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.