WEEK 5, DAY 1: How Do You View God?
What thoughts come to mind when you think about God? Do your thoughts generally turn to seeing God as gracious and merciful? Or do your thoughts generally turn to seeing God as just and full of wrath?
For the most part, your view of God will have a tremendous impact on your life, your daily decisions, and your ability to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission well. Your view of God also impacts the way you see yourself, and the way you see others.
In a book titled, “How People Grow,” by Henry Cloud and John Townsend, the authors note that the biggest barrier to people growing in their relationship with God is their view of God. If somebody sees God primarily as a God of grace, they will grow and come to understand God’s justice and wrath. But if somebody sees God primarily as a God of wrath, they struggle to fully understand His grace. The authors write, “People must discover that God is for them and not against them…In fact, one of Jesus’ main emphases was to show people how their concept of God was way out of whack.”
READING & JOURNALING:
How regularly do you pause to consider whether your concept of God is “out of whack?”
What is [at least] one thought or question you have about the nature or character of God?
What will you do this week to challenge any misconceptions you may have about the character and nature of God?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I know that when I hear something about You it may not truly reflect who You are. Nevertheless, I’m sure I have some misconceptions about You, and these misconceptions likely impact every single part of my life. This week, I simply pray that You will help me to see You and know You as You really are. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible through a year (September 2019 – August 2020). It is a separate reading from the daily devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.
Read: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.
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