Restoration Project, Lesson, Wednesday 6/21/2023, How to Succeed in Recovery – Part 2

Opening Prayer:  ___________________________ , Meeting Guidelines:  read, Weekly Update – How Is everyone doing?  How was your week?   Any major challenges, gratitude, or praises you care to share with the group?

Last week we talked about how to succeed in recovery and focused on some primary points made in James 4: 7-10 NIV.  Among during our talk we discussed the following key points for us to focus on. 

• Submit to God means to obey! It is our surrender to God in His will.
• Resist the devil. This means to flee the devil's kingdom, his values, and his wisdom and embrace God's kingdom, values, and wisdom.

• Draw near to God means purification, developing your personal relationship with God through the disciplines of the faith.

• Cleanse your hands refers to Psalm 24:4, "clean hands and a pure heart." Our inner purity guards us against moral defilement.
• Purify your heart. This means that submission to God produces humbleness which then produces right attitudes and motives.

As you went about your week this week was there anything that happened since last Wednesday that caused you to think of our discussion that you would like to share?  Group discussion.

Lesson:  How to Succeed in Recovery – Part 2

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.  James 4: 7 – 10 NIV

We continue the study of how to succeed in recovery this week with the sixth step suggested within this passage in James 4. 

Step 6: Allow God to smash the substance out of your life that hinders your growth, character and Fruit.

God wants us to make the fervent attempt to repent and get right with Him. He does not want us to lead a double life in trying to serve two contradictory paths in life because when we do, we are being hypocritical, creating broken relationships, shattered lives, and unmet opportunities. This leaves us in despair as the devil and our ways have no hope or purpose other than to steal what God has to give to us. We already have joy and completeness in Christ when our hearts and minds are centered on Him. So, the bottom line of this passage is the call to submit and surrender to God, allowing Him to be our only Lord and direction. Then, He will lift us up beyond our greatest desires and plans to a much greater plan and purpose in life! Thus, commit to smash the substance from your life that hinders your growth, character, and Fruit.

• Mourn/Lament/Grieve is a call to us for authentic repentance. When we do wrong, we will realize it because of the Law written on our hearts. We will feel remorse and guilt. This recovery process hurts; it is opening us up to the past. But keep in mind; the results are far better and worth the effort than the moments of pain we experience as we grow through it.
• Do you struggle to ask for forgiveness - to repent?  Do you find it is easier to ask God for forgiveness that another person?  When you realize you have wronged someone, have you found over time that the time it takes to apologize to another person has gotten shorter?  Group Discussion

• Wail/Weep means to express grief for our sins! We must see the seriousness of our sin, and in humbleness and honesty, sincerely be upset so we can fully accept His grace and forgiveness. There was a connection in the ancient Jewish world between grief and self-humiliation. At funerals, families would wail loudly; when they tired out, they hired others to continue on, to pronounce to the community humiliation to show their grief. In the same way, they could show true repentance, as wailing was the cultural thing to do to prove, by self-humiliation, the mourning of one's sins (Lev. 23:29; 26:41; Joel 2:12).
• 29 Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people.  Leviticus 23:29 NIV
• 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin.  Leviticus 26:41 NIV
• 12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Joel 2:12 NIV

• Repent means to completely and utterly turn away from our desires and deeds and toward His love and plan. Real, authentic repentance is sincere; we will regret our past behavior and be on guard in future relationships so that a moral and lifestyle change will result. It is God's desire that we repent of our sins and come to His way (Matt. 4:17; Acts 17:30; Rom. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:22-24)!
• 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  Matthew 4:17 NIV
• 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  Acts 17:30 NIV
• 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?  Romans 2:4 NIV
• What would real authentic repentance look like in your recovery? What can you do to stop combating God, stop fighting within yourself? Group Discussion
• Do you feel that since your recovery a “lifestyle change” has resulted in your life?  How is your life different now from when you were still active in your addiction?  Group Discussion

