Unstoppable Reading Plan – W4D1
Check out all the previous Unstoppable readings here.
Unstoppable Reading Plan | Week 4 | Day 1
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Ask Him to teach you more about Himself today.
Bible Reading: Psalm 34:18; James 4:8-10
Read these verses three times slowly.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
James 4:8-10
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Reflection & Questions
This week in our Unstoppable Reading Plan we are looking at Unstoppable Transformation. How people actually change isn’t as simple a question to answer as it might seem. In our readings this week we are going to try to understand how we change better.
We start today, where all change starts. Change starts with a heart that is desperate for change – and heart that cries “I can’t stay here”. It’s similar to what they call ‘hitting bottom’ in recovery circles.’ Unless we are thoroughly convinced that we are in need of change, it will rarely happen. A luke-warm attitude to compromise will never lead to transformation. We don’t need to have the answers about what to do next – transformation doesn’t start with answers. It starts with our hearts.
The amazing truth is that, counterintuitively, our God draws close to those who ‘hit bottom’. As the Psalm today says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” James wrote, “Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up.” God draws close when we come to the end of ourselves – that is incredible. God doesn’t reject us when that’s exactly what we deserve. When we are ready to turn around, God is there ready to walk with us. Tomorrow, we’ll look at what happens next!
- Are there areas in your life where you are compromising? What are the effects of that compromise? Are you ready to be done with it?
- Why do you think transformation requires our hearts to engage?
Prayer
Pray in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate