Spiritual Fitness Challenge DAY 67

Day 67 - January 8th

GET TO KNOW YOU - PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

We all connect with God in our own way, how do you? There are many different ways, this is a brief overview. John Ortberg in his book ‘God is closer than you think’ says, “Our individual uniqueness means we will all experience God’s presence and learn to relate to him in different ways. A spiritual pathway has to do with the way we most naturally sense God’s presence and experience spiritual growth. We all have at least one pathway that comes most naturally to us. We also have one or two that are the most unnatural and require a lot of stretching for us to pursue.”

He outlines seven different spiritual pathways and they are as follows:

Intellectual Pathway: People on the intellectual pathway draw closer to God as they learn more about Him. When there is singing at church, you may be looking at your watch waiting for the sermon to begin.

Prime example: Paul. The road to his heart ran through his head.

Relational Pathway: People who follow the relational pathway find that they have a deep sense of God’s presence when they’re involved in significant relationships.

Prime example: Peter. He came to Jesus with others.

Serving pathway: On the serving pathway people find that God’s presence seems most tangible when they are involved in helping others.

Prime example: Mother Teresa. She is quoted as saying the primary reason she served was not out of obligation or that it was something she was supposed to do, but that it brought her joy.

Worship pathway: For people on the worship pathway, something deep inside then feels released when praise and adoration are given voice.

Prime example: King David. He wrote psalms and poetry to God. He played instruments beautifully. He danced.

Activist pathway: If you have an activist pathway, challenges don’t discourage you; they energise you.

Prime example: Nehemiah. When he hears his beloved Jerusalem has fallen, he is upset and wants to act.

Contemplative pathway: If you have a contemplative pathway, you love large blocks of uninterrupted time alone.

Prime example: Apostle John. He was known to be one who loved to bask in adoration of God.

Creation pathway: For people on the creation pathway, there is something deeply life-giving and God-breathed about nature.

Prime example: Jesus. He often withdrew to spend time alone in nature, by a lake or up a mountain.

Reflect on this list. Read through it again and think to yourself which is your spiritual pathway.

Spiritual Fitness Challenge DAY 66

Day 66 - January 7th

MEDITATION

Check over your standards of what you watch on TV. In Philipians 4:8 it says:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Look at what you are watching. How does it make you think? Could you say this passage about it?

Let it challenge you over your viewing. For something a little further, you may decide it to be a good idea to print out the scripture in large print and put it near your TV as a reminder of this challenge.

Spiritual Fitness Challenge DAY 65

DAY 65 - January 6th

CONFESSION

With the list of things that you need forgiveness for that you have compiled over the last three days, meet a trusted friend. With the list of things from your CHILDHOOD, your ADOLESCENCE and your ADULTHOOD, simply read them out to your friend, do not try to explain any of them, just read them out for what they are.

Pray this through together. Pray for your forgiveness. I recommend destroying the list once you have prayed as a metaphor that you have been forgiven.

You may want to repeat the phase going over your adulthood and praying it through at another point this year.

Spiritual Fitness Challenge DAY 64

Day 64 - January 5th

CONFESSION

Once again repeat the process of the previous two days only this time spend some time thinking over your past, specifically your ADULTHOOD. There is likely to be things that you need forgiveness for that lie forgotten. Write down the things that come to mind in a list. Do not over think it, many things you will have asked for and received forgiveness already. God will make it clear what is still needed to be resolved.

Spiritual Fitness Challenge DAY 63

Day 63 - January 4th

CONFESSION

Repeat the process of yesterday: spend some time thinking over your past, but this time specifically your ADOLESCENCE. There is likely to be things that you need forgiveness for that lie forgotten. Write down the things that come to mind in a list. Do not over think it, many things you will have asked for and received forgiveness already. God will make it clear what is still needed to be resolved.

spiritual Fitness Challenge DAY 62

Day 62 - January 3rd

CONFESSION

In his book 'Celebration of discipline', Richard Foster takes us through a confession technique in the 'Confession' chapter. This will take over the next few days of the challenge.

Part One

Spend some time thinking over your past, specifically your childhood. There is likely to be things that you need forgiveness for that lie forgotten. Write down the things that come to mind in a list. Do not over think it, many things you will have asked for and received forgiveness already. God will make it clear what is still needed to be resolved.

Spiritual Fitness Challenge DAY 61

Day 61 - January 2nd

How are you finding your quiet times with God? Do you struggle? Do you feel like there are any barriers for you connecting with God? Do you feel like there is something getting in the way in your faith? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then chances are there are hidden things that are stopping you and holding you back. IN order to really connect with God, we need to make ourselves right in his sight. This week we shall be going through a detailed technique to deal with the sin in your life.

CONFESSION

First we will start with something light. Spend some time thinking about your week and ask for God’s forgiveness where you have got it wrong.