Apicontent

For the past couple of weeks, we have been focusing on the fact that God is a personal God. He is reaching out to you every day and you have the opportunity to converse with Him about every aspect of your life.

Take a moment to reflect upon all that you read and experienced this week. If necessary, go back and read the lesson or devotionals.

Quick Links

Talk to God!

We Have Hope When We Have Jesus

God’s Faithfulness

Jesus Knows Our Every Need

Jesus Is King!

Trusting Jesus

Reflection

The lesson for this week emphasized that prayer is an incredible privilege for each one of us. We are invited to come directly into God’s presence and talk with Him about whatever is on our hearts. And He promises to listen!

Prayer is one of the ways we come to know God in an intimate way and it is also the way in which we experience fellowship with Him.

Beth Yoe articulates it well when she writes, “The Holy Spirit helps us pray. Faith makes our prayers effective. God’s Word teaches us who God is and how to pray. Prayer is the means whereby God moves in the accomplishment of His mighty operations on the earth.”

What is your current experience with prayer? Is it important to you? Is it difficult? Is it meaningful?

What are some of the questions you have about prayer? Where can you go to get those questions answered?

What steps can you take to incorporate prayer into your everyday life?

What are some of the distractions that keep you from praying? How can you minimize those distractions in order to gain the time you would like to pray?

This week was filled with a diverse collection of readings! Think about all of the different interactions Jesus had in many different situations: with the ruler and his daughter and the crowd around them, with the disciples, with Pilate, with the criminals that were executed with Him.

Which encounter encourages you most at this point in your life?

Did you find yourself asking questions after any of the exchanges?

What are you learning about Jesus that is surprising to you, is troubling to you, is encouraging to you?

In what ways is God is speaking to you in the midst of your days?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for an additional resource to stretch your thinking as you consider talking with God: Does God Speak to Us?

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” —Hebrews 4:16

It takes time and intentionality to grow in your relationship with Jesus. It takes time in God’s Word, it takes time to pray, and it takes time to connect with other believers. Are you finding that time? And if you are not, why not?

As you take time today to consider all of the ideas and principles that you’ve been exposed to over the past six days, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Get Connected

Follow Jesus!

Beyond Our Imagination

Highlights in the book of John

Born Again

God’s Great Love

Reflection

This week’s lesson emphasized the need for each one of us to connect with other believers.

It really is true that one of the main reasons many Christians live defeated lives is that they have isolated themselves from other believers.

Do you think you can go it alone? In what ways are you trying to stay connected to Christ without being connected to other believers?

Have you made it a low priority to find a church or join a group of other Christians? If so, it is only a matter of time before you become frustrated and discouraged, don’t set yourself up for defeat! What sources do you have available to you to join with other Christians?

If you already are a part of a church or a group, what are some of the benefits you have experienced from connecting with other believers?

This week we completed the Encounters with Jesus devotional series and began a new series in the book of John.

As you consider the many different people Jesus encountered throughout his ministry, what stands out most to you about who Jesus is?

How is your relationship with God changing as you learn more about Jesus and about God’s love for us?

The first two devotionals from John emphasized our need for a Savior. In Romans 5:6–8, we read: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God loves us! We must let the truth of these words resonate in our souls. We must impress them upon our hearts and our minds. God loves us so much that He gave us His one and only Son to take on the punishment that we deserved for our sins. And because Jesus did that for us, those who believe in Him will experience life in abundance both now and forevermore.

In what ways are you embracing God’s love? In what ways are you resisting it?

Go a Step Beyond

Check out this article with additional information on how connecting with other believers can strengthen your relationship with God: Connecting with God’s Family

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” —2 Corinthians 5:17

This week’s lesson and devotionals focused on how a relationship with God brings about a changed life! When we ask Jesus to come into our life, He gives us a desire to do what He wants us to do. That desire is rooted in our relationship with God, our heavenly Father!

Take a few moments to reflect upon all that you read this week and how it is making an impact on your life. As you do that, go back to the lessons or devotionals that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Obedience

Worship in Spirit and Truth

Jesus, the Lord of Life

Believe

Bread of Life

The Living Bread

Reflection

This week’s lesson focused on obedience and how it makes a difference in our walk with Jesus. That lesson really set up the week for the devotionals focusing on worship, Jesus’ work in our lives, and our response to Him.

