ABOUT THE TRAINING PLAN

Transcription

1 SPIRITUAL TRAINING PLAN 2016

2 MONDAY MEMORIZATION Look up the verse and then write it in the provided space. Memorize the verse. Monday s verse will be the NIV translation unless otherwise noted. TUESDAY PRAYER POINTS Pray the assigned prayer point for each week (found in training log). WEDNESDAY STRENGTH AND CORE Just like marathon training, it is also important to work on strengthening your spiritual core. Wednesdays will require you to breakdown and analyze the weekly verse. This is what the Spiritual Strength and Core Plan looks like: WARM-UP: Position yourself to hear from God (be alone in a quiet setting with no distractions). Reread your weekly verse and pray for God to open your eyes and heart to what He wants to share with you from the scripture. P: Pour over the verse. (Read each word slowly and carefully thinking about meaning.) L: Is there something to learn? (What are the spiritual principles of the verse? Does it tell of a promise? Give an instruction? Teach you something about God s character?) (Record in your training log.) A: Ask yourself how you are living in and living out these principles in your life. (Record in your training log.) N: What is your next step? How do you plan to incorporate this principle into your life? (Record in your training log.) K: What does God want you to know? In your training log, summarize or list the impressions/thoughts you currently have. COOL DOWN: Take a few minutes to quietly meditate on the verse. Reflect on its meaning, what you learned, or how God may be wanting you to apply it. STRETCH: In your training log, rewrite the scripture in your own words. THURSDAY HARD DAY In order to grow and spiritually set a PR (personal record), we ve got to challenge ourselves. Each Thursday, you will complete this *hill* workout: Look up the weekly verse in the translations listed on your plan. (Biblegateway.com is a good resource for this.) Write each verse translation in your training log. Identify what the *action step* of the verse is. That is your hill. Ask God for guidance and challenge yourself to take an action step in this area of your life. What is something you could do to conquer this hill? (Record it in your training log.) BIBLE TRANSLATION KEY AMP: Amplified Bible ERV: Easy-to-Read Version HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Bible ABOUT THE TRAINING PLAN MSG: The Message NLT: New Living Translation TLB: The Living Bible VOICE: The Voice

3 FRIDAY REFLECTION Part of any successful training plan requires reflection. Take some time to think about and answer the following questions: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? Record your thoughts in your training log. SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT Answer this question: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? Share it with at least one other person at the Saturday group run. It could be something as simple as reciting the verse to someone to sharing what your challenge for the week was. It s whatever you feel led to share. When you both finish your discussion, agree to pray for one another over the course of the next week. SUNDAY CROSS TRAINING All verses are NIV unless otherwise noted. Using your training log, answer the following questions: Read the verse listed for today. How does it connect with this week s memory verse? What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training. FINAL WEEKLY ACTION STEP: What of this do you think you can share with your team on Facebook or with your captain via ? Once you know, make sure to share! LUKE 4:18 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, TO PREACH GOOD NEWS, AND SET THE CAPTIVES FREE.

4 SPIRITUAL TRAINING PLAN WEEK DATE MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT SUN # Monday Memorize Prayer Strength/ Core Hard Day Reflection Group Connect Cross Training 1 June 13 1 John 4:19 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day ERV/ MSG Reflection Group Connect Cross Training John 13:34 2 June 20 1 Thess 5:24 NLT Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/ERV Reflection Group Connect Cross Training 2 Thess 3:3 3 June 27 2 Cor 3:17 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/MSG Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Galatians 5:1 4 July 4 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/TLB Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Matthew 6:33 5 July 11 Acts 4:13 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day MSG/ VOICE Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Philippians 1:14 6 July 18 1 John 4:4 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day NLT/ TLB Reflection Group Connect Cross Training 1 John 5:4 7 July 25 Psalm 56:3 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/MSG Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Joshua 1:9 8 Aug 1 Psalm 18:29 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day HCSB/ NLT Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Psalm 18:36 9 Aug 8 2 Thes 3:13 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/ERV Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Galatians 6:9 10 Aug 15 Rom 8:37 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day NLT/TLB Reflection Group Connect Cross Training John 16:33 11 Aug 22 Psalm 20:7 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day ERV/ VOICE Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Deuteronomy 20:1 12 Aug 29 Luke 9:23 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/ERV Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Luke 14:27 13 Sept 5 Mark 9:23 NLT Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/ERV Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Matthew 17:20 14 Sept 12 Eph 6:11 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/NLT Reflection Group Connect Cross Training 1 Peter 5:8 15 Sept 19 Phil 4:13 NIV Prayer Point PLANK Hard Day AMP/ERV Reflection Group Connect Cross Training Ephesians 3:16 16 Sept 26 The Wall Week 1 Day 1 The Wall Week 1 Day 2 The Wall Week 1 Day 3 The Wall Week 1 Day 4 The Wall Week 1 Day 5 Group Connect Reflection 17 Oct 3 The Wall Week 2 Day 1 The Wall Week 2 Day 2 The Wall Week 2 Day 3 The Wall Week 2 Day 4 The Wall Week 2 Day 5 Group Connect Reflection 18 Oct 10 The Wall Week 3 Day 1 The Wall Week 3 Day 2 The Wall Week 3 Day 3 The Wall Week 3 Day 4 The Wall Week 3 Day 5 RACE WEEKEND

