| Light for the Journey
God's Answer to Stress |
Online Bible Study
1.14.08 |
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| Welcome to Light for the Journey!
Grab a cup of coffee...or Diet Coke in my case...and let's get started! What do you need? A Bible, pen or pencil, a journal (a spiral notebook is fine) and an open heart. You'll notice the study is divided into five days...plus the section, "Power for the Journey". Here's the plan:
Mindset for the Journey: Pray, thanking God for His written Word. Ask Him to reveal the unique message He has for in this study. Read the passage listed 2-3 times. Make a deliberate choice to fix your thoughts on each word and each phrase as you read it. Don't let your mind wander to the pile of dirty laundry or the mystery of tonight's dinner menu. Focus only on God's truth and let everything else fall away. Your mind is set and you ready to begin Day 1.
Facts for the Journey: the framework and heart of each week's study
Prayer for the Journey: a week-by-week plan for learning to pray simply, effectively, powerfully.
Truth for the Journey: pinpoint the one truth that stood out and impacted you most this week
Steps for the Journey: make a specific plan to put feet to or apply the truths you have learned.
Reflections on the Journey: examine, evaluate and record thoughts, truths, life changes
Power for the Journey: Our greatest source of power is God's Word..but only if we saturate our lives with it. Make a plan to memorize Scripture. You may need to start by memorizing one verse per week. Just start! God will honor your step of obedience. |
 Mindset for the Journey
"The LORD is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever." Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV)
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Day 1. Facts for the Journey
Stress happens! I know you have dealt  with many types of stress this week - at work, in relationships, at home, at the grocery store or the hospital. Stress is so daily, but so is God! Last week, we began our journey to dealing with stress - God's way - and learned that the first key is to know whose you are. Stress management is a spiritual discipline that flows from a personal relationship with God, our Shepherd. This week, let's look at the last words of Psalm 23:1, "I shall not want". Those four simple words can eliminate a world of stress. Why? Because they shout the message that God is enough...He is our source!
In Psalm 23:1, the word "want" literally means "lack". In other words, we will lack nothing. As a child of God, every need will be met. Just as the shepherd provides for his sheep, God provides for us, His children.
Notice I said God will provide our needs, not our "greeds". Stuff is just that...stuff. So much energy and time is wasted in an attempt to fill the "holes" in our lives with things. We must learn the vital truth that the best things in life are not things.
When we talk about not being greedy, we often think first of material things. Be careful! Greed is not limited to things...it can spill into relationships, careers...every area of life. We need to look for the emotional meeting of our needs in the right places, in the right people and in the right way!
A Sunday School teacher asked her students to share their favorite verse in the Bible. A little boys hand shot up! When the teacher called on him, he answered, "The Lord is my shepherd, He's all I want!" The little boy may have quoted it wrong, but he got the message right. We need to resign from the kingdom of thing-dom!
Calvin Miller says, "The world is poor because her fortune is buried in the sky and all her treasure maps are of the earth." A loving father meets the need of His children. Your husband is not your source. Your children or your career is not your source. You may receive a check at the end of each month from your employer, but it passed through the Father's hands as His provision in your life.
I am convinced that so much of our stress comes from expecting lifeless things to produce life. We look in the wrong places for our needs to be met. Expecting anything or anyone other than God to meet the greatest needs and satisfy the deepest longing of your heart is a sure recipe for disaster. Many marriages fail when the husband or wife expects their mate to make them happy and meet the needs only God can meet.
Today, celebrate the truth that God is your source. His love, power, strength, grace, forgiveness ... all that He is, will never end and never fall short. Recognizing and trusting God as your source will keep your eyes On God and your gaze on your circumstances. Stress cannot exist in a heart and life that is totally dependent on God.
Do you know Him?
For more information visit my website. |
| Day 2. Prayer for the Journey
Why do we need to pray? The Bible is filled with reaons to pray.