• Humble. This passage quotes Proverbs 3:34, and refers to submitting to the sovereignty of God. God's plan for our life is far better than any desire, evil or good, we could ever have. Thus, it is logical and beneficial to be humble in Him (1 Pet. 5:5)!
• 34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.  Proverbs 3:34 NIV
• 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”      1 Peter 5:5 NIV
• Do you feel that you are more humble now than prior to finding recovery?  What does this look like?  Group Discussion

• He will lift you up. God alone deserves the right to be exalted and honored. This is an essential attitude before effective Christian character, maturity, and/or spiritual growth can be possible (Isa. 2:11-12; Luke 14:11).
• 11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.  12 The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled),  Isaiah 2:11-12 NIV
• 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  Luke 14:11 NIV

We are adopted into God's family and made new. So, because of what Christ has done, we should be willing to be obedient (Rom. 8:15).

·         15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  Romans 8:15 NIV

Obedience means that as Christians, we are to submit to what God requires of us; we are to follow His precepts regardless of the circumstances (2 Cor. 10:5; 1 John 1:7).

·         5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

·         7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  1 John 1:7 NIV

·         Have you found over time as you progress in your recovery that you struggle less with obedience to God?  Group Discussion

When we accept Christ in our life, He needs to be Lord of our life. We are to take responsibility for our addiction and dependence, allowing His conviction to touch us deeply; then we can let go of our ways and surrender to His way. Then God will remove your defects of character! We must stop trying to manipulate God to give us our desires and needs, and concentrate on how we are to worship Him in all that we do, in total trust and total devotion.

This passage in James 4 is a roadmap of how to repent. God tells us both what to do and what not to do which will lead us to a victorious life that is transformed in Him. The call is simple: we are to submit, come near, wash, purify, grieve, mourn, wail, change, and humble ourselves. Each one leads to a closer relationship with God.  It comes from trusting our Lord and His plan, thereby taking the focus off the ways of Satan, the world, and us. We are to be vulnerable in confessing our sins and drawing to Him as LORD. When we are humble, God is glorified and He lifts us up.  When we remove our sinful attitude of pride, He is glorified.

So, what can we do? Do not laugh at sin; guard against it. Do not accept the worldliness of the world; rather, model maturity and character because you are being empowered by the Lord. We are to flee the world's influence while being the influencers of it.  He is greater than those who are His (John 3:30)!

30 He must become greater; I must become less.”  John 3:30 NIV

As you go about your week, remember this is a spiritual battle we are fighting!  Remember the enemy is cunning and baffling.  This life with God is an ongoing battle waged each day for each of us to either live for God or live for something else.   I pray that you experience the richness of a relationship with God in an increasing measure this week.  I encourage you to spend quiet time with God. 

Prayer requests?

 Restoration Project, Lesson, Wednesday 6/14/2023, How to Succeed in Recovery – Part 1

 Opening Prayer:  ___________________________ , Meeting Guidelines:  read, Weekly Update – How Is everyone doing?  How was your week?

·         What is everyone’s level of peace - Scale of 1 to 10, any major challenges, gratitude, praises?

Last week we talked about anxiety, fear and worry and focused on what we can do to move start to move beyond our fears.  We discussed some actions we could take to begin to replace fear with love including

·         Instead of just sitting and worrying, do something about it!

·         Stay connected with the people in your life.

·         Don’t just retreat inside your own fears…help someone else!

·         Finally, pray for others.

As you went about your week this week was there anything that happened since last Wednesday that caused you to think of our discussion that you would like to share?  Group discussion.

Was there anything you did (proactively) in response to our discussion?  Group discussion.