5 NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED, CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. INDEED, IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS. MARGARET MEAD

6 WEEK 1 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 1: Pray for eyes to see those around us who are lost, hurting, and crying out for help. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: ERV TRANSLATION: MSG TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

7 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

8 WEEK 2 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 2: Pray for orphans, kids in foster care, and runaways who are the most vulnerable to traffickers. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: ERV TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

9 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

10 WEEK 3 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 3: Pray for God to create paths of escape and rescue for human trafficking victims, and for their courage to run. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: MSG TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

11 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

12 WEEK 4 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 4: Pray for a hedge of protection around those who battle in the trenches and on the front lines against human trafficking. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: TLB TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

13 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

14 WEEK 5 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 5: Pray for holy boldness and courage to make a difference individually and as a team. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: MSG TRANSLATION: VOICE TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

15 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

16 WEEK 6 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 6: Pray for wisdom and discernment so God will guide and direct us in this battle against darkness. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: NLT TRANSLATION: TLB TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

17 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

18 WEEK 7 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 7: Pray for perseverance to stay in the fight. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: MSG TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

19 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

20 WEEK 8 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 8: Pray that every trafficker be captured and stopped. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: HCSB TRANSLATION: NLT TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

21 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

22 WEEK 9 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 9: Pray that slaves be freed and empowered with a future and a hope. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: ERV TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

23 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

24 WEEK 10 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 10: Pray for miraculous physical healing for victims. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: NLT TRANSLATION: TLB TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

25 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

26 WEEK 11 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 11: Pray for miraculous emotional healing for victims. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: ERV TRANSLATION: VOICE TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

27 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

28 WEEK 12 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 12: Pray for healing and restoration to victims hearts. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: ERV TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

29 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

30 WEEK 13 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 13: Pray for miraculous spiritual healing for victims. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: ERV TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

31 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

32 WEEK 14 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 14: Pray for Light to shine in the darkness. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: NLT TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

33 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

34 WEEK 15 TRAINING LOG MONDAY MEMORY VERSE: TUESDAY WEEK 15: Pray for the Church to rise up and lead the fight for freedom. P: L: WEDNESDAY A: N: K: STRETCH: AMP TRANSLATION: ERV TRANSLATION: THURSDAY YOUR HILL? ACTION STEP:

35 REFLECTION: Who else in my world is this verse speaking to me about? (Think about your thems ) FRIDAY What aspect of the verse makes you think of this particular person or group of people? Why? SATURDAY GROUP CONNECT: What is it you need to share with others about this verse? TODAY S VERSE: How does it connect with this week s memory verse? SUNDAY What was the biggest physical challenge of the week? What was the biggest spiritual challenge of the week? Do you notice any cross-lessons between the two? Write one way the weekly verse helped you in your training:

