Take Your Next Step

Scripture

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2

Reflection

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis

Q: What are some of your deepest longings? Take a moment to think them through, write them down. How are they met in God?

Q: Do you believe that God truly satisfies? What are the things you can quickly turn to for comfort and satisfaction?

Q: The Psalmist asks ‘where can I go and meet with God?’ What does your intentional time of drinking from the stream and meeting with God look like? Does anything need to change?

Prayer

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. (A.W. Tozer)

Take some time to be honest with God about the things you deeply long for. Are they of Him? Are they sinful? Do they simply need redirected?

Scripture

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:1-3a

Reflection

Do you believe that the Lord cares for you? Has it gone from your head to your heart? The Lord cares for the deepest parts of us. He cares for the entirety of who you are – so much so that as a shepherd, He leads, guides, and corrects.

Q: How have you seen the Lord’s leading in your life? Take a moment to remember and reflect on His guiding hand on your life.

Q: How have you seen the corrective hand of the Shepherd bring you back on the path?

Q: How have you experienced the the soul-refreshing hand of the Good Shepherd?

Prayer

Only to sit and think of God, oh what a joy it is, to think the thought, to breathe the name, earth has no higher bliss. (Frederick Faber)

Take some time to thank God and be attentive to the ways He has guided and protected you. Ask that He might refresh your soul as you pray.

Scripture

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Mark 8: 35-37

Reflection

It is quite possible to give up the deepest parts of ourselves for momentary and temporary treasures. We do it all the time. We trade relationship for entertainment, wisdom for tricks, and prayer for practicality. Jesus, as He always does, is teaching us about the upside down kingdom and how what we truly long for is found in life with Him.

Q: In what ways are you tempted to trade the beauty of Christ’s way for the pleasure of the moment?

Q: Are there ways that you tried to save your life only to find that you lost what was more important?

Q: Jesus is challenging His followers to take up their cross, and in doing so truly find life. What is Jesus calling you to deny right now?

Prayer

Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that You may enter and dwell there without a rival.

– A.W. Tozer

Ask God to search your heart for idols of comfort and security you are clinging to.

Scripture

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:44-46

Reflection

Jesus says the easiest way to check your heart is to check your speech. We can fool ourselves into thinking we have a healthy heart because of how we feel, but the true test is the weight of our words. Our words reveal what is beneath the surface.

Q: How have you seen your speech be a litmus test for the state of your heart?
Q: Think through the last 12 hours: did you complain? Gossip? Celebrate? Slander? As you take this inventory, where would you say your heart was before the Lord?
Q: Our hearts can be envious, deceitful, preoccupied, and disengaged – how does this show up in our speech?

Prayer

Father, when I examine my speech I am humbled. Help me to dig deep into my heart that I might give my insecurities, fears, and failures to You. I trust that You heal and lead in the way of life everlasting.

Ask the Lord to look at the fruit of your life and search your heart. Confess what needs confessed and be reminded of His grace for you.

Scripture

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23

Reflection

We all deal with anxiety in one way or another. Stress about bills, a pending decision, a hard conversation, or the fear of the future are all sure to cause our hearts to be anxious. Jesus cares about our anxious hearts and calls us to bring our worries to Him.

Q: What do you tend to carry anxiety in your heart about? What anxieties are on your heart right now?

Q: Do you believe that God cares for your anxieties? Do you believe that His presence makes a difference in the midst of anxiety?

Q: What does is look like to allow God to search your heart? How might God want to lead you in the midst of your worry?

Prayer

Father help me to trust You. Often times I know in my mind that You love me, but it doesn’t permeate my heart. Search me, and know me.

Simply allow the Lord to search your heart. Ask Him to reveal what the deeper root of your anxieties and worry may be.

Scripture

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Reflection

Trusting God with all of our heart is a powerful calling. Our hearts often wrestle with doubt, fear, and the desire to be in control. Yet, when we choose to lean on God’s wisdom and trust His guidance, He faithfully directs our path, even when we don’t understand or see the whole picture.

Q: What does it look like to trust God with your whole heart, and not just part of it?

Q: Are there areas of your life that you haven’t fully surrendered to Him? How might trusting God with those areas affect your emotions, decisions, and relationships?

Q: How can you begin inviting God into the parts of your life that are the most difficult to trust Him in, and begin trusting Him with all of your heart?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive me when I have failed to trust You with my life. Help my heart to lean into You, and to trust You fully. Reveal to me the areas of my life that I have not chosen to trust You in, and give me courage to let go and give You complete control.

