A Sanctified Life

Is there anything that you avoid asking God about, maybe because you don't really want his opinion? Can you relate to Eldredge's struggle between wanting a "nice little life" and to play an important role in God's Kingdom?

In the workbook, Eldredge urges us to take some time to ask God, "where am I not living close to You, remaining in You these days? What part of my live is not submitted to You? Is there something You are wanting me to surrender?"

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Making Room For God

Eldredge mentions in this section how he felt God leading him to give up drinking. (He was turning to a drink for comfort when he could have been turning to God.) What do you do or turn to for comfort, for a little joy when you feel the need? Ask God if there is anything in your life that He would want for you to give up to make more room for Him. Pray about it over a day or so and see if he shows you anything in this area of your life.

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Until You Become Our All

Is there anything in your life now that God might be asking you to let go of? How might He be asking you to give your life and heart more fully to Him? (You don't have to tell us if you are uncomfortable with blogging this answer, but think and pray about it.)

Eldredge discusses what we do with the painful times in our lives, what God might be up to. What do you do with the painful times in your life? Being a believer does not exempt us from pain. Do you use those times to draw closer to Him?

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God?

Eldredge talks about our vulnerability to agreements in times of great stress or struggles. Take some time to think about recent struggles that you might have been through. Times that it might seem as though God has not "come through" for you. Can you relate to the vulnerability to attack and agreements when you are struggling with something? Pray for God to show you any agreements that you could have possibly made during these times and then takt the time to break those agreements now.

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Fall: The Accident

Eldrege talks about "insisting" on explainations. Can you relate to him on this subject? Is there anythign that you had hoped that God would explain to you and you have not been able to understand yet?

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"My Love"

How often do you feel God's love, as an experiential reality? Elderedge encourages us to pray "Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see the way you are showing me your love. Open my ears to hear your words of love to me." and then watch and listen for His response.

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On Elk and Elijah

I want to quote something that Elderedge wrote in the workbook here. "Before we dive into the lessons of this story, allow me to state the obvious: You don't have to be a hunter to glean from stories like this one in the deeper truths, the gifts God is giving. You don't have to drive an old truck, or be a writer, or a father, or have a friend named Anne. While the DETAILS of my stories are particular to my life, the lessons are UNIVERSAL. Just thought it would be good to point that out. Because a very subtle agreement the enemy could try to bring in is, 'Well, that's just John's deal. This doesn't really apply."

James tells us that Elijah was a person, just like us because it would be easy for us to say I could never do that. Have you ever gotten that feeling, that inability to relate to people that you read about in the Bible? Have you bought into the thinking that the people in the Bible are the exceptions?

Elderedge states that this sort of thinking (that stories in the Bible are just exceptions, rather than examples) will cripple our faith, it "cuts off your prayer life at the knees." He says "Why would God give you stories about the power of gidly people praying if your prayers really can't accomplish much? These are examples!" He challenges us to pick something that you really want to see change in (or ask God what He would have you pray about) and pray for several days, even seven times, everytime you pray!

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What is God Giving?

In this section, Elderedge writes about wanting and praying to find one thing, but God gives him another. What disappointments have been dominating your thoughts and life lately? Although you may still have those disappointments, what gifts has God been giving you lately?

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Rest

Eldredge talks about the importance of rest. Have you been taking the time that you need to rest and recharge? Do you have a regular time set aside for this? When and how can you make sure that you take an opportunity to rest this week?

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Now Is the Time

Elderedge says, "God gives us dozens of these encounters every day, these opportunities to be honest about what motivates us. What we do with them is up to us." We may tell ourselves "I'll get to that later." but if we are honest, we know that there really is no "later" with some issues. Take a few moments to ask God to show you what you have been putting off and how to deal with it now.

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Be Willing to Have a Look

Elderedge writes about his Toyota and his desire to avoid even looking under the hood because he knows that what he will find is probably not going to be good. Is there anything that you have been avoiding in your life...something that gives you a similar feeling?

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Beware of Agreements

Take a few moments, if you haven't already, and pray for God to show you any agreements that you might have in your life. Does anything come to mind? Share them and/or how they effect you, if you like.

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Do It Now

This subject can be a little different, even creepy or scary to some. Some of the scriptures Elderedge references includes James 4:7, Acts 16:18 and Luke 4:35. Go back and re-read these if you need to. What is your response to what Eldredge says in this section of his book? Have you ever experienced anything like this in your personal life?

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You Shall Know Them by Their Fruits

Eldredge talks about three major "awakingings" - 1) That there is a God, 2) That we have to deal with Him and 3) That Satan exists and we have to deal with him, too. Eldredge asks us to be honest: Have you experienced this third major awakening? Do you factor that into the way that you evaluate yoru daily events? Do you ask your self "what is the fruit of what I am experiencing? What is the effect?"

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