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K E N N E T H B O A & J E N N Y A B E L

Practicing God’s Presence

A Companion Guide to

Life in the Presence of God

A GUIDE TO

Practicing God’s Presence

A Companion Guide to

Life in the Presence of God

KENNETH BOA &

JENNY ABEL

A GUIDE TO

TRINITY HOUSE PUBLISHERS INC.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Cover image: David-W- / photocase.com


One Piedmont Center Suite 130Atlanta, Georgia 30305(800) DRAW NEAR (372-9632)

A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceCopyright © 2018 by Kenneth D. Boa and Jennifer M. Abel.All rights reserved.

“Draw near to Godand He wi l l draw near to you.”

James 4:8

Contents

INTRODUCTION……………………..…...............…..............

How to Use This Guide……..…..……............................…

Authors’ Invitation……………………..........................……

Category Descriptions…………….................................…

THE 52-WEEK PLAN…………………............................…...

RESOURCES……………………..…...............…................

Images of Living in His Presence……..…….....................

Renewal Verses………….............................................

Who Does God Say I Am?…………...............................

Music for Practicing His Presence……….…....................

Morning Affirmations……..……...................................

Personal Exercises Log.…......…….............…............…

EXERCISES BY CATEGORY…....…….……..…..............…..

Index.........................................................................

Acknowledgements…………….......................................

About the Authors .......................................................

More Resources ..........................................................

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3

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128

135

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143

149

199

203

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205

INTRODUCTIO N

• • • 3How to Use This Guide

This 52-week guide is not a devotional. But it is a guide to living in God’s presence. It could lead you to the most important, most fruitful, most enjoyable thing you do.

Don’t let the excuse of time rob you. Though this guide contains exercises, it is designed to help you become more intentional in your awareness of God, not more involved in activities for God. These exercises are more about your mindset as you engage your already scheduled activities. Any “extra time” requirements are modest, designed to layer into your life, but without the strain of multitasking. These exercises help cultivate the life of the mind so that you will enjoy God in purposeful pursuit rather than become a default spectator to whatever life throws your way.

Use this guide to customize your own personal tool kit:

1. At the end of each week, mark whether it worked for you:

2. Record your results in the log starting on page 143. (If viewing as a PDF, click the squares to record your results, and then re-save the file.)

3. By the time you finish this guide, you’ll know which exercises you want to make part of your regular, enjoyable, and life-changing practicing of God’s presence.

4. At the suggested pace of 2 exercises per week, you’ll be introduced to 104 exercises across 8 different categories in

How to Use This Guide

Yes No Neutral

4 • • • A Guide to Practicing God’s Presence

a year, but you can alter this pace to your needs. Not every exercise will appeal to you. Feel free to adapt or try a different exercise within the same category.

This guide is a practical companion to Life in the Presence of God: Practices for Living in Light of Eternity (InterVarsity Press, 2017). However, even if you haven’t read the book, you can still use this guide, which is for anyone, anywhere, no matter where you are in your spiritual walk.

• • • 5Authors' Invitation

The spiritual life is not a measurable product but a dynamic process. Walking in God’s presence, or “practicing his presence,” requires both trusting and training. This guide offers a few ways to nurture your relationship with God and heighten your awareness and enjoyment of his constant presence on a daily basis.

These exercises aren’t magic pills you can swallow to be automatically ushered into God’s presence. They’re not intended as a checklist of to-do items that you complete mechanically. They’re more like the things you do when you want to deepen your intimacy or friendship with a spouse or best friend—things like going on a dinner date, writing a personal letter, or taking a walk together.

The exercises in this guide are to be done in combination with a heart of faith (Hebrews 11:6), trusting God to work in you and change you through the power of his Spirit living in you. He is the only one who can do that: no program, no book, no training guide in the world can do that but God himself.

When you draw near to God, he promises to draw near to you ( James 4:8). We pray this for you, not just as something that happens occasionally, but throughout your days, every day, so that all of your life, even the most ordinary parts, becomes extraordinary because it’s infused with his presence. And it is there, in his presence, that you’ll find fullness of joy, no matter what is going on in your life (Psalm 16:11).

—Ken Boa and Jenny Abel

Authors’ Invitation


Each exercise in this guide falls within one of eight categories: Lifestyle, Physical, Prayer, Relational, Scripture, Sensory, Time & Work, and Wisdom. Summary descriptions of each category appear below.

LIFESTYLE

Each day has a mini-life of its own—with a birth, followed by growth, decline, and death (with parallels in waking up, going about the day, dressing for bed, and sleeping). Viewing life this way, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling in the past, helps us take up our cross daily, as Jesus said we’re to do. Lifestyle exercises provide the proper “bookends” to each day as well as help us live each day with contentment, gratitude, and purpose.

PHYSICAL

Physical exercises acknowledge our human nature as both immaterial and material (or spirit and body, invisible and visible). These exercises leverage encounters with the tangible world to make us aware of how this world points to a world beyond, of how the physical can move us toward spiritual truth.

PRAYER

Communication is what makes any relationship work, including our relationship with God. This communication is a two-way street, involving both listening and speaking. Prayer is the vehicle by which we communicate with God and thus spend time with

Category Descriptions

• • • 7Category Descriptions

him. These exercises help to bring the spiritual into the ordinary and elevate the ordinary to the spiritual.

RELATIONAL

We’re made in the image of God, and as image bearers, we are relational—just like our Maker. We’re made for community and experience the presence of God in and through his people. These exercises help us apply the Great Commandments to love God and others in our everyday encounters, seeing others not as objects to be manipulated but as subjects to be cared for and loved.

SCRIPTURE

Scripture instructs us to renew our minds and set our minds on things above. And Scripture is a vital means by which we do that. Through the lens of Scripture we see God, ourselves, and the world clearly and correctly. These exercises encourage us to incorporate Scripture into daily life both to recalibrate our values and agenda to God’s and to know God through his revealed truth.

SENSORY

When we begin to see life as monotonous and routine, our senses can become dulled. We fail to experience the transcendent and supernatural when we neglect to engage our God-given senses and enjoy him in the process. These exercises appeal to both heart and mind as we allow God to invade our senses.

TIME & WORK

Scripture calls us to redeem the time. To do so, we must bring our everyday work and endeavors into the presence of God, making


more of our daily requirements than simply earning a living or fulfilling our duties. These exercises help us become aware of opportunities to invest the time we’ve been given and become conscious of God in our temporal tasks.

WISDOM

Wisdom is skill in the art of living. Like the Lifestyle category, this involves aspects of day-to-day life, but here the focus is on living with the end in mind, with a long-term perspective. These exercises help us to think God’s thoughts after him, living with an awareness of both our identities and destinies.

THE52-WEEK

PLAN

A Guide to Practicing God’s Presence10 • • •

EXERCISE 1WEEK 1

LIFESTYLE 1

Four Areas of Gratitude

Getting our eyes off ourselves onto God is one way God can turn the difficulties of life into a redemptive tool. Cultivate a sense of gratitude for the goodness of life and the tender mercies of God that you tend to overlook by thinking about something you’re grateful for in each of the four categories below. Thank God for each of these things daily.

Record what you’re grateful for in the following categories:

The glory of God’s creation: ____________________________

A material blessing: __________________________________

A relational blessing (someone in your life): _______________

A spiritual blessing: __________________________________

Did this exercise work for you? Yes No Neutral Record your answer in the log starting on page 143.

The 52-Week Plan • • • 11 • • • 11

EXERCISE 2WEEK 1

PHYSICAL 1

3 x 5 Cards

On a 3 x 5 index card (or small piece of paper) write this renewal verse* (feel free to use the Bible version you prefer):

Find an ideal spot to display the card—wherever you’ll need it most, or where you spend the most time (such as your car’s dashboard, at your computer/workstation, above the kitchen sink, or on the bathroom mirror).

*More verse options are in the Resources section of this guide (see Renewal Verses starting on page 118). After a while, it’s easy to start ignoring these cards. If this exercise becomes part of your future tool kit, plan (even set a reminder) to change the cards once a week or once a month, if they begin to lose their impact. We’ve repeated this exercise within this guide to show the advantage of swapping out cards with new verses from time to time.

REJOICE ALWAYS;

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING;

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS;

FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU

IN CHRIST JESUS.

(1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–18)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 2

PRAYER 1

Flash Prayers

Get in the habit of recognizing God’s presence all day long by sending up short “flash prayers” (sometimes called “arrow prayers”) at various points in the day. These are brief acknowledgements of God’s presence that can be offered anytime, anywhere. Pick a situation when you’ll offer up a flash prayer, and then choose a prayer (or write your own).

Situations:

o Upon waking o While sitting down for a meal/eating o Before making a phone call (at work or home) o While sitting in traffic at a red light o While waiting in a line o When lying in bed about to fall asleep o Other: _________________________________

Flash Prayer Examples:

o May I love and serve you and others today. o I thank you in all things. o I love you, Lord. o By your grace, Lord . . . o Where would I be without You, Lord? o Unite my heart to fear Your name. o Other: _________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 13 • • • 13

EXERCISE 2WEEK 2

RELATIONAL 1

Every Encounter

Keeping an eternal perspective means seeing every person you meet through the lens of God’s grace, realizing we never meet someone at random or by accident. God can magnify a small deed or word to large effect in another’s life. Seek to respond to God’s initiatives in your everyday encounters.

For each person you meet:

l Assume God is working in that person somehow, and

l Ask yourself, “Is there some way I can share the love or presence of Christ with this person?”

If practicing this with everyone you meet feels too overwhelming, try this exercise with a certain category of people, for example, family members, colleagues at work, those who serve you (e.g., waiters/waitresses, cashiers, salespeople, or postal workers), or anyone you meet for the first time.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 3

SCRIPTURE 1

Images of Living in His Presence

Look through the 13 images below that describe the ongoing process of life in God’s presence. Read the descriptions starting on page 116 for more detail. Then choose one you resonate with the most. Read the associated passage, write it out on an index card or piece of paper, and keep it by your bed. Read it every morning and evening. Meditate on the phrases that stand out, and ask God to help you live out or obey it.

o ABIDE in Jesus. ( John 15:4–5) o LOVE God and your neighbor. (Matthew 22:37–40) o SET YOUR MIND on what the Spirit desires. (Romans

8:5–6) o WALK by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16, 25) o SET YOUR HEART on things above. (Colossians 3:1–2) o REJOICE ALWAYS. (1 Thessalonians 5:16) o PRAY CONTINUALLY. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) o GIVE THANKS in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians

5:18) o RUN WITH ENDURANCE/PERSEVERANCE. (Hebrews

12:1–2) o SUBMIT yourself to God. (Romans 12:1–2) o PRESS ON toward the goal. (Philippians 3:12–14) o DWELL ON whatever is excellent and praiseworthy.

(Philippians 4:6–8) o REMEMBER God. (Deuteronomy 8:2–3)


The 52-Week Plan • • • 15• • • 15

EXERCISE 2WEEK 3

SENSORY 1

Cultivate a Seeing Eye

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” says Psalm 19:1 (NIV). Wonders in the physical world point beyond themselves to the presence and mind of our awesome Creator. While driving, walking, or even just observing from your window or porch, take a few minutes each day to notice at least one aspect of the creation: flowers, leaves, trees (or plants in general), clouds, the colors of the sky, birds, or animals. Reflect on how their beauty and order point to the Creator. Don’t just physically see these things, but savor them—revel in them—and rejoice with God, thanking him for his amazing artistry.

If you adopt this habit, you’ll be able to recognize different aspects of God’s glory throughout the seasons. Consider, for example, the cycles of trees, displaying not only the beauty of their foliage through various changes but also the wonder of the branch architecture visible in winter.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 4

TIME & WORK 1

Chronos vs. Kairos

There are two Greek words for “time.” Chronos refers to chronological, everyday events (“clock time”), while kairos refers to special opportunities and occurrences (as Paul talks about in Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5, where the concept of making the most of every “opportunity” is translated “redeeming the time” in the New King James Version).

Be aware of this distinction, and heed Jesus’ example by being available—no matter how busy you are—to make the most of the kairos moments (opportunities) God providentially gives you during the course of each day. Realize the most significant thing you do in any given day may not be on your calendar.


The 52-Week Plan • • • 17 • • • 17

EXERCISE 2WEEK 4

WISDOM 1

Monitor Your Thought Life

Philippians 4:8 says,

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is of good repute—if there is any excellence

and if anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.

Use this verse to help you monitor your thought patterns, paying special attention to:

l Moments when your mind tends to shift into “neutral” (e.g., when waiting at traffic lights or standing in line)

l When you may be tempted to complain

Ask God to use the words of Philippians 4:8 to draw your thoughts upward—to help you set your mind on him and the things that bring him delight. You might want to write out the verse on a 3 x 5 card and place it somewhere visible where you’ll see it often or most need it. (Better yet, memorize it!)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 5

PHYSICAL 2

Physical Reminders

Objects can serve as tangible reminders of God’s presence. For example, you may carry a small object in your pocket as a symbol of his constant presence throughout the day. A cross or a nail could remind of God’s sacrifice for you. A photo or other item may remind you to pray for someone. A stone may remind you that you we are “living stones . . . being built up as a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). You can take your object with you wherever you go, or place it at your primary workstation (wherever you spend the most time in your day—such as a desk or the kitchen sink). See how it affects your awareness of God’s presence and promises.

Physical reminder I’ll use:

____________________________________________________

Where I’ll carry or keep it:

____________________________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 19 • • • 19

EXERCISE 2WEEK 5

PRAYER 2

The Seven Components of Prayer

The following seven components of prayer, gleaned from the pattern of prayer Jesus taught his disciples (see Luke 11:1), offer a blueprint for how we should talk and listen to our heavenly Father. Incorporate each component into your daily conversations with God—starting with adoration on the first day, and adding one new component each day. Pray the Scripture-based words here, or use your own words.

ADORATIONBless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless Your holy name. (Psalm 103:1)

CONFESSIONIf I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me. (1 John 1:9)

RENEWALTeach me Your way, O Lord. Unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)

PETITION I call to You when my heart is faint. (Psalm 61:2)

INTERCESSIONI pray for _________ to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit . . . that Christ may dwell in the heart of _________ by faith. (Ephesians 3:16–17)

AFFIRMATIONI believe You exist and are a rewarder of those who seek You. (Hebrews 11:6)

THANKSGIVINGThanks be to You, God, for You always lead me in triumph in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 6

RELATIONAL 2

The Least, Last, and Lost

Jesus was always willing to stop everything and take time for the people others looked down on, avoided, or didn’t notice: little children, a demon-possessed man, a woman who’d been hemorrhaging for 12 years. Take time to notice overlooked people. Maybe it’s an administrative assistant at work, a cashier at the grocery store, the person who delivers your mail, or just a person nobody talks to. Take time to speak to these people—ask how they’re doing or make it a point to thank them if they’re serving you somehow. Look for an opportunity to show them Christ’s love and mercy, remembering Jesus’ words:

Finally, truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the

least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for

me. (Matthew 25:40 NIV)


The 52-Week Plan • • • 21 • • • 21

EXERCISE 2WEEK 6

SCRIPTURE 2

The Four R’s

Adapted from an ancient art of daily meditation called lectio divina (literally, “sacred reading”), this exercise involves a four-part sequence that helps you engage personally with God as you read and “steep in” a short text of Scripture. Do this daily, using the suggested passages or others of your own choosing. I recommend you do the Four R’s at a consistent time (when you will be alert) and in a consistent place (free of distractions).

l READ (lectio): Pray first, and then slowly read the Scripture passage several times.

l REFLECT (meditatio): Reflect and ruminate on the words and phrases in the text. Which ones speak most to you?

l RESPOND (oratio): Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer.

l REST (contemplatio): Present yourself before God in silence, yielding yourself to him. When your mind wanders, use a preselected word or image that encapsulates the spirit of the passage.

