 personal study

Read: Habakkuk 2:3, Isaiah 60:22, Isaiah 40:31, Ecclesiastes 3:1, and proverbs 16:9

In God's timing not mine. God makes the way he knows when, where, why, and how. He doesn't answer to us. He expects us to trust him. He hopes we will praise him and find our delight and joy in him, not in the things of this world. Everything will pass away except, our faith, our hope, and our love. God is love! Why should we rush anything if it's going to pass away eventually. Why rush a new job, to go buy something, or go somewhere, to see something, or to do something. Why rush when God promises to renew the strength of those who wait on him. While we wait we need to realize where our joy truly comes from. It comes from the Lord not from our circumstances. When it's time God will make it happen. It's okay to thank him in advance. He is a good God. "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:11

Instead of having a set of questions to dwell on for this week I want you to focus on the reference verses and try to find that true joy in the Lord. Spend this week learning to delight yourself in the Lord. Then next week reflect and ask yourself if you've accomplished that and what can I do to keep the joy of the fresh everyday. 

Reference verses: 1 Corinthians 13, James 4:14, Romans 15:23, 1 John 4:8

Week 3

This week we will be looking into the beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12. We will go a little deeper than that next week so feel free to read the entire chapter this week. Memorize verses 3-12 and next week we will memorize verses 13-16 (In case you want to get a headstart)

The beatitudes are blessings from Jesus. We see a list of characteristics and how God can bless all types of people no matter what they are facing good or bad, emotional or physical. Those who are sad, weak, humble, thirsty or hungry for the Lord, those who  are merciful, kind, good hearted, those who make peace, those who are persecuted for his name, There is a blessing for you whatever you're feeling as long as you truly trust in God. It's easy for us to claim blessings and hold our hands out for God to pour out to us, however God doesn't promise to pour out to everyone, James teaches us that Faith without works is dead and anyone who asks admiss is double minded. we see in psalms where god blesses those who delight in Him it doesn't say he blesses everyone or those who acknowledge his existence. It says those who delight in Him. how do we delight in him by forming a relationship with him. That is the reason he created us so he would not be alone so that he could call us friend. He also calls us his child. Isn't that amazing that we have a heavenly father who calls us his friend we can go to him about anything and he will give us the kingdom, comfort, the earth, he will fill us with righteousness, and show us his mercy, he will even reveal himself to us and he will give us the desires of our heart, our reward is in heaven we have eternal life the ones who do evil against us because were serving him they will be done away with in the end time. So go and let your light so shine before all men. We will discuss that next weekend.

Questions

1)Do I truly have a relationship with God am i talking to him daily or just saying i believe there's a God but i don't have time to make it personal? If you answered no then you can make it personal today Make that decision today to make your relationship with God personal.

2) How would i have felt if i were one of the people on the mountainside listening to Jesus teach this for the very first time? What would stand out to me? What stands out to me today? Have I felt the emotions listed in the passage or acted the actions in this passage? 

3)Am I going to keep pressing in for an emotional blessing or give up because i don't see results? Keep in mind the promises of God are yes and amen and his word never returns void. never means not even in 2025 years or longer will his words ever return empty. He keeps his promises.

4) Am I doing any works for the Lord?

5)Do i consider the Lord my friend? Do i think of God as my heavenly father?

6)Am i delighted in the Lord am i going to rejoice in him and be glad?

7) Do I shine? Does my attitude and actions reflect that of God the perfect loving father? DO people look at me and think that right there that is a christian?

Week 2

Pick up the shovel! Everyone is always talking about climbing out the hole and putting down the shovel, but God wants us to dig a little deeper. He has good plans for us he has a future and a hope for us, he has a blessing to get to us. Do not give up yet. God says to keep digging. Dig a little deeper into his word. Spend time with him day and night meditate on his word. If you don't know what the voice of God sounds like you won't hear him clearly when he starts speaking. His sheep hear his voice and a stranger they will not follow. Step out on faith pick up the shovel and dig deep. Trust in God. All we can do is what he tells us to do and all that he tells us to do is in his word. Whatever you are waiting on the Lord for spend some time in his word this week keep digging don't give up you might have dropped the shovel but its ok you can just pick it back up. Pick it up today, right now pull out your bible and start praying. Start worshiping God let the band loose. give god some praise because your blessing is just upstream its on the way. Are you looking for it?