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39 LOVE IS LARGER THAN THE WALLS WHICH SHUT IT IN. CORRIE TEN BOOM

40 A RUNNER S DEVOTIONAL

41 FREEDOM LIES IN BEING BOLD. ROBERT FROST

42 THE SECRET? WALLS ARE WHERE YOU WIN! The Boston Marathon. The Olympics. The Kentucky Derby. Even the Indianapolis 500. These are some of the greatest racing traditions known to man. You may have even seen one of them. Do you find it odd how the only thing anyone remembers about any of those is who crossed the finish line first? The truth is, finish lines are only a small part of any story, especially races. Whether it s racing or life in general, the real drama the real dimension and the real difference is what happens on the course. This is especially true in running/walking marathons. No one hits the tape of the finish line until after they first hit The Wall. And while every race has only one finish line and one declared winner, it has as many walls as it does runners. The walls always outnumber the finish line and the winners. That s where the real story is. What happens at the wall makes the race. More important, what happens at the wall makes the racer! It s a choice. It s your choice. Some let the wall break them. Others choose to break through the wall. They are declared a WINNER regardless of their pace or ranking. The wall will test your metal. Breaking through it is the only way to get your medal. Your BREAKTHROUGH begins here. What s the secret?

43 RUNNING S WALL In running, for too many The Wall has taken on epic proportions, like other urban legends. Running s Wall is well known. The collision of physical exhaustion, labored breathing and mental fatigue too often confront a runner late in their race. Whether caused by insufficient training, improper nutrition, aggressive pacing or just a perfect storm, the walls in our running are as probable and predictable as the walls in life. That s the bad news. But, do you know what the great news is? Walls, in running and life, while maybe not totally preventable, are more than just survivable. The walls in your running and your life can be CONQUERED! Your next wall can be your next WIN! You will hit The Wall! at 22 miles or 11 (or even 2 miles if this is your first 5K!); it s a fact. Whether while running or just trying to keep up with the relays of life, we all hit walls. LIFE S WALLS If you re breathing, there IS a wall in your future. Walls are a part of life. Walls happen. If you re running and breathing too heavy, the wall may come sooner than you think. In your life, your walls may have the name doubt, fear, unforgiveness or insecurity. YOUR NEXT WALL COULD BE YOUR WIN. Whether a wall is bad news or good news is up to you! In fact, with proper preparation, you ll find the wall will be where you win. As you will see, walls are not and never were a part of God s plan for your life. Look at His word. There were no walls in Eden until Adam and Eve erected them. And we can thank them for every wall we ve experienced since then. You can t find any reference of walls in Heaven. In all of Revelations, the only walls we read of are those so beautifully surrounding the new City of Jerusalem coming down from Heaven. OUR GOAL? Your goal should be to plan for and overcome your running wall by spiritually and mentally preparing you to break through and grow through every kind of wall. To do that, we ll try to discover and identify what our walls are and what they re made of.

44 Running s walls appear as sudden fatigue, loss of energy, weakness, dizziness, muscle cramps and even hallucinations in extreme cases. Life s walls come in many shapes, sizes and forms as well: from temporary challenges to life-altering crises. Some are self-constructed while others are surprises. Some walls are physical, others relational, vocational, emotional, or spiritual. They can come in a phone call, a confrontation, a collapse and even a cross. Like Jesus in His last night of freedom, we may find ourselves praying for deliverance from the very thing God wants to develop us through. Jesus tells us in John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. THE SECRET? In this three-part study based on Brad Powell s teaching series entitled The Wall, you ll learn how an enthusiastic beginner can become a disillusioned learner. We ll study the wrestling that we do at the wall. And we ll learn the secret to breaking through the walls in our running and lives. Are you ready? Let s get started! Runners, TAKE YOUR MARK! THE PLAN For the next three weeks, we ll start the week by watching Brad s teaching on The Wall (30 min). Talks can be found at NorthRidgeChurch.com under Talks On Demand. We ll journal notes on the talk. Maybe we ll even compare notes! Each day we ll answer questions to better unpack our walls, our wrestling and how to turn walls into wins. By the end, you ll not only have the secret to breaking through the walls of life and running, but how to help others break through too! Whether you re running or walking a full, half-marathon, 5k, or just feel run down, get ready to experience life-transforming truths. Truths that will help you finish strong in your upcoming race. Truths that will equip you to break through life s walls from now until you end up in a place without walls and where the streets have no names! (How will we know where to run if the streets have no names?)

