Encountering The Father - 02 - Psalm 37:4

Hi everybody, it’s Pastor Dave. I hope you have one of our Alone With God journals, and if you do, open it up to the “Encountering The Father” page for this week. And if you don’t have an Alone With God journal yet, you can order one on the Word By Mail phone app or at wordbymail.com.
So, turn to the “Encountering The Father” page in your journal for this week, and let’s get ready to encounter the Father.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, as we look back over our week, Lord, may we encounter you even now. Lord, please remind us of the things that you’ve been doing this past week in our lives. Please remind us by your Spirit, Lord, the scriptures that have impacted us, that you have highlighted for us this week. And please show us, Lord, the areas that you have been working on. Lord, show us how you’ve been working to transform us more into your image in these past few days. In your mighty name, Jesus, amen.

So, “Encountering The Father,” this page in your journal, is where you look back over your week and you remember with God kind of what he’s been doing in your life for this past week. So, start by looking back over your week and asking the Lord to remind you what stood out in your time alone with him this week. Hopefully, you can look back through your journal pages and remember the things that God really impressed on you this week. Guys, this is a great thing to do, so please, just put in the work here, and God will remind you and encourage you and just strengthen what he has shown you this week. Go ahead, and look back over your journal or your week and write, What Did God Reveal To Me In Our Alone Time Together This Week?

And then, also, while you’re looking back over your journal for this week, write the scriptures that God has been highlighting to you this week. Just kind of take a minute, rewind your week and even write out a scripture or two from the week that you’ve made note of in your journal. And guys, this is more than just reviewing your week. This is recognizing and reminding yourself how you encountered the Father this week. And that is a huge deal. So, look back over your journal and remember and write, What Scriptures Is He Highlighting?

And finally, write something about how God is changing you. What area of your life is God working on? What is the Holy Spirit bringing to your attention, and how is God working to transform you in that area? Now, listen, this one might take a minute of reflection and honesty, but please do it. It’s super, super good for us. Just write something about how God is changing and transforming you in the How Is He Changing Me? section of your journal.

Alright, let’s close today with a scripture and a prayer from the “Promises To Pray” pages in the back of your Alone With God journal. Let’s focus today on Psalm 37, verse 4.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
4 Delight yourselves in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Read that verse again. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Alright, let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, would you help us to know what this verse means, Lord? Help us to know that as we truly delight ourselves in you, that you will put your desires in our heart. As we delight ourselves in you, our heart will embrace the desires that you put there. And so, Lord, may we delight ourselves in you today so that you can put your desires in our heart. And then, certainly, Lord, you will give us those desires because you’re the one who put them in our heart. By us delighting ourselves in you, Lord, help us to know that you are leading and guiding us by putting your will in our hearts as desire. Thank you, Jesus. For your glory in our lives, Lord, and in your precious name, Jesus, we pray, amen.

Amen. Have a great day; see you later. Bye-bye.