The Snare of Speculation

What comes to your mind as you read this section? Can you relate to Eldredge's speculations about different events in his life - going right to the negative or to worry about what "might" happen? Do you typically speculate in a negative or positive way? Think about what you have been speculating on lately - what fruit does it bear (stop and pray about this). How can you make sure that even your imagination is given over to Christ and that it is being sanctified?

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Give Them to Me

Do you often ask God about the people that you are worried about, what He would have you do? What guides you as you relate to other people in your life?

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The Devil Is an Opportunist

The enemy often tries to sneak in and weigh us down during our struggles. Have you noticed this happening in your life at times? What messages would the enemy have you believe? Eldredge recommeds having a quick repsonse of prayer, recommending something like, "Lord Jesus, please give me eyes to see when I am being attacked. And give me the courage to face it, and deal with it."

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Accept the Grace God Is Giving

Eldredge talks about being afraid of Scout's death, afraid of the grief that the loss of his dog would bring. Do you feel as though you are afraid of grief, to look at losses in your life? Would you expect God to come for you in your grief? He talks about feeling guilty that he "ought to feel bad" as he began to feel God's grace embrace him and his family still hurting. Have you ever chosen grief and pain over God's comfort and healing before?

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God in Our Loss

Under what circumstances have you KNOWN that God cares for you, have you felt Him as your Comforter? What do you normally do when you need comfort?

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The Passing of Scout

What did God speak to you through this section, as Eldredge wrote of the passing of his dog, Scout? Have you had any losses recently and have you been able to find God in them? Have you heard God speaking to you through loss in the past?

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Hawks

God has been speaking to Eldredge through hawks. Have you noticed God speaking to you through His creation or in ways in addition to his Word or through hearing His voice?

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The Spirit of the Age

Can you relate to Eldredge and the description of the pace of his life? If so, do you feel like there is nothing that you can do to change the pace of your life or have you done anything to change the pace of your life? Do you use "business" to avoid deeper things? Eldredege says, "If we really wanted to live differently, you would see some sign of that in our choices." Can you relate to this statement?

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Back to Joy

Do you see how important joy is? What can you do to be intentional about joy? How can you make sure that you are experiencing joy regularly?

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Retaliation

Did the story of the day after Eldredge helped Sally make any sense to you? Have you seen this in your life when you are helping others?

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Listening on Behalf of Others

What did you think about this section? How do you normally react when someone is in distress? Do we tend to treat the symptom or the cause and are people getting any better?

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Dreams

What did you think about Eldredge's story about his and son's dreams?

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What I Have Been

Eldredge urges us to ask the Father what to pray? What would He have us pray? Take a few moments and ask Him, if you haven't already. No comments necessary here. This is something between you and the Father. (But make sure that you DO take the time to seek Him in this...don't just pass it by because no comment is needed in this section and go on about your day!! The enemy would love that!)

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The Next Day

Eldredge discusses a different aspect of spiritual warfare in this section - shown when sorrow tries to transfer from his suffering friend to him. He says that "This is how Satan works. He seizes upon our trials or weaknesses or unhealed places and 1) magnifies them and 2) puts his "spin" or interpretation on it in order to 3) get an agreement with us so that he can 4) creat a stronghold there." Where you aware of this dynamic? Think about others in your life who might be struggling with something...how you feel when you are with them or after you are with them. Have you ever expeirenced anything similar to what Eldredge discusses here?

Read the following scriptures and then pray and ask God if there is anything here that He is asking for you to be in agreement with Him on: Jeremiah 31:3-4, 1 John 3:1, Romans 5:5, John 16:27, John 17:26.

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