45 THE WALL Any and every running training book gives mounds of advice on The Wall. The Bible is no different. Walls are mentioned over 150 times. Although some of the Bible s walls represent trouble, and others offer protection, EVERY SINGLE WALL offers choices. God s Word reveals walls of trouble, failure and temptations they are an all too common theme starting from Eden. From self-inflicted and predictable to I was minding my own business and it came out-of-nowhere, walls appear. And the closer we get to them, the larger and more intimidating walls appear. But the greatest news is that there is no wall in your life or in running that is bigger than God.

46 WEEK 1 DISILLUSIONED

47 DAY 1 THE WALL As you listen to Brad s first talk, entitled Disillusioned, write whatever thoughts or questions that come to mind. What applies to running s wall? What applies to life s walls? Any other thoughts?

48 DAY 2 A WALL BETWEEN Read Matthew 6:33 and John 15:5. Both verses show that a relationship with God is one indispensable experience in life. So much of life seems dispensable. Not just material things. Too much of our days are filled with moments, relationships and even beliefs that are throwaways. What of your past experience supports Brad s assertion that you really can t live a full life without a relationship with God? Walls are visible evidence of obstacles between God and us. Has this been true in your life? If so, what were the real cornerstones and bricks of some of those walls.the things, no matter how little, that when put together, come between you and God? Is it possible that what you once viewed only as a cornerstone really was your wall? How so? Have you hit a physical wall in your running/walking? How so?

49 What were some of your feelings when you ve hit the wall: running/walking or in life? Do you remember anything about your view at the wall? Was your view obstructed or was a finish line in sight? How did that affect you? The idea that we learn a lot about ourselves at walls may seem obvious, but what did you learn about yourself at some of your walls?

50 DAY 3 FEELINGS... WHOA... NOTHING MORE THAN FEELINGS... You ve had a day to think about what you learned about yourself at some of your walls. Did you also learn something about God at some of those walls? If so, what? Author Ken Blanchard suggests when we hit a wall, it s common to go from an enthusiastic beginner to a disillusioned learner. In terms of your running, can you relate? How so? How about other areas of your life? Disillusionment is a feeling, and feelings are natural; and sometimes when we hit a wall, we feel alone, that God isn t present loving or caring. The wall may look higher than it actually is, or maybe we do things that even grow our wall bigger. Has that ever been true for you? If so, when? How did you overcome it? Could there be something you had to do or need to do to get through a wall, like forgive someone, or let go of a hurt?

51 DAY 4 FAITH Read Jeremiah 29: What does Jeremiah tell us are the purposes for God s plans in our lives? For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to you and not to you, plans to give you and a _. Then you will upon me and and to me, and I listen to you. You will me and me when you seek me with your heart What does the tense on the word declares suggest about God s promise? Was running/walking a full marathon, half marathon, or a 5K on your New Year s Resolution list? Was it your plan? If so, has your faith played a role? If not, how did your faith impact your decision to run/walk? How has your faith played a role in keeping you running/walking?

52 What about other areas of your life? There s a distinction between feelings and faith: feelings being natural and faith being unnatural. If faith is the foundation and currency of our relationship with God, and a relationship with God is the ONE INDISPENSABLE experience in life whether at a WALL, in a valley or on a mountaintop, how important is faith if we want to experience God s plans and promise? How so? Read Mark 9:23 and Colossians 1:11. If, disillusionment and doubt are feelings that come naturally, and confronting and challenging our walls is unnatural, then how do we get the supernatural strength to break through our walls? THE TASK AHEAD OF YOU IS NEVER AS GREAT AS THE POWER BEHIND YOU.

53 DAY 5 YO JOSEPH! HOPE! Read Genesis 50:15-20; Hebrews 11:1; Romans 8:18, 28. Brad shared the story of Joseph and Joseph s walls. From: relational walls between brothers to walls of a deep well; a well s walls to walls of slavery; from walls of slavery to walls of a ruler s house; walls of temptation to walls of a dungeon; and finally to walls of a Pharaoh s palace. When life came full circle, and Joseph was finally able to confront his brothers who tipped the first domino in Joseph s life of walls, how did he respond? Were Joseph s walls still an obstacle between Joseph and God? (Genesis 50:19-20) NOW FAITH IS CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND ASSURANCE ABOUT WHAT WE DO NOT SEE. HEBREWS 11:1 The application for us when we hit a wall and are feeling disillusioned is the same as Joseph s. At each wall, he knew the Lord was with Him (Genesis 39:2,18). Joseph s faith gave him hope. What does Hebrews 11:1 say faith is? How does the faith described in Hebrews 11:1 apply to your wall experiences you described on Day 2?

