It’s time to start the fifth week of the study. We will be talking about chapter four – Transparency with God.
As I had some people look over the chapters for editing purposes, this chapter seemed a bit odd to them as they read the title because God already knows what we’re thinking. Just because He already knows what we’re thinking and feeling, though, doesn’t mean He doesn’t desire to hear that from us.
If you have children, think about it this way. You love your child and you know she loves you back. How would you feel if she told you every day that she loved you? How would you feel if she never told you she loved you? I don’t know about you, but I love to hear my children say they love me because I simply love to hear it from their mouths. It lets me know their heart is in a good place because they are loving and caring. Telling God how we feel shows that we are putting Him in the right perspective. We acknowledge His presence in our lives.
When we communicate our thoughts and feelings with God, He becomes more of a relationship than a set of rules and regulations.
When we have a relationship with God, we are more easily able to share our good, bad, and ugly thoughts with Him because we know He can handle them. As the relationship blossoms, we long to understand Him, share with Him, be with Him, and love Him. We will desire to do His will out of our love and not our desire to follow rules. This doesn’t always mean the path will be easy, but it does mean we will learn to trust Him in the difficult times and we will cry out about our hurts, pains, joys, and triumphs.
God longs to love you fully. Are you allowing Him to love you?
Here’s your assignment for the week:
- Watch the video below.
- Answer the questions in the comments section below.
- Return a couple of hours later to see what other comments were left and feel free to comment to others’ comments.
- Tell your friends to join you on this journey.
- Read chapter 5 and answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
- Pray. Pray that God will open your eyes to ways you can improve. Pray for others who are doing this study that God would work in their lives. Pray for personal revival in the hearts of all Christians and those who don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior.
© 2016 Susan M. Sims
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Question #1 – Worry is a funny thing that most Christians claim they do, but we are told in the Bible not to worry. Do you struggle with worry? How do you explain worrying and trusting in God? How are they different and how to do they compare?
To me, worrying is “fretting” and causes anxiety! It’s a feeling of not being in control of the situation! But when you trust God, you know HE is in control of the situation & you can rest in the knowledge that He will take care of it! Not that we don’t continue to pray for the situation & make our requests known to Him but having an assurance that His perfect will will be done! It’s okay to have concerns, but worry causes physical & mental illness!
Yes, Jill, for me worry happens when I’m anxious. I can be concerned but have peace in God for His will to be done. Worry was a constant battle while in high school, college, and starting out in the working force. My verse was Phil 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing! 🙂
Question #2 – Do you view God as your best friend or as someone too far to reach? Who has shaped your view of God the most and has your view of God changed throughout the years? If so, for the better or worse?
Well, I see Jesus as my best friend but God the Father, Creator of the universe seems more “far way” & ominous! I mean, I know they are one in the same but “Jesus, Friend of sinners” seems more approachable than “Lord God, almighty!” ? When I was younger, I was afraid of God! Afraid of His wrath & judgement! As I have gotten older, i choose to focus more on Gods mercy & Grace!
Thankfully, I had a great relationship with my earthly father. When I struggled to see God as my Father who was my best friend, I began to call Him, “Dad”. It seems a bit sacrilegious to say, but it helped me to remember that He both cares for me and loves me, which includes both discipline and grace.
Question #3 – Do you find it easy to pray? Why or why not? What makes praying hard for you? Feeling uncomfortable? Time? Is it easier for you to pray for yourself or for others? Why?
It’s easy to pray! But praying “without ceasing” is a stretch! Lol! Although, I feel like I am in a state of being ready to pray at any given moment! I kind of pray off & on throughout the day! I need to do better to thank God for His blessings rather than just starting right in with a list of requests!
I’ve been really convicted lately to pray for those souls who are hurting..including those who are harming others: terrorists. I pray that all hearts will be softened to know and feel God’s love. The salvation of others is a dire situation where I was becoming too lax in my prayers.
Question #4 – How do you react to God during the difficult times? Do you feel comfortable crying out to Him like David did in the Psalms? How about during the good times? How do you react to Him then? Do you praise Him like David did in the Psalms?
Yes to both questions! One time I was really struggling with a major life event & I was taking a walk after dark & just crying outlays to God! I didn’t think anyone was around but as I passed by one house, a man’s voice spoke into the darkness, “Are you okay?” I said, “Yes!” Through my tears & hurried on! But said that to say that I have had moments when I literally cried out to God! I could also probably be accused dancing like a “fool” before the Lord, like David! But do keep my clothes on! lol!
Yeah, you might have been in trouble without your clothes! 🙂 I so connect with the Psalm…feeling elated and then defeated all in a matter of seconds. This is life on so many levels!
Question #5 – Are your actions portraying that you trust God with your life? Can you fully appreciate the fact that He is good and He is love? Are you living your life as though God desires and knows what’s best for you? What makes trusting God hard for you?
I would say “yes” to all of those questions! But lately with all the crazy stuff going on in our country & in the world (shootings, terror attacks, politics, persecution of Christians, etc.) I question, where are you God & what are you thinking? Has h
He removed His hand of protection from America? It sure seems like it! It’s scary & I feel like we are doomed! So, trusting God means trusting that what is happening is prophecy being fulfilled & knowing that whatever happens, He wins in the end!
Seems weird to say, but I have to trust that if anything were to happen to those around me, God will use it for His good and my actions and attitudes have to STILL reflect His goodness..no matter the circumstances. Hard as it may be, I long for my life to read “Jesus” to those around me. And, even Jesus cried when His friend died.
Question #6 – The world has many views of who God is to them. How do you explain that God is a loving and good God when there are so many tragedies and heartaches?
Well, I didn’t look ahead at the next question, so I kind of already alluded to a partial answer! I know that illness & death is due to original sin & satan! Even natural disasters like the flooding & tornadoes that have been prevalent are also prophesied in Revelation. I know that all the bad things that happen are due to Satan & his evil reign on earth! I just wonder how much longer God will tarry before He says, enough is enough! But I also know that some of the greatest times of revival have been during times of persecution! That’s what scares me! Even though I know God has an ultimate plan!
I think you nailed it…we need to pray for revival in the hearts of all individuals. We need to pray for an awakening of all Christians to pray for others. It’s such an unsettling time right now. We must pray for those questioning God to see His mercies and goodness over all the evil in the world.
On Sunday our worship leader preached and he preached on the helmet of salvation! He talked about how we are in a spiritual battle but we have a hope in our salvation and reminded everyone that the victory is the Lords’ already! He said he doesn’t see recent tragedies in the news as things to be scared of but rather that it all might start a world wide revival! I’m going to start praying for that!
Amen!!!