The New Life in Christ lesson highlighted these principles:

“The more we know Him the more we love Him. The more we love Him the more we desire to worship Him. The more we worship Him the more we desire to serve Him. Our worship of Him mirrors the condition of our hearts. The true worship which God desires from His children works from the inside out. Our worship of Him should result in personal transformation.”

How much desire do you have to worship and obey Jesus?

In what ways are you currently serving Him?

In what ways are you being transformed?

“Obedience is a lifestyle choice, and it is one that is often rebelled in society today.”

How do you feel about obeying God? What changes in your perspective do you need to make in order to embrace obedience to God and His plans for your life?

The “I am” statements of John were highlighted in one of the devotionals this week.

“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Jesus is our sustenance, our sufficiency.

“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus is our guidance, our direction.

“I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). Jesus is our access to the Father.

“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Jesus is our caring protector, our total safety.

“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Jesus is our surety.

“I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is our eternal counselor.

“I am the true vine” (John 15:1). Jesus is our source of strength, our power.

Which one of these statements is most real to you at this point in your life?

How do these statements relate to the principle of obedience?

Beth Yoe quoted Dr. Steve Childers who said, “The goal of the gospel is not merely to forgive us, but to change us into true worshippers of God and authentic lovers of people.”

How is the idea of change related to the principle of obedience?

In what ways are you a true worshiper of God? In what ways are you an authentic lover of people?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for another article with information on what it means to have a new life in Jesus Christ: Submit to God the Father

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  —Galatians 2:20

Another day to step back and reflect on all that you’ve read, thought about, and experienced in the past week.

In what ways are you seeing the work of Jesus in your life? 

As you reflect on what you are learning about what it means to have life in Christ, if necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Spend Time with God Every Day!

Truth Comes from Above

Satisfying Our Spiritual Thirst

The Light of Life

The Truth Will Set You Free

Redeeming Our Time

Reflection

This week, what Biblical truth challenged you? Encouraged you? Convicted you?

In this week’s lesson, the point was made that “everything we are and everything we do is grounded in the relationship that we have with our heavenly Father.”

Think about your personal relationships. In what ways do you deepen those relationships? How do you show appreciation? How do you interact? How much time do you give them? What transferable lessons are there for your relationship with God?

On a scale of 1–10, how does your time use demonstrate that your life is grounded in your relationship with our heavenly Father?

Are you spending time with God every day? What difference is this making in your life?

If you are not spending time with God every day, what is getting in the way of your ability to do so?

What changes can you make in your daily schedule to allow specific space for God in each day?

In “Satisfying Our Spiritual Thirst” Beth Yoe wrote,

“Unfortunately, we often seek to quench our spiritual thirst with almost everything but the Living Water! From money to pleasure to honor to prestige to self-indulgence—there is no limit to our chase for satisfaction or the careless handling of our own souls. We seem to go to great lengths not to pursue what ultimately satisfies.”

In what ways are you pursuing what ultimately satisfies?

How is our spiritual thirst quenched by spending time in God’s Word?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s a twist on this week’s recommendation for additional information. Check out Francis Chan’s challenge in this video: Stop and Think featuring Francis Chan

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31

It’s time to think about all that you’ve read this week!

God’s love is not based on how good you are or how you feel, it is grounded in His nature of Love. His love is part of who He is.

In what ways are you currently experiencing (or not) God’s love?

If necessary, go back and review any of the readings from this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

God’s Great Love for You!

Life … Abundantly!

Jesus, Our Good Shepherd

Truly God or Merely Man?

Jesus, The Resurrection And The Life

Surrender

Reflection

God is a personal God … and He is reaching out to you personally through the work of the Holy Spirit. Many people have a hard time embracing this fact. As you think about what you are currently learning and experiencing in your life, in what ways are you experiencing God’s care, His power, His compassion, His peace?

In “God’s Great Love for You” we read,

There may be times when you don’t feel like God loves you, or when the circumstances of your life are overwhelming and it seems as if God doesn’t care, but the fact remains that God’s love extends beyond all of our circumstances.

In what ways do you measure God’s love for you by your present circumstances—either good or bad?

What key principle about God’s love do you want to remember from this week’s readings?

What does it mean to you that Jesus is your “Shepherd”?

What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is the “resurrection and the life”?

Yesterday, Beth Yoe wrote,

“We often have trouble realizing that it is not all about us–our ease, our comfort, our wants, our pleasures. The focus of the believer in Jesus Christ is to be on Him—willingly emptying ourselves of selfish ambitions and empty conceits.”

