Strengthen Yourself in the Lord – Week 1

Points to Ponder:

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Hi friends, here are some points to meditate on this coming week. Please don’t rush through them. Partner with Holy Spirit as you honestly answer each question. Maybe consider only answering 1 or 2 questions a day. This is where non-judgemental self-awareness is crucial. To be honest with yourself and God about what your thoughts, feelings and beliefs really are, is an incredibly empowering step to becoming the strong, courageous, powerful, loving and free person you were designed to be:

1. In his introduction to the book, Bill Johnson says: “It’s time to be strong and of great courage. I don’t know that there has ever been a time when courage and faith were more needed. But I don’t say this because of the darkness of the hour. That is a given. I say it because of the realm of God’s promises that linger over the church, waiting for someone to see it – to believe it – to say yes to what could be.” What promises do you think God might be wanting to highlight for you over this time, that are lingering over you and your family, waiting for your ‘yes’ and ‘amen’?

2. If you think back over these last 3-4 months, what evidence can you see in your life of God as the master craftsman winning with any hand he’s dealt, turning for good what the enemy intends for evil?

3. Have you been able to walk this road through lockdown with peace, clarity of thought, wisdom and direction? What do you feel God is saying to you about this?

4. If we get to choose which road we want to take to complete the journey – either led by God and His wisdom or led by our own, which do you think would best describe the choice you’ve made recently? And how has that worked out for you?

5. In the book, Bill says that David “is remembered not so much for the greatness of his actions, but for the greatness of his heart for God… when nobody was looking, when nobody was calling prayer meetings or leading a revival in Judah, David was pouring out his heart in worship and prayer to God… With no one around, his pursuit of God was motivated by nothing but a desire to know God for His own sake.” Would this describe your relationship with God? What do you feel God might be challenging you with, in this regard?

6. David was tested on his ability to believe and walk in the Word over his life, even when the circumstances seemed to completely oppose and deny his destiny. Do you feel the circumstances you face may feel like they have derailed your destiny? Do you feel this last season has been a time of testing for you? If yes, what has it revealed to you about what’s really going on in your heart? What you really believe? Who you really trust? What do you think
God is saying to you about this?

7. “While Saul was truly the best man Israel had to offer when they demanded a king (see 1 Sam. 8:6), his heart had not been groomed through testing before he assumed the throne… without the strength of character that only comes by winning private battles, these public victories exposed the previously hidden weakness of Saul’s heart toward God. That weakness,
combined with his growing appetite for the favour of man, led him to bring glory to himself and disobey the Lord. Saul’s untested heart allowed that which was given to make him successful, to ultimately destroy him.” We have all been uniquely designed with gifts, talents and strengths to fulfil the destiny for which we’ve been created. But strength of character and true maturity comes from winning private battles in the secret place with God, and in community with trusted men and women to whom we are transparent, and who can hold us to account. Ask Holy Spirit to show you if there is anything He would like to speak to you about in this regard.

8. “God desires to restore us to a relationship with Himself in which we partner with Him as kings and priests to bring the planet under His rule and reign. BUT the degree to which we walk in that position is a matter of potential. And as Larry Randolph points out, “God is not responsible for making us reach our potential… (in fact) God won’t fulfil your potential because He wants you to become a mature believer who thinks and acts like Him out of your own free will.” What do you feel Holy Spirit wants to say to you about this statement?

In preparation for next week, please read Chapter 2 if you have a copy of the book.