Improve Your Conscious Contact With God

In one paragraph

This message was the eleventh installment in a series Pastor Ray has been preaching through the twelve steps of recovery. Step eleven calls believers to "seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for the knowledge of his will and the power to carry that out." Pastor Ray walked that phrase through four themes: prayer, guidance, growth, and power. The...

Read together

1. 1 John 5:14-15 confidence that God hears prayer when we ask according to His will
2. James 5:16 the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, connected to confessing sins to one another
3. Philippians 4:5-9 let your gentleness be known, pray with thanksgiving, meditate on whatever is true and honorable and pure
4. Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness, tempted by the devil, answered with scripture
5. John 15:4-11 abide in the vine, bear fruit, keep commandments, joy made full
6. John 21:20-22 Peter asks about John's path and Jesus tells him to follow and not worry about others
7. 1 Peter 4:1-8 arm yourselves with Christ's purpose in suffering, live for the will of God, be sober for prayer, love covers a multitude of sins
8. 1 John 1:7-9 walking in the light, blood of Jesus cleanses sin, confessing sins brings forgiveness and cleansing
9. Psalm 5:3 in the morning presenting prayer to God and watching
10. James 1:5 if you lack wisdom ask God who gives generously without reproach
11. James 3:17-18 wisdom from above is pure, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and bears fruit of righteousness
12. 2 Timothy 3:16 all scripture inspired by God, beneficial for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness
13. Proverbs 3:5-6 trust in the Lord with all your heart, acknowledge Him, He will make your path straight
14. 2 Timothy 2:15 be diligent to present yourself approved, accurately handling the word of truth
15. John 8:32 you will know the truth and the truth will set you free, countering the devil's misuse of scripture
16. Philippians 4:6-7 in times of stress, pray with thanksgiving and the peace of God will guard your hearts
17. Matthew 6:25-33 do not worry about life's needs, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
18. Isaiah 26:3 the steadfast of mind God keeps in perfect peace because he trusts in Him

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray described step 11 as the step he comes back to 'over and over and over again.' What is it about the idea of improving your conscious contact with God that you find either compelling or difficult in your own life?
2. Pastor Ray walked through Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, and said that following God's will 'may take you into places where you're tempted.' Has following what you believed was God's leading ever brought you into a harder situation rather than an easier one? What happened?
3. The sermon pointed to John 15 and the picture of the vine and the branches, with Jesus saying 'apart from me, you can do nothing.' Where in your life right now do you most feel the difference between trying to bear fruit on your own versus staying connected to him?
4. Pastor Ray mentioned the recommendation to examine your day in the evening, pray in the morning and take time to contemplate God at certain points throughout the day. Which of those three practices feels most natural to you, and which feels most out of reach, and why?
5. The sermon closed with Isaiah 26:3, that God keeps in perfect peace the one whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in God. Pastor Ray tied that steadfastness directly to prayer and meditation. What is the biggest thing right now that makes it hard for your mind to stay steadfast, and what would it look like to bring that specifically to God in prayer this week?