54 Have you ever been fully covered in the armor of faith but still have doubt when you hit a wall? If you answered yes, then you re not alone. Read Mark 9: Who other than the boy s believing father wrestled with the demon in the boy before Jesus? What did Jesus say had to be done to overcome the wall of this demon? Who prayed the prayer Jesus said was necessary? (Hint: see Mark 9:24) When you hit a wall (notice we didn t say if ) and the wall just seems unbearable, what s your plan to overcome it?

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56 WEEK 2 WRESTLING

57 DAY 1 WRESTLING AT THE WALL As you listen to the second talk, entitled Wrestling, write whatever thoughts or questions that come to mind. What applies to running s wall? What applies to life s walls?

58 DAY 2 DEFINING MOMENTS Brad shared how every defining moment of his life started at a WALL, and that his experience depended on how he responded. Either he gave up and was stuck, or grew and broke through. He emphasized that at every wall, we wrestle in faith or in failure. How have you wrestled in your physical training? How about in your spiritual training? Is there something you are wrestling with right now? If so, what? What would your life s list of defining moments include? What did you learn from any wrestling you did in those moments?

59 DAY 3 YOUR CHOICE: JACOB OR ROSIE RUIZ? (GOOGLE HER) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4 (MSG) Every significant Bible character hit a wall. There are two truths about walls: God uses the wall to get us where He wants us. God wants us to be IN joy, contentment, peace, meaning and significance. Satan uses the wall to keep us from where God wants us. (See John 10:10) In light of James 1:2-4, what is it that God could want and Satan dislike if we respond correctly at our walls? Have you ever tried to get out of, away from or go around a wall prematurely, or take some other shortcut (Rosie Ruiz) as James 1:2-4 describes? What were the consequences? What were the consequences of the times you did not give up? How about in running and/or in life?

60 DAY 4 WHO S WRESTLING WHO? It may take two to tango, but it doesn t always take two to wrestle. Who is your most common wrestling opponent? Why? Read Genesis 32: Jacob had stolen Esau s birthright, and when it came time for Esau to confront Jacob, Jacob was gripped with fear and distress about seeing his brother.. Who was Jacob wrestling with in the hours before wrestling with God? How long did Jacob and God wrestle? (Hint: He would have been picked up by the FREEP Marathon s sweep bus hours earlier!) What was it that Jacob asked God for before Jacob was willing to finish wrestling? What changed for Jacob, other than his limp, as a result of the wrestling with God and the blessing from God?

61 What s changed for you as you have wrestled through your running? Your view of you? How so? Your view of God? How so? What blessing would you ask from God at your running WALL?

62 DAY 5 RUNNING SUMOS? (YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD CHAFING!) Sometimes in our wrestling, instead of listening to what God says about us, and whom God says we are, we engage in negative self-talk. It s almost as if we walk in thinking we re a 120 lb. weakling facing a Sumo wrestler! Should we be surprised? 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that fear does not come from God. Whom does that leave as the source of fear? Ephesians 6:12. The NIV reads For 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. The Message version reads This is no afternoon athletic contest that we ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. What negative talk most challenges you in your running? What positive talk do you say to help breakthrough? What have your training runs taught you about yourself and your negative talk?

63 Go back to Ephesians 6 in either NIV or The Message to see the fuller context of Ephesians 6:12. Read verses 10 through 18. What can you take away from those verses about how to breakthrough Sumo Satan s attacks? The response that gets us the blessing from the wrestling is trusting God. When we re trusting God, we need to make intentional choices to: never surrender in defeat; do everything we can in that moment; embrace our new reality knowing we ll never be the same again; (Jacob s limp) get ready for the repeat after doing everything right. (See Proverbs 3:5-6) How would that look in your running? In your life?