Note: A Journal of Sacred Readings (available at kenboa.org) is a one-year guide through the Four R’s that allows you to record your encounters with an assigned Scripture reading for that day.

SUGGESTED

PASSAGESNumbers 6:24–26

Joshua 1:8

2 Samuel 22:31–32

1 Chronicles 28:9

Psalm 42:1–2

Psalm 73:25–28

Matthew 16:24–26

John 14:27


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A Guide to Practicing God’s Presence


22 • • •

EXERCISE 1WEEK 7

SENSORY 2

The Ministry of Music

Long dubbed the “universal language” or the “language of the soul,” music can elevate our hearts and minds—and even our bodies, scientific studies are now showing. Make a habit of listening to some instrumental (or other pleasurable) music as you work, do chores, or simply take a time-out to relax. People’s music tastes differ widely, so feel free to choose your own instrumental album/artist whose music ministers to your soul. Some favorites are in the Resources section of this guide (see page 135).

Song or artist I’ll listen to:

____________________________________________________

When I’ll listen:

____________________________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 23


EXERCISE 2WEEK 7

TIME & WORK 2

Balanced Schedule

We all must seek a balance between rest and work, recharging and discharging. Examine your schedule for the coming week and month. Ask yourself if you’ve been “overdoing it” lately. Is there margin in your agenda to allow you to embrace those kairos (specially appointed) opportunities that God brings into your days? Or do you barely leave enough time to get from one activity to the next? Do you often accept requests that flatter you but drain your time and energy? Take time to ask God to help you set clear criteria for accepting new invitations or requests. Run every new request through these criteria. This is important even if you’re not overcommitted right now, because it will help you guard against unnecessary busyness in the future. It will ensure you pursue excellence in a few things instead of doing a shoddy job on numerous tasks.

Idea: If you’re married, consider giving your spouse veto power over a new activity that overcommits your time or is dissonant with your life calling.

My criteria:



EXERCISE 1WEEK 8

WISDOM 2

Identity in Christ

Do you struggle with seeing yourself correctly—through God’s eyes? Only when we see ourselves correctly can we follow his command to love others compassionately. Work on “rewiring” your brain in this area by meditating on what God’s Word says is true about you. Choose one or two of the following truths that you struggle to believe about how God sees you.* Write the words on a piece of paper and put them next to your bed. Read them every day at bedtime, making them part of your prayers.

o I am a child of God. ( John 1:12)

o I have been accepted by Christ. (Romans 15:7)

o I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir. (Galatians 4:7)

o I have been set free in Christ. (Galatians 5:1)

o I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works. (Ephesians 2:10)

o I have been made complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

o God loves me and has chosen me. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

*You can also pick from a longer list of Who Does God Say I Am? statements in the Resources section (see page 128).


The 52-Week Plan • • • 25 • • • 25

EXERCISE 2WEEK 8

LIFESTYLE 2

Gratitude in Everything

Monitor your temptations to have an ungrateful heart with this pair of reminders. Get in the habit of calling up these reminders in these situations—maybe even thinking of a creative way to help you remember them (such as setting the words to a tune).

WHEN TEMPTED TO... REMEMBER...

BE PROUD/BOASTFUL EVERYTHING IS GIFT AND GRACE.

“For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

(1 Corinthians 4:7)

COMPLAIN/GRUMBLE IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 9

PRAYER 3

Paul’s Life-Changing Prayers (#1)

The apostle Paul offered some wonderful examples of how we can and should pray to God. Read one of these prayers (found below); then, every day—or whenever the opportunity arises—pray it for yourself and for at least one other individual you know.

In addition to praying this for myself, I’ll pray this prayer for the following individual(s):

____________________________________________________

Note: This exercise introduces you to the first of four prayers. We’ll visit the other three in subsequent weeks (Ephesians 3:16–19; Philippians 1:9–11; Colossians 1:9b–12).

[I ask] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of

glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in

the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may

be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His

calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in

the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power

toward us who believe. (Ephesians 1:17–19a)


The 52-Week Plan • • • 27 • • • 27

EXERCISE 2WEEK 9

LIFESTYLE 3

Daily Rest

We all need a balanced rhythm of work and rest in our lives, and God’s Word affirms that periods of rest are good for us (see Exodus 34:21; Isaiah 30:15; Mark 2:27; 6:31). The Sabbath principle of restoration involves setting aside “being time” (as opposed to “doing time”). Every day, take 10 minutes (more if you’d like) to do something leisurely for rest. It may be indoors or outdoors, physically active (like taking a walk) or sedentary (sitting on a bench or porch swing), or solitary or with another person. Set a calendar reminder if it helps, and try to take your rest at the same time each day.

When I’ll take my 10 minutes of daily rest:

____________________________________________________

How I’ll spend it:

____________________________________________________

Note: Rest and solitude aren’t the same things, and we all need a little of both, preferably daily. Rest is when you’re doing something leisurely and there’s no goal to produce anything. It’s “downtime” to be enjoyed for its own sake. Solitude is also time away from the world, but with the difference that you are making a conscious effort to focus on getting with God and receiving what he wants to give and teach you.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 10

PHYSICAL 1

3 x 5 Cards




I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; AND

IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST

LIVES IN ME; AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW

LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE

SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE

HIMSELF UP FOR ME.

(GALATIANS 2:20)


The 52-Week Plan • • • 29 • • • 29

EXERCISE 2WEEK 10

RELATIONAL 3

Spiritual Discussions

Too often, we let the trivial and temporal dominate our relationships and thus our conversations. Not every discussion you have can be deep or long, but make an effort to look for “pivot points” in a conversation when you might elevate the level of discussion to something deeper and spiritually related. Be imaginative! And then look for ways to follow up on the conversations that did turn spiritual.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 11

SCRIPTURE 3

Words of Jesus

The words of Jesus are powerful. Choose one of his sayings below to focus on. Write it down (or type it out) and put it in a place where you’ll see it often. Read it a few times during the day—whenever you see it. You might also want to get your Bible and take a look at the surrounding context of the verse you choose.

o John 14:1: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God; believe also in Me.”

o John 15:5: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

o Luke 9:23: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

o Matthew 4:4: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

o Matthew 10:39: “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

o Matthew 11:28–29: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

o John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”


The 52-Week Plan • • • 31 • • • 31

EXERCISE 2WEEK 11

TIME & WORK 3

Important vs. Urgent

We have to budget time in advance for the important things of life that could easily get swept away in the daily grind (see Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 5:16). At the start of the week, review your agenda; look to see if your schedule includes the most important things of life that contribute to your well-being, namely:

l Time with God and his Word

l People (including Christian fellowship)

l Sufficient rest

l Some form of physical activity (even light stretching)

If these things are not already built into your routine, put them on your calendar now!



EXERCISE 1WEEK 12

WISDOM 3

Living in Light of “Well Done”

When we’re before the Judgment Seat of Christ, the best words we can hope to hear are, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21), while the most terrifying words will be, “I never knew you; depart from me” (Matthew 7:23). Are you living each day in light of “Well done”? Think of a creative way to remind yourself to live in this way (like a note or picture on the refrigerator), so that you live each day with the sole purpose of pleasing and honoring God, not other people or even yourself.

How I will remind myself to live in light of the goal of hearing, “Well done”:


The 52-Week Plan • • • 33 • • • 33

EXERCISE 2WEEK 12

SENSORY 3

Turn Pleasures to Praise

God gives all good things for our enjoyment. He is the Ultimate Giver—the source of every perfect gift. His desire is that we would give thanks and praise to him (Deuteronomy 8:10), realizing that everything we have is a gift from his gracious hands. When you’re enjoying good food, good times (with friends or family), good music, or other tangible blessings, turn them into an opportunity to adore the One who made them possible.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 13

RELATIONAL 4

Tangible Expressions

We talk about giving as a “love language” (Gary Chapman wrote a helpful book, The Five Love Languages, on the topic years ago). Some of us enjoy giving and/or receiving tangible expressions of love and affection: a note, a book, flowers, a favorite food or drink, or some other special item (homemade or bought). Look for a tangible expression of love or appreciation you can show someone. Check your motives beforehand; do not give expecting any favor or gift in return, or out of obligation. You might even consider giving the gift secretly, without letting the person know who gave it (see Matthew 6:4).

Person I’ll give something to (examples: your spouse, a parent, a grandparent, a child, a close friend, your caretaker, your pastor):

____________________________________________________

What I’ll give and when:

____________________________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 35 • • • 35

EXERCISE 2WEEK 13

PRAYER 4

The Lord’s Prayer

Each morning before you rise from bed,* pray the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13). Keep in mind this prayer is meant to be a pattern for how we pray, not something we simply recite. Don’t rush through it, but really ponder each line, consciously praying each component to God. If you’re not in a group setting, it helps to use first-person singular pronouns, as is done in this adaptation below.

MY FATHER IN HEAVEN,

YOUR NAME IS HOLY,

YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE,

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD.

AND FORGIVE ME MY SINS,

AS I ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED

AGAINST ME.

AND LEAD ME NOT INTO TEMPTATION,

BUT DELIVER ME FROM THE EVIL ONE.

AMEN.

*This is also a great practice before falling asleep at night.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 14

SCRIPTURE 4

Meditate on the Life of Christ

Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) was a follower of Christ who lived in a dark time. Of all the practices he engaged in, the one he regarded to be of the highest importance (and most rewarding) was meditation on the life of Christ. Follow his example by reading from one of the four Gospel books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.* As you read, focus your meditation by looking for one of the following key characteristics of Christ’s life, and then brainstorm a way, even a small way, to apply his example in your own life:*

l Trusting in the Father l Living in awareness of his identity as

God’s Son l Pursuing the Father’s agenda l Valuing what God values l Confessing God before others l Making time for silence and solitude l Praying continually l Loving others sacrificially

*Some tips for meditation: (1) Don’t hurry! Take time to linger over a story or even just one sentence or phrase. (2) Consider using the Four R’s practice (from Week 6) as a way to work your way through a short text.

SUGGESTED

CHAPTERSMatthew 5, 6, 7, 28

Mark 1, 3, 5

Luke 4, 5, 12, 15, 16

John 3, 4, 14, 15, 17


The 52-Week Plan • • • 37 • • • 37

EXERCISE 2WEEK 14

LIFESTYLE 4

Weekly Rest

Schedule a mini Sabbath for all or part of a day (it doesn’t have to be Sunday). This should be a time when you’re in a passive or receptive mode, not an active push mode. Choose any leisure activity that relaxes and restores you—something you do as an end in itself, not because of anything it produces. The activity can be with another person, but avoid involving someone who tends to drain or stress you. Also, try to leave all electronics at home, or turn them completely off, to avoid distraction.

When I’ll take my mini Sabbath:

____________________________________________________

How I’ll spend the time (some ideas include reading, painting, taking a walk, doing a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, listening to music, or simply sitting on a bench outside):

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 1WEEK 15

PHYSICAL 3

Read a Good Book

Reading a physical book engages all of the senses. It encourages you to slow down, think deeply, and make inferences or connections. It also aids your memories, especially if you underline or mark text while you read. Pick up a hard-copy book, preferably a somewhat older piece of literature (maybe one that “smells” and “feels” old!). Choose one that will “bite and sting” (as James Houston put it)—one that will challenge your thinking and outlook. Consider putting your phone in another room while you read and eliminate as many distractions as you can. After a month or so, notice whether the increase in print reading has affected your ability to concentrate, especially when you read God’s Word.

The City of God or Confessions (St. Augustine)

The Love of God (Bernard of Clairvaux)

The Divine Comedy (Dante)

The Imitation of Christ (Thomas à Kempis)

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, King Lear, or The Tempest (Shakespeare plays)

Paradise Lost (John Milton)

The Pilgrim’s Progress (John Bunyan)

Faust (Goethe)

Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen)

Les Misérables (Victor Hugo)

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)

Moby-Dick (Herman Melville)

Middlemarch (George Eliot)

The Brothers Karamazov or Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoevsky)

Anna Karenina or War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy)

The Knowledge of the Holy or The Pursuit of God (A. W. Tozer)

The Lord of the Rings series (J. R. R. Tolkien)

The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, The Ransom Trilogy (a.k.a. The Space Trilogy), or The Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis)


The 52-Week Plan • • • 39 • • • 39

EXERCISE 2WEEK 15

SENSORY 4

Nature Walks

One way to cultivate a seeing eye—an eye that looks for God in our surroundings, including the environment—is to take a walk in nature on a regular basis. This is especially valuable if you live or work in an urban area. Find a place nearby to take such a walk at least once—daily if your schedule allows.

Do not rush—this is not for exercise! Stop and notice the small things: the spider spinning a web, the ant dragging something to the colony, the turtle sunning on a rock, or the trees blowing in the breeze. Listen to the sounds of nature, too—the birds, the wind, or rushing water. Notice how you feel after a nature walk, and whether it helps refresh your mind and perspective.

When I’ll take my nature walk(s):

Day (or daily): ________________ Time: __________________

Where? _____________________________________________



EXERCISE 1WEEK 16

TIME & WORK 4

Time Stopping

Because we tend to live ahead of ourselves by dwelling in the future, try occasional time-stopping exercises—moments when you consciously stand in and relish the present moment. Martin Laird calls this having a “receptive engagement of the present moment.” In these moments (it helps to pick a specific time or place each day), realize Jesus is with you and in you at that very moment; thank him for never leaving or forsaking you even in the smallest of things (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).

Specific time or place when I’ll embrace the present moment and thank Jesus for being with me always:

____________________________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 41 • • • 41

EXERCISE 2WEEK 16

WISDOM 4

Four Last Things

Sir Thomas More spoke of a need to meditate on what he called the four last things: DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, and HELL.

This isn’t meant to be morbid or frightening, but a readjustment of perspective to help us live in light of the end rather than presuming we have a lot more time to prepare for the next world (Psalm 90:12). God can also help you combat spiritual pride, sloth, covetousness, and other sins when you ponder these things from his viewpoint. Use 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 and take a verse or two per day to meditate on the four last things.

1For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,3inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord 7for we walk by faith, not by sight—8we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 17

SCRIPTURE 5

A Psalm a Day

Many saints of the past have started each day by reading, singing, or meditating on a psalm. The book of Psalms displays the full range of human emotion, from the heights of joy in God, to the depths of despair as a result of persecution, unexplained suffering, or pain due to sin.

From the list below, pick a psalm to read each day (or a series of psalms to rotate through). You can also start at Psalm 1 and progress through the book sequentially. Don’t just read, but really savor the words—using them as a jumping-off point to converse with God, honestly expressing your feelings and always returning to his promises and faithfulness.

Check your psalm(s) of focus:

DAILY

(same psalm each day):

o 16

o 23

o 62

o 91

o 103

o 139

o 145

SERIES

(different psalm each day):

o 1–7

o 32–38

o 51–57

o 100–106

o 120–126

o 127–132


The 52-Week Plan • • • 43 • • • 43

EXERCISE 2WEEK 17

LIFESTYLE 5

Daily Solitude

Set aside 10 minutes each day to get alone and intentionally embrace the precious present. Use these minutes for:

ADORATION

Offering a brief word of praise to God for one or more of his attributes or works

THANKSGIVING

Thanking God for the good things in your life

Beware of the world encroaching upon this time—it will try! As you get used to this practice, you might want to lengthen the time and couple it with prayer and meditation on Scripture.