Lesson:  How to Succeed in Recovery – Part 1

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.  James 4: 7 – 10 NIV

Do you struggle with which direction in life to go? Has your dependence or addiction caused you so much internal strife that you have experienced physical and emotional damage? Have you struggled with relapses? It is James' intent in this passage to show us the direction by imperatively grabbing us with ten commands that are essential to honoring God and relating to people. These commands call us to direct, hands-on action without delay. We are to humble ourselves before God and, at the same time, resist the devil, as we cannot serve both. When we draw near to God, the devil is pushed further away. If we draw near to the devil, then God is pushed further away. The signpost is clear where we are to go; the direction we choose is up to us.

You must commit yourself to obey God and His precepts so you do not go back to your old ways that caused you dysfunction! This passage asks us the crucial question: are we resisting God or resisting the devil? How we respond to recovery, life, and other people will be rooted in how we respond to God. Do we fight Him or do we glorify Him? How do we know? The answer is in how we are with our attitudes and mindsets; are we humble or proud? If we are proud, we are serving the devil, even though we may think we are serving ourselves. If we are humble, then we are serving our Lord. Then we can have the assurance that He is with you, that He can and will transform you, and that you can do this. This strikes at the root of our mindset and motivation in life.

Obedience is submitting to what God requires of us. This call of our Lord will help motivate us to keep seeking Him and leaning in to Him, regardless of the circumstances, so we will be able to keep His precepts and be loyal to His call and our recovery. It is also recognizing authority and direction from others, such as the pastor and counselor, so winning situations can result.

Let’s break down this passage in James 4.

• Submit means to obey! It is our surrender to God in His will. We are urgently called to accept the absolute authority of God. We are under His authority whether or not we acknowledge Him, so we might as well acquiesce. It does no good to fight God. 

• Resist the devil. This means to flee the devil's kingdom, his values, and his wisdom and embrace God's kingdom, values, and wisdom. This has more to do with moral values than spiritual warfare. Your devil is the devil and the battle that you have. It is the bottle or the needle or the pill or the smoke or the extra piece of pie, or… The great news is that the devil does not have equal authority or power as the popular "Ying/Yang" philosophy states; rather, he only has the power we give to Him, while God has absolute power. The devil is not invincible; he is easily thwarted when we don God's armor, so we can disregard his temptations and flee from him. We evade the lusts of our heart and world by running from it, not toward it (Eph. 6:11-18)!

                    11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s                                     schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against                     the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil                     in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of                         evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to                     stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the                                 breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that                         comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with                         which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of                             salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:11-18 NIV

• Question:  If God asked you if you were resisting Him or resisting the devil, what would you say? How does this affect your recovery?  Group Discussion

• The knowledge of who we are in Christ will be the driving force of how we are with others (Galatians 2:20-21; Philippians 3:10)!

20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”  Galatians 2:20-21 NIV

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…  Philippians 3:10 NIV

• We are best able to function in life by concentrating our efforts of growing in our relationship with Christ into a daily love endeavor (Hebrews 10:19-25).

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV

• Draw near to God means purification, developing your personal relationship with God through the disciplines of the faith (Ex. 30:18-20; Matt. 7:7; Rev. 3:20). We are responsible for our spiritual growth. God provides the plan, Christ is the way, and the Spirit is the guidance; however, we provide the will of our hearts from our humbleness, and further exhibit it with our hands and feet. The focus is on trust and obedience.

18“Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die.  Exodus 30:18-20a NIV

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7 NIV

20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.  Revelation 3:20 NIV

• Question:  What does it mean to you to Draw near to God?  How do you practically work this in your day and week?  What does it look like in your day-to-day life?  Group Discussion
• Question:  How does being humble before God help us resist the devil at the same time?  Group Discussion

• Cleanse your hands refers to Psalm 24:4, "clean hands and a pure heart." Our inner purity guards us against moral defilement. This is illustrated by how a priest cleaned his hands and feet at the bronze basin before he approached God at the Tabernacle/Temple. They had an elaborate ritual that cleansed them from the dirt of the land and the dirt of the heart (Psalm 24:4; Matt. 5:8; Eph. 6:11-18).