64 WEEK 3 BREAKTHROUGH

65 DAY 1 BREAKTHROUGH As you listen to the third talk, entitled Breakthrough, write whatever thoughts or questions that come to mind. What applies to running s wall? What applies to life s walls?

66 DAY 2 Reference Psalm 40. God uses walls to advance us on our journey, to move us forward because at them we are reminded of our dependence on Him. Brad observed that too many of us quit and let the wall destroy us because we make the wrong choices. What does it take to ultimately experience God s best at the wall to make the right choices at the wall? Last week, we listed four intentional choices we need to make at our wall to win to breakthrough. Reference Proverbs 3:5-6. Please read that verse. Reflecting back on your preparation to run the FREEP, how much of the training and challenges would you say you understood before you started? _ What was the biggest thing you didn t understand and how did you learn it? TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS SUBMIT TO HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT. PROVERBS 3:5-6

67 How much will your dedication and submission to the training plan, and actual running, be on your mind as you approach the wall running your race? Why? Compare your reliance on the training plan and the miles you ve run to your choices in your spiritual journey. Would you say you relied more on your understanding than trusting in and submitting to God? How so? What factors determine how much you are willing to trust someone other than yourself? How do those apply to your choices in your race preparation?

68 DAY 3 WALL-BREAKING HOPE Read Isaiah 55:8-9. Moses, David and Joseph hit walls walls that looked impenetrable and impossible right before their breakthroughs. Each of their breakthroughs, and every other biblical breakthrough were preceded and produced by their trust in God His thoughts and His ways. Do the factors you identified that affect your willingness to trust others than yourself affect your willingness to trust God? How so? There are three specific choices we need to make to breakthrough not only to experience our running best, but God s best. To do so, we need to understand: God s ways are not our ways; God s promises; and Our responsibility to remain faithful. Sounds easy right? Really? People who don t break through their running wall tend to either doubt their training, doubt themselves (negative self-talk), accept their current circumstances, or just stop altogether for just a short break. Applying these three choices we can make to breakthrough our walls, what can you do instead of: Doubting your training? Doubting yourself? Just stopping?

69 That sounds like the beginning of a plan. Read Mark 14:32-42 (NIV). When Jesus faced a wall of betrayal and a wall in the shape of a Cross, what did He do? Who did Jesus trust? What s the significance of what Jesus said in verse 36? What were the first four (4) words Jesus said in verse 42?,

70 DAY 4 A PLAN VS. A PRAYER! Yesterday we read how Jesus, knowing full well every detail of what was about to happen to Him made a choice. He didn t doubt His training. Jesus preparation was complete. He didn t doubt Himself. He didn t stop. What did He do? Jesus, facing the greatest wall of his life, after all of His preparation, made the choice to pray! While most runners physically train for and plan on hitting the wall, too few have a prayer. Without a plan you won t have a prayer; it s even more true that without a prayer, you really don t have much of a plan! God expects us, like Jesus, to do our best to prepare for our wall, but our physical and spiritual preparation needs to include prayer. Reminder: when we hit a wall we don t have to wonder or doubt how to pray. Jesus taught us not only how to pray, but what to say! In Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) you ll find the Lord s Prayer. Write it here: If at your running wall, you were to say Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, what does it say about: God being present? God s holiness? The size of God compared to your wall? God s timing?

71 God s ability to provide where He guides? God s ability to see you and see past your wall? If you continued, saying Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, what does it say about: God being in control of all things? Your willingness to surrender to God? Your willingness to depend on God? Your desire for the race (and wall) to be about God instead of you? And if you closed by asking God for His provision, His forgiveness as you ve forgiven others, His direction and deliverance, what would it say about: Who s power you re breaking through the wall with? Who s power you re finishing the race with? Who s power is greater than any fear or failure you might have ever had? As you face The Wall in your race, and the walls in your life, how indispensable is your relationship with God?

