GOD OF MONEY

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.   I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.  -Michelle +

Today

Ponder a few questions:  

Has your attitude toward money moved you to do things you later regretted?

What are your financial goals (whether written or just hopes floating in your mind)?

This Evening

Why do you have the financial dreams that you have?

Objectively - what do you think about your financial dreams?

Write down your thoughts or share with a friend.

Prayer

 God - you know me and yet you love me.  Help me to trust in your love for me as I am right now, so that I can see places where you desire to heal me and grow me in your image.  Reveal to me what you think about my financial decisions.  Tell me what you think about my financial goals and dreams.  Show me and teach me how to interact with money the way you would if you were me.  Amen.

GODS OF PLEASURE: Day 3

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.   I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.  -Michelle +

Today

Ponder:  When you have been stressed, upset, or overwhelmed...how have you experienced God bringing peace, consolation, or pleasure to you?

Search your memory banks throughout the day.  The Apostle Paul claims in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that God comforts us in all our troubles.  Is it possible that God comforting us in our troubles only works if we are open to receive that comfort.  Find ways to take breaks throughout the day and spend some time in silence.  You may need to really think hard about when God has comforted you.  For some it is easy - but for others, it could be as yearly as 4 years old.  Make a note of as many memories come to mind.  It isn't a contest - but don't stop thinking once you find one example.  Let this be what is going on in the background of your mind today.

This Evening

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  1 Corinthians 1:3-4

Open your mind.  Quiet yourself.  Think about how God might comfort you or bring you the desires of your heart.  Quiet and silence isn't necessary for this to take place.  Consider writing, drawing, or listening to music or white noise.  You might also light a candle and keep your eyes on the flame as you reflect.

What did you notice about how God likes to comfort you?

Scripture and Prayer  

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life."  John 3:16

Its hard to believe that God loves us as much he does.  What does it mean to you that God so loves you that he came himself and died on a cross so that the two of you might be in relationship together?  Sounds like the best love story that might ever take place in the history of the world...

Do you believe it?  Do you know God loves you?  Do you believe God wants to comfort you - in even the darkest places that you might be afraid of?

God's light shines so bright that darkness cannot hide from God's light.

Do something now - through prayer or rest or art or writing ... anything that will help you remember God's love for you...and when you are finished - pray in your own words that you would accept God's love for you as a gift - a gift that is so steadfast and faithful that there is no earthly comparative.

Gods of Pleasure: Day 2

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.   I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.  -Michelle +

Today

Fasting from Comfort

Think about some of what you identified yesterday and last week regarding ways in which you find comfort.  Today, fast from those things - both the good things (like exercise, cuddling, prayer) and the bad things (food, shopping, screen time, gossip, a drink --  even non-alcoholic, like a diet coke or coffee)

Why?  To become AWARE of the power and manner of your drive for comfort.  Being self aware is the first step in any type of spiritual growth.  See how much power is behind your need to be comfortable and soothed.

When you feel the need for comforting pleasures, try to make mental notes in line with the following questions...

What is the distress I am feeling?
Why would I immediately think of turning to be comforted?
How or when did I learn to desire the particular comfort I would like to have right now?
What is it like to say no to this drive for comfort and just live in the distress?

This Evening

Write a brief description about what you experienced today.  If you can, take a moment to share it with someone, like your mom, brother, or spouse.

Scripture and Prayer  

"Yet even now, says the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." -Joel 2:12

Fasting isn't normally on the Top 10 Most Fun Things to Do list.  It is interesting what can take place during self-denial.  Sometimes, we are awakened to certain feelings within ourselves that we have not had to deal with before.  It is natural for all of us to seek comfort - but it is actually when we are uncomfortable and vulnerable that God has the opportunity to do some of His greatest work in us.  Because God loves us as precious children, He as the perfect parent wants His children to come to Him with their broken hearts, frustrations, burdens, tears, and sadness.  He knows your heart and has compassion for you.  In Christ, there is nothing you experience that God can't understand.  And thankfully in Christ, we have God in a human - in flesh and blood - like us...so that we can enjoy relationship with God freely and easily.

Jesus of the Cross, I am reminded today that you experienced all that I experience and that gives me comfort.  Thank you for being a God who cares so much about me that you would come into my world and become like me so that I can be in relationship with you.

