Choosing the God-Centered Life
God-Centered Experience
In Daniel 1, we learned that Daniel set his heart upon obeying the will of God, and God gave him favor and compassion. Daniel’s friends joined him in obedience and together they brought body, mind, heart & soul glory to God. Daniel’s ministry began in his teens and he continued to serve the kingdom of light in the dark kingdom of idolatry.
This week you will continue to reflect on where you are exchanging temporal delight for the eternal rewards found in your relationship with God. On the back of this page is an extended chart from Lesson 3 to use as you reflect. Record your personal reflections on a separate sheet of paper and bring this to your group next week.
Day 1 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Luke 3:21-22; 4:1
Starting with His baptism, reflect on each obedient step Jesus took when He began His ministry. Reflect on who walked with Him. How were Jesus’ steps an outward expression of His identity as the Father’s beloved Son?
1 John 4:13-17
Starting with your confession that Jesus is the Son of God, reflect on the obedient steps you took when you initially chose to follow in Christ’s steps. Reflect on who walked with you. How were your steps an outward expression of your new identity as the Father’s beloved son or daughter? Praise God for the life He gave you and continues to give you.
Day 2 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Luke 4:2-4 Satan tempted Jesus to satisfy the needs of His human flesh but by using His divine power.
To choose the way that led to God & life, what did Jesus have to trust about God? What would have been the result of choosing this particular path of Satan in the wilderness?
Reflect on any current temptation to satisfy the desires of your flesh in ways that contradict the will of God. What is Satan’s purpose in tempting you? What must you trust about God? What will be the result in following the path Jesus chose? Using Jesus’ Word to Satan, pray you would surrender the desires of your flesh to the Father (Luke 4:4; cf. Deut. 8:3).
Day 3 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Luke 4:5-8 Satan tempted Jesus to exalt Himself by worshiping Satan and submitting to his authority.
To choose the way that led to God & life, what did Jesus have to trust about God? What would have been the result of choosing this particular path of Satan in the wilderness
Reflect on any current temptation to satisfy the desires of your eyes by submitting to Satan’s authority. What is Satan’s purpose in tempting you? What must you trust about God? What will be the result in following the path Jesus chose? Using Jesus’ Word to Satan, pray you would surrender the desires of your eyes to God (Luke 4:8; cf. Deut. 6:13).
Day 4 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Luke 4:9-13 Satan tempted Jesus to test God’s promise to glorify the Son but not in the Father’s time.
To choose the way that led to God & life, what did Jesus have to trust about God? What would have been the result of choosing this particular path of Satan?
Reflect on any current temptation to depend on yourself by submitting to Satan’s authority. What is Satan’s purpose in tempting you? What must you trust about God? What will be the result in following the path Jesus chose? Þ Using Jesus’ Word to Satan, pray you would surrender your prides of life to the Father (Luke 4:12; cf. Deut. 6:16).
Day 5 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
James 4:7; Luke 4:14-15
Jesus received the Spirit, remained in the Spirit during His test, and returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. What did Satan do in response? What was the result for His ministry unto the Father?
Review your reflections. They tell a story of your past, present, and your potential eternal impact in ministry unto the Father. Praise God for your victories in the Spirit. Ask Him to help you to live deeply dependent upon His Spirit.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Experiencing God-Centered Life with Your Community
PERSONAL WORSHIP
Prayer | Colossians 1:9-14
For 30 minutes, pray to God about your ministry to Him in every sphere in your life: singleness or marriage, family, work, church, various groups, neighborhood, our city, any other place in the world where you give time, talent, or treasure. Pray about your witness and service to people God loves. Pray that you would serve as one who lives already in the kingdom of His beloved Son. You may pray by writing in a journal, by whispering, by walking and talking or in silence.
Before joining your group, weigh how like Daniel and how like your Savior, you have the honor to know your God more deeply by choosing His path to life daily. This choice includes daily confession and repentance and standing firm in accountability to those who love God and love you.
CIRCLE WORSHIP
Directions – One by one, each person will share and then be immediately prayed over by one to two persons in the group. To have enough time to do this, you will need to divide into smaller groups of 4-5 people.
Confess | where you exchange eternal relationships (God|others) for temporary desires (flesh | eyes | pride of life)
Briefly share where you are not standing firm based on your reflections from Days 2, 3, and 4. Be honest about –
any area you are submitting to the enemy’s authority instead of God’s authority...any habitual sin patterns
the effect this sin pattern has had on your relationship with God and others
Profess
I trust the power of God to give me victory over __________ because of the blood of Christ that covers me. I renounce ___________ and the lies of _____________ I have acted on. I praise you, God, that upon my confession you are faithful to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Prayer | come before God together in the name of Jesus Christ and pray over your brother or sister.
Praise God for His work in creating and recreating this son or daughter.
Ask God to help ___________ stand firm on his or her confession by depending upon the Word of God.
Pray what is true about God and who ___________ is as a child of God.
Ask God to help ___________ stand firm on his or her confession by yielding continually to His Spirit.
Ask God to bear fruit in ___________ in every relationship sphere of his or her life.