4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.  Psalm 24:4 NIV

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Matthew 5:8 NIV

11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:11-18 NIV

• Purify your heart. This means that submission to God produces humbleness which then produces right attitudes and motives.
• Question:  How do we think humbleness produces right attitudes and motives in us?    Group Discussion

• Double minded. This is a harsh diatribe that describes a hypocrite. James is directly calling his people, "you sinners!" Greek philosophers, as well as many Jewish teachers, detested hypocrisy and considered it the most heinous sin. James, as did his brother, Jesus, in Matthew 23, makes the point that the people are being "two faced," insincere, and treacherous. Our behaviors must show our beliefs, and the commitment not to go back to our old ways.

Hope is the effect of obedience and trust in our Lord (Heb. 6:18). If you have no hope, then you have no vision and purpose, no trust in the One who loves.

                        18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.   Hebrews 6:18 NIV

How do I maintain my direction in life, so I am pleasing Him and seeking His purpose in my recovery? The answer lies in the direction in which we are heading. When we draw to God, we undertake His precepts and apply them to life. God is consistent; when we seek Him, we find that He has already sought us and will continue to reveal Himself and the depths of His love to us all our days on earth as well as throughout eternity. The key to this is our willingness to confess our sin and move toward Him and away from false and deceitful ways.

James is also plainly telling us that God hates pride and God hates worldliness! God loves humility and He loves you. What did our Lord exercise while He walked this earth? Humility! He is God incarnate, Lord of the universe. Born as a baby, he lived in the lower social order of human life in devotion and meekness, serving as our ultimate example. He did not have to live that way. He could easily have lived as the greatest king in the most lavish lifestyle imaginable, yet He chose humility because it was the best way; it was His way.

As you go about your week, remember this is a spiritual battle we are fighting!  Remember the enemy is cunning and baffling.  This life with God is an ongoing battle waged each day for each of us to either live for God or live for something else.  The something else in my experience – never satisfies.  It often fails us.  It ultimately leaves us wanting for more.  The “more” we are created to want is God.  He is the bread that satisfies.  Jesus said it himself. 

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35 NIV

I pray that you experience the richness of a relationship with God in an increasing measure this week.  I encourage you to spend quiet time with God.  He is waiting for you.  He looks forward to spending time with you.  He cherishes you.

Prayer requests?

 

 Restoration Project, Lesson, Wednesday 6/7/2023, “Overcoming Fear & Worry”

Opening Prayer:  ___________________________ , Meeting Guidelines:  read, Weekly Update – How Is everyone doing?  How was your week?

·         What is everyone’s level of peace - Scale of 1 to 10, any major challenges, gratitude, praises?

Last week we talked about worry and anxiety.  As you went about your week this week was there anything that happened since last Wednesday that caused you to think of our discussion that you would like to share?  Group discussion.

 Was there anything you did (proactively) in response to our discussion?  Group discussion.

Lesson:  “Overcoming Fear & Worry”

We talked last week about worry and anxiety.  But God wants so much more for us than to walk through life full of fear, worry and anxiety.

“Do not be anxious about anything,” the Bible tells us in the book of Philippians, chapter 4, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our instructions don’t stop there. The chapter goes on to tell believers exactly what we should focus on. And it’s not fear, terrorism, illness, death or evil.

^“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9, ESV, emphasis added).

We focused on three points and discussed them. 

1) Remind yourself of God’s goodness.  2) Because God is good, you can trust in Him.  3) Take advantage of the fact that God is always with you—by praying continually.

These are three essentials for how to overcome fear and anxiety biblically.  This week we will talk about four actions that we can take to push out fear and anxiety and replace it with love.

                If we are living in the flesh which each of us often does, we are not allowing God’s Spirit to lead our lives.  He wants to guide our steps.  All of our steps.  This is subtle.  But I assure you, if you have given your life to Christ and are placing Him on the throne in increasing measure throughout your life, God will guide you.  His Spirit will prompt you.  Then… you simply have a decision to make. 

