The way the Spirit sees you is the way you should see yourself. Ask Him to give you grace to embrace the place you are so you can keep growing.

Have you been frantically trying to change yourself? If so, how? What do you see differently now?

Day 4 Devo

VALUE THE DIVINE CONNECTIONS HE CREATES

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. …Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

—Romans 12:9-10 The Message

We were made for relationship—relationship with the Father and with others. Think about it. What would your life be like without relationships? If you took away all of the life-giving connections, what would you have? A lonely, empty life.

Thank God for relationships! The value of a godly friend is priceless. A good friend sharpens us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, like iron sharpens iron. A good friend lovingly exposes error and brings correction when needed. A good friend celebrates your successes and encourages you to press on through life’s difficulties.

You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone, because then you will get more enjoyment out of what you earn. If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.

—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 CEV

We have learned that there are three levels of relationships—physical, soul, and spiritual. How does seeing this help you understand your current relationships? With whom does it help most? Why?

The deepest, most meaningful connections we can have are on the spiritual level. Describe what this kind of relationship looks like. What are some benefits of fellowshipping on the spiritual level instead of just the physical or soul levels?

Are there people with whom you would like to develop deeper relationships? Stop and pray, “Holy Spirit, what can I do to help cultivate deeper, spiritual relationships with the people you’ve put in my life?” Be still and listen. Write what He is speaking to you.

Prayer for Divine Connections:

Holy Spirit, grant me divine connections. As Jonathan was to David, as Ruth was to Naomi, as John was to Jesus, so connect me with the people You want me in relationship with. Give me Your grace to cultivate healthy friendships, including those on a spiritual level. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

For Further Study...

Proverbs 13:20; 17:9, 17; 27:6, 10, 17; John 15:13; 1 John 1:7; 1 Samuel 18:1-4

Day 5 Devo

EXPERIENCE GOD ON THE DEEPEST LEVEL

…Learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind.

—1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT

God’s greatest pursuit is to know us intimately, and He invites us to do life with Him. Could there be a greater quest? Paul said, “Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8 NLT).