To glorify God
John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
To find victory
Matthew 26: 41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
To please God
Proverbs 15:8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
To receive things that we need
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
To disarm your enemies
Luke 6:28 Pray for the happiness of those who curse you; implore God's blessing on those who hurt you.
For protection
2 Thessalonians 3:2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
For help in times of trouble
James 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.
For healing
James 5:14-16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
The list is endless as are the rewards of prayer. Pray about everything! Your Father is waiting to hear your voice. | |
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"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray."
Samuel Chadwick |
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Day 4. Steps for the Journey
God is neither impressed nor pleased by how much we know. God is pleased when we apply what we know.
What goals did you set for your weekly Bible study?
Did you meet those goals this week?
What changes do you need to make in your schedule this week to meet your prayer goals?
Add 10 minutes to your daily study time this week. Ask the Father to empower this new commitment.
Set a specific time and place for your Bible study. Keep your Bible, journal, pen, etc.at this spot.
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| Day 5. Reflections on the Journey
Journal. I strongly encourage you to begin keeping a journal for this bible study. Each day, record new thoughts, fresh truth, prayers, life goals and plans - anything that becomes meaningful as we work through study. Sign and date each entry.
How did you do with keeping your journal this week? Go back over your entries for the week to see what changes God has made in your life. If you haven't started your journal, make that a priority this week. Nothing fancy...a spiral notebook will be fine.
Praise God for the power of His Word. In your journal, write a note of thanksgiving for the victories of the week. When tougher times come, remember that God is faithful yesterday, today and forever.
Choose and record one new truth that has been particularly life-changing. Share that truth with a friend. What was your one truth from last week's lesson? Did you share it with anyone? If so...you go, girl! If not, do it today. Call a friend, write them a note...just do it!
Review and record your memory verse in your journal.
I would love to hear from you about which verse you chose to memorize and why.
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Need Prayer?Questions? Let's talk!
I would love to connect with you during the course of this study.Joining me is a team of prayer warriors who will faithfully pray for you! We received so many requests this week...thank you for sharing your life with us. We are praying!
Questions? A great question from one of members: If 1 John 5:14-15 is true, then why hasn't God healed my son?
I John 5:14-15 (NASB) This is the
confidence which we have before Him that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him.
The author, John, assures his readers of their confidence (parrhesia, Gk.) before God in prayer. However, the promise of answered prayer is not indiscriminate, a blanket promise. To be effective, prayer must be offered "according to His will" (v. 14) by people who "do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (3:22). In other words, when we live in obedience to God, He aligns the desires of our heart with His will. God's ways are higher than our ways and at times, His will defies human logic. That is where faith comes in. Examine your requests in light of obedience and the will of God.
Email me: journeyfriends@cs.com |
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Day 3. Truth for the Journey
One New Truth...
Last week I encouraged you to become a One Truth Seeker, asking God to teach you one new truth each time you hear, read or study the Bible; then make the commitment to take action on that truth.
What one new truth did you receive from last week's study? Record that truth in your journal. Look back over the week. How did God use that truth in your daily life? What changes can you see that are a direct result of that one new truth.
What one truth did you get from today's lesson? What is the first step you need to take in order to apply this truth? Be specific.
Take a few minutes to praise God for the Bible and its power to change lives. |
 Power for the Journey
The Bible is not only our road map and instruction manual for life, it contains the very definition of who we are. If we want to live a life of peace...if we want to manage the stress of life instead of allowing it to manage us, we must read, study, memorize and apply the Word of God every day. The Bible gives direction, correction, power, training in the ways of God and is the most powerful weapon we have in the war with stress. Each day, choose and memorize one of the verses below:
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually! Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 103:12 He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
* All verses taken from NIV. | |
I was at the checkout of a K-Mart. The clerk rang up a $46.64 charge so I gave her a fifty dollar bill. She gave me back $46.64. I told her she had made a mistake in MY favor and gave her the money back. The clerk became indignant and informed me that she was educated and that she knew what she was doing. And she returned the money again. I gave her the money back again...same scenario! I finally departed the store with the $46.64. 