Sit with the Lord and let Him reveal to you where your heart is failing to trust Him. Ask Him to give you the courage to begin letting go and allowing Him to take control and lead you.

Scripture

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:33-35

Reflection

Jesus reminds us that where our treasure is, our hearts will follow. Our hearts are naturally drawn to the things we value most, whether it’s wealth, success, or comfort; but these temporary treasures cannot fulfill the deepest longings of our souls. When we choose to treasure God above all else, our hearts align with His eternal purposes, finding true peace and fulfillment in His kingdom. By redirecting our hearts to what truly matters, we invest in treasures that will never fade, allowing us to live with a lasting, eternal perspective.

Q: What are the things in your life that you find yourself valuing the most? How do these things shape your heart’s desires and affections?

Q: In what ways can you shift your focus from temporary treasures to the eternal promises of God? What might that look like in your daily life?

Q: How can you cultivate a heart that treasures God above all else, especially in a world full of distractions?

Prayer

Father, reveal to me the things that my heart treasures above You. Give me the eyes to
seek You and Your kingdom first. Remind me that You and You alone fulfill the deep longings and desires of my heart.

Take a moment to reflect on the things your heart values and treasures the most. Take inventory of the things you need to reprioritize, and let God begin to arrange according to His desires.

Scripture

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:14-16

Reflection

Let peace rule! Easier said than done. We can’t manufacture peace, but we can allow the Prince of Peace to make His home in our heart. Paul encourages that gratitude, singing, the story, and the teachings of Jesus take up the space so that fear and anxiety have less room to occupy what is rightfully His.

Q: What are the things that create turmoil in your heart? Do you believe Jesus cares about those things?

Q: What does it look like to have peace regardless of our circumstances. How might we tangibly ‘cast our anxieties upon Him’?

Q: What are some practices that cultivate peace and make you aware of the reality of the Prince of Peace in your life?

Prayer

Jesus, You have made peace possible and You offer peace. The waters of my heart are often choppy with relational, financial, and circumstantial waves. Help me to know You care and are present in the midst of it all. Help me to trust Your wisdom and hand.

Take a moment to surrender your anxieties and fears to Jesus. Are there areas you are holding on to tightly that are compromising peace?

Scripture

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Reflection

You are in a war. The war that you are in is not a culture war but a spiritual battle for your mind. Satan is a master of lies. He will use a lie to create strongholds in our minds causing us to doubt the truth, love, & existence of God. We must intentionally account for our thoughts and submit them to Christ. As the cliché goes, ‘think about what you think about.’ Don’t passively think.

Q: What lies have taken up residence in your mind? What strongholds of thought has Satan begun to construct?

Q: Where do you take in a lot of thoughts passively? What are the passive thoughts that come into your mind frequently?

Q: What does it look to take captive your thoughts and submit them to Christ?

Prayer

Father, I admit that my mind can often run on an autopilot where I passively consume whatever enters my mind. Not all my thoughts are true, yet I can believe that they are more real at times than Your Word, and You, Jesus. Give me an alert mind that I may not fall into despair or sin due to a lack of thinking clearly.

Get a pen & paper. Ask God to reveal some of the lies that you’ve passively believed and then write down. Some of them might be strongholds that the enemy has been holding for years. Confess the lie and replace it with the truth of God.

Scripture

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8

Reflection

Often our minds are unguarded, letting thoughts come in passively that form our reality. Take anxiety for instance. Fearful thoughts can come into your mind, but you can decide whether to dwell on the thoughts of fear or dwell on the attributes and person of Christ. Where your mind dwells will shape the person you become and the thing(s) that you love. Don’t let your mind be formed by passive fears but inform your mind on the truths of God.

Q: Which of the qualities listed in verses 8—truth, nobility, purity, loveliness, etc.—do I feel is most lacking in my thought life right now?

Q: How can I begin to shift my focus and dwell on the person of Christ rather than on thoughts of fear?

Q: How do the thoughts I dwell on inform my anxiousness or peace?

Prayer

Lord thank You for being the God of peace and not one of fear. Your perfect love for me should cast out all fear in my mind, but I admit I often don’t always dwell on Your love. Lord, when I find my mind wandering or racing, will You remind me of who You are and of Your perfect love for me.

