Encountering The Father - 01 - Proverbs 3:5-6

Hi everybody, it’s Pastor Dave, and I hope you have one of our Alone With God journals. If you do, open it to your “Encountering The Father” page for this week. And if you don’t have an Alone With God journal, be sure to download the Word By Mail phone app from your app store and order your Alone With God journal there.

So, today we are looking at the “Encountering The Father” page in your journal. And guys, the entire purpose of this journal is to help you encounter God, to help you encounter the Father. And this is the page where you look back over your week and write how did you encounter God during your time alone with him this week.

And that’s the first question on the page. What did God reveal to me in our alone time together this week? This question gives you a chance to think back over the week, especially during your journal days. What did God reveal to you during your journal time alone with him this week? What truths jumped out at you? What pierced your heart from God’s Word? In the first box, write down what did God reveal to you in your alone time with him this week.

Then the next question on the page is, What scriptures is he highlighting? Look back, maybe, on your journal pages and note the verses that really stuck, the verses that really hit home to you. You can even write out a verse or two – there’s plenty of room in this section. So, look back over your journal pages or through your general notes, and write the verses down that really jumped out at you this week.

And then, the big question. How is he changing me? How is God changing me? Think through your week, and think about what God revealed to you this week and the verses that he highlighted in your life this week, and then write how is he changing you. In what area of your life is God transforming you this week? And if it’s been the same area for many weeks, that’s okay. But right now, write how God is changing you through your time alone with him this week.

To close today, let me read from the “Promises to Pray” pages at the back of your journal. If you turn to the very end of your journal, there are a couple of “Promises to Pray” pages, and find Proverbs 3:5-6. And I’ll just read those verses, and then I’ll pray through them to close.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
 
Heavenly Father, we trust you. We trust you, Lord, with all of our heart, God. And we pray, Lord, that you would help us to not lean on our own understanding, Lord. Help us to seek your wisdom, your understanding, and help us to crucify our own. And, Lord, in all our ways, may we submit to you. May we acknowledge who you are and your role in our lives, Lord. May we bring all of our questions and all of our directions to you. And Lord, we know because you promise it in your Word that you will make our paths straight. We thank you, Lord, that our role is to trust in you with all our heart and to lean not on our own understanding but in all our ways to submit to you, and then, your role is to make our paths straight. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. It’s in your mighty name we pray, Jesus, amen.

Okay, now, if you haven’t finished writing your “Encountering The Father” page, go ahead and do that. And thank God for revealing himself to you this week. Bye-bye.