Time of day I’ll spend 10 minutes (or more) in solitude:

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 1WEEK 18

RELATIONAL 5

Difficult People

All of us have difficult people in our lives—a family member, coworker, boss, neighbor, or maybe even one of our children. (And as hard as it is to admit, some of us are those difficult people to others!) God puts these people in our lives for a purpose. Ask God for the grace to see every person, but especially that one most difficult person, as a gift of God—a window into eternity:

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of

view . . . (2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV)

Pray for this difficult person daily. Watch how praying changes your perspective and treatment of him or her. Are you more patient, kind, and loving toward the person? If so, thank God for bearing this good fruit through the power of his Spirit working in and through you.

My difficult person:

____________________________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 45 • • • 45

EXERCISE 2WEEK 18

SENSORY 5

Photographs

Photographic images that capture the beauty and order in nature can call us to admire and give praise to God as the Creator. I (Ken) am personally enamored by photos of space, so I often look at NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (apod.nasa.gov), sometimes setting one as a background or screensaver on my computer.

Spend time looking at images that help you admire God’s creative work in the world. Thanks to the generosity of some photographers, we’ve assembled a gallery of photos specifically for the purpose of accompanying this guide at kenboa.org/nature-gallery. Feel free to use your own sources as well.


https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

http://kenboa.org/nature-gallery/


EXERCISE 1WEEK 19

WISDOM 5

Four Transforming Words

Psalm 37 invites us to adopt a long-run perspective on life by embracing God’s purposes and ordering all of our affairs (e.g., family, work, leisure, finances, ministry) in light of them. Urging us to find our primary pleasure in God alone, the psalm gives four positive commands involving our relationship with the Lord: Trust, Delight, Commit, and Wait. Read Psalm 37 in full today, and then review these words and commands each day, drawing near to God and asking him to align your perspective with his.*

TRUST IN THE LORD (VERSES 3, 5)

Put your confidence and hope in his character and promises.

DELIGHT IN THE LORD (VERSE 4)

Let his nearness be your good; cultivate intimacy with him through time in prayer and in his Word.

COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD (VERSE 5)

Unreservedly give all your plans, dreams, hopes, and desires to God.

WAIT FOR THE LORD (VERSES 7, 9, 34)

Be still. Trust not only his character but also his timing.

*This is a great exercise anytime, but it can be especially beneficial when you’ve been struggling with sin or are in a period of spiritual dryness or suffering.


The 52-Week Plan • • • 47 • • • 47

EXERCISE 2WEEK 19

PHYSICAL 1

3 x 5 Cards




COME TO ME, ALL WHO ARE WEARY AND

HEAVY-LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN

FROM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE

IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR

YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND

MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.

(MATTHEW 11:28–30)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 20

PRAYER 5


The apostle Paul offered some wonderful examples of how we can and should pray to God. Read one of these prayers (found below); then, every day—or whenever the opportunity arises—pray it for yourself and for at least one other person you know.


____________________________________________________

[May the Father] grant you, according to the riches of His

glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit

in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts

through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in

love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is

the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know

the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may

be filled up to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16–19)


The 52-Week Plan • • • 49 • • • 49

EXERCISE 2WEEK 20

TIME & WORK 5

Avoid Presumption

Presumption is a sinful attitude that assumes we have all the time in the world to prepare for the next world/death. This mindset affects how we treat others and God; it affects how we use our time—often putting off until later what could be done now. To avoid this sin and live more aware of the presence of God from moment to moment, pay attention to how you make and talk about long-term plans. When you start to presume either future success/accomplishments (resulting in pride) or future disaster (resulting in worry), call to your mind a few key words out of one of the following quotes/verses. Underline those key words and place them somewhere visible!

l “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)

l “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” ( James 4:13–15)

l “Our grand business undoubtedly is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.” (Thomas Carlyle)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 21

SENSORY 6

Consider the Birds

Make a conscious effort to notice birds. Listen for their singing and how their sounds vary between species. Watch them fly, walk, build a nest, dig for a worm, or sit cooing on a powerline. You can do this from indoors as soon as you wake up or on the way to your car—anytime you’re near the outdoors. As you listen and watch, remind yourself of God’s intimate care and provision for his creation—including for you:

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor

reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father

feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

(Matthew 6:26)


The 52-Week Plan • • • 51 • • • 51

EXERCISE 2WEEK 21

WISDOM 6

Every Circumstance

Ask for the grace to see every circumstance you face today as a gift of God. Whether these experiences are bitter or sweet, painful or pleasurable, acknowledge them as coming from his hand for a purpose. Consciously submit your life to him, and if it helps, as a reminder, place this phrase somewhere you’ll see it often:

Yet not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 22

LIFESTYLE 6

Contentment

Unbridled wants kill contentment. Whether it’s food, money, clothes, power, or something else—whatever we lust after—the Bible says we’ll never have enough. For the next week, monitor your desires while doing one of the activities listed below. Every time you see an advertisement or something/someone that tempts you to covet, stop your thoughts in their tracks and instead offer thanks to God for that thing or person, asking him to help you appreciate without coveting.

When I’ll monitor my desires:

o Traveling (any mode that you do frequently, such as driving, biking, flying, walking, or jogging)

o Using media (internet, TV, phone)

o Shopping

o Other: _______________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 53 • • • 53

EXERCISE 2WEEK 22

RELATIONAL 6

Two Things We Can’t Do in Heaven

There are two things we’ll never have the chance to do in heaven:

1. Share the gospel

2. Serve/share with those in need (physically, spiritually, or emotionally)

Consciously look for opportunities to do each of these things during your week. Consider all resources at your disposal: old-fashioned letter writing, email, telephone, and face-to-face contact. Your acts need not be significant from a worldly point of view. God has the ability to multiply our small efforts and sacrifices for his greater purposes.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 23

TIME & WORK 6

Multiply Devotions

We often think of a devotional or quiet time as a single time each day when we sit down to pray and read God’s Word. But there’s no reason we can’t have these sorts of times more than once a day. For a week, try having multiple devotion times per day instead of one longer one. (You might still choose to keep one of your devotion times longer, but the point is to see if having more frequent moments of interaction with God in prayer and Bible reading helps you think of him more as you go about your daily activities and thoughts.)

Notes on how I’ll multiply my devotional times:


The 52-Week Plan • • • 55 • • • 55

EXERCISE 2WEEK 23

PHYSICAL 4

Mindful Movement

Psalm 139:14 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by our Creator; and in Acts 17:28, Paul, adapting the language of Greek poetry, says “in Him we live and move and have our being.” Sometime this week, engage in some form of movement, and as you do, consciously reflect on the wonderful coordination of your body’s 200+ bones, about 700 muscles, and almost 40 trillion cells (one of the latest scientific estimates), all working in sync to help you move. Consider that God is present in every cell of your being; he is the Conductor at work! Praise him for his wonderful work as you move.

My mindful movement (examples: walking, jogging, swimming, biking, or sewing):*

____________________________________________________

Day and time when I’ll do this: __________________________

*If your mobility is limited in some way, consider how complex and perfectly calibrated even the smallest parts of your body are—your eye or hand, for instance. You can ponder the miracle of vision as you watch TV, or the way God coordinated your fingers to work together to pick things up, write, or play a musical instrument.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 24

PRAYER 6

Pray with Others

How often do we tell people, “I’ll pray for you,” but never follow through? Praying with someone can often be an even greater blessing than simply telling the person you will pray for him or her. When someone asks you for prayer, or when you’re talking to someone who’s expressing a difficulty or concern, get in the habit of asking the person if you can pray with him or her right then and there. You can do so over the phone, in person, or even through email. Even nonbelievers will often let you pray with and for them, because it shows you care for them. The prayer doesn’t need to be long—only genuine.


The 52-Week Plan • • • 57 • • • 57

EXERCISE 2WEEK 24

SCRIPTURE 6

Psalms of Lament

In the midst of suffering, many godly people have used the book of the Psalms—especially the psalms of lament, which make up one-third of the entire book—as a way to draw near to God. If you’re going through a hard time right now (any type of difficulty), pick one of the psalms of individual lament below and meditate on it each day. Alternatively, suggest one to a friend currently enduring difficulties, or meditate on one of the psalms of corporate lament (for times of communal distress, such as natural disasters or national oppression).

Check the psalm you’ll meditate on daily:

Tips: Read the psalm slowly, pausing often, and turn the words into a prayer to God. Don’t miss the transition from lament to praise!

INDIVIDUAL LAMENT:

o 3

o 6

o 13

o 22

o 28

o 44

o 56

o 57

o 142

CORPORATE LAMENT:

o 44

o 60

o 74

o 79

o 80

o 85

o 90



EXERCISE 1WEEK 25

TIME & WORK 7

Pray and Work

Following the old Benedictine Rule that Brother Lawrence used, ora et labora (“pray and work”), seek to do your work—whether it’s in an office, at home, or elsewhere—with an ear cocked to the voice of God. When you combine prayer and action, even trivial tasks can be spiritualized through a divine orientation. Invite the Lord to animate your work so that the ordinary is translated into the eternal. If it helps, place the words ora et labora somewhere near your work area so you see this reminder often.


The 52-Week Plan • • • 59 • • • 59

EXERCISE 2WEEK 25

SENSORY 7

Videos

Video can capture the beauty and order in nature—calling us, in turn, to admire and give praise to God as the Creator. Watch a video that will help you admire God’s creative work in the world. You can find several options in a special video gallery at kenboa.org/beauty/practicing-gods-presence-through-videos.


http://kenboa.org/beauty/practicing-gods-presence-through-videos/


EXERCISE 1WEEK 26

LIFESTYLE 7

Everything Matters

Brother Lawrence committed to doing “little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” We can do the same, committing the most mundane acts of our lives to him. Choose one of the following ordinary tasks, or come up with your own. Each time you go to do that activity, say to yourself (even if you think it sounds funny), “I’m going to do this in Jesus’ name,” and then give thanks to him as you do it.

Activity I’ll do in Jesus’ name, thanking him:

o Getting the mail

o Taking out the trash

o Doing dishes

o Cooking/eating dinner (or another meal)

o Picking up the kids from school

o Other (an ordinary chore, errand, or activity that you do

with regularity): ________________________________


The 52-Week Plan • • • 61 • • • 61

EXERCISE 2WEEK 26

PRAYER 7




____________________________________________________

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and

more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you

may approve the things that are excellent, in order to

be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having

been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes

through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

(Philippians 1:9–11)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 27

RELATIONAL 7

Invite Mentorship

Think of one person you know whom you consider to be a spiritual guide or mentor. If you don’t have anyone like that in your life, seek one out. Invite that person to be your mentor, and if he or she is willing, set a regular appointment time (it could be weekly, monthly, or even quarterly or annually) when you can review your spiritual progress and struggles and pray together.

Mentor (or possible mentor) and meeting time:

_________________________ _________________________


BONUS EXERCISE:

If you’re further along in your own spiritual journey, also consider whether there is someone you could mentor. If so, reach out to that person and, if he or she is up to it, set up a regular time to meet.

Possible mentee:

_____________________________________________



EXERCISE 2WEEK 27

WISDOM 7

Confession

Everyone sins. When we do and become conscious of it, it’s important to confess our sin to God right away, rather than trying to conceal or justify the sin. A good guide for confession is 1 John 1:9:*

If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive

me my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness.

Read this verse at a consistent time each day. While (or after) you read:

l Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to him.

l Thank God for his forgiveness, and for loving you while you were still a sinner.

l Ask him to help you seek and enjoy the greater, eternal pleasures he offers above the fleeting pleasure sin brings.

*This version of 1 John 1:9 is adapted from the NASB and excerpted from my Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God (Atlanta, GA: Trinity House Publishers, 1993), 394. Other good Scriptural guides to confession are Psalm 51:7 or Isaiah 66:2b.

Did this exercise work for you? Yes No Neutral Record your answer in the log starting on page 143.Did this exercise work for you? Yes No Neutral Record your answer in the log starting on page 143.


EXERCISE 1WEEK 28

PHYSICAL 1

3 x 5 Cards





SUBMIT THEREFORE TO GOD.

RESIST THE DEVIL

AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.

( JAMES 4:7)



EXERCISE 2WEEK 28

SCRIPTURE 7

Proverbs

The book of Proverbs contains wise sayings applicable to the full gamut of human experiences and temptations. Pick one to meditate on—preferably one that relates to an area of current struggle or in which you need encouragement. Some suggestions are below. Read the saying a few times a day. Type it out, artistically write/draw the words, or create a short tune or rhyme—whatever helps you best remember the truth it contains.

Proverb for meditation several times a day:

o Proverbs 3:5–6 (tempted to forget or doubt God) o Proverbs 4:23 (tempted to give your heart away too easily) o Proverbs 5:21 or 28:13 (secret sin) o Proverbs 6:25 (lust) o Proverbs 10:19; 12:18; 15:1; 17:27; or 18:21 (controlling

your tongue/words) o Proverbs 10:28 (hopelessness) o Proverbs 12:24 (laziness) o Proverbs 19:21 (concern for future) o Proverbs 19:23 or 29:25 (fear of others) o Proverbs 23:4 (workaholic) o Proverbs 29:11 (anger) o Proverbs 31:30 (vanity/focus on outward appearance) o Other: _______________________________________



EXERCISE 1WEEK 29

WISDOM 8

Monitor Temptations as They Arise

If we want to avoid distancing ourselves from God and becoming hardened by the lies the tempter tells us, it’s important to monitor temptations as they arise and to surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to value our relationship with God. Temptations come with an appeal to one of three lusts according to 1 John 2:16. Be alert and submit to God every time you encounter temptation—following these steps:

1. IDENTIFY THE SOURCE: Where’s the temptation to sin coming from?

2. NAME THE CATEGORY OF TEMPTATION from 1 John 2:16:

l Lust of the flesh (sexual sins, physical violence, gossip, substance abuse, gluttony)

l Lust of the eyes (coveting, envying) l The pride of life (a hunger for power for your own

ego’s sake or bragging rights, wanting glory for something others did, desiring to be held in high esteem, an obsessive desire to feel valued or more important than others around you)

3. FOCUS ON JESUS: We don’t overcome sin by trying to avoid sin but by training our attention on Jesus. Ask yourself: What does Jesus offer that is lasting and better than the sin that is before me?



EXERCISE 2WEEK 29

LIFESTYLE 8

Audience of One

It’s easy to live our lives before the wrong audience. People are right in front of us, and their demands are incessant. But to walk with God, we must play to him as our audience—making it our single-minded goal to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9), or to live coram deo (before the heart of God), rather than to impress people or win their praise. Free yourself from bondage to the opinions, agendas, and expectations of others by putting before yourself the following question each time you are about to make a decision:

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?

(Galatians 1:10)

Upcoming decisions:



EXERCISE 1WEEK 30

PHYSICAL 5

Memento Mori

The psalmist wrote, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV). Reminders to reflect on our mortality used to be more common than they are today. Called memento mori (“remember you’re going to die”), these reminders are prompts for deep and important reflection. Choose an object like a candle or hourglass to place on your desk or location of your choosing to serve as a reminder of mortality. Since none of us is guaranteed another day, these items help us remember to make the most of our limited time on earth.

Object I’ll choose as a memento mori:

____________________________________________________

Where I’ll place that object:

____________________________________________________


The 52-Week Plan


• • • 69

EXERCISE 2WEEK 30

PRAYER 8

Wordless Prayer

It’s possible to pray for others by holding them before God without using words. In wordless prayer we immerse ourselves in the “silence of God.” This is a practice to help break us of our addiction to words and instead seek intimacy with God by means of silence before him. This practice is especially helpful for those who are experienced in prayer but who desperately need to break the habit of always chattering to/at God.

