Strengthen Yourself in the Lord – Week 7

Points to Ponder:

Download a printable PDF here

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. Many of us may have areas of sin or weakness that we are aware of and trying to overcome. Do you believe that because of these areas of weakness and struggle you don’t measure up to God’s standard? Do you view God as a legalistic father, who is unhappy with our every move? Or do you believe that when God shows you where you are falling short, what He’s really saying is ,”You’re made for more than this. Lift your head and set your sights higher.” Which perspective of God do you have?

2. When the conviction of Holy Spirit comes, it is actually a call to turn our focus away from our sin and put it on Him and our destiny. How easy is it for you to take your focus off your weaknesses, and instead of paralysing condemnation, choose to rejoice in God and His promises? What do you feel God is saying to you about this?

3. If we look at the story of the storm in Mark chapter 4, we may think Jesus’ response to his disciples was a bit extreme. He said, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) We think it’s our job to ask God to fix our problems, and it is His job to answer. But Jesus was saying, “I’ve just had to do the job that I’ve trained you to do.” Bill Johnson believes people of faith look into the storm and see it as an opportunity to exercise their authority over it. When you find yourself in the middle of the storm, how confident are you in your ability to exercise your faith over it? Do you think this is an area you need to grow in? What do you think your next step of growth should look like?

4. “If we do not lean into the assignment and destiny the Father has given us, if we fail to choose to live out what we have been created for, we are not only costing ourselves an opportunity for personal breakthrough in our faith, but we are costing the people in the sphere of influence to which God has called us, the opportunity to experience the blessing that is released when our faith displaces an oppressive atmosphere with a heavenly one.” What are your thoughts about this statement?

Thanks so much for joining me for this Facebook Live series. I hope you have found it helpful, and that the weekly Points To Ponder have helped you hear more clearly what God is saying to you personally as you desire to grow in strengthening yourself. I’d love to hear your feedback. And remember – we are fully equipped for victory, not because we have a formula that always works, but because God is with us and within us.