Week of August 29, 2010

MONDAY

Your enemy, the devil, wants to keep your from knowing God and having eternal life. Scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God.” The opposite is also true: Be busy, and you will forget that He is God.

(Psalm 46:10)

• Think of the times that you feel closest to God. Is it in stillness or in busyness?

TUESDAY

Busyness is an enemy of intimacy with God and with others. We live under the tyranny of the urgent and exciting, bearing the burden of obligation, driven by guilt and sincerity. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that busyness tricks us into believing that the things of God are optional.

(John 17:3)

• Is your daily schedule more about activity or about intimacy?

WEDNESDAY

Busyness stems from the nature of our culture, unresolved emotional needs, unrealistic expectations of ourselves or an undisciplined lifestyle. To solve any or all of these, you have to correctly prioritize “the big three”: worship, work and play. If they are out of balance, life is distorted.

(Proverbs 14:15)

• Do you allow any of these causes of busyness in your life? How do they alter “the big three”?

THURSDAY

To deal with the traps and trick of busyness, start with prayer. Wisdom asks God, “What is best?” Then, recommit to your priorities and principles. They will grant you both liberty and safety. Next, plan. Do you want to live a life of generalities, or of precision?

(Proverbs 21:29)

• Are you allowing time for creative thought, rest and wisdom?

FRIDAY

Prune your life by consolidating and eliminating. Be more selective, and you will be more effective. Finally, protect your time and energy. Learn to say “no” to what is wrong, and “yes” to what is best.

(Hebrews 12:1)

• What areas of your life do you need to eliminate?

SATURDAY

The wrong mindset is that there is never enough time, that there is too much to do and that responsibilities and circumstances will keep you from balance. The right thinking is that God will provide all the time and energy you need, if you seek Him first and let Him guide you!

(Ephesians 5:15-17)

• Look to Jesus’ example. How did He focus His time and energy?

MEMORIZATION:

Ephesians 5:15-17

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Your enemy, the devil, wants to keep your from knowing God and having eternal life. Since he cannot overwhelm you, he has to set traps and tricks for you. One of his main traps is busyness. Scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God.” The opposite is also true: Be busy, and you will forget that He is God.

Busyness is an enemy of intimacy with God and with others. It works against your joy, peace, health, fulfillment, satisfaction, emotional stability, spiritual life and real productivity. We live under the tyranny of the urgent and exciting, bearing the burden of obligation, driven by guilt and sincerity. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that busyness tricks us into believing that the things of God are optional.

Busyness stems from the nature of our culture, unresolved emotional needs, unrealistic expectations of ourselves, or an undisciplined lifestyle. To solve any or all of these, you have to correctly prioritize “the big three”: worship, work and play. If they are out of balance, life is distorted. To deal with the traps and trick of busyness, start with prayer. Wisdom asks God, “What is best?” Then, recommit to your priorities and principles. They will grant you both liberty and safety. Next, plan. Do you want to live a life of generalities, or of precision? Allow time for creative thought in your plans. You don’t just want to work hard, but to work smart. Then you must prune. Be more selective, and you will be more effective. Finally, protect your time and energy. Learn to say “no” to what is wrong, and “yes” to what is best.

Jesus went from one place of prayer rest to another. He was never stressed or in a hurry. The wrong mindset is that there is never enough time, that there is too much to do and that responsibilities and circumstances will keep you from balance. The right thinking is that God will provide all the time and energy you need, if you seek Him first and let Him guide you!

MEMORIZATION:

Ephesians 5:15-17

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

So far in this series, we have learned that the main ministry of the Holy Spirit is intimate and personal, to prompt, correct and convict us. This relationship imparts power into us, to live, serve and be a witness.

Being a witness is not the same as witnessing. It’s the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in and through you. Unfortunately, there is often very little difference between an unbeliever and a Spirit-filled believer. But if the Spirit dwells in us, as our comforter and helper, shouldn’t there be a huge, discernable and positive difference in our lives?

Imagine a golfer or a basketball player telling you that he is supernaturally gifted by God for this sport. You would expect great things from him, a noticeable and amazing improvement. If there were no evidence of something greater, you would consider his claim a fluke. In the same way, we have been given the Holy Spirit to have supernatural assistance for life. So why do we have such a tough time living?

The key is a revelation of the Spirit’s power. Revelation does not come by investigation, but to those who investigate. In other words, if you seek, you will find.
By design, God wants you to wait on Him. He then can trust you to develop patience and discipline, and to treasure what He will reveal to you. So be present! Seek Him, and keep showing up. Communion and fellowship through the Holy Spirit will result in a powerful difference as you live, serve and be a witness.

MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8:9
But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].