Devotional Journal for 2018 About Himself, His Son Or His Holy Spirit, We Respond with Awe and Thrill at His Greatness and Beauty
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foreword Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Bible is powerfully relevant to our lives. It is a supernatural discerning agent that sorts out and exposes the mixed motivations of our hearts. When we seek to enjoy communion with the Lord – and not be led astray by the ambiguities of religious experience – we read the Bible. From the Bible’s beginning to end, God’s words and God’s deeds reveal God himself for our knowledge and enjoyment. Of course, it is possible to read the Bible without enjoying communion with God. We must seek to understand Bible’s meaning, we must truly hear and contemplate what we GET understand, and we must feel and express the appropriate response of the heart. If he convicts us, we must respond to him with sorrow and repentance. If he commends us, we respond with 2 humble gratitude and joy. If he commands us, we resolve to obey and seek his strength to do so. If he warns us, we heed his caution SHARP and depend on his watchful protection. If he reveals something devotional journal for 2018 about himself, his Son or his Holy Spirit, we respond with awe and thrill at his greatness and beauty. So, set aside a regular time each day to meet God in is word. Define your challenges and questions for the day and ask God to answer them from his word. Use this GET SHARP journal to record what you hear. Make time for God’s word, and God will change your life. Seeking God with you, Pastor Ken Ediger a personal note what you need to know You hold in your hands a tool that is designed to deepen your In November of 2014, Emily and I were invited to a prayer training relationship with God. Believers all over the world and throughout conference in Fresno, California. Little did we know how it would time have used the methods we adapted (Discovery Bible Study) change our lives and inspire us for ministry. that you will find in this journal to grow spiritually. They continue to be a powerful teaching tool as people desire to understand God’s One tool we were introduced to was a prayer journal that we used Word and to be led into all truth by the Holy Spirit. for a couple of years put together by Fred & Esther Leonard. Through this, the Lord has laid on our hearts the importance of Before I introduce GET SHARP, notice what Jesus said about the helping others hear from God, and to this end, we have put Holy Spirit: together our own devotional journal. The purpose of Get SHARP is to help you encounter Jesus in a life-changing way through the “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the power of the Holy Spirit. All proceeds from the sale of this book go Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you to further the ministry of our home church: North Oak Community forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it Church. neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for He lives in you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17) We encourage you to commit to using this GET SHARP journal during your personal devotional time. You will get the most out of it “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my when you use it consistently. Ideally, once a week you will carve name, will teach you all things and will remind you of out time to meet with one or two other people and do the GET everything I have said to you.” (John 14:27) SHARP Journal together for that day. This is a great tool for making disciples—the very mission on which Jesus has sent each of us. “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify We invite you to commit to this with us. Share it with one or two about me.” (John 15:26) friends. Watch as fire descends to ignite your faith. “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Believing God for great things, Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) Dave & Emily Buller “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But If you miss a day, don’t be discouraged, when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all just begin again the following day with the new readings. truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring You don’t have to make up missed readings. glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I God has something to say to you. said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” (John 16:12-15) what you need to know (continued) what is GET SHARP? The Holy Spirit of God is the most powerful teaching tool as we study the Bible, because He Himself is the teacher! He will “guide Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. –James 4:8 NKJV you into all truth.” He will reveal to you what is from Jesus and make it known to you. This is a powerful fact of the Christian life. SHARP is an acronym that stands for Scripture; Hearing; Armed with the Holy Spirit of God as your Counselor, Teacher, and Application; Requests, Praise, and Thanksgiving; and People. Gift-giver, dive in! Scripture: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so GET SHARP begins with the Bible. Start each day by looking up the that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we Scripture passages tied to today’s date. You can find these Scripture might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) passages in the calendar at the end of the GET SHARP journal. Read these passages, identifying one or more key verses that speak to “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double- you. Write these verses down in your GET SHARP journal. Since edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and reading may be more challenging for younger kids using this marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews journal, they could read only one of the chapters, or part of a 4:12) chapter. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may Hear: be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Jesus taught us that the Holy Spirit would remind us of everything that Jesus said, that He is the Counselor, and that He will lead us “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came into all truth. Take some time to hear from God. What does He about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its want you to know. What do you need to hear from Him? The Bible origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried is God’s Holy Word, and based on His promises, we expect Him to along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) speak to us. Imagine God speaking to you. What would He say? We find it helpful to complete the following statement: “My child, whom I love, today I want to tell you…” Apply: Seek the answers to these questions: How can I apply what I just read? Is there a command to obey? Is there a sin to confess? Is there a promise to claim? Do I need to apologize to someone? Do I need to spend some time in worship or in serving others? Do I need to share my faith or give sacrificially? The purpose is to apply what you have read to your life. what is GET SHARP? (continued) GET SHARP for kids Response: GET SHARP is designed for kids too. In the back of the GET SHARP Praise, Confession, Requests, and Thanksgiving: journal is a calendar Daily Bible Reading list for Kids (Notice the This is designed to be a prayer time. black banner with white text that says “FOR KIDS!” at the top of the page). For each day you will see readings similar to the following: Requests: Write out a prayer to God asking Him to speak to you, and strengthen you to carry out your “Apply”. Present prayer FOR KIDS! Get SHARP2 Bible Reading Program - 2018 requests to Him: important decisions, anxiety, needs that you have, 1 ❏ Psalm 1; Psalm 1:1-2 people who don’t know Jesus, for God to raise up new missionaries. Advanced Readers: The first passage mentioned is for Advanced Confession: Tell God what is bothering you, or any ways that you Readers.