Here In Your Presence: 4.25.10

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Psalm 46:10

John 3:6-7

Ephesians 1:13-14

Psalm 91:1-2

John 10:10

John 8:44

Philippians 4:13

Matthew 19:26

Romans 8:31

John 10:27

2 Corinthians 9:8

Jeremiah 29:11-13

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

• Do you ever feel like spending time with God is doing something for God? Does it feel like something you have to do? Why do you think that is?

• How often do you spend time in God’s presence? Daily? Weekly? What does your time with God typically look like?

• How does your life compare to being “still” in Psalm 46:10? What’s the pace of your lifestyle?

• Have you ever had a moment when you were still enough to realize or remember that God is LORD? If so, how did you respond?
  

• READ 91:1-2 and pinpoint all of the words that relate to God as Protector. How does it make you feel to know that God loves and desires to protect you?
  

• Do you ever find yourself buying into Satan’s lies? If so, what lies have you allowed to define you in your life? On the other side, what promises from God have you forgotten?

• Have you ever struggled to understand God’s plan for you? Ever been at crossroads in life, just trying to figure out what to do? What encouragement can you find from Jeremiah 29:12-13 and how do you think this applies understanding God’s plan for you?

• Do you sometimes get so focused on getting something from God that you fail to appreciate the value of spending time with Him?
  

• How does it make you feel to know that God is not a means to your purpose, rather He is your purpose? Or, that you don’t spend time with God to be loved, but you spend time with God because you are loved? How do you think this understanding can encourage you with spending time with God?

• Apart from this message, what other practical reasons for spending time in God’s presence do you find in Scripture? Which ones resonate with you the most?

DO IT:

Make a point to spend time with God each day. Identify those times in your schedule protect them. Ask God to help you spend more time with him – not as something to check off your to-do list, but something that is meaningful and fruitful. And remember, God loves you. You’re not spending time with Him so that He will love you, you’re invited to spend time with Him because He does love you! Keep encouraged!