Dec 31 Mon - Mt 7

Jan 1 Tues - Prov 29

Jan 2 Wed - Mark 8

Jan 3 Thr – Gal 5

Jan 4 Fri - John 15

Jan 5 Sat – Luke 9

PRAYER: A - Adoration (prayer of centering; focus on God's goodness); C - Confession (prayer of repentance and asking for God's forgiveness); T - Thanksgiving (prayer of gratefulness, content, joy, avoiding pessimism); S - Supplication (prayer for others; then pray for yourself)

S - STOP and listen... give God some time to speak to you --- end with the LORD'S PRAYER

Where to begin: What's the state of your soul today? Who is going to heaven because of you?

A. Prov. 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Why?

1. Vision = God's Preferred future for our Lives (not "my" preferred future)

- the real dillemma? Do I believe God's vision is better than my own?

- John 10:10, "I have come that you might have life to the fullest."

2. Mt 7:14 = The Narrow Path (what God thinks) vs. Wide Path (what "I/we" think)

- The real problem? = We Believe any "path" will work

a. Human Condition - Pride "naturally" leads us to think "my" path is fine

b. Great reversal: In the Bible, pride is associated with failure, not success

- James 4:6-10, "God opposes the proud; God exalts the humble"

- John 15:5, "Without Me, you can't do anything."

3. Mt 5:21-30 - "better to gouge out your eye...."

- Sin Inertia: Sin is addictive/like "compounding interest" (you never lust just once)

- Pride will take you farther than you want to go. What starts as a simple choice to do things "your way," winds up becoming an unstoppable force. Those "forces" become drivers of our lives that create unyielding inertia. The resulting problems, pressures, circumstances, and emotions intensify, driving the train even faster, all the while, we're headed in the totally wrong direction. And we can't stop.

- Sin DISTRACTS: takes your eyes OFF what you "should" be looking at

B. Vision and the Eyes - Mark 8:17, "Don't you have eyes? Why can't you see?"

1. God's Vision = Your Compass; Embracing God's vision is critical for you to make progress. If you don't know where you are going, you'll drive anywhere.

- Warren, "Most people lead lives of aimless distraction" Is this you?

2. Choose a different path: Gal 5:13-22, "You have freedom to do anything, but...

C. Solution? James 4: Humble Yourself, and God (His Way/path) will lift you up

- God's Vision for Humanity = John 15:8, "To glorify God" with our lives.

1. Come to grips with the reality that God's vision requires 2 (not 1) disciplines:

I. Do all the GOOD you can (most of us get this one, even if we don't do it)

+ II. Reject what is NOT good (reject the distractions/what is NOT glorifying God)

a. Prune/cut out/reject what is causing the opposite of "fruits of the Spirit"

b. Luke 9:23, "Everyone who wants to follow Me, must say no...

- Do less. Prune more. Even good activities, if they lead to anxiety, stress, worry, or keep you from what matters most (ie, glorifying God), then it needs to go. NO is ok.

D. Christian Discipleship is not simply "checking the boxes," rather it is a continual growing, then pruning, of what is and is not godly/healthy for abundant life. Don't be driven by aimless distractions. God has a better plan for all of us, but it will only be realized when we say "yes" and "no" to God's vision/plan/path all along the way.