Take a moment to dwell on the things that are true about Christ. What attributes about God come to your mind? Let Him be the one to shepherd your anxious thoughts through His perfect peace.

Scripture

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Reflection

As human beings, we were created to worship. The things that we worship have a way of shaping our souls. Where we direct our worship tells us where we find hope, satisfaction, meaning, and belonging. We become what we behold. You are being changed by what you contemplate.

Q: Where do I go most often to find hope, satisfaction, meaning, and belonging?

Q: How is the thing I’m beholding transforming me (for better or worse)?

Q: How can I begin to intentionally contemplate the Lord?

Prayer

Pause. Take a deep breath. Maybe get on your knees. Ask God to give you a glimpse of His glory in this moment. Think of the heavens, the angels, God on His throne ruling over the cosmos.

Then think about the cross of Christ, where the God of the ages suffered and died to bring you into His grace and one day, His glory.

Scripture

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8

Reflection

When Scripture speaks about the flesh it is referring to the seemingly uncontrollable urges and intense momentary desires that can rise in our minds. The flesh is the nature of sin inhabiting our minds that focuses on getting whatever we want in the moment with no regard for God, others around us, or even our future self. This mind governed by flesh will feel exciting and blissful for a time, but it will eventually turn, leading to despair and death.

Q: What uncontrollable urges or intense momentary desires are consuming my thoughts and driving my actions?

Q: What do I hope that I gain from letting my flesh lead my mind? Where is my flesh actually leading me?

Q: What would it look like to be led by the Spirit and not my flesh? Where does the Spirit want to lead me?

Prayer

Father, my mind can often be led by whatever I desire. Help me to starve my flesh and feed Your Spirit in my thoughts, Lord! Remind me that my flesh will not lead me to life and peace but to despair, frustration, regret, and death. Remind me of Your grace as I learn to continually walk in step with the Spirit.

For further reading and mediation go to Galatians 5:13-26.

Scripture

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. 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

Reflection

When Paul mentions “this world” in the passage above, he isn’t referring to people but to a system of beliefs that subtly shapes your mind. The pressures of the world’s messaging are sneaky and deceptive, often appealing to our desires for our own justice, freedom, and rights. Jesus’ way is to offer ourselves (including our minds) to Him rather than to the patterns that are so ingrained in our world. This will take deep awareness of ourselves and God because though we live in this world, we are not of it. Humility must guide us.

Q: What does it look like to offer your body as a living sacrifice to God? Q: How does technology play a role in what I think about? How might the digital algorithms be steering and directing my mind?

Q: What’s my plan to intentionally have my mind transformed into the image of God?

Prayer

Father, You love the people in this world. Don’t let my heart and mind become angry at people but instead, help me see the lies that I believe in my own mind because of the constant messaging of our world. Lord, keep me humble and aware of what thoughts need to be renewed in me. Allow me to be convicted on truth and love, as You loved.

Prayerfully consider and write down a few thoughts on how you can be intentional about offering your body as a living sacrifice to God and being renewed by Him in your thoughts.

Scripture

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Reflection

The word that we translate into ‘strength’ is a Hebrew word “me’od” meaning “very” or “greatly.” It appears hundreds of times throughout the Hebrew Bible as a common and versatile word, used to describe various aspects of human experience and divine actions. Here are some examples of the word: “He loved God me’od,” means “He loved God very much.” “The land was me’od good,” means, “The land was very good.” In the context of “love the Lord your God with all your me’od” it is meant to amplify the meaning of the word it modifies, meaning loving God and to do so with the utmost intensity and devotion.

Q: In what specific ways can you demonstrate “loving God with all your might” in your daily life? Consider how this might look in your work, relationships, hobbies, and use of time and resources.

Q: How does the concept of “loving God with all your might” challenge your current priorities and commitments?

Q: What areas of your life might need adjustment to better reflect a life wholeheartedly devoted to God?

Prayer

Lord God, I desire to love You with all my might. Help me to prioritize You in all areas of my life. Guide me to use my talents and resources to serve You and build Your kingdom. May my love for You not be just a feeling, but a daily reality that shapes my thoughts, words, and actions.

Take a moment to consider the areas and avenues that God has uniquely given you, and how they might be used for His glory.