Take some time for wordless prayer, making it a part of your usual time in prayer. Invite the Spirit to bring to your mind images of people you know or have known and lift them up to the Lord.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 31

RELATIONAL 8

Seek Soul Friends

Celtic believers emphasized the concept of an anam cara, referring to a “soul friend.” Anam caras are special friendships with spiritual growth at their center. These friends can relate to you at the spiritual level, and together you make a concerted effort to spur one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). Consider whether you have an anam cara in your life. If not, think of someone with whom you’re already friends who may be open to developing your relationship into a soul friendship. Talk to that friend about this new direction for your friendship. Perhaps start off by reading a Christian book or doing a Bible study together, sharing your takeaways over a weekly breakfast.

My soul friend (or possible soul friend to approach):

____________________________________________________

One way we’ll focus on spiritual growth:

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 2WEEK 31

TIME & WORK 8

Attitude of Dependence

Ask Jesus to energize your activities and cultivate an attitude of dependence on him, even in areas in which you have knowledge and skill. As part of your recognition of dependence, resist the temptation to allow work to invade rest by setting definite times for daily rest and for ending your workday.

For each day you are “on the clock,” make a commitment to end your paid work at a specific time. Avoid checking your work email or tending to anything work-related later on, no matter how tempting it may be. (Tell a spouse or coworker about your commitment if you need the accountability.)

As a reminder to rely on God, consider reading one of these Scriptures each day:

l Proverbs 23:4–5

l Matthew 6:33

l Psalm 37



EXERCISE 1WEEK 32

SCRIPTURE 8

Short Books

A key to understanding what God reveals to us in Scripture is to understand the context. We often miss the context because we rarely read a whole book of the Bible in one sitting. But this is a very doable task when we consider some of the shorter books of the Bible—books that can be read in their entirety in 10 minutes or less. Choose from one of those books below and read it once through every day. Note how new points of emphasis are revealed with each reading or how patterns become more evident. Note, too, what the book reveals about who God is.

Book I’ll read (average reading time listed after each):

o Obadiah (4 minutes) o Jonah (8 minutes) o Nahum (8 minutes) o Habakkuk (9 minutes) o Zephaniah (10 minutes) o Haggai (7 minutes) o 2 Thessalonians (7 minutes) o Philemon (3 minutes) o 2 Peter (10 minutes) o 2 John (2 minutes) o 3 John (2 minutes) o Jude (4 minutes)



EXERCISE 2WEEK 32

SENSORY 8

Special Places

Schedule a time to go to a special place such as a museum, zoo, aquarium, park, or a historic or architectural site. Spend an afternoon there admiring the beauty of God’s creation (animals, plants, trees) and/or the creativity with which we are imbued as creatures made in God’s image.

Where I’ll go:

____________________________________________________

When I’ll go:

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 1WEEK 33

LIFESTYLE 9

Two Eternal Things on Earth

All on this earth is temporary except two things: the Word of God (see Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25) and people. The most worthwhile activities involve investing the former in the latter by sharing the gospel or building up fellow believers. Look at your agenda for this week and ask yourself if (and how) you’re investing in these two eternal things. Look for at least one way to invest in both this week.

How I’ll invest in God’s Word:

____________________________________________________

How I’ll invest in a person (or group):

____________________________________________________

– OR –

How I’ll invest in God’s Word and people at the same time (e.g., by sharing the gospel, edifying fellow believers):

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 2WEEK 33

PRAYER 9

Pray for Others

Prayer is perhaps the most underutilized tool of God’s people, and yet, it’s the most effective way to invite his presence into our lives—and the lives of others. Today, make a list of people you want to pray for regularly (you might also copy the list into your journal or on a bookmark for your Bible). Pray for these people throughout the week (and beyond). You can pray for every person every day or one or two people per day. Thank God for them and then intercede on their behalf for both spiritual and temporal needs. For nonbelievers, pray for their salvation.

Family members to pray for: _____________________________

Fellow believers to pray for: _____________________________

Nonbelievers to pray for: ________________________________

*Do you struggle with being motivated to pray for others? Andrew Murray said, “It is only love that can fit us for the work of intercession [prayer for others].” If you find yourself lacking in a passion to pray for others, ask God to help you love as Jesus did, and your desire to pray for those people will follow. Even when we are motivated and intend to pray for others, it can still be easy to forget to follow through. That’s why a list is helpful.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 34

PHYSICAL 1

3 x 5 Cards





BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN

EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICA-

TION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR

REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD. AND

THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES

ALL COMPREHENSION, WILL GUARD YOUR

HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.

(PHILIPPIANS 4:6–7)



EXERCISE 2WEEK 34

TIME & WORK 9

Regular Annoyance

It’s often the most daily, minor frustrations, annoyances, and irritations that disrupt our sense of peace and focus on God. For one man I (Ken) know, that frustration was getting behind a school bus while driving to his place of work. Then, one day, he experienced a mental shift; instead of getting worked up, he began to pray for the children getting off the bus.

Think of something that regularly annoys you but that you can’t control. Maybe it’s being stuck in rush-hour traffic or at a red light; maybe it’s completely unrelated to driving. Instead of allowing that moment to steal your time and joy, brainstorm how you’ll turn that negative event into an opportunity to practice God’s presence (and to manifest him to others).

Regular irritation/annoyance (something you can’t control):

____________________________________________________

How I’ll practice God’s presence in these moments:



EXERCISE 1WEEK 35

RELATIONAL 9

Be Your Spouse’s Student*

Marriage and the family are designed to reflect God’s love and community as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This special purpose makes the family one of the enemy’s favorite battlegrounds for attack. Nearly all relational conflict boils down to two sins: selfishness and pride. Marriage can become one of the primary contexts in which we learn to put these sins to death. Out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21), make it your goal to put your spouse’s interests above your own by becoming his or her “student.” Study the things your spouse needs, loves, and enjoys (tangibles and intangibles). Then, do one thing that you know will delight, serve, or (happily) surprise your spouse. Don’t do it to get something in return, but let God’s delight be your reward as you become the earthly conduit of his unconditional grace, forgiveness, love, and patience.

What I’ll do for my spouse (or another person):

____________________________________________________

*If you’re not married, adapt this exercise to a roommate, family member, or anyone you see often—someone with whom it’s often hard to put his or her interests above your own.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 35

SENSORY 9

Highest and Lowest Moments

Beauty, intimacy, and adventure are three hints of heaven that we experience during our earthly sojourn. On the flip side, experiences of ugliness, alienation (from God or others), and malaise or boredom provide us with keen reminders that we are not home (to heaven) yet. Take time to review your greatest encounters with each of these this week; jot them down and talk to God about them, reflecting on their meaning to you. Thank him for the hints of heaven, and that he is preparing a place for you there.


THREE HINTS OF HEAVEN THEIR OPPOSITES

BEAUTY UGLINESS (physical and moral)

INTIMACY ALIENATION/CONFLICT

ADVENTURE BOREDOM/MALAISE



EXERCISE 1WEEK 36

WISDOM 9

Reflect on the Past

We should never live in the past, but we should learn from it. Thus, it can be immensely beneficial to review our personal timelines as well as the biographies of others. Do one (or both!) of these things:

READ ABOUT A BIBLICAL OR CHURCH HISTORY FIGURE.

Consider how the person lived, what fueled his or her life, and how the person cultivated a closer relationship with God. (If you’re unsure who to pick, consider someone named in Hebrews 11, or do an online search for major church history figures.)

MAKE A TIMELINE OF YOUR OWN LIFE.

Place on it major markers or “Ebenezers”—special milestones (1 Samuel 7:12), when God broke through and spoke/worked in your life through either joyful or difficult events. Reflect on these past events and experiences of God’s presence, thanking God for them.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 36

SCRIPTURE 9

Renewal Verses

When we repeatedly expose ourselves to his Word, God can use this repetition to create new—or reinforce existing—habits or patterns of thinking due to the way he has wired our brains (the biological term is neuroplasticity, and these new patterns are called neural pathways). Once a day (preferably in the morning), read all the Scripture verses in one of the three Renewal Verse collections at the back of this guide. Ask God to help one or more of these verses to rise to the surface of your thoughts, and influence your thinking and actions throughout the week.

o Collection 1 (starts on page 118)





EXERCISE 1WEEK 37

PHYSICAL 6

Consider the Flowers

There’s actually a biblical command to “consider the flowers”:

Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or

spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was

clothed like one of these! (Luke 12:27 NET)

Flowers are objects of beauty to be appreciated for their own sake as well as objects of beauty through which we can reflect upon the wonder and creativity of the one who creates such beauty. They also serve as a reminder of the fleeting beauty of this world and the promise of the lasting beauty of the next.

Purchase a nice bouquet of flowers for one or more rooms of your home or office. Take note of how encounters with these physical objects affect your mood and bring life to a room.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 37

SCRIPTURE 10

Bible App

We can harness technology to make the words of Scripture more ubiquitous in our lives. If you have a smartphone or tablet and use it often, download a free Bible app, like Bible Gateway or YouVersion, if you don’t already have one on your phone. Place it on your front screen so it’s readily accessible.

Then, think about the times when you normally use your phone apps (to read news, check social media, etc.) and determine to turn at least one of those times (whether it’s at lunch, during a commute, or waiting in a doctor’s office) to read the Bible app instead. (Bible apps offer a plethora of devotional plans to sign up for, as well as a verse of the day, to guide your reading.)

When I’ll use the Bible app instead of another app (or other function) on my phone:

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 1WEEK 38

SENSORY 10

Watch a Good Film

Like books, films—especially those with spiritually centered themes and plots—can serve as powerful means for elevating and stretching our imaginations. Choose one of the films below (or another of your choice) and watch it with a family member or friend. Afterward, share your impressions and takeaways with each other, making sure to discuss its spiritual or moral theme.


SUGGESTED FILM THEME

The Shawshank Redemption Redemptive suffering in a fallen world

Chariots of Fire Heroism inspired by radically different quests

Babette’s Feast Reconciliation through sacrificial love

Enchanted April Enhanced relationships as a hint of heaven

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The quest for transcendence without God

Crimes and Misdemeanors The problem of morality without absolutes

The Matrix The question of what is real in a postmodern world

It’s a Wonderful LifeHope, love, and gratitude amidst greed and moral decay

More suggestions at kenboa.org/culture/film-studies-spiritual-and-moral-themes


http://kenboa.org/culture/film-studies-spiritual-and-moral-themes/


EXERCISE 2WEEK 38

PRAYER 10

Ask for Direction in Prayer

Ask God to direct your times of prayer. Every time you go to pray, refrain from immediately launching into a request for yourself or others, and instead start by asking God to show you what or whom he wants you to pray for. As you listen for his promptings and impressions, he will help you reach beyond your own concerns and become a channel of his grace and mercy to others.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 39

LIFESTYLE 10

Calling and Purpose

It’s easy to allow the world to shape and mold us into its image rather than allowing God to shape us and our life purpose. All Christians, in general, are called to love God completely, ourselves correctly, and others compassionately, and we do so specifically through the unique prism of our own life context, personality, and resources. Write out how you view your personal calling in light of your general calling as a Christian. Review your calling twice a day so you will invest your time wisely.

My calling/purpose (should reflect a lifelong vocation that extends beyond present career boundaries and life circumstances):

l AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH DAY review your plan for the day. Is there anything you should cut out or make time for in light of your calling?

l AT THE END OF EACH DAY review how the day went. Did anything crop up that you should have turned down? Any opportunities God put in your path that were in line with his calling for you but weren’t part of your planned agenda? Make a note of these incidents and how they came about.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 39

RELATIONAL 10

Ongoing Dialogue

Frank Laubach, like many others who have practiced God’s presence over the years, spoke of developing a “continuous inner conversation with God” as he went about his daily life. We, too, can entertain a silent, ongoing dialogue with the invisible God. Instead of listening to ourselves, we can listen (and talk) to God’s Spirit within us. Seek to establish this kind of dialogue. As soon as you hear yourself complaining, whining, or thinking some unedifying thought, turn that moment into an opportunity to discuss your thoughts and day with God, asking him to fill you with his Spirit and the truths of his Word.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 40

TIME & WORK 10

Smartphone Alerts

Technology and media are a major distraction in our lives. We can use the ubiquity of our phones for good by setting alerts, reminders, or alarms that remind us to take time for the important things during the day, including prayer and reading God’s Word. If you have a smartphone that you use often, set an alert for multiple points during the day (see a suggestion below). When the notification pops up, take one minute to either pray or read Scripture. You could even put a verse in your alert; some good ones are Matthew 22:37; Matthew 22:39; Romans 8:5–6; Romans 12:1–2; Galatians 5:16; Philippians 4:6–8; Colossians 3:1–2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; or Hebrews 12:1–2.


– OR –

SUGGESTED ALERT TIMES

9 AM | 12 PM | 3 PM | 6 PM | 9 PM

CREATE YOUR OWN SCHEDULE



EXERCISE 2WEEK 40

WISDOM 10

From Image to Likeness

Jesus came not only to undo the effects of sin, but to perfectly embody our journey from divine image (a human capacity to display God’s character) to divine likeness (realizing that capacity). As bearers of his Spirit and sharers in his divine life and glory, we are on that journey to becoming what God has already made us in our being through the work of Christ. Review the truths below. Think about how each one might translate into practical, day-to-day living. Ask God to help you believe and live out your identity in him—moving from divine image toward divine likeness.


IMAGE (my new identity in Christ)

LIKENESS(how to live out my new identity,

including how to treat others)

I am no longer a slave, but an heir with Christ to a rich inheritance in heaven.

I am no longer condemned, but forgiven and accepted by Christ.

I am no longer my old self, but a new creature in Christ.





____________________________________________________

90 • • •

EXERCISE 1WEEK 41

PRAYER 11



[I ask] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will

in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will

walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all

respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing

in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power,

according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all

steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the

Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of

the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9b–12)



EXERCISE 2WEEK 41

RELATIONAL 11

Practice Forgiveness

When we forgive those who hurt us, we acknowledge that we too have needed forgiveness and are not as different from the offender as we might like to think. There is a natural tendency to excuse our own faults and to blame others for their faults, an inclination to reach for grace and understanding in our own situation and to reach for justice and revenge when the same wrong is committed by others. To forgive as we have been forgiven by God is an act of faith, since it means that we are releasing the right to resentment and that we entrust justice to God rather than seek it ourselves (see Romans 12:19). To forgive is to act on the truth that it is only God and not we who can change another person.

Think of one person to whom you need to apologize or speak words of forgiveness, love, or gratitude. This may mean calling, writing, meeting in person, or making an appointment to see that person as soon as possible. If communication is impossible, release the pain and resentment to God in prayer. Because forgiveness can feel like outrageous injustice, it can be a lengthy process rather than a once-for-all event. Start that process today rather than harboring resentment in your heart.