72 DAY 5 PREPARE AND GIVE YOURSELF A PRAYER Rewrite and personalize the Lord s Prayer you have from Day 4 as a personal running prayer. Tie in your experience in training so far, and your fears or concerns going forward. Identify and name how you want God s providence, presence, provision, perspective and power. Take your time with this. Try to make it as complete and concise as possible. Running and living that prayer is God s plan for you at The Wall and in life. Who s plan do you think has a better chance of succeeding: yours or God s? Memorize either the NIV or your personal version of the Lord s prayer. Share your prayer with at least two (2) of your running buddies. Ask them to share theirs. Read Joshua 1:8-9. If you were to apply it to your prayer, it would say: Keep this prayer always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything it says. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

73 THE SECRET? THE SECRET! In the very beginning of this study, we promised you the Secret to breaking through your wall, the secret to winning at any wall. You may not realize it but Brad already shared it. Here it is: Reciting and living the Lord s Prayer! You may be thinking, Really? That s it? That s all you got? As you face any challenge in your race, and especially as you hit the wall, recite your prayer and you WILL BREAK THROUGH. You may even have moments of doubt that you can t. Don t worry. God can. Run in, with and for Him and every wall will be a win for you and for God. See, the secret isn t in the words but in your application. When you really live those words, you re no longer keeping yourself a secret from God or others. Most important you are showing that God, the creator of all things, who wants to be your Father, your Power, and your Protector, is no longer a secret to you! You re truly experiencing God in an indispensable way at any wall, every day and in every way. The secret of living the Lord s Prayer, especially your personalized Lord s prayer, is that God is not a secret in your life. Instead, He is the essence of your life. So much so that you will find you will be Waking The World Up To Jesus, Showing Them His Love, Telling Them His truth, and Involving Them*. So whether you re running/walking 26.2, 13.1 or 3.1, you ll be living those 16 Words. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us what Satan wants the most for us is to forget what God wants the most: to be in constant and close communication with us, not only at our walls, but in every step, every day. If we pray, we re less likely to end up as Satan s prey. Read and remember Isaiah 40:31 to see what s in it for you, which says: but those who in the will their. They will on wings like eagles; they will and not grow, they will and not be. Ever seen an eagle stuck at a wall? You are greater than any eagle. You are God s chosen child. Run/walk, yes and even limp in Him, for Him and by Him and you ll see that WALLS are WHERE YOU WIN!

74 WAKE THE WORLD UP TO JESUS Show them His love. Tell them His Truth. Involve them.

75 CONCLUSION FINISH LINES AND FLOODGATES Regardless of how experienced a runner/walker/limper you are, at some point in every race you ll start to focus on and pray for the finish line. Finish lines can be funny. You can t wait to get there. But when you do, very often floodgates open. This goal, that wasn t even on the radar of your New Year s Resolution, that has consumed your past several months, sidelined you with injuries and carried you to the heights of achievement and through the depths of disappointment.this goal.is finally right in front of you. Your wall s behind you and a medal awaits. You ve broken through. Not just a wall, but many bumps, many hurdles, even more potholes, and have successfully journeyed life s toughest distance: the 18 between your heart and brain. Congratulations will be in order! Whatever obstacle course accompanied your journey, it s our prayer that you run and finish strong. It s our greater prayer that you run and finish faithful. That in all you do, you remain inextricably linked in an indispensable relationship with God, through His son Jesus Christ. So that no matter what races you run or walls you encounter, those around you will echo what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 he wanted to hear at the end of the race of his life: You have fought the good fight, You have finished the race, You have kept the faith. P.S. Don t be surprised if your finish line becomes a new starting line as God prompts you to continue to go and grow in Him. And although you may not feel like you can even walk for a few days, God s only desire for you is to take one more step in faith. So after you finish, prayerfully ask yourself and God, What s my next step? Remember, your faith will carry you past any finish line God puts in front of you, regardless of any walls you hit!

76 W A L L S A R E W H E R E WHEN YOU PRAY & LIVE T H E L O R D S P R AY E R BECAUSE THAT S WHERE ( T H A T S T H E S E C R E T ) AND WHEN GOD WINS, Y O U R E A L LY W I N... I N WAYS YO U C O U L D N E V E R I M A G I N E

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81 OF ONE THING I AM PERFECTLY SURE: GOD S STORY NEVER ENDS WITH ASHES. ELISABETH ELLIOT

82 NorthRidgeChurch.com/RidgeRunners