Scripture

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29

Reflection

These verses remind us of the source of our strength. We will grow weary and we can not self-manufacture strength. Instead, it comes from the hope we have in Him. God invites us to use our energy, vitality, and enthusiasm for kingdom purposes. Loving God with all our energy means:

• Living with Passion: Pursuing our faith with zeal and dedication, allowing our love for God to fuel our actions.
• Serving with Enthusiasm: Offering our time, talents, and energy to serve God and others with joy and eagerness.
• Avoiding Spiritual Stagnation: Guarding against complacency and striving to grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with God.
• Finding Rest in God: Recognizing that true strength comes from relying on God’s power and seeking rest in Him.

Q: In your season of life, where is your energy best directed?
Q: Are you investing your energy in activities that honor God and build His kingdom?

Prayer

Lord God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and renew my strength. Loving You with all my energy is not about exhausting myself but rather aligning my energy with Your purposes and finding fulfillment in You! Help me to use my energy wisely, to serve You with enthusiasm, and to live a life that reflects my love for You.

Ask the Lord to give you opportunities and wisdom to discern where to best spend the energy He has given you.

Scripture

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Reflection

God has graciously bestowed each of us with unique spiritual gifts. Loving God with all our spiritual gifts is not about boasting or competition. It’s about using our God-given abilities to glorify Him and bless those around us. Loving God with all our spiritual gifts means:

• Discovering and Identifying: Taking the time to discern and identify the specific gifts God has given us.
• Using Them for Service: Actively seeking opportunities to use our gifts to serve others within the church and in the world.
• Developing and Growing: Continuously seeking to grow and develop our gifts through practice, training, and mentorship.
• Serving Humbly: Recognizing that our gifts come from God and using them with humility and gratitude.

Q: How have you been using these gifts to serve God and others?
Q: Are there any areas where you can more effectively utilize your gifts?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the unique gifts You have given me. Help me to use these gifts to serve You faithfully and to build up Your church. Guide me to discover, develop and deploy my gifts, and grant me the grace to use them with humility and joy.

Spend some time with the Lord asking to see gifts in the lives of those around you. Ask Him how you might encourage others in the gifts He has given them.

Scripture

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Colossians 3:23-24

Reflection

This verse calls us to a wholehearted devotion to God, encompassing every aspect of our being. While “position” isn’t explicitly mentioned, we can interpret this to mean how we use our influence, authority, and role in life to reflect our love for God. Loving God with all our “position” is not about accumulating power or seeking personal gain but rather making a positive impact on the world and bringing glory to Jesus! Loving God with all our “position” means:

• Integrity in Every Role: Whether at work, in our community, or within our family, we strive to live out our faith with integrity and honesty.
• Using Influence for Good: We use our influence to promote justice, compassion, and the values of the Kingdom of God.
• Leading with Humility: If we are in positions of leadership, we lead with humility, serving others and empowering them to grow.
• Submitting to God’s Will: We recognize that our position ultimately belongs to God and seek to use it in accordance with His will.

Q: How can you use your influence to reflect God’s love and advance His kingdom?

Q: Are there any areas where you need to improve your integrity or humility in your role?

Prayer

Lord God, help me to use my position in life to reflect Your love and advance Your kingdom. Give me the wisdom and courage to use my influence for good and to lead with humility and integrity. May my life in every role be an indication of your grace.

Be honest with the Lord about the roles in your life that you are struggling with. Ask that He give you a new perspective in the roles you find challenging.

Scripture

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you, through His poverty, might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:7-9

Reflection

Loving God with all of our strength and might can also be understood as encompassing our resources, including our money. Loving God with all our money means recognizing that all we have ultimately belongs to Him. Loving God with all your money is not about guilt or legalism. It’s about aligning our financial decisions with our faith and recognizing that our resources are a tool for building God’s kingdom. It’s about:

• Stewardship: Viewing our finances as a gift from God and managing them responsibly.
• Generosity: Sharing our resources with others, both within and outside the church.
• Avoiding Greed: Resisting the temptation to accumulate wealth for ourselves and instead seeking to use our money to serve God’s purposes.
• Trusting God’s Provision: Relying on God for our needs and trusting in His plan for our finances.

Q: How do you currently use your finances? What are your goals and priorities?

Q: Are there any areas where you can demonstrate greater generosity or better stewardship?

Prayer

Lord God, help me to use my money wisely and generously. Give me the wisdom to discern Your will for my finances and the courage to follow Your lead. May my money be a blessing to others and a reflection of my love for You.

Be honest with the Lord about where your greatest struggle is with money: stewardship, generosity, greed, trust. Surrender your weakness to Him and ask for His grace in these areas.