Week Two

Welcome to our second week together. I trust your time in the book of Galatians has been life-giving, the Spirit of God has convinced you of truth, and you are experiencing the freedom He desires for you.

As I was reading along with you this week, I found myself challenged regarding what I am sowing and why I am sowing (Gal 6:6-10). How I spend my time, on what I focus my energy, and why I do what I do. These reflect my true priorities. Upon reflection, I see a great deal of self interest hidden within my daily activities, even those I think I’m doing for others. God knows my motives, even when I don’t (or don’t want to). Lord, have mercy.

I’m so grateful I can trust Him to search and know my heart and to lead me in the way everlasting (Ps 139:23-24). I’m glad He said for me to come “reason together” with Him. I’m a happy child of God when I remember to call upon Him and talk with Him about what I think and feel and rehearse His promises and His faithfulness to me. It is His kindness that leads to repentance and draws me into His presence when I have wandered from the path. It is His Spirit that empowers me to know Him, to love Him, and to walk in freedom from fear — fear of myself, my choices, the choices of others. It was for freedom that Christ set us free.

Week Two Daily Reading: Ephesians 1 through 3.

Journaling Prompts: 1. Do you believe He chose you? Do you respond every day to being chosen, or do you strive to make sure you are choosing good versus evil? Write a prayer of gratitude to your Father who made you, calls you by name, and who made a way for you to always be alive unto Christ. 2. Who is in your sphere of influence? Who is in your community? Consider any evidence that God is fitting you together with other believers for His own dwelling and purpose. 3. Consider what it means to comprehend the love of God “together with the saints.” How do we “know” that which “surpasses knowledge”?

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV)

If you have anything you want to share with the larger Cultivating Faithfulness community, email me by Friday for my consideration in posting to this site.