The seven checkpoints
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This document discusses the importance of spiritual disciplines, including developing a consistent devotional life through practices like spending time alone with God daily in prayer and reading scripture. It emphasizes that spiritual transformation begins with renewing one's mind according to biblical truths. Regular spiritual disciplines are necessary to gain God's perspective and bring about real change in one's life, attitudes, and behaviors. The document provides guidance on establishing a daily quiet time routine with God through reading scripture reflectively, praying, journaling, and memorizing verses.
The seven checkpoints
- 2. Check Point #1: The Spiritual Disciplines The focus of this check point is your devotional life. The apostle Paul says that a true spiritual transformation begins with a renewed mind. Only as you begin to renew your mind according to the truths Scriptures, will your attitudes and behavior begin to change. Principle: When you see as God sees, you will do what God says. Critical Question: Are you developing a consistent devotional and prayer life? Key Passage: Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
- 3. Our focus is to help you see God as He sees. If you are able to gain God’s viewpoint, then you are more apt to obey His Word. Simple, right? No!! Everything on how to deal with life is documented in the bible. The problem is you don’t read it enough. Your struggle: Lack of discipline in reading the bible Lack of understanding of reading His Word Obeying what the word says Your relationship with Christ will depend greatly on the constancy of the spiritual disciplines. What does a changed life mean? It means your life is transformed, changed. The problem is when the change is not immediate you question the reality of your faith. What does bring about change or transformation? A renewed mind. Renewal means change. Renewal is a process of taking off the old self and putting on the new you. In other words it’s the process of removing lies and replacing with the truth. When
- 4. you accepted Jesus as your Savior did he remove all the bad habits you had? NO! Your identity is in Christ but your mind is still full of junk. You can never have a transformed life until you have a transformed mind. Transformed minds come about by having God thoughts, and this can only be attained by exercising spiritual disciplines. What are the Spiritual disciplines? Time alone with God Scripture Memorization Journaling Prayer Jesus always made time to be alone with His Father. This took priority over everything. When you spend time with God you are able to know and do the will of the Father. This requires communicating and listening to God. Communication is a key component to intimacy and it involves listening.
- 5. The problem is that many of you were not aware that God not only wants to do things for you but He also wants to spend time with you and speak to you through His Word. Reasons we don’t spend time with God Not a priority is the main reason Not aware You don’t know how to have quiet time with God What happens when you don’t spend time with God? You pay a price You can’t listen, you don’t learn If you don’t learn you won’t change If you won’t change you won’t show proper respect for God. Your approach will be like a vending machine: give me, bless me, help me. What started as a relationship develops into a boring routine. As your leaders our goal is to help you develop a scheduled time alone with God and help you develop a listening heart. How?
- 6. Choose the proper time – Not at bedtime, preferably in early in the morning. It is the first part of the day It’s quiet, no distractions, and no interruptions It helps you reboot mentally and morally your conscience as well as your perspective. Be consistent Jesus sought solitude. We should do the same. Solitude with purpose creates discipline. If there is no purpose in solitude it creates isolation. The Why behind the What Do you ever wonder why you guys resist the truths of God’s word? You resist because you don’t see as God sees; therefore it makes no sense to you. Ex: No sex before marriage, no lying, honor your parents. Since it doesn’t make sense you don’t want to do what the word says. God’s Value System Scripture allows you to see what’s important to God and why. Scripture reveals God’s value system.
- 7. It allows you to see the condition of your heart, prejudices, and attitudes. Read Hebrews 4:12 Scripture is where you find out how deeply you are loved by God. Scripture has the power to cast and root out the anger behind the depression or the insecurities behind some of the self-destructive habits you have. It is where you can be overwhelmed with gratitude for the price Jesus paid for you. Let’s Recap You gems have the biggest decisions of life ahead of you. You need to see as God sees as it relates to friends. You will be able to understand that certain friends will determine the quality and direction of your life. As I stated earlier intimacy requires communication. Communication involves listening. God is willing to speak to you through His words if you listen. Find a way that is comfortable for you to spend quiet time with God. Remember God loves variety.
- 8. Four Components to incorporate in your alone time with God 1. Read the bible The goal is to renew your mind for change. Therefore, the bible is vital. It’s not how long you read the bible but what you get out of it. Develop a habit of answering 4 questions as you real through the scriptures: What does this passage say? What does it mean to me in my own words? Why is this important? Why do I need to know this? What should I do about it? How can I apply this to my life today? How can I remember this? Best way to remember a scripture. 2. We have to Pray (Wanda’s Lesson) Begin by praying what’s close to your heart and move toward those things that are of less concern (Wanda’s lesson). 3. Keeping a Journal
- 9. It’s best to practice journaling once a week instead of daily. The benefits of journaling are: it shows you how far you’ve come along in your walk with God. It also helps you pray by reminding you that God is faithful and vitally active in your life. 4. Scripture Memorization Creates a strong devotional life It’s important because your mind will be your greatest strength or downfall. You do the things you do because of the way you think. So scripture memorization renews your mind by replacing the lies you believe and act on with the truth. Behavior won’t change until belief system is changed. This is done by reading your bible and identifying the lies in your life. Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Paul states that these lies become strongholds for the enemy to use against us. A stronghold is anything that is more powerful than God. It takes away our focus, and causes us to feel controlled or mastered.
- 10. You identify these by asking yourself what consumes your focus or controls you. Then find the scriptures the verses that you can use to fight against this stronghold and memorize them. Be intentional (Wanda’s lesson). In Conclusion A strong devotional life allows you to have a relationship with Christ. It develops a sense of accountability between you and your heavenly father. It is truly an amazing experience when you are sitting alone with God’s Word and you can hear directly from Him and getting His perspective on things concerning you.