 

Replacing Fear with Love: 4 Things to Do Instead of Being Afraid

So, now that we’ve gone over three essentials for how to overcome fear and anxiety Biblically, I want to add a few more helpful points for you. These four things are specific actions we can take, to push out anxiety, and replace it with love.

4) Instead of just sitting and worrying, do something about it!

One of the greatest ways for how to overcome fear and anxiety Biblically, is—SURPRISE!— to saturate yourself with Scripture. The verses listed in this post are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. To continue pushing out fear with God’s love, study His Word. Memorize a few Bible verses about fear. Do a study or bible journal Joshua 1:9. Read Psalm 23 aloud, over and over again.

“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (NIV)
Isaiah 55:11

From the verse above, we know that His Word is what will shape our perspective, away from fear, and towards His amazing love and perfect peace.

Have you been spending any time in God’s word as we go from week to week?  How is that working for you?  Group discussion.

5) Stay connected with the people in your life.

So many times in life, the devil uses our fears to isolate us. Have you ever thought, ‘nobody wants to spend time with me’, or ‘I’m not good/pretty/smart enough, so I’ll just stay away’? I certainly have! But just remember, your friends and family need you, and you need them! God designed us for community, with Him and with each other. Please don’t let Satan’s lies of fear keep you from sharing your story, listening to the concerns of others, and engaging in deeper, more meaningful relationships.

Even if you’re limited in how you can connect, you can always reach out via technology. FaceTime a friend, join a group and participate in the discussions, be sure and add thoughts to our string as well. Stay connected however you’re able!

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

How are you doing as it relates to staying connected?  Does staying connected come natural to you?  Group Discussion

6) Don’t just retreat inside your own fears…help someone else!

Likewise, if you’re fearful or upset about something, getting lost in your own head won’t help. I know I can’t be the only one who has succumbed to a spiral of fearful thoughts, before finally dusting off and deciding to focus on someone other than myself. Have you been there too?

Instead, let’s remember to shift those worries into ways to help others! Here are just a few ideas:

• Worried about making ends meet? Try volunteering at a shelter or soup kitchen.
• Feeling discouraged? Write a note or text of encouragement to a friend or co-worker.
• Thinking you’re the only one suffering from XYZ? Find a local support group or online group, where you can share your experiences and help others who are going through something similar.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Thoughts on serving others as a remedy to focusing on ourselves?  Group Discussion.

 

7) Finally, pray for others.

Another way you can help (and thus get outside of your own anxiety), is by praying for other people. If you’re riding out a storm, pray for your neighbors who are doing the same. Or if you worry you’re not “good enough”, pray for all the people out there who are growing up with even more anxiety and self-esteem issues than you might’ve experienced. Praying intercessory prayers for others, is such a great way to set aside your own issues, and remember that those around you also have many worries and concerns they’re grappling with. Perhaps you can ease their burden, and ask the Lord to give them peace, through your prayers.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16 (NIV)

Do you find it difficult to pray?  Do you avoid it?  Have you found any creative ways to incorporate it into your day?  Group Discussion

I hope that these truths from Scripture help you worry and fear less, and love more! The more we can rely on God, and trust Him with every detail of our lives, the less fear we will have. Always remember, you are loved greatly by your Father in Heaven!

As you go about your week, remember this is a spiritual battle we are fighting!  Remember the enemy is cunning and baffling.  This life with God is an ongoing battle waged each day for each of us to either live for God or live for something else.  The something else in my experience – never satisfies.  It often fails us.  It ultimately leaves us wanting for more.  The “more” we are created to want is God.  He is the bread that satisfies.  Jesus said it himself. 

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35

I pray that you experience the richness of a relationship with God in an increasing measure this week.  I encourage you to spend quiet time with God.  He is waiting for you.  He looks forward to spending time with you.  He cherishes you.

Prayer requests?