Person I will speak forgiveness to and deal graciously with:

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 1WEEK 42

SCRIPTURE 11

Morning Affirmations (#1)

For years, I have used (and suggested to others) a set of 10 “Morning Affirmations”—key truths and commands rooted in Scripture—that can help set the tone for the day. You can choose to review all of the affirmations, or you might find that focusing on one or two is helpful. Several of these affirmations are below (see more beginning on page 137). Each morning, review these affirmations with God before you start your activities; then, seek to live in light of these truths.

l I have forgiveness from the penalty of sin because Christ died for me.

l I have freedom from the power of sin because I died with Christ.

l I have fulfillment for this day because Christ lives in me.

l By faith, I will allow Christ to manifest his life through me.

l I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit, Lord, so I will not carry out the desires of the flesh but, instead, produce the fruit of righteousness.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 42

SENSORY 11

Great Works of Art

Like music, the visual arts can have a transcendent effect, serving as fresh windows into the truth and beauty of the invisible God. (Of course, some art does the opposite, reflecting instead the ugliness of our fallen world and its accompanying distortions of beauty.) Art is also a great evangelism tool because of its ability to overcome cultural and other boundaries. Take time to observe some beautiful artwork, either in person (at a museum) or online. As you view it, initiate a conversation with God about the art, seeking to discern:

l What this artwork reveals about his creation (people and the physical world)

l What this artwork reveals about him (the Creator)

The following are some art apps that allow you to view and learn about works of art:

l Google’s “Arts & Culture”

l National Gallery of Art’s “Your Art”


https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

https://www.nga.gov/visit/tours-and-guides/mobile-app.html


EXERCISE 1WEEK 43

TIME & WORK 11

Technology Break

In a very short time, technology has come to dominate many people’s lives—so much so that Americans, on average, spend as much as one-third or more of their waking hours on a smartphone or other mobile device. Science has shown a real effect within our brains of all this swiping and tapping, whereby we come to crave the rush of pleasure we get when we hear the sound of a text message or email arriving. This addiction to urgency and performance has made many of us externally driven instead of internally called. Take a break from your smartphone (or another form of technology/media you use frequently). During this time, do whatever necessary to make sure you’re not tempted to check it or turn it back on. See how this break, sometimes called a “media fast,” has an impact on your peace of mind, your physical feeling, and your spiritual awareness.

When I’ll take my technology/media break(s), and for how long:

____________________________________________________

Note: You can purpose to take tech breaks once a day (e.g., for half an hour) or once a week for a longer time (e.g., a few hours or half a day).



EXERCISE 2WEEK 43

LIFESTYLE 11

Before Rising from Bed

The beginning of the day can set the tone for the rest of our day—and our entire life. Focus on making time to acknowledge God’s presence before your feet even hit the floor in the morning, initiating a conversation with him about your day, so he’s the first thing you think about and the first One you talk to. Here are four suggestions for how to do this:

o READ PSALM 23 or another psalm (good options are Psalms 16, 34, 62, 91, 100, 103, 139, or 145).

o SING OR LISTEN to a praise chorus or hymn, making it a prayer to God. Examples: “Give Me Jesus” or “Be Thou My Vision.”

o SUBMIT AND DEPEND: Submit the day to God, asking him to help you accomplish his agenda and his purpose for you this day; consciously resolve to depend on him this day—trusting the Father, abiding in the Son, and walking by his Spirit.

o PRAY PSALM 143:8:

“Let me hear Your lovingkindness [this] morning, for I

trust in You. Teach me the way in which I should walk; for

to You I lift up my soul.”



EXERCISE 1WEEK 44

WISDOM 11

The Kingdom of God in Seven G’s

Every time you’re inclined to worry, doubt, despair, or simply get bogged down in the temporal, pull out this list of seven words, all starting with “G,” that help refocus your mind to an eternal perspective:

l GREATNESS | God’s transcendence, omnipresence, and omniscience

l GOODNESS | God’s love for you, as a lover has for his beloved bride

l GRACE | God’s mercy on us and sacrifice for us while we were still sinners

l GRATITUDE | For his grace even though we deserve his wrath

l GROWING | To become in practice (day-to-day living) who God, through his Son, has made us in position (a new being or creation in Christ)

l GOING | In obedience to Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19–20 (the Great Commission)

l GLORY | Our entrance into the next life (the culmination of our growing and going)


The 52-Week Plan




• • • 97

EXERCISE 2WEEK 44

PHYSICAL 1

3 x 5 Cards


NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU

BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN; AND

GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT ALLOW

YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU

ARE ABLE, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL

PROVIDE THE WAY OF ESCAPE ALSO, SO

THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENDURE IT.

(1 CORINTHIANS 10:13)



EXERCISE 1WEEK 45

RELATIONAL 12

Handwritten Notes

Handwritten notes are a meaningful way to express love, gratitude, encouragement, and affirmation, especially because they’re so rare these days. Personal notes need not be long or elaborate to have a long-lasting effect on the recipient. Because written notes take a little extra trouble to compose and mail compared to an email or text message, they are often viewed as a special gesture of care and thoughtfulness.

Think of a person who may appreciate a handwritten note, such as a grandparent or widow who may feel forgotten amidst life’s hubbub, or a young person in need of encouragement in school or a job search. You can even tuck a note in a family member’s lunchbox or a spouse’s pocket that he or she will find midday. As you write, ask God to give you the words to say to this person. Consider making it a habit to write one handwritten note each week.

The person to whom I’ll write:

____________________________________________________



EXERCISE 2WEEK 45

SCRIPTURE 12

Morning Affirmations (#2)


You have promised to give me protection in the spiritual warfare all around me. Through your power in me, I ask you to:

l Renew my mind, setting it on things above rather than on the things of this earth. Help my mind dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute (Philippians 4:8).

l Remind me to reckon myself as dead to sin, but alive to Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11).

l Enable me to resist the devil as I submit myself and this day to you. Help me remember to take up the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13–18), that I may resist the enemy of my soul, standing firm in faith.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 46

SENSORY 12

Poetry


Just as reading a book encourages you to slow down, think deeply, and make inferences or connections, reading poetry has a similar effect, perhaps to an even greater degree. Poetry, with all of its metaphors and allusions, can spark the imagination and express the inexpressible in a way many books and other works of prose cannot. The Bible is full of poetry, in fact, even though our translations today do not always make that obvious. Read one of the following poems. If you don’t understand what you read, research the poem or talk to someone about it, allowing it to spark a deeper, spiritual conversation.

If this exercise appeals to you, choosing a poem to memorize can be rewarding.

o “Man’s Medley” (by George Herbert) o “Prayer (I)” (by George Herbert) o “Vanity (2)” (by George Herbert)* o “Sailing to Byzantium” (by William Butler Yeats) o “Choruses from ‘The Rock’” (by T. S. Eliot) o “The World Is Too Much with Us” (by William

Wordsworth) o “Death, Be Not Proud” (by John Donne)

*For poetry lovers or the especially ambitious, check out Herbert’s poetry collection entitled The Temple.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 46

LIFESTYLE 12

Before Going to Sleep

Like the beginning of the day (see page 95), the end of the day can also set the tone for the next day—and your entire life; it can also affect how well you sleep at night. Focus on making time to acknowledge God’s presence immediately before or after your head hits the pillow at night, initiating a conversation with him about the day that just ended, so he’s last on your mind as you fall asleep. Here are three suggestions for how to do this:

l REVIEW THE DAY WITH GRATITUDE: Consider using the four areas of gratitude to thank God (see page 10).

l PRAY THE LORD’S PRAYER: Pray it slowly, taking time to digest the meaning of the words Jesus gave as a pattern for our prayers (see page 35).

l PRAY PSALM 63:6:

“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in

the night watches.”



When you’re particularly stressed or anxious, short prayers to God, in combination with slow inhaling and exhaling, can help us gain a sense of calm—reminding us that he is with us, we are his, and he is in control. These should not become mantras that we say mechanically, but they can help us orient ourselves toward God and cling to his unchanging character and promises amid our changing circumstances.*

102 • • •

EXERCISE 1WEEK 47

PHYSICAL 7

Breath Prayers


BREATHE IN:

Abba

Lord

Be anxious

Taste and see

BREATHE OUT:

I belong to you

You are my Shepherd

for nothing

the Lord is good

*Based on (1) a practice by Brennan Manning, (2) Psalm 23:1, (3) Philippians 4:6, and (4) Psalm 37:8.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 47

WISDOM 12

The Daily Examen*

As humans, we tend to avoid an honest examination of ourselves in the presence of God. We try to hide behind flimsy fig leaves in various creative ways each day—whether it’s deliberate hiding or simply the diversions, distractions, and busyness of everyday life. Instead of eluding this encounter, realize that God already sees and knows everything anyway—your external actions as well as the deepest motives of your heart that even you aren’t fully aware of. At the end of the day, use these steps to develop an open conversation with God in a prayer-filled mindfulness of his presence:


*Based on a practice by St. Ignatius of Loyola

STEP 1 Acknowledge God’s presence.

STEP 2 Review the day with gratitude.

STEP 3 Pay attention to your emotions.

STEP 4Choose one thing about today (something that happened, something you learned), and pray about it. (Your emotions are often a clue about something you should pray about.)

STEP 5 Look toward tomorrow.

STEP 6End with a conversation with Jesus, asking for his forgiveness, protection, help, and wisdom, all in a spirit of gratitude.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 48

PRAYER 12

Written Prayers

For centuries, people have put their prayers to God in written form. Collections like The Valley of Vision (Puritan prayers) and The Book of Common Prayer (Anglican prayer book) are now a blessing for generations of believers. Although your prayers may not end up bound in a book hundreds of years from now, you can still benefit from writing out your prayers. Doing so can focus your attention better than when you pray silently, reveal ruts and negative patterns (which are somehow more “real” and evident when written down), and provide a record to later review with gratitude for the faithfulness and provision of God. Write out a prayer each day during your regular time with the Lord. Review your prayers at the end of the week and see how God answered (keeping in mind his answers may have been yes, no, or not yet).

Tip: A good prayer practice is to avoid too many generalities and pray more specifically. Being specific makes our prayers not only more personal but easier to know when and how God has answered.



EXERCISE 2WEEK 48

TIME & WORK 12

Excellence vs. Success

There’s a natural tension between the desires to please God and to pursue success. We will be tempted to resolve this tension by putting a spiritual veneer over the quest for success—yielding to a subtle form of the temptation to pursue the “pride of life” (1 John 2:16). However, it is better to pursue excellence in what we do for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), rather than to pursue success to receive honor from people. Monitor your motives, especially when you receive feedback (positive or negative) on something you did, are tempted to take shortcuts in your work, and are asked to do something new. Use the following words (originally written by George Herbert, later converted to song by John Wesley) as your prayer to God:

TEACH ME, MY GOD AND KING

IN ALL THINGS THEE TO SEE,

AND WHAT I DO IN ANYTHING

TO DO IT AS FOR THEE.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 49

SCRIPTURE 13

Bible Reading Plan

There’s no better way to get a comprehensive overview of God’s Word than through a Bible reading plan. Reading large sections of Scripture will give you an increasing familiarity with the flow of people, places, events, and concepts in the Old and New Testaments. Long-term use of planned reading takes you beyond favorite portions and exposes you to the whole counsel of Scripture. You’ll begin to think creatively across books and Testaments as you discover God and the connections among concepts in different passages.

Find a long-term Bible reading plan that you’ll stick with, one with reasonable goals for your schedule. Consider some of the plans I’ve made available on my website:

l 4-Card Cycle

kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-system

l New Testament in a Year

kenboa.org/biblical/new-testament-in-a-year

l Overview of 10 Methods

kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-guide


https://kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-system-4-card-cycle/

http://kenboa.org/biblical/new-testament-in-a-year/

http://kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-guide/


EXERCISE 2WEEK 49

SENSORY 13

Holy Icons

From a fish symbol etched in stone (used to identify followers of Jesus in the early days of Christianity) to a fresco depicting a biblical scene to a three-dimensional crucifix, icons have been used for centuries, though they’re less appreciated today particularly among Protestants. Holy icons are theological statements—“theology in color”—used to proclaim and teach the faith. Even more, they can be “windows into heaven,” as they project the viewer into the time and space of a significant biblical event or truth in a way that words cannot. Do an online image search for religious icons. Try to look not just at but through the icon as a window for contemplating the divine and spiritual. Here are some suggested Orthodox icon searches:

l Trinity (especially The Trinity by Andrei Rublev, depicting Genesis 18:1–8)

l Pantocrator (“Ruler of all”)

l Transfiguration

l Tree of Life



EXERCISE 1WEEK 50

TIME & WORK 13

Pay and Pray

Bill paying and other personal finance and paperwork tasks can be among the most dreaded and monotonous of activities. Focus on making the most of these mundane, necessary moments by living and thinking on two levels (the natural and the supernatural) at the same time. Each time you go to make a payment (online or with an old-fashioned paper check) or handle some other personal finance or paperwork detail, think of a way you can “pay and pray” simultaneously. For example, thank God for his provision of shelter as you pay your mortgage or rent; ask God to help you drink from his living water as you pay your water bill; or pray for the family member or friend to whom you’re sending some birthday money.

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TASK/BILL TO PAY: PRAYER:



EXERCISE 2WEEK 50

PRAYER 13

Handbook to Prayer

Use my (Ken) Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God (Trinity House, 1993), which combines all seven prayer components (see page 19) in a three-month, daily guide to prayer. The book encourages interspersing Scripture prayers with personal prayer and reflection, as well as various types of intercessory prayers throughout the week. The book is available at kenboa.org. To get the content in an electronic format (delivered straight to your email inbox each morning), sign up for Daily Growth emails (also through kenboa.org).

SAMPLE FROM HANDBOOK:


https://kenboa.org/

https://kenboa.org/


EXERCISE 1WEEK 51

PHYSICAL 1

3 x 5 Cards





AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED FOR A LITTLE

WHILE, THE GOD OF ALL GRACE, WHO

CALLED YOU TO HIS ETERNAL GLORY IN

CHRIST, WILL HIMSELF PERFECT, CONFIRM,

STRENGTHEN AND ESTABLISH YOU.

(1 PETER 5:10)



EXERCISE 2WEEK 51

LIFESTYLE 13

The Hard Thanksgiving

Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, says we’re to give thanks—not in some, not in most, but in all circumstances. The word he uses for thanksgiving is eucharisteo (where we get the word “Eucharist”—one term for the Lord’s Supper or Communion). Sometimes eucharisteo comes easily, like when we get good news or something exciting happens to us. But there’s also a “hard thanksgiving.” This is what we do in circumstances that, in our limited view, seem difficult or less than desirable. Think about your life right now. Do you need to offer God a hard thanksgiving for something? If so, do it now and several more times this week, asking him to help you see that circumstance as a temporary part of living on this earth. Ask God to use this situation to help you lean on him more, draw closer to him, and welcome his presence into more of your life.

Circumstance for which I will give a “hard thanksgiving”:

For further reflection on your circumstances in light of eternity, consider 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 and 1 Peter 5:10.



EXERCISE 1WEEK 52

RELATIONAL 13

The Witness of Christian Koinonia

Practicing God’s presence isn’t something we do only individually but also collectively as the body of Christ. In the world, people come together because of common interests. But Christians are different; we’re a koinonia, a communion of people held together by the glue of Jesus Christ. This community is the primary way he makes his presence known to the watching world. It’s also a key context for us to receive encouragement and accountability, and to live out the commands in his Word (to love, serve, respect, edify, be patient with, etc.). How does your life reflect this koinonia—this eternal, spiritual family? Are you connected to people because of the common bond of Christ, even though you might not naturally be in the same social circles? Look for one way to love and serve a fellow believer, maybe one you wouldn’t normally associate with or share much in common with. Serve that person as though you are serving Christ himself (Colossians 3:24).

Fellow believer I’ll reach out to (and how):



EXERCISE 2WEEK 52

WISDOM 13

The Good Life (VIM Model)

Author Dallas Willard devised a model called the “VIM model” (Vision, Intention, and Means), which can help you imagine the good life as God intended it.* It may look technical, but it can spur you to the spiritual. Following the chart explaining each component is a sample using a trivial example. Once you get the idea, fill in the chart on the back of this page about your vision of the good life (or jot your thoughts in a journal or notebook). Then, set a calendar reminder for yourself six months or a year from today to revisit your vision.

*From Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002), 85–90.

V = VISION I = INTENTION M = MEANS

WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE?