God of the Universe, I am reminded that you - all powerful and ever-living God - have done the most absurd thing...you gave some of that power to me so that I might be able to make choices of my own.  You don't force yourself.  You don't choose for me.  With such power comes great responsibility.  Thank you God for believing in me enough to give me the gift of freedom in my choices.

Holy Spirit, you are the One True Comforter.  You alone can bring me relief from my human experience in a way that satisfies my soul and connects me to the Triune God.

I pray for guidance and strength.  I pray for courage and wisdom.  I pray for awareness and growth.

God have mercy.  Christ have mercy.

Amen.

GODS OF PLEASURE Day 1

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.   I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.  -Michelle +

Today

Ponder:  Where have you learned to turn for comfort?

As a child, what comforted you?  Was is food?  Was it an inanimate object like a teddy bear, blanket, or book?  How about toward an activity like sports or music?  Maybe being around other people or being alone comforted you.  Consider these questions throughout the day.  There is no right or wrong answer.  Just think about the different ways you have been comforted in your life - perhaps as a child, a teen, and an adult.

This Evening

Try to describe or even draw three places, things, or people that brought you comfort as a child.  Sometimes, this kind of activity can trigger deep emotion.  Do not be afraid of that emotion.  Rather than withdrawing from your feelings connected to any memories, go deeper into them trusting God is with you.  If you have an emotional reaction, you might even find it helpful to ask Jesus, "what do you have say to me about this?"


Imagine Jesus watching you as a child.  Look at how he loves you - how he delights in you.  Take notice about how he responds to the way you comfort yourself in different phases of life.  Does he delight in the way you are comforted?  Would he like to comfort you himself?

Scripture and Prayer  

"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."  -2 Timothy 2:22

2 Timothy 2:22 makes mention of "fleeing youthful passions."  When we are consumed with the idea of feeling good and experiencing pleasure, we take a less mature and more self-centered disposition in our relationship with God.

This activity and these reflections would be easy to be turned into ways of imposing condemnation and guild upon yourself.  DON'T DO THAT. There is NO SHAME in Christ Jesus.  Nothing you were awakened to today is a surprise to God.  He knows the depths of our hearts and loves us the same.

God, I need you.  My life has taken many turns that have led me away from you, including ways that I attempt to comfort myself in times of stress or discomfort.  But the truth is, nothing but You could possibly satisfy me - only you know how to fill me with your righteousness, faith, love, and peace.  Cleanse my heart oh God.  Help me to release myself completely to you.  Show yourself to me and continue to invite me into relationship with you.  I love you, Lord Jesus.

GODS AT WAR Day 3

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.   I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.  -Michelle +

This Morning

Ponder:  What do you worry about?

What scares you?  What do you obsess about protecting?  What are you terrified of losing?  These are questions to keep in mind today.  Try setting a timer on your phone or watch for every two to three hours.  When it goes off, hit the pause button on life and jot down the things that are stressing you at that moment (or during the last two-three hours).

This Evening

As you prepare to go to bed, reflect on what has kept you up at night recently.  Jot them down.

What dreams or nightmares are common for you?

What distracts you from being able to relax and rest?

Scripture and Prayer  

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your worries on Him because he cares for you"

Cast all your worries on to God - he cares for you.  He cares for you so deeply that he will gladly take your worries and deal with them, if you will let him.  A willing spirit is all that is required.

Can you release these concerns to Jesus before going to sleep?  Why or why not?

Do you want to ask the Holy Spirit into your heart for comfort and relief?


God of the Universe - you are so great that it is sometimes hard to remember that you care for me - even me and my challenges.  I am weak when it comes to the temptation of caring too much about worldly demands.  Send your Holy Spirit, the great comforter to help me rest.  I release my worries to you knowing that you work for the good of those who love you.  I love you, Oh God.  You are my God and I need you.  I want you to guide my life and determine what is most important.  I trust you.  Thank you for loving me, for making me, and for calling me your precious child. Amen.

GODS AT WAR Day 2

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.   I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.  -Michelle +

Today

Ponder:  For what do you sacrifice your time and money?

Think about where your funds and energy flow.  Don't judge yourself.  For now, just let the most genuine and honest answers flow.  It is helpful to write this down so that at the end of the week you might be able to review all of the answers to your questions and think about implications your answers might have.  The most important thing is that you are honest with yourself and God because you know it is safe to be - God knows the true answers to these questions already and He loves you.  Do you know the answers to the questions?  Can you love yourself enough to be kind in hearing the tough answers that may arise?