Reflection Questions

1)And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper Psalm 1:3

This is what God expects from us to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, a tree cannot grow nor continue living without water and you cannot plant a tree until you dig a hole to put that tree in. Ask yourself this week am I preparing myself to be connected to the living water? Jesus said whoever drinks of this water will never thirst again. Are you tired of be dry and empty? Seek the Lord dig deeper until you find that living water like a fountain that never runs dry. 

2) God has good plans for us. The Lord said his word will never return void. Do you believe that? Do you believe God has a calling for your life? Do you believe that God has blessings in store for you? If you believe are you still digging are you still expecting God to move on your behalf? If you answered no to that question then you have a choice to make am I going to pick up the shovel and keep going? Am I going to let go and give it to God?

3)What is God calling me to do? If you know then seek God and ask him to provide you with opportunities to do what he is calling you to do. If you don't know seek out his word and remember sometimes he's calling us to do something simple like encourage our friend, or call a family member. Sometimes he wants us to talk to a stranger in walmart and let them know God is in control that they can still have a good day despite all the challenges their facing. God's calling for our lives lines up perfectly with his word. Do not forget to do good and share with others for these are the sacrifices that are pleasing to God Hebrews 13:16

Reference verses: Jeremiah 29:11, Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1:2, John 10:27, John 4:14, John 7:38, Isaiah 55:11, Romans 12:2

Note: I know this study is different than the first, but I believe this is what the Lord is saying. read the paragraph and focus on a different number each day, and meditate on the reference verses ask yourself if these verses can be applied to your daily life or if there's something in it you need God to reveal to you. Do you truly believe or does it just sound good to you? If you truly believe then your way of thinking will change; it won't be negative it will be I trust in God.

 Week 1

Personal Bible Study

This week we will be looking at Psalms 37. Your challenge is to memorize verses 3,4,&5

This Psalm reminds us that God is with us we do not need to be afraid we simply need to commit to the Lord. Trust in the Lord to protect us to guide us. We can find delight and happiness in the Lord, joy comes from him. It does not come from ourselves nor the things of this world.  He makes us shine because of his righteousness not because we are simply doing good but because he lives within us. He reminds us not to be concerned with the evildoers in the world. The Lord Wins! Yes there are wicked people doing wicked things and they get rewarded here on earth with fancy cars  big houses expensive clothes while the children of God struggle to pay their bills, but the Lord is our refuge our safe place he is our peace. He will reward us for staying faithful when and how is up to him. He promises us that he will cut the wicked off. He promises to direct our steps. He promises that he has a pathway for us to turn from evil and do good. But doing good is only the begining, God desires a relationship with our heart not just our good deeds. He promises love and protection to us. He gives us wisdom all we have to do is ask for it and listen for the answer. Everyone talks about ask and God will give but do we ever be still and know that he is God and he speaks to us in a still small voice that cannot be heard through the noise and chaos. When the bible talks about a prayer closet its talking about a personal space where you can be alone away from the distractions of the world and hear the voice of God speak to you. The Shepherd himself said 'my sheep know my voice". so if you find yourself in a position where God isn't speaking to you stop talking and start listening. Get ready to write down what the Lord is saying to you. 

Questions to think about as you read this chapter. Split these questions up and focus on a different one or set each day this week and spend some time listening God may not speak at first but he will. He speaks through images, songs, people, through his word. He speaks in so many ways. Ask him to open your heart to hear what he is saying to you and remember God loves you so much he sent his son to die so you could spend eternity with him and then he left that choice up to you to make. He isn't going to force you to spend time with him. He's simply going to stand and knock at the door waiting for you to invite him in.

1.Have I been worried about things/people that I cannot control or have I been able to give those things to God?

2. Have I truly committed to the Lord or delighted in him?

3. Do I have a temper I need to learn to control? 

4.It is better to have a little than to be evil. Is there a way that I can help someone in need?

5.When did the Lord answer my prayers? How often has he kept me safe, in the past days weeks months even years? He kept me safe from dangers I didn't know about and never will know about.

6.Do I speak life and wisdom to others or do my words hurt them?

7.Do I wait on the Lord with an expectancy?

8.Do I truly believe what I read in this chapter or do I need to ask the Lord to help me understand it?

9.Have I ever considered that God has a purpose for everyone whether they are evil or good they all have a future and a choice to make?

10.What is the main thing I feel God is saying to me through this chapter?

Reference verses:  John 15:11, Romans 15:13, James 1:5, Psalms 46:10, 1 Kings 19:11-13, Matthew 6:6, John 10:27, John 3:16, Revelation 3:20