What is your vision for the fruitful, flourishing life? What do you seek? With words or images, paint a picture of that life. Make sure you’re embedding your story into God’s larger narrative and plan for his creation.

WHAT IS THE PRICE TAG FOR THE VISION YOU ARTICULATED?

In other words, what will you have to give up, and what new practices will you need to take up to see it to fruition?

WHAT PRACTICES WILL EMPOWER YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR INTENTION?

Training involves habituation through practice. What specific disciplines will move you toward the fulfillment of your vision?


EXERCISE 2WEEK 52

. . . CONTINUED

The Good Life (VIM Model)

SAMPLE (using a trivial example):




I want to visit Italy next summer.

I should learn some Italian so I can communicate and get around while I’m there. I will need to spend time and money to do this.

• 2–3 hours per week for study and practice

• Rosetta Stone subscription: $180

MY VISION OF THE GOOD LIFE:


RESOURCES


Images of Living in His Presence

ABIDE IN JESUS

and you will bear fruit; without him, you can do nothing

( John 15:4–5)

LOVE GOD

with all your heart, soul, and mind;

and love your neighbor as yourself

(Matthew 22:37–40)

SET YOUR MIND

on what the Spirit desires, not what the flesh desires

(Romans 8:5–6)

WALK BY THE SPIRIT

and keep in step with him

(Galatians 5:16, 25)

SET YOUR HEART

on things above, making Christ first in your heart

(Colossians 3:1–2)

REJOICE ALWAYS


MORE DETAIL FOR SCRIPTURE 1 EXERCISE

• • • 117Images of Living in His Presence

PRAY CONTINUALLY


GIVE THANKS

in all circumstances


RUN WITH ENDURANCE/PERSEVERANCE

the race marked out for you, fixing your eyes on Jesus

(Hebrews 12:1–2)

SUBMIT TO GOD, OFFERING YOURSELF

as a living sacrifice to him, not conforming to this world’s

pattern but being transformed by the renewing of your mind

(Romans 12:1–2)

PRESS ON

toward the goal to win the prize of

the upward call of God in Christ Jesus


DWELL ON

the true, the noble, the right, the pure, the lovely,

the admirable—anything that is excellent and praiseworthy


REMEMBER

that we don’t live on bread alone

but on the food of God’s word

(Deuteronomy 8:2–3)


“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37–40)

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. ( John 15:12–13)

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. ( John 14:15)

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. ( John 14:21)

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. ( John 14:23)

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4–8a)

Renewal Verses

COLLECTION 1

• • • 119Renewal Verses

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all compre-hension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:6–9)

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:11–14)

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does


not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3–5)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ( James 1:2–5)

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31–32)


This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. ( James 1:19–20)

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. . . . Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. ( James 4:6–8, 10)

COLLECTION 2

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4–9)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)


Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5–7)

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1–3)

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (Psalm 119:9–11)

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:3–11)


This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. ( Joshua 1:8)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12–13)

The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:9–11)

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. . . . But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. ( James 3:2, 8)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. . . . But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. . . . If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16, 22–23, 25)

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will


from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:7–10)

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself ? (Luke 9:23–25)

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)

COLLECTION 3


Our Father who is in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come. Your will be done,On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9–13)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be satisfied.Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of

righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and

falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. (Matthew 5:3–11)

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil


desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:1–17)

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of


God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:5b–7)

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Romans 8:26–30)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4)

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7–8)

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:23–24)


Who Does God Say I Am?

Here is a list of biblical affirmations about our identity in Jesus Christ that is derived from a few selected passages in the New Testament. This is just a portion of the many truths about who we have become through faith in God’s Son, but it is a powerful inventory to review from time to time.

I AM A CHILD OF GOD.But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. ( John 1:12)

I AM A BRANCH OF THE TRUE VINE, AND A CONDUIT OF

CHRIST’S LIFE.I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ( John 15:1, 5)

I AM A FRIEND OF JESUS.No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. ( John 15:15)

I HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED AND REDEEMED.. . . being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)

MY OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, AND I AM

NO LONGER A SLAVE TO SIN.. . . knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6)

• • • 129Who Does God Say I Am?

I WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED BY GOD.Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

I HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND

DEATH.For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:2)

AS A CHILD OF GOD, I AM A FELLOW HEIR WITH CHRIST.. . . and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:17)

I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY CHRIST.Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)

I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BE A SAINT.To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2; cf. Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2)

IN CHRIST JESUS, I HAVE WISDOM, RIGHTEOUSNESS,

SANCTIFICATION, AND REDEMPTION.But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

MY BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO

DWELLS IN ME.Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? . . . Or do you not know that your body is a temple


of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19)

I AM JOINED TO THE LORD AND AM ONE SPIRIT WITH

HIM.But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

GOD LEADS ME IN THE TRIUMPH AND KNOWLEDGE

OF CHRIST.But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

THE HARDENING OF MY MIND HAS BEEN REMOVED

IN CHRIST.But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:14)

I AM A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST.Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I HAVE BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN

CHRIST.He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I HAVE BEEN MADE ONE WITH ALL WHO ARE IN CHRIST

JESUS.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)


I AM NO LONGER A SLAVE, BUT A CHILD AND AN HEIR.Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:7)

I HAVE BEEN SET FREE IN CHRIST.It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING

IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

I AM CHOSEN, HOLY, AND BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD.. . . just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. (Ephesians 1:4)

I AM REDEEMED AND FORGIVEN BY THE GRACE OF

CHRIST.In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)

I HAVE BEEN PREDESTINED BY GOD TO OBTAIN AN

INHERITANCE.In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. (Ephesians 1:10b–11)

I HAVE BEEN SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF

PROMISE.In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1:13)


BECAUSE OF GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE, I HAVE BEEN

MADE ALIVE WITH CHRIST.But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Ephesians 2:4–5)

I AM SEATED IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST.. . . and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)

I AM GOD’S WORKMANSHIP CREATED TO PRODUCE

GOOD WORKS.For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

I HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD BY THE BLOOD

OF CHRIST.But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

I AM A MEMBER OF CHRIST’S BODY AND A PARTAKER

OF HIS PROMISE.. . . the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:6; see also 5:30)

I HAVE BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENT ACCESS TO GOD

THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST.. . . in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Ephesians 3:12)


MY NEW SELF IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY.. . . put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. (Ephesians 4:24)

I WAS FORMERLY DARKNESS, BUT NOW I AM LIGHT IN

THE LORD.. . . you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. (Ephesians 5:8)

I AM A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN.For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)

THE PEACE OF GOD GUARDS MY HEART AND MIND.And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

GOD SUPPLIES ALL MY NEEDS.And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

I HAVE BEEN MADE COMPLETE IN CHRIST.. . . in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority. (Colossians 2:10)

I HAVE BEEN RAISED UP WITH CHRIST.Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)

MY LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD.For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)


CHRIST IS MY LIFE, AND I WILL BE REVEALED WITH HIM

IN GLORY.When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN OF GOD, AND I AM HOLY AND

BELOVED.So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

GOD LOVES ME AND HAS CHOSEN ME.. . . knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

The more we embrace these truths from Scripture about who we have become in Christ, the more stable, grateful, and fully assured we will be in this world.

• • • 135Music for Practicing His Presence

Music for Practicing His Presence

Be Still, My SoulBe Thou My VisionBefore the Throne of God AboveBlessed AssuranceCome Thou Fount of Every BlessingFairest Lord JesusGive Me JesusGreat Is Thy FaithfulnessHe Hideth My SoulHe Will Hold Me FastHow Great Thou ArtI Need Thee Every HourIn Christ AloneIt Is Well with My SoulJesus, I Am Resting, RestingMy Jesus, I Love TheeO Love That Wilt Not Let Me GoO the Deep, Deep Love of JesusO Worship the KingSeek Ye First the Kingdom of GodTake My Life and Let It BeThe Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23), by Keith Green We Bow DownYou Are My All in All

HYMNS & CHORUSES


INSTRUMENTAL/RELAXATION

CLASSICAL TRADITION

J. Pachelbel (Canon in D)Albinoni (Adagio in G Minor for Strings and Organ)A. Vivaldi (The Four Seasons)F. Handel (Messiah, Water Music)J. S. Bach (Mass in B Minor, St. Matthew Passion, Brandenburg

Concertos, Double Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins, Orchestral Suite No. 3, Cantata No. 29, Cantata No. 140, Well-Tempered Clavier)

W. A. Mozart (Requiem, Symphony No. 40, Piano Concerto No. 21)

L. Beethoven (Symphony Nos. 5, 7, 9)F. Chopin (Nocturnes, Preludes)Gabriel Faure (Requiem)Rachmaninoff (Piano Concerto No. 2)Henryk Górecki (Symphony No. 3)

CONTEMPLATIVE

Liquid MindMax Richter

• • • 137Morning Affirmations

Morning Affirmations

1. SUBMITTING TO GOD

Because of all You have done for me, I present my body to You as a living sacrifice for this day. I want to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, affirming that Your will for me is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)

2. ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING

l Offer a brief word of praise to God for one or more of His attributes (e.g., love and compassion, grace, mercy, holiness, goodness, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, truthfulness, unchanging character, eternality) and/or works (e.g., creation, care, redemption, loving purposes, second coming).

l Thank Him for the good things in your life.

3. EXAMINATION

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. (Psalm 139:23–24)

4. MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST

l “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)


l I have forgiveness from the penalty of sin because Christ died for me. (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3)

l I have freedom from the power of sin because I died with Christ. (Colossians 2:11; 1 Peter 2:24)

l I have fulfillment for this day because Christ lives in me. (Philippians 1:20–21)

l By faith, I will allow Christ to manifest His life through me. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

5. FILLING OF THE SPIRIT

l Ask the Spirit to control and fill you for this day.

l I want to be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

l When I walk by the Spirit, I will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

l If I live by the Spirit, I will also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

6. FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

l Pray on the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23)

l “Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)


7. PURPOSE OF MY LIFE

l I want to love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and I want to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:37, 39). My purpose is to love God completely, love myself correctly, and love others compassionately.

l I will seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)

l I have been called to follow Christ and to be a fisher of men. (Matthew 4:19)

l I will be a witness to those who do not know Him and participate in the Great Commission to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8)

l I want to glorify the Father by bearing much fruit, and so prove to be Christ’s disciple. ( John 15:8)

8. CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DAY

l I will trust in the Lord with all my heart, and not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge Him, and He will make my paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

l “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28; also see 8:29)

l I acknowledge that You are in control of all things in my life, and that You have my best interests at heart. Because of this I will trust and obey You today.

l Review and commit the events of this day into the hands of God.


9. PROTECTION IN THE WARFARE

AGAINST THE WORLD: RENEW

l I will set my mind on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

l Since I have been raised up with Christ, I will keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. I will set my mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2; also see 3:3–4 and Hebrews 12:1–2)

l I will be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I will let my requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, I will let my mind dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:6–8; also see 4:9)

AGAINST THE FLESH: RECKON

I know that my old self was crucified with Christ, so that I am no longer a slave to sin, for he who has died is freed from sin. I will reckon myself as dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. I will not present the members of my body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but I will present myself to God as one alive from the dead, and my members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:6–7, 11, 13)


AGAINST THE DEVIL: RESIST

l As I submit myself to God and resist the devil, he will flee from me. ( James 4:7)

l I will be of sober spirit and on the alert. My adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But I will resist him, firm in my faith. (1 Peter 5:8–9)

l I will take up the full armor of God, that I may be able to resist and stand firm. I put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness; I put on my feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; and I take up the shield of faith with which I will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. I take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition I will pray at all times in the Spirit and be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:13–18)

10. THE COMING OF CHRIST AND MY FUTURE WITH HIM

l Your kingdom come, Your will be done. (Matthew 6:10)

l You have said, “I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

l I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to me. (Romans 8:18)

l I will not lose heart, but though my outer man is decaying, yet my inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for me an eternal


weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while I look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

l My citizenship is in heaven, from which also I eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)

l Also consider 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 11:1, 6; 2 Peter 3:11–12; 1 John 2:28; 3:2–3.

• • • 143Personal Exercises Log

Personal Exercises Log

As you do an exercise, mark whether you find it useful. You can eventually use this log to determine which exercises you want to return to or continue to practice. You’ll also be able to see which category most resonates with you. Since tastes and circumstances change with time, you may consider revisiting exercises in the “Neutral” or even “No” categories sometime in the future. (If viewing this log as a PDF, click the squares, taking care to re-save the document each time.)

LIFESTYLE EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

LIFESTYLE 1: Four Areas of Gratitude

LIFESTYLE 2: Gratitude in Everything

LIFESTYLE 3: Daily Rest

LIFESTYLE 4: Weekly Rest

LIFESTYLE 5: Daily Solitude

LIFESTYLE 6: Contentment

LIFESTYLE 7: Everything Matters

LIFESTYLE 8: Audience of One

LIFESTYLE 9: Two Eternal Things on Earth

LIFESTYLE 10: Calling and Purpose

LIFESTYLE 11: Before Rising from Bed

LIFESTYLE 12: Before Going to Sleep

LIFESTYLE 13: The Hard Thanksgiving


PRAYER EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

PRAYER 1: Flash Prayers

PRAYER 2: The Seven Components of Prayer

PRAYER 3: Paul’s Life-Changing Prayers, #1

PRAYER 4: The Lord’s Prayer


PRAYER 6: Pray with Others


PRAYER 8: Wordless Prayer

PRAYER 9: Pray for Others

PRAYER 10: Ask for Direction in Prayer


PRAYER 12: Written Prayers

PRAYER 13: Handbook to Prayer

PHYSICAL EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

PHYSICAL 1: 3 x 5 Cards (with different verses)

PHYSICAL 2: Physical Reminders

PHYSICAL 3: Read a Good Book

PHYSICAL 4: Mindful Movement

PHYSICAL 5: Memento Mori

PHYSICAL 6: Consider the Flowers

PHYSICAL 7: Breath Prayers


RELATIONAL EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

RELATIONAL 1: Every Encounter

RELATIONAL 2: The Least, Last, and Lost

RELATIONAL 3: Spiritual Discussions

RELATIONAL 4: Tangible Expressions

RELATIONAL 5: Difficult People

RELATIONAL 6: Two Things We Can’t Do in Heaven

RELATIONAL 7: Invite Mentorship

RELATIONAL 8: Seek Soul Friends

RELATIONAL 9: Be Your Spouse’s Student

RELATIONAL 10: Ongoing Dialogue

RELATIONAL 11: Practice Forgiveness

RELATIONAL 12: Handwritten Notes

RELATIONAL 13: The Witness of Christian Koinonia

SCRIPTURE EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

SCRIPTURE 1: Images of Living in His Presence

SCRIPTURE 2: The Four R’s

SCRIPTURE 3: Words of Jesus

SCRIPTURE 4: Meditate on the Life of Christ

SCRIPTURE 5: A Psalm a Day

SCRIPTURE 6: Psalms of Lament


SENSORY EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

SENSORY 1: Cultivate a Seeing Eye

SENSORY 2: The Ministry of Music

SENSORY 3: Turn Pleasures to Praise

SENSORY 4: Nature Walks

SENSORY 5: Photographs

SENSORY 6: Consider the Birds

SENSORY 7: Videos

SENSORY 8: Special Places

SENSORY 9: Highest and Lowest Moments

SENSORY 10: Watch a Good Film

SENSORY 11: Great Works of Art

SENSORY 12: Poetry

SENSORY 13: Holy Icons

. . . CONTINUED, SCRIPTURE EXERCISES YES NO NEUTRAL

SCRIPTURE 7: Proverbs

SCRIPTURE 8: Short Books

SCRIPTURE 9: Renewal Verses

SCRIPTURE 10: Bible App

SCRIPTURE 11: Morning Affirmations, #1

SCRIPTURE 12: Morning Affirmations, #2

SCRIPTURE 13: Bible Reading Plan


TIME & WORK EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

TIME & WORK 1: Chronos vs. Kairos

TIME & WORK 2: Balanced Schedule

TIME & WORK 3: Important vs. Urgent

TIME & WORK 4: Time Stopping

TIME & WORK 5: Avoid Presumption

TIME & WORK 6: Multiply Devotions

TIME & WORK 7: Pray and Work

TIME & WORK 8: Attitude of Dependence

TIME & WORK 9: Regular Annoyance

TIME & WORK 10: Smartphone Alerts

TIME & WORK 11: Technology Break

TIME & WORK 12: Excellence vs. Success

TIME & WORK 13: Pay and Pray

WISDOM EXERCISESWORKED FOR YOU?

