Group of 4 10/21

 I hope each of you is having a great week!  Our next time together is October 21, 7:45 am at Roger's. 

Unless someone has a better idea, what if we discuss Dallas Willard’s VIM model in respect to our personal identity.  1) how do you see your identity (vision of yourself) changing in the past few months?  2) As you reflect on your spiritual formation the past few weeks, how is the view of yourself changing?  3) What factors are motivating you to be transformed?  4) How do you WANT to be transformed emotionally, in your mindset, in your behavior? 5) Are you becoming someone you  didn’t expect?  6) What are the methods / practices / disciplines that are helping transform your identity?  

1 John 3:1-3

[1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Answers

1.  I’m a child - who cannot control outcomes. God is moving in unseen ways that do not understand. My role is to trust my Father. 

2.  I’m in the world but not of the world. I’m of the kingdom, asking that the kingdom come into me as in heaven. 

3. My character and integrity are far more important to God’s view of me than any other measurement. 

4.  Keep life simple. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, compare myself to anyone, or be impressed by anyone other than Jesus. 

The first step to revival is humbling ourselves before God. Revival cannot come without it.

Jesus stressed this when He said: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).

“For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Drew Maddux One of the single most controllable pieces of life and with the highest return.

Gratitude.

It’s physiologically impossible to be grateful and anxious at the exact same time.

Gratitude is like a muscle. The more we use it, the stronger it grows.