DO YOU WANT TO BE WITH JESUS?
Preliminaries for examining your desires and beliefs about spending a day with Him
Preliminary 1: Determining Your Desire to Be with Jesus
Read pages 186-189 in Life Without Lack
Take some deep breaths, relaxing your body and quieting your mind. Offer yourself to God. Ask him to show you your true heart.
Journal or pray as you ask yourself if you really long to be with Jesus, or are just willing to tolerate him (or somewhere in between). Relax into your truth, even if it is not what you want to think of yourself.
Contemplate the peace of Jesus filling and surrounding you where you are.
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Psalm 139:7-10
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
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Preliminary 2: In a Mirror Dimly - Accepting Yourself
Read pages 190-191 in Life Without Lack
Explore your thoughts through prayer and journaling about God’s desire to be with the you that you are right now.
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Do you have doubts that Jesus wants to be with you? Pray through this and ask him to help you trust him more.
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Reflect, journal, and pray about your work (whatever efforts your day includes, not just a job) and your beliefs about your work. Do you believe that your work is valuable?
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Do you believe that who you are is good, that it is good to be alive as you? Journal through your thoughts.
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Praise and thank God for the goodness of your life and work.
Preliminary 3: Deciding to Do It
Read pages 191-192 in Life Without Lack
In spending a day with Jesus, are there times when you might be uncomfortable or challenged in being with him? What times do you think might be challenging?
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Ask him to help you think honestly about these challenges. Pray for his help in these times.