YES NO NEUTRAL

WISDOM 1: Monitor Your Thought Life

WISDOM 2: Identity in Christ

WISDOM 3: Living in Light of “Well Done”

WISDOM 4: Four Last Things

WISDOM 5: Four Transforming Words

WISDOM 6: Every Circumstance


. . . CONTINUED, WISDOM EXERCISES YES NO NEUTRAL

WISDOM 7: Confession

WISDOM 8: Monitor Temptations as They Arise

WISDOM 9: Reflect on the Past

WISDOM 10: From Image to Likeness

WISDOM 11: The Kingdom of God in Seven G’s

WISDOM 12: The Daily Examen

WISDOM 13: The Good Life (VIM Model)

EXERCISESBY CATEGORY


LIFESTYLE 1 | FOUR AREAS OF GRATITUDE

Getting our eyes off ourselves onto God is one way God can turn the difficulties of life into a redemptive tool. Cultivate a sense of gratitude for the goodness of life and the tender mercies of God that you tend to overlook by thinking about something you’re grateful for in each of four categories: (1) the glory of God’s creation; (2) material blessings; (3) relational blessings (people in your life); and (4) spiritual blessings. Thank God for each of these things daily.

LIFESTYLE 2 | GRATITUDE IN EVERYTHING

Monitor your temptations to have an ungrateful heart with this pair of reminders. Get in the habit of calling up these reminders in these situations—maybe even thinking of a creative way to help you remember them (such as setting the words to a tune).

Each day has a mini-life of its own—with a birth, followed by growth, decline, and death (with parallels in waking up, going about the day, dressing for bed, and sleeping). Viewing life this way, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling in the past, helps us take up our cross daily, as Jesus said we’re to do. Lifestyle exercises provide the proper “bookends” to each day as well as help us live each day with contentment, gratitude, and purpose.

Lifestyle

REMEMBER:

Everything is gift and grace

In everything give thanks

READ:

1 Corinthians 4:7

1 Thessalonians 5:18

WHEN TEMPTED TO:

Be proud/boastful

Complain grumble

• • • 151Exercises by Category

LIFESTYLE 3 | DAILY REST*

We all need a balanced rhythm of work and rest in our lives, and God’s Word affirms that periods of rest are good for us (see Exodus 34:21; Isaiah 30:15; Mark 2:27; 6:31). The Sabbath principle of restoration involves setting aside “being time” (as opposed to “doing time”). Every day, take 10 minutes (more if you’d like) to do something leisurely for rest. It may be indoors or outdoors, physically active (like taking a walk) or sedentary (sitting on a bench or porch swing), or solitary or with another person. Set a calendar reminder if it helps, and try to take your rest at the same time each day.

*Note: Rest and solitude aren’t the same things, and we all need a little of both, preferably daily. Rest is when you’re doing something leisurely and there’s no goal to produce anything. It’s “downtime” to be enjoyed for its own sake. Solitude is also time away from the world, but with the difference that you are making a conscious effort to focus on getting with God and receiving what he wants to give and teach you.

LIFESTYLE 4 | WEEKLY REST

Schedule a mini Sabbath for all or part of a day (it doesn’t have to be Sunday). This should be a time when you’re in a passive or receptive mode, not an active push mode. Choose any leisure activity that relaxes and restores you—something you do as an end in itself, not because of anything it produces. The activity can be with another person, but avoid involving someone who tends to drain or stress you. Also, try to leave all electronics at home, or turn them completely off, to avoid distraction.

LIFESTYLE 5 | DAILY SOLITUDE

Set aside 10 minutes each day to get alone and intentionally embrace the precious present. Use these minutes for (1) adoration (offering a brief word of praise to God for one or more of his attributes or works), and (2)


thanksgiving (to God for the good things in your life). Beware of the world encroaching upon this time—it will try! As you get used to this practice, you might want to lengthen the time and couple it with prayer and meditation on Scripture.

*See note under Lifestyle 3 on the distinction between rest and solitude.

LIFESTYLE 6 | CONTENTMENT

Unbridled wants kill contentment. Whether it’s food, money, clothes, power, or something else—whatever we lust after—the Bible says we’ll never have enough. For the next week, monitor your desires while doing one of these activities: traveling (choose any mode that you do frequently, whether it’s driving, biking, flying, walking, or jogging); using media (internet, TV, or phone); or shopping. Every time you see an advertisement or something/someone that tempts you to covet, stop your thoughts in their tracks and instead offer thanks to God for that thing or person, asking him to help you appreciate without coveting.

LIFESTYLE 7 | EVERYTHING MATTERS

Brother Lawrence committed to doing “little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” We can do the same, committing the most mundane acts of our lives to him. Choose one of these ordinary tasks: getting the mail; taking out the trash; doing dishes; cooking/eating dinner (or another meal); picking up the kids from school; or another chore, errand, or activity that you do with regularity. Each time you go to do that activity, say to yourself (even if you think it sounds funny), “I’m going to do this in Jesus’ name,” and then give thanks to him as you do it.

LIFESTYLE 8 | AUDIENCE OF ONE

It’s easy to live our lives before the wrong audience. People are right in


front of us, and their demands are incessant. But to walk with God, we must play to him as our audience—making it our single-minded goal to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9), or to live coram deo (before the heart of God), rather than to impress people or win their praise. Free yourself from bondage to the opinions, agendas, and expectations of others by putting before yourself the following question each time you are about to make a decision: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?” (Galatians 1:10).

LIFESTYLE 9 | TWO ETERNAL THINGS ON EARTH

All on this earth is temporary except two things: the Word of God (see Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25) and people. The most worthwhile activities involve investing the former in the latter by sharing the gospel or building up fellow believers. Look at your agenda for this week and ask yourself if (and how) you’re investing in these two eternal things. Look for at least one way to invest in both this week.

LIFESTYLE 10 | CALLING AND PURPOSE

It’s easy to allow the world to shape and mold us into its image rather than allowing God to shape us and our life purpose. All Christians, in general, are called to love God completely, ourselves correctly, and others compassionately, and we do so specifically through the unique prism of our own life context, personality, and resources. Write out how you view your personal calling in light of your general calling as a Christian. Make sure it reflects a lifelong vocation that extends beyond present career boundaries and life circumstances. Review your calling twice a day so you will invest your time wisely:

l At the beginning of each day review your plan for the day. Is there anything you should cut out or make time for in light of your calling?


l At the end of each day review how the day went. Did anything crop up that you should have turned down? Any opportunities God put in your path that were in line with his calling for you but weren’t part of your planned agenda? Make a note of these incidents and how they came about.

LIFESTYLE 11 | BEFORE RISING FROM BED

The beginning of the day can set the tone for the rest of our day—and our entire life. Focus on making time to acknowledge God’s presence before your feet even hit the floor in the morning, initiating a conversation with him about your day, so he’s the first thing you think about and the first One you talk to. Here are four suggestions for how to do this:

l Read Psalm 23 or another psalm (good options are Psalms 16, 34, 62, 91, 100, 103, 139, or 145).

l Sing or listen to a praise chorus or hymn, making it a prayer to God. Examples: “Give Me Jesus” or “Be Thou My Vision.”

l Submit and depend: Submit the day to God, asking him to help you accomplish his agenda and his purpose for you this day; consciously resolve to depend on him this day—trusting the Father, abiding in the Son, and walking by his Spirit.

l Pray Psalm 143:8: “Let me hear Your lovingkindness [this] morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul.”

LIFESTYLE 12 | BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP

Like the beginning of the day (see Lifestyle 11), the end of the day can also set the tone for the next day—and your entire life; it can also affect how well you sleep at night. Focus on making time to acknowledge God’s presence immediately before or after your head hits the pillow at night, initiating a conversation with him about the day that just ended,


so he’s last on your mind as you fall asleep. Here are three suggestions for how to do this:

l Review the day with gratitude: Consider using the four areas of gratitude to thank God (see Lifestyle 1).

l Pray the Lord’s Prayer: Pray it slowly, taking time to digest the meaning of the words Jesus gave as a pattern for our prayers (see Prayer 4).

l Pray Psalm 63:6: “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.”

LIFESTYLE 13 | THE HARD THANKSGIVING

Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, says we’re to give thanks—not in some, not in most, but in all circumstances. The word he uses for thanksgiving is eucharisteo (where we get the word “Eucharist”—one term for the Lord’s Supper or Communion). Sometimes eucharisteo comes easily, like when we get good news or something exciting happens to us. But there’s also a “hard thanksgiving.” This is what we do in circumstances that, in our limited view, seem difficult or less than desirable. Think about your life right now. Do you need to offer God a hard thanksgiving for something? If so, do it now and several more times this week, asking him to help you see that circumstance as a temporary part of living on this earth. Ask God to use this situation to help you lean on him more, draw closer to him, and welcome his presence into more of your life. (For further reflection on your circumstances in light of eternity, consider 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 and 1 Peter 5:10.)


PHYSICAL 1 | 3 X 5 CARDS

On a 3 x 5 index card (or small piece of paper) write out a renewal verse from one of the collections starting on page 118 of this guide (feel free to use the Bible version you prefer). Find an ideal spot to display the card—wherever you’ll need it most, or where you spend the most time (such as your car’s dashboard, at your computer/workstation, above the kitchen sink, or on the bathroom mirror). Note that, after a while, it’s easy to start ignoring these cards. If this exercise becomes part of your future tool kit, plan (even set a reminder) to change the cards once a week or once a month, if they begin to lose their impact.

PHYSICAL 2 | PHYSICAL REMINDERS

Objects can serve as tangible reminders of God’s presence. For example, you may carry a small object in your pocket as a symbol of his constant presence throughout the day. A cross or a nail could remind of God’s sacrifice for you. A photo or other item may remind you to pray for someone. A stone may remind you that you we are “living stones . . . being built up as a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). You can take your object with

Physical exercises acknowledge our human nature as both immaterial and material (or spirit and body, invisible and visible). These exercises leverage encounters with the tangible world to make us aware of how this world points to a world beyond, of how the physical can move us toward spiritual truth.

Physical

SUGGESTED

VERSES

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Galatians 2:20

Matthew 11:28–30

James 4:7

Philippians 4:6–7

1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Peter 5:10


you wherever you go, or place it at your primary workstation (wherever you spend the most time in your day—such as a desk or the kitchen sink). See how it affects your awareness of God’s presence and promises.

PHYSICAL 3 | READ A GOOD BOOK

Reading a physical book engages all of the senses. It encourages you to slow down, think deeply, and make inferences or connections. It also aids your memories, especially if you underline or mark text while you read. Pick up a hard-copy book, preferably a somewhat older piece of literature (maybe one that “smells” and “feels” old!). Choose one that will “bite and sting” (as James Houston put it)—one that will challenge your thinking and outlook. Consider putting your phone in another room while you read and eliminate as many distractions as you can. After a month or so, notice whether the increase in print reading has affected your ability to concentrate, especially when you read God’s Word.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The City of God or Confessions (St. Augustine)

The Love of God (Bernard of Clairvaux)

The Divine Comedy (Dante)

The Imitation of Christ (Thomas à Kempis)

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, King Lear, or The Tempest (Shakespeare)

Paradise Lost ( John Milton)

The Pilgrim’s Progress ( John Bunyan)

Faust (Goethe)

Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility ( Jane Austen)

Les Misérables (Victor Hugo)

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)

Moby-Dick (Herman Melville)

Middlemarch (George Eliot)

The Brothers Karamazov or Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoevsky)

Anna Karenina or War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy)

The Knowledge of the Holy or The Pursuit of God (A. W. Tozer)

The Lord of the Rings series ( J. R. R. Tolkien)

The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, The Ransom Trilogy (a.k.a. The Space Trilogy), or The Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis)


PHYSICAL 4 | MINDFUL MOVEMENT

Psalm 139:14 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by our Creator; and in Acts 17:28, Paul, adapting the language of Greek poetry, says “in Him we live and move and have our being.” Sometime this week, engage in some form of movement (examples: walking, jogging, swimming, biking, or sewing).* As you do, consciously reflect on the wonderful coordination of your body’s 200+ bones, about 700 muscles, and almost 40 trillion cells (one of the latest scientific estimates), all working in sync to help you move. Consider that God is present in every cell of your being; he is the Conductor at work! Praise him for his wonderful work as you move.

*If your mobility is limited in some way, consider how complex and perfectly calibrated even the smallest parts of your body are—your eye or hand, for instance. You can ponder the miracle of vision as you watch TV, or the way God coordinated your fingers to work together to pick things up, write, or play a musical instrument.

PHYSICAL 5 | MEMENTO MORI

The psalmist wrote, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV). Reminders to reflect on our mortality used to be more common than they are today. Called memento mori (“remember you’re going to die”), these reminders are prompts for deep and important reflection. Choose an object like a candle or hourglass to place on your desk or location of your choosing to serve as a reminder of mortality. Since none of us is guaranteed another day, these items help us remember to make the most of our limited time on earth.

PHYSICAL 6 | CONSIDER THE FLOWERS

There’s actually a biblical command to “consider the flowers”: “Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even


Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!” (Luke 12:27 NET). Flowers are objects of beauty to be appreciated for their own sake as well as objects of beauty through which we can reflect upon the wonder and creativity of the one who creates such beauty. They also serve as a reminder of the fleeting beauty of this world and the promise of the lasting beauty of the next. Purchase a nice bouquet of flowers for one or more rooms of your home or office. Take note of how encounters with these physical objects affect your mood and bring life to a room.

PHYSICAL 7 | BREATH PRAYERS

When you’re particularly stressed or anxious, short prayers to God, in combination with slow inhaling and exhaling, can help us gain a sense of calm—reminding us that he is with us, we are his, and he is in control. These should not become mantras that we say mechanically, but they can help us orient ourselves toward God and cling to his unchanging character and promises amid our changing circumstances.*

*Based on (1) a practice by Brennan Manning, (2) Psalm 23:1, (3) Philippians 4:6, and (4) Psalm 37:8.

BREATHE IN:

Abba

Lord

Be anxious

Taste and see

BREATHE OUT:

I belong to you

You are my Shepherd

for nothing

the Lord is good


PRAYER 1 | FLASH PRAYERS

Get in the habit of recognizing God’s presence all day long by sending up short “flash prayers” (sometimes called “arrow prayers”) at various points in the day. These are brief acknowledgements of God’s presence that can be offered anytime, anywhere. Pick a situation when you’ll offer up a flash prayer, and then choose a prayer (or write your own).

SITUATIONS: Upon waking, while sitting down for a meal/eating, before making a phone call (at work or home), while sitting in traffic at a red light, while waiting in a line, or when lying in bed about to fall asleep.