As you continue through the day - notice how your calendar opens or does not open for certain requests or commitments.  What are they?  Pay attention to when your wallet opens (or card swipes)...jot down a simple list of the ways you spent money today.

Make space for a moment to reflect in what other ways do I use my time and money?  What percentage of my time and money go toward those things?

Objectively think about and journal ways that these concrete answers might be connected to matters of the heart - ways in which your heart is open or closed to certain things - ways in which your heart desires or does not desire certain things.

This Evening

Through sharing with your spouse or friend or in a journal - talk (or write) for about 5-10 minutes about things that stood out to you today.  If you are an artistic soul, you might find it easier to draw pictures or create something that represents the main thing or things that made an impression on you today through these activities

Scripture and Prayer  

Jonah 2:8 "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love"

Look at the verse from Jonah 2:8.  Read it a few times and then closing your eyes - let it roll around in your mind.  What does this verse mean in your life?  (Really - do that now...don't read on until you do :) )

Looking at the latter half of the verse - have you forsaken hope of the steadfast love God promises you?  Is the way you spend your time and money at all a reflection of being scared?  Of holding on to what is most precious to you in this world in order to feel safe, secure, loved?  If these earthly treasures have the power to bring us any significant earthly hope, security, or feelings of being loved and accepted - how much more with God be able to fulfill those same desires?  God gives the gifts which cannot be given by any other.  Don't sell yourself short by forsaking hope in God's steadfast love.  He conceived you in love and you are his precious child - he is your perfect parent who continues to reach out to you with arms of grace and mercy each moment of each day.  His desire for you is unconditional.  Can you believe it?

Abba Father, I am not perfect.  I am a broken person and yet you love me.  You know the depths of my mistakes and evil thoughts and you still call me your own.  Gratitude for your mercy and forgiveness floods my soul.  Work a new desire in my to worship you and you alone.  Reveal yourself to me anew each day and open my ears to hear your voice - open my eyes to see your loving arms reaching for me throughout the day.  Let me respond to your invitation with praise and thanksgiving.  You are my God and I am your child.  Amen.

"GODS AT WAR" Day 1

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Since there is not an electronic version - we've decided to get the questions to you this way.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.  I have also added additional questions, a twist to some of the exercises, and an evening scripture reading and prayer.  I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.

Before you can confront the enemy - you first have to know who the enemy is.

Each morning this week I will encourage you to ponder one of Idleman's 7 diagnostic questions from our first session on Sunday morning.

This Morning

Ponder:  What has most disappointed you in life?

While you ponder this throughout your day - do not be ashamed of anything.  Instead bring it into the light knowing you have a God who loves you deeply and desires your heart.  Trust in his grace and mercy is key for this exercise.  Don't judge yourself or back away - temptation to do so is only the enemy.  You have the power of the Holy Spirit that will give you strength to authentically look deep into this question.

So, what has most disappointed you in life?  Why does this circumstance disappoint you?  What implications might your disappointment have?

This Evening

After considering this question earlier today - try writing out your disappointment on paper or expressing it through a drawing.  False gods are able to survive because they often operate under the radar.  Writing it down or expressing it through a drawing, painting, picture, piece of clay (or playdough) - drags this disappointment out into the open where it cannot hide and grow in the darkness.  You might chose to destroy it when you are done so that no one else can see it.  If you have a spouse or intimate friend, you might consider doing the activity together and sharing your answers with one another.

Reflections

What were today's activities like for you?

Scripture and Prayer  

1 John 5:21 - "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

The disciples were often called "children of God" or "children of the Kingdom" by Jesus himself.  Here now, Jesus calling you a precious child of God - Jesus' own brother or sister in The Kingdom of Heaven.  Place before Him your disappointments and imagine his light shining so bright in that area of darkness that it disintegrates before your eyes.

Abba Father, I am not perfect.  I am a broken person and yet you love me.  You know the depths of my mistakes and evil thoughts and you still call me your own.  Gratitude for your mercy and forgiveness floods my soul.  Work a new desire in my to worship you and you alone.  Reveal yourself to me anew each day and open my ears to hear your voice - open my eyes to see your loving arms reaching for me throughout the day.  Let me respond to your invitation with praise and thanksgiving.  You are my God and I am your child.  Amen.