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We've just seen how a Bible study can go. Lets try it practically. In this example you can see that there is flexibility in doing a devotion with God. Let’s take one Bible verse. Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Ask yourself, 1) What character traits of God are shown in this verse? What is God doing, saying, or being described like in this verse? What is God like? Put a word to it. Describe Him. Think about it. God is my Savior and my God. God has saved me from what? If I am born again, He has saved me from eternal hell. God has saved me from some circumstance that would have been worse without His intervention and Presence. God has saved my mind’s stability, for when I think like He does, I am sound and joyful. (Add your own thoughts and feelings, too.) (OR, you might NOT think that God is your eternal Savior and God. If you want God as your Savior, see these pages: To BE with God, The Atonement , Christ, New Creation, Salvation Prayer, Pure Heart, My Room) How does this pertain to you in your life? What effect does or can this have on you personally? This pertains to me because … since God has been faithful to me in the past, showing His infallible Charcter of love to me, I can and will trust that God will continue to be good to me, even when I can’t understand exactly why things are the way they are. How different than people is God in this passage? No person can be my Savior. NO one can save me from hell, or change me from within my insides. No person is ever sooo good or faithful as the holy God. It is impossible for any man, woman or child to be this way. I am sooo glad God is God and that He loves me!! Speak aloud this trait of God. Listen to it in your ears. Write down: God’s character trait is ______________________
2) Rhema From the Bible verses you have just read, what thought, concept, action, or idea jumps out to you? Focus on that verse (s). This jumps out at me: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” What is God showing you? What is God saying to you from His Word? Here the Word of God shows me that I can speak to my own soul. I had never thought of doing that before! I can change my own attitude, outlook, and viewpoint if I want to. I can speak to my own emotions to change them for God, and not remain muddled or depressed, or downcast. Why AM I soooo downcast? Why IS my soul so sad? What is bothering me that makes me think my life is so futile with no hope for a good change? Oh, I am thinking that ________ and that ______ (you, please, fill in the blanks). By me thinking about this, and reading the next verse “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him” I realize that I am really only considering today, the next few months and maybe even years. I am thinking more short term than long term. I am NOT considering all God has done for me in the past, which He will continue to do and to change things in my future! I have been looking for solutions in people and things rather than God. I have been trusting and hoping for people and things to make a difference in my life and heart, when it is really God Who is the One I am to hope in to make things better. Lord God Almighty, I am sorry for not trusting you more. For looking away from you, and looking for other people and things to do Your job. Please forgive me. I forgive myself. And fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I will think of you in all I do and say – so that I will not have my soul downcast, but UPcast for You!! I trust you God. I will praise You for You ARE Good! Speak aloud the verse God is giving to you from His Word, the Bible. Listen to it in your ears. Write down what is significant to you from God. Write down what He is speaking to you. Write down the Bible verse (s): _____________________________
3) Promise What promise is given in that Bible verse (s)? Focus on the first promise. Speak aloud the promise God is giving you from His Word, the Bible. Listen to it in your ears. Write that Bible verse down: Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, If I put my hope in God and praise Him, I, my soul, will not be downcast or disturbed within me. If I keep in my heart and mind that God saved me from so much and that I am to call on Him and trust Him to do more, then I will be hopeful! I need hope, so I should do this with my mind, mouth, attitude, and my will. I choose to hope in God and praise Him for what He will accomplish in me and in my life. Hold this promise in your mind and heart. Be assured, when you pray with faith this promise back to God, He will honor His Word for you. Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, 1 Samuel 15:29. Focus on another promise. Speak aloud the promise God is giving you from His Word, the Bible. Listen to it in your ears. Write that Bible verse down: "my Savior and my God. God is my Savior and my God. My Savior is The Lord God ALL-Mighty! My Savior is infallible because He is God. My being saved from hell is sure because nothing is more powerful than God. I will trust in God even more! I will learn about Him and love Him more because God is my Savior. Hold this promise in your mind and heart. Be assured, when you pray with faith this promise back to God, He will honor His Word for you. Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, 1 Samuel 15:29. 4) Commandment What does that Bible verse (s) say you are to do? What command is God giving to you in His Word? The command is that "I praise God for being my God and Savior." Do these words challenge, validate, or give you insight into your personal words, thoughts, feelings, actions, priorities, etc? I have not been doing this. Or when I am in church I sometimes do this, but I don’t really feel it deep down inside. I am a phony. No wonder I am still sad. I must be honest from my heart, mind, will and soul! I have been sooo sad, all I think about are my troubles… all I think about is how I think they will never end. How foolish of me! How unfaithful I am to such a holy, good and faithful God!
5) Application Put it into practical action what God says to do. Discuss it with God. Think about what He is saying. Take His Word into your heart to let Him do the work in changing you. Trust that God wants the very best for You. (Proverbs 3:5-7) Is God telling you to make personal changes in your words, thoughts, feelings, actions, priorities, etc? Is God validating you? Is God giving you insights for your life and your relationships? (Hebrews 4:12) Lord God Almighty, I am sorry for ignoring You and Your Word. I am sorry for paying more attention to my problems than to You, my Solution. Please show me how You want me to be. What You want me to do, think, and say so that I will, in action, be hopeful in You! (God's Laws, substitute gods, Sinful Life, Righteousness , Pure Heart, Cast your Cares, Come to Me, Come Near, New Creation, a Friendship with God, Broken Hearted. Please think about this some more, and listen for God's gentle voice or "better thoughts than your own" for the changes you are to make. Do what God says to do. Make the changes. Ask for the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13, 2 Timothy 1:7, Ephesians 3:16) to enable you to live for God and not for yourself. Rejoice as God enables you to walk by faith and not by your sight. (Hebrews 10:38)
6)Warning What happens if you do not do what God says? If I don’t do what the Bible says? What are the repercussions of disobeying God's Word? (Hint: What is the reverse of God’s promise?) Think about how your life will be by not making the change God commands you to do? God, if I do not praise you or put my hope and trust in you, I will continue to be downcast. My soul will continue to be depressed, and I will not get permanently better without You. (John 15:1-11) There can be no change in me if I don’t invite and allow You to make a change in me. If I do Not face You in my situation, if I do Not do what your Word says, then I am allowing my soul to continue to live a lie. To live the lie that says God is not my Savior from troubles. To live the lie that God is not powerful enough to change anything. UGH! – I don’t want to live a lie. I don’t want to deny You (Matthew 10:33). I do not want to continue to be depressed. God – I will fight to think of You and Your Word all the time! I will consciously choose to think of you and live for you. Thanks! (The Holy Spirit in the Believer , a Friendship with God)
7) Memorization Chose a Bible verse or phrase you want to remember. Or internalize the message so well and clearly that you won't forget it. Write down the Bible verse or phrase on a small piece of paper and reread it often until it has soaked deep down within you.
My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. Hebrews 10:38 Good Job going through this!~ And your relationship with God is your Bene-fit! Try another verse, even tomorrow - and enjoy growing up in our Lord Jesus Christ! Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. |
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