SUM 11: Service and Notes: Day 36

Philippians 3:12-14 and Hebrews 10:23-25, 35-39

Does God have more for me?

It is really easy to feel stuck in our faith. We all go through doubts and questions, and we wonder, “Am I really growing?” We can feel like our hearts are cold and our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. We even start to wonder if God has more in store for us or if this is all there is. We can even come to the point where we don’t even know if we can grow anymore or if we even want to.

So, what do we do when we feel this way? What do we do when we feel like there
is a wall? Press On. Our faith is a marathon, not a sprint.

When we feel stuck in our faith, we must take the focus off ourselves and put it on God, refocus. If we try to move forward in our own energy and strength, we will continue to feel stuck. We must trust in the character and consistency of God, not ourselves!

What is God like? What is His character? List characteristics of God.

Why is it important for our faith to know what God is like?

Read Philippians 3:12-14 again. Discuss what Paul is saying in these verses.

When we feel stuck, we need to stay connected to:
God (through prayer)
God’s Word
Things that point us to God (music, books, etc.)
Other believers

Read Hebrews 10:35-39. Will you stand on Christ even when it does not make sense?

Why it is important to stay close to other believers when you feel stuck?

What do you think it means to “throw away your confi dence”? (Hebrews 10:35)

How can you avoid throwing away your confi dence?

What are the rewards of not throwing away your confidence?

SUM 11: Day 32

Hebrews 4:16 and James 4:8

Refuel: Make a Connection. Taking time to pause and refresh by reading Scripture and
praying is a necessary component of our Christian walk. Even though this is such a beautiful act, it is possible for “refueling” to become an idol in our lives. We can easily begin to focus on checking off devotions on our daily to-do list and completely miss the Creator, who is desperate for intimacy with us. It is important to remember that God aches for a one-to-one relationship with us, which is why He sent Christ to sacrifice Himself in order to clear the way for communication with a living God. We now have the freedom to continually experience connection with our Father! Through these interactions, we will be refueled; however, God’s primary concern is for us to simply seek Him in all things we do.

Read: Hebrews 4:16 and James 4:8.

Pray: Thank the Lord for the sacrifice He made so you could communicate freely with Him. Ask Him to stir within you a desire to draw near to Him—not because of what He does, but simply because of who He is.

Do: Spend time thinking about what it would look like if God would physically walk through life with you. Would you tell Him about school? Would you ask for His advice? Would you hug Him? He longs for these types of interactions, even though He may not be physically present. Involve Him in your day-to-day and be excited—
He will draw near!

SUM 11: Day 24

Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:1-3

Sexual immorality has no place among Christians. At several different times, I began the workout program “P90X,” but the longest I made it is the start of the third week. I’ve thought about my lack of commitment to the program, and I’ve figured out why I drop out.

I have to sacrifice too much to do P90X the right way, so I quit early to save myself the hardship of giving up ice cream and Mountain Dew. Therefore, I continue to have high cholesterol and a weight problem.

Sexual immorality is like P90X for a lot of people. They feel like they are giving up so much or “missing out” on something by keeping themselves pure. God is clear about what is best for us. He is clear about what he expects from us as followers of Christ, to be free from sexual sin.

Pray: Thank God for giving you clear direction in Scripture about what He wants for you. Thank Him for giving you a way out when temptation comes. Ask Him to forgive you for any sin that is in your life. Ask Him to help you to love Him more than anyone else in this world.

Do: If you are in a relationship where you are guilty of sexual sin, end the relationship now. Regardless of your current relationship status, vow to keep yourself pure.