Are there times in your life when the relationship you have with God is really all about you? What can you do to keep your focus on God?

What do you think Beth means when she says, “emptying ourselves of selfish ambitions and empty conceits”?

What does it mean to you that God loves you?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for an article with information on what it means to experience God’s love for you: Know God Personally.

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize these verses:

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” —1 John 4:9–10

Time for a day of reflection … If you have time today for only one question to reflect upon, let it be this one … In what ways are you seeing Jesus working in you and through you?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

God’s Purpose for Your Life

Following Jesus

The Power of the Cross

Praise from God

The Father Speaks

Love One Another!

Reflection

As you are learning more about God through His Word, what are you learning about Him and about being in a relationship with Him?

In what ways is your relationship with God making a difference in your life?

One of the key verses in the lesson this week was:

“For I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11

In what ways is this verse from Jeremiah an encouragement to you?

In “Praise from God,” Beth Yoe wrote: “Saul proved to be a coward. He was unwilling to stand for the difficult right against the easy wrong.” 

What are some of the “difficult rights” in your life or in the life of some you know?

What can you do to have the strength and resolve to do what God wants you to do?

In what ways are you currently sharing the love of God?

When is it most difficult for you to share the love of God? Take time right now to ask God to fill you with HIS love.

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for a video with information on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ: I Am a Disciple

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11

As you take a day for reflection, what are you learning about the Holy Spirit and his involvement in your life?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Living “by the Spirit”

The Perfect Solution for Anxiety

Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Seeing the Father

Prayer, Take It Seriously!

The Holy Spirit – Our Source of Strength for Obedience

Reflection

What one idea from this past week’s topics had the biggest impact on your life?

This week’s lesson emphasized, “It is through the Holy Spirit that we receive the ability and power to live the way God wants us to. When you become a Christian, Jesus does not give you a list of rules to follow. Rather, he empowers you by the Holy Spirit to live an intimate life with Him.”

In what ways are you experiencing the Holy Spirit in your life?

In our world today, many people reject the idea of one way to God, and yet the Bible is very clear that Jesus is the only way to a relationship with our Heavenly Father. What thoughts did you have about this as you read through Beth Yoe’s devotional on this topic?

Yesterday’s devotional emphasized the Holy Spirit as our source of strength. Beth Yoe specifically mentioned grace, comfort, wisdom, and strength. How are you currently experiencing the Holy Spirit’s strength in your life?

In what area of your life do you need to let the Holy Spirit have more control?

In what ways is the Holy Spirit working in your life?

In what ways are you growing in your relationship with God?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for another article with information on what it means to have a new life in Jesus Christ: Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” —John 14:26

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been focusing on the work and power of the Holy Spirit. In what ways are you beginning to notice (or have been reminded about) the Spirit’s work in your life?

If you missed any information this week or want to reconsider something, take a moment to access that material through the “Quick Links” section.

Quick Links

Spirit-Controlled vs. Self-Controlled

God’s Supernatural Guidance

God’s Gift of Peace

Overcoming Fear

An Incredible Sacrifice

Heaven!

Reflection

This week’s lesson continued our focus on the Holy Spirit. Do you tend to be more Spirit-controlled or self-controlled? What steps do you need to take to allow the Holy Spirit to have more control in your life?

Beth Yoe closed her devotional about the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives in “God’s Supernatural Guidance” with this quote by C.H. Macintosh:

“If a man is drawing on his own resources, he will soon run dry. It matters not what his powers may be, or how extensive his reading, or how vast his stores of information; if the Holy Spirit be not the spring and power of his ministry, it must, sooner or later, lose its freshness and its effectiveness.”

When you are not relying on the Holy Spirit, what do you most tend to turn to for strength or inspiration?

What kind of result might you see if you leaned into the Holy Spirit’s source of power?

On the next day, Beth wrote these words about peace, “The peace of Jesus provides calm in the midst of a storm.”

In what ways do you need the peace of Jesus?

How can drawing on the strength of the Holy Spirit when you are in the midst of a storm give you peace?

In “Overcoming Fear,” Beth wrote, “We must remember that we can do nothing of eternal value apart from Christ. It is only when we are weak in the estimation of our own abilities that we are strong in God’s perfect, all-achieving power.”

God’s perfect, all-achieving power is accomplished through the Holy Spirit! What reminder can you put into your days to prompt you to turn to the Holy Spirit first when you are facing some type of difficulty?

