MY CHURCH // MY PART COME EXPECTANTLY DEVOTIONAL

Transcription

1 MY CHURCH // MY PART COME EXPECTANTLY DEVOTIONAL

2 HOW TO COMe EXPECTANTLY TO CHURCH STEP 1: WEEKDAYS We are to live our lives EXPECTANT that God is at work both in us and through us. When we gather together as a body of believers on Sunday, we should COME EXPECTANTLY; excited to meet with, worship and receive from God. I have to take responsibility. I am responsible for coming to church expectantly each week. The question, then, is this: HOW do we LIVE that way day to day? HOW do we come that way on Sunday morning? It flows out of 3 things 1. I know WHO God is 2. I know HOW God wants to act 3. I am FOCUSED on Him Each day spend some time walking through each of those things. Get up in the morning and spend some time thinking through each one of the three. Go to bed at night pondering on them. Need some help?

3 I KNOW WHO GOD IS I K N O W H O W G O D WANTS TO ACT // GOD WANTS TO MEET WITH ME // // GOD WANTS TO SPEAK TO ME // // GOD WANTS TO SPEAK THROUGH ME // // GOD WANTS TO MEET MY NEEDS // // GOD WANTS TO RESTORE MY JOY // Love 1 John 4:8 Eternal Hebrews 13:8 Patient 2 Peter 3:9 Light - 1 John 1:5 A Gift Giver James 1:17 Greater than Isaiah 40:28 Strong to Save John 3:16 True & Trustworthy - Psalm 18:30 Peace Philippians 4:7 Powerful Creator Genesis 1:1 Forgiving Micah 7:18-19 Faithful 1 Corinthians 10:13 Worthy of Worship Revelation 5:12 I am focused on him *I focus on Him by sharing His HEART: We share His heart when we know Him more. Take some time each day to read the Word of God. Maybe read and mediate on the verses that speak of His character. Go to youversion.com and start one of their Bible reading plans. *I focus on Him by fixing my THOUGHTS: What our thoughts are fixed on is ultimately what will control our lives. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says that we are to take every thought captive for Christ. Romans 12:2 tells us that in order to live for Jesus we are to renew our minds. That means that as you go through your day be intentional about what you think about. Don t allow your mind to wander. Don t allow your mind to stray. *I focus on Him by WALKING IN OBEDIENCE: As your heart draws closer to His and as you intentionally take your thoughts captive, ask these questions God, what do you want me to do/not do today?

4 HOW TO COMe EXPECTANTLY TO CHURCH STEP 2: SUNDAYS When we gather together as a body of believers on Sunday, we should COME EXPECTANTLY excited to meet with, worship and receive from God. I have to take responsibility. I am responsible for coming to church expectantly each week. The question is, HOW do we actually do that? On a Sunday morning 1) When I ve had a long week of work 2) When the kids are going crazy 3) When I m just tired 4) When my to-do list is a mile long 5) When I m fighting with my spouse 6) When I m just not feeling it How am I supposed to come to church expectantly? Here are some triggers and some actions that might help.

5 leaving the house WAKE UP When you wake up, just take some time to reflect on WHO God is. Maybe just fill in the blank: God you are. personal interaction It s inevitable that at some point you are going to interact with someone. Your spouse. Kids. Siblings. Roommate. Friends. As you interact with them, INTENTIONALLY pray for each one of them. Thank God for who they are. Thank God that they are in your life. Ask God to be a work in their lives. breakfast As you eat breakfast (whatever that looks like for you on a Sunday morning), stop for just a second and THANK God for providing for you. In fact, maybe make a running list of all the different ways that God has provided for you. getting ready As you walk out of the house and get into your car and start driving to church, take some time to PRAY for your individual neighbors and the neighborhood that you live in. Pray that God would make Himself known to them and that He would use you to do that. driving near schools As you drive to church, so near the middle school and high school, take some time to pray for the hundreds of kids (of all ages) who are being ministered to at ICC both on Sunday and during the week. Pray for those students. Pray for those adults who are ministering to the students. on the gravel road As you hit the gravel road the church is on, begin praying for the men and women who are already there (and who have been there for awhile now) leading and serving. Take some time to thank God for them as they have given parts of their morning so that you, your family, and your friends can worship and experience God. as you walk in the doors As you walk in the doors to church, simply breathe a prayer: As you begin to get ready (change your clothes, getting cleaned up, etc.), TURN your attention towards your own heart. Simply ask God to reveal any place in you that needs attention, confession, or repentance. God, I m here. Help me worship You this morning. Help me hear from You this morning.

6 come expectantly MY CHURCH // MY PART November 2014 Indianola Community Church Kennedy Street Indianola, IA