Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Let Us – Lamentations 3:40 – Examine Our Ways – Growing As Disciples
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)
Examination
Do you really want me to examine your life? Are you really open to all that I have to say to you? I want my life to be like an open book before you. I know that there is nothing that can be hidden from you. It would be a foolish waste of time to try. I know that I have sinned and I will sin again. My life will never be perfect. I will be a work in your hands until I meet you face to face. Yes, you will. Trying to hide my sin from you would only serve to create distance and separation between us. I don’t want that, not even for a second. I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. So, instead of doing what my natural instinct would suggest which is trying to run and hide my sin, I will come to you to confess my sin so I can continue to follow and obey you. That will be very good.
How do you think I will help you to see your sin? What do you think I will use to show you your sin? Who will speak to you about your sin? Your word will help me to see my own sin. As I meet with you in your word your Spirit will show me what I need to see. Your Spirit will speak to me what I need to hear. Yes, He will. Your word will also strengthen me to stand against temptations to sin. Your Spirit will take your word and apply it to my life so that I will be able to resist temptations that come my way. Yes, you will. Is there anything or anyone else that I might use to help you to examine the way that you are living your life? You will use circumstances of every kind and people that are close to me to speak into my life. Yes, I have used and will continue to use people to speak into your life. They will see things you can’t see. They will say things that you will need to hear. Will you listen to them? Will you welcome what they have to say to you? Will your heart be hard or soft to the words that I have given them to speak to you? Don’t be so quick to answer. How have you sometimes responded to the challenging words of others? I have been rigid and hard hearted. I have reacted poorly and not listened well. I have rejected both the speaker and their message. I have wondered words to myself like, “who do they think they are” or “ what gives them the right to say such things to me.” Now I know that you were using them to speak words into my life that would help me to examine my ways. Yes, that’s right. Will you listen to me? Will you listen to the words of others that I will use to speak to you? Will you examine your ways? Will you confess your sin and turn to follow and obey me? Yes Lord, I will.
Lord, help me to have a soft heart that is willing to examine the way that I am living my life. Show me my sins and help me to willingly and gladly confess them all to you. I want to follow and obey you in all that I think, say and do. Amen
Key Question… When has your life sent off the message that you are resistant to self-examination and course corrections?
Living It Out… Allow the Lord to help you to examine your life so you can turn away from sin to follow and obey Him.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will show you your sins so you can turn from them to follow and obey Him.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group who has helped you to examine your life so you could turn from sin.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you examine your ways and turn from your sin so you can follow and obey the Lord.
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Let Us – Lamentations 3-40 – Examine Our Ways – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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