What one principle can you apply to your own life from this week’s devotionals?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for an on-line video with information on the life of purpose and adventure we can live when we walk daily in the power of the Holy Spirit: Walk in the Spirit

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“For he himself is our peace.” —Ephesians 2:14

The Holy Spirit’s presence and work in our lives often appear mysterious. What are you learning about the Holy Spirit that is helping you to experience His power in practical ways?

Take a moment to reflect upon all that you read and experienced this week. If necessary, go back and read the lesson or devotionals, by clicking on an item in “Quick Links.”

Quick Links

Spiritual Breathing

Unfailing Love

Our Sin is Forgiven!

The Tomb is Empty

Love for Jesus

That You May have Life!

Reflection

This week’s lesson introduced the spiritual discipline of “Spiritual Breathing.” A spiritual discipline is a habit or regular pattern in your life that brings you back to God and opens your heart and mind to His direction. Campus Crusade for Christer founder, Bill Bright, practiced “Spiritual Breathing” on a regular basis as a way of getting back “in step” with God’s purposes for his life.

When you breathe, you exhale impurities, and inhale pure air and oxygen. In “spiritual breathing,” you “exhale” —by confession—sin, and “inhale”—by faith—the Holy Spirit’s control.

Exhale: Confess your sin—agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it. Confession involves repentance—a change in attitude and behavior.

Inhale: By faith, surrender the control of your life to the Holy Spirit. Trust that He now directs and empowers you.

Did you take time to try experiencing the Holy Spirit in this way? If so, in what ways was it beneficial to you? If not, why not? Consider making this a regular practice in your life.

Beth Yoe’s devotional this week based on a passage of scripture in John 20 was entitled, “The Tomb is Empty!”

How often do you think about the reality of Jesus’ resurrection?

What difference does this fact make on your daily life? On your decisions? On your interactions with family, friends, coworkers, strangers?

In what ways is your life being changed because of your relationship with Jesus?

The birth, life, and death of Jesus made an impact on the world like no other person ever could or did! What impact on the world are you making because of the difference He has made on your life?

In what ways is God stretching you? How are you responding to that stretch? Are you joyful, thankful, frustrated, angry?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to respond to God’s work in your life with a grateful heart!

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for an additional resource to strengthen your knowledge and conviction about Jesus rising from the dead: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.” —Colossians 3:1

It’s time for a reflection day, what are you learning about the Holy Spirit’s work in your life?

Are you prepared to think about all that you read this week? In other words, are you “caught up”? If not, go back and read anything you received this week that you missed or want to reconsider.

Quick Links

The Holy Spirit’s Power to Resist Temptation

Birth of Jesus

Give Him the Name Jesus

God with Us

Spread the News!

In the Presence of a King

Reflection

This week’s lesson made the point that there are days when it seems that the temptation of sin is everywhere! The media, Internet, friends and/or acquaintances; all can distract us from what God intends for us to pursue. Satan is always seeking to control our perspective, manipulate our thinking, and exploit our desires.

As you worked your way through that lesson, what was the most important idea or concept for your life?

The lesson presented nine different ways Satan tries to tempt us: deception, worldly gratification, accusation, distraction, affliction, discouragement, doubt, division, and intimidation.

Which of these most often presents itself in your life? Which one is effective? How can you resist temptation in this area?

One of the ways we can resist Satan’s attacks is to focus on God and what He is doing in our life. What is God presently doing in your life that is powerful and amazing?

What did you find most interesting about the devotionals this week on the birth of Jesus?

In “Give Him the Name Jesus,” Beth Yoe wrote,

“God desires that we trust Him. We are not to kick against His best for our lives, but fully embrace the path he has laid out for us. Even when we cannot fully understand His plan, He always has our best interests in mind.”

Mary and Joseph, individually and as a couple, surely had some reservations about the way God was unfolding His plan, and yet they trusted Him completely. In what area of your life do you need to embrace God’s plan?

Imagine yourself as one of the shepherds who saw the angels or as one of the wise men who saw the star. How do you think that experience might have changed your life?

Both the shepherds and the wise men went to worship Jesus. In what ways are you currently worshiping Jesus?

How has your own experience with knowing about the birth of Jesus changed your life? Are you sharing your knowledge and experience with others?

Go a Step Beyond

Check out this article with additional information on how you can Identify Satan’s tactics and learn how to use God’s power to resist evil: Standing Firm in Christ

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“The temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give into it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13