FLASH PRAYER EXAMPLES: May I love and serve you and others today; I thank you in all things; I love you, Lord; By your grace, Lord . . . ; Where would I be without You, Lord?; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

PRAYER 2 | THE SEVEN COMPONENTS OF PRAYER

The following seven components of prayer, gleaned from the pattern of prayer Jesus taught his disciples (see Luke 11:1), offer a blueprint for how we should talk and listen to our heavenly Father. Incorporate each

Communication is what makes any relationship work, including our relationship with God. This communication is a two-way street, involving both listening and speaking. Prayer is the vehicle by which we communicate with God and thus spend time with him. These exercises help to bring the spiritual into the ordinary and elevate the ordinary to the spiritual.

Prayer


component into your daily conversations with God—starting with adoration on the first day, and adding one new component each day. Pray the Scripture-based words here, or use your own words.

PRAYER 3 | PAUL’S LIFE-CHANGING PRAYERS, #1

The apostle Paul offered some wonderful examples of how we can and should pray to God. Ephesians 1:17–19a is one of these prayers. Read the verses; then, every day—or whenever the opportunity arises—pray it for yourself and for at least one other individual you know.

PRAYER 4 | THE LORD’S PRAYER

Each morning before you rise from bed, pray the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9–13. (This is also a great practice before falling asleep at night.) Keep in mind this prayer is meant to be a pattern for how we pray, not something we simply recite. Don’t rush through it, but really ponder each line, consciously praying each component to God. If you’re not in a group

ADORATION Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless Your holy name. (Psalm 103:1)

CONFESSION If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me. (1 John 1:9)

RENEWAL Teach me Your way, O Lord. Unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)

PETITION I call to You when my heart is faint. (Psalm 61:2)

INTERCESSION I pray for _________ to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit . . . that Christ may dwell in the heart of _________ by faith. (Ephesians 3:16–17)

AFFIRMATION I believe You exist and are a rewarder of those who seek You. (Hebrews 11:6)

THANKSGIVING Thanks be to You, God, for You always lead me in triumph in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14)


setting, it helps to use first-person singular pronouns (e.g., “My Father in heaven . . . ,” “Forgive me my sins . . .”).


Repeat the Prayer 3 exercise using Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16–19.

PRAYER 6 | PRAY WITH OTHERS

How often do we tell people, “I’ll pray for you,” but never follow through? Praying with someone can often be an even greater blessing than simply telling the person you will pray for him or her. When someone asks you for prayer, or when you’re talking to someone who’s expressing a difficulty or concern, get in the habit of asking the person if you can pray with him or her right then and there. You can do so over the phone, in person, or even through email. Even nonbelievers will often let you pray with and for them, because it shows you care for them. The prayer doesn’t need to be long—only genuine.


Repeat the Prayer 3 exercise using Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9–11.

PRAYER 8 | WORDLESS PRAYER

It’s possible to pray for others by holding them before God without using words. In wordless prayer we immerse ourselves in the “silence of God.” This is a practice to help break us of our addiction to words and instead seek intimacy with God by means of silence before him. This practice is especially helpful for those who are experienced in prayer but who desperately need to break the habit of always chattering to/at God. Take some time for wordless prayer, making it a part of your usual time in prayer. Invite the Spirit to bring to your mind images of people you know or have known and lift them up to the Lord.


PRAYER 9 | PRAY FOR OTHERS

Prayer is perhaps the most underutilized tool of God’s people, and yet, it’s the most effective way to invite his presence into our lives—and the lives of others. Today, make a list of people you want to pray for regularly—including family members, fellow believers, and nonbelievers. (You might also copy the list into your journal or on a bookmark for your Bible.) Pray for these people throughout the week (and beyond). You can pray for every person every day or one or two people per day. Thank God for them and then intercede on their behalf for both spiritual and temporal needs. For nonbelievers, pray for their salvation.

Note: Do you struggle with being motivated to pray for others? Andrew Murray said, “It is only love that can fit us for the work of intercession [prayer for others].” If you find yourself lacking in a passion to pray for others, ask God to help you love as Jesus did, and your desire to pray for those people will follow. Even when we are motivated and intend to pray for others, it can still be easy to forget to follow through. That’s why a list is helpful.

PRAYER 10 | ASK FOR DIRECTION IN PRAYER

Ask God to direct your times of prayer. Every time you go to pray, refrain from immediately launching into a request for yourself or others, and instead start by asking God to show you what or whom he wants you to pray for. As you listen for his promptings and impressions, he will help you reach beyond your own concerns and become a channel of his grace and mercy to others.


Repeat the Prayer 3 exercise using Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9b–12.

PRAYER 12 | WRITTEN PRAYERS

For centuries, people have put their prayers to God in written form. Collections like The Valley of Vision (Puritan prayers) and The Book of


Common Prayer (Anglican prayer book) are now a blessing for generations of believers. Although your prayers may not end up bound in a book hundreds of years from now, you can still benefit from writing out your prayers. Doing so can focus your attention better than when you pray silently, reveal ruts and negative patterns (which are somehow more “real” and evident when written down), and provide a record to later review with gratitude for the faithfulness and provision of God. Write out a prayer each day during your regular time with the Lord. Review your prayers at the end of the week and see how God answered (keeping in mind his answers may have been yes, no, or not yet).

Tip: A good prayer practice is to avoid too many generalities and pray more specifically. Being specific makes our prayers not only more personal but easier to know when and how God has answered.

PRAYER 13 | HANDBOOK TO PRAYER

Use my (Ken) Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God (Trinity House, 1993), which combines all seven prayer components (see Prayer 2) in a three-month, daily guide to prayer. The book encourages interspersing Scripture prayers with personal prayer and reflection, as well as various types of intercessory prayers throughout the week. The book is available at kenboa.org. To get the content in an electronic format (delivered straight to your email inbox each morning), sign up for Daily Growth emails (also through kenboa.org).

https://kenboa.org/

https://kenboa.org/


RELATIONAL 1 | EVERY ENCOUNTER

Keeping an eternal perspective means seeing every person you meet through the lens of God’s grace, realizing we never meet someone at random or by accident. God can magnify a small deed or word to large effect in another’s life. Seek to respond to God’s initiatives in your everyday encounters. For each person you meet: (1) Assume God is working in that person somehow, and (2) ask yourself, “Is there some way I can share the love or presence of Christ with this person?”

Note: If practicing this with everyone you meet feels too overwhelming, try this exercise with a certain category of people, for example, family members, colleagues at work, those who serve you (e.g., waiters/waitresses, cashiers, salespeople, or postal workers), or anyone you meet for the first time.

RELATIONAL 2 | THE LEAST, LAST, AND LOST

Jesus was always willing to stop everything and take time for the people others looked down on, avoided, or didn’t notice: little children, a demon-possessed man, a woman who’d been hemorrhaging for 12 years. Take time to notice overlooked people. Maybe it’s an administrative assistant

We’re made in the image of God, and as image bearers, we are relational—just like our Maker. We’re made for community and experience the presence of God in and through his people. These exercises help us apply the Great Commandments to love God and others in our everyday encounters, seeing others not as objects to be manipulated but as subjects to be cared for and loved.

Relational


at work, a cashier at the grocery store, the person who delivers your mail, or just a person nobody talks to. Take time to speak to these people—ask how they’re doing or make it a point to thank them if they’re serving you somehow. Look for an opportunity to show them Christ’s love and mercy, remembering Jesus’ words: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV).

RELATIONAL 3 | SPIRITUAL DISCUSSIONS

Too often, we let the trivial and temporal dominate our relationships and thus our conversations. Not every discussion you have can be deep or long, but make an effort to look for “pivot points” in a conversation when you might elevate the level of discussion to something deeper and spiritually related. Be imaginative! And then look for ways to follow up on the conversations that did turn spiritual.

RELATIONAL 4 | TANGIBLE EXPRESSIONS

We talk about giving as a “love language” (Gary Chapman wrote a helpful book, The Five Love Languages, on the topic years ago). Some of us enjoy giving and/or receiving tangible expressions of love and affection: a note, a book, flowers, a favorite food or drink, or some other special item (homemade or bought). Look for a tangible expression of love or appreciation you can show someone. (The person could be your spouse, a parent, a grandparent, a child, a close friend, your caretaker, or your pastor.) Check your motives beforehand; do not give expecting any favor or gift in return, or out of obligation. You might even consider giving the gift secretly, without letting the person know who gave it (see Matthew 6:4).

RELATIONAL 5 | DIFFICULT PEOPLE

All of us have difficult people in our lives—a family member, coworker, boss, neighbor, or maybe even one of our children. (And as hard as it is to


admit, some of us are those difficult people to others!) God puts these people in our lives for a purpose. Ask God for the grace to see every person, but especially that one most difficult person, as a gift of God—a window into eternity: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV). Pray for this difficult person daily. Watch how praying changes your perspective and treatment of him or her. Are you more patient, kind, and loving toward the person? If so, thank God for bearing this good fruit through the power of his Spirit working in and through you.

RELATIONAL 6 | TWO THINGS WE CAN’T DO IN HEAVEN

There are two things we’ll never have the chance to do in heaven: (1) Share the gospel; and (2) serve/share with those in need (physically, spiritually, or emotionally). Consciously look for opportunities to do each of these things during your week. Consider all resources at your disposal: old-fashioned letter writing, email, telephone, and face-to-face contact. Your acts need not be significant from a worldly point of view. God has the ability to multiply our small efforts and sacrifices for his greater purposes.

RELATIONAL 7 | INVITE MENTORSHIP

Think of one person you know whom you consider to be a spiritual guide or mentor. If you don’t have anyone like that in your life, seek one out. Invite that person to be your mentor, and if he or she is willing, set a regular appointment time (it could be weekly, monthly, or even quarterly or annually) when you can review your spiritual progress and struggles and pray together.

BONUS EXERCISE: If you’re further along in your own spiritual journey, also consider whether there is someone you could mentor. If so, reach out to that person and, if he or she is up to it, set up a regular time to meet.


RELATIONAL 8 | SEEK SOUL FRIENDS

Celtic believers emphasized the concept of an anam cara, referring to a “soul friend.” Anam caras are special friendships with spiritual growth at their center. These friends can relate to you at the spiritual level, and together you make a concerted effort to spur one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). Consider whether you have an anam cara in your life. If not, think of someone with whom you’re already friends who may be open to developing your relationship into a soul friendship. Talk to that friend about this new direction for your friendship. Perhaps start off by reading a Christian book or doing a Bible study together, sharing your takeaways over a weekly breakfast.

RELATIONAL 9 | BE YOUR SPOUSE’S STUDENT*

Marriage and the family are designed to reflect God’s love and community as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This special purpose makes the family one of the enemy’s favorite battlegrounds for attack. Nearly all relational conflict boils down to two sins: selfishness and pride. Marriage can become one of the primary contexts in which we learn to put these sins to death. Out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21), make it your goal to put your spouse’s interests above your own by becoming his or her “student.” Study the things your spouse needs, loves, and enjoys (tangibles and intangibles). Then, do one thing that you know will delight, serve, or (happily) surprise your spouse. Don’t do it to get something in return, but let God’s delight be your reward as you become the earthly conduit of his unconditional grace, forgiveness, love, and patience.

*If you’re not married, adapt this exercise to a roommate, family member, or anyone you see often—someone with whom it’s often hard to put his or her interests above your own.


RELATIONAL 10 | ONGOING DIALOGUE

Frank Laubach, like many others who have practiced God’s presence over the years, spoke of developing a “continuous inner conversation with God” as he went about his daily life. We, too, can entertain a silent, ongoing dialogue with the invisible God. Instead of listening to ourselves, we can listen (and talk) to God’s Spirit within us. Seek to establish this kind of dialogue. As soon as you hear yourself complaining, whining, or thinking some unedifying thought, turn that moment into an opportunity to discuss your thoughts and day with God, asking him to fill you with his Spirit and the truths of his Word.

RELATIONAL 11 | PRACTICE FORGIVENESS

When we forgive those who hurt us, we acknowledge that we too have needed forgiveness and are not as different from the offender as we might like to think. There is a natural tendency to excuse our own faults and to blame others for their faults, an inclination to reach for grace and understanding in our own situation and to reach for justice and revenge when the same wrong is committed by others. To forgive as we have been forgiven by God is an act of faith, since it means that we are releasing the right to resentment and that we entrust justice to God rather than seek it ourselves (see Romans 12:19). To forgive is to act on the truth that it is only God and not we who can change another person.

Think of one person to whom you need to apologize or speak words of forgiveness, love, or gratitude. This may mean calling, writing, meeting in person, or making an appointment to see that person as soon as possible. If communication is impossible, release the pain and resentment to God in prayer. Because forgiveness can feel like outrageous injustice, it can be a lengthy process rather than a once-for-all event. Start that process today rather than harboring resentment in your heart.


RELATIONAL 12 | HANDWRITTEN NOTES

Handwritten notes are a meaningful way to express love, gratitude, encouragement, and affirmation, especially because they’re so rare these days. Personal notes need not be long or elaborate to have a long-lasting effect on the recipient. Because written notes take a little extra trouble to compose and mail compared to an email or text message, they are often viewed as a special gesture of care and thoughtfulness.

Think of a person who may appreciate a handwritten note, such as a grandparent or widow who may feel forgotten amidst life’s hubbub, or a young person in need of encouragement in school or a job search. You can even tuck a note in a family member’s lunchbox or a spouse’s pocket that he or she will find midday. As you write, ask God to give you the words to say to this person. Consider making it a habit to write one handwritten note each week.

RELATIONAL 13 | THE WITNESS OF CHRISTIAN KOINONIA

Practicing God’s presence isn’t something we do only individually but also collectively as the body of Christ. In the world, people come together because of common interests. But Christians are different; we’re a koinonia, a communion of people held together by the glue of Jesus Christ. This community is the primary way he makes his presence known to the watching world. It’s also a key context for us to receive encouragement and accountability, and to live out the commands in his Word (to love, serve, respect, edify, be patient with, etc.). How does your life reflect this koinonia—this eternal, spiritual family? Are you connected to people because of the common bond of Christ, even though you might not naturally be in the same social circles? Look for one way to love and serve a fellow believer, maybe one you wouldn’t normally associate with or share much in common with. Serve that person as though you are serving Christ himself (Colossians 3:24).


SCRIPTURE 1 | IMAGES OF LIVING IN HIS PRESENCE

Look through the 13 images below that describe the ongoing process of life in God’s presence. Read the descriptions starting on page 116 for more detail. Then choose one you resonate with the most. Read the associated passage, write it out on an index card or piece of paper, and keep it by your bed. Read it every morning and evening. Meditate on the phrases that stand out, and ask God to help you live out or obey it.

Scripture instructs us to renew our minds and set our minds on things above. And Scripture is a vital means by which we do that. Through the lens of Scripture we see God, ourselves, and the world clearly and correctly. These exercises encourage us to incorporate Scripture into daily life both to recalibrate our values and agenda to God’s and to know God through his revealed truth.

Scripture

l Abide in Jesus ( John 15:4–5) l Love God and neighbor

(Matthew 22:37–40) l Set your mind

(Romans 8:5–6) l Walk by the Spirit

(Galatians 5:16, 25) l Set your heart on things

above (Colossians 3:1–2) l Rejoice always

(1 Thessalonians 5:16) l Pray continually


l Give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

l Run with endurance/perseverance (Hebrews 12:1–2)

l Submit yourself to God (Romans 12:1–2)

l Press on toward the goal (Philippians 3:12–14)

l Dwell on whatever is excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:6–8)

l Remember God (Deuteronomy 8:2–3)


SCRIPTURE 2 | THE FOUR R’S

Adapted from an ancient art of daily meditation called lectio divina (literally, “sacred reading”), this exercise involves a four-part sequence that helps you engage personally with God as you read and “steep in” a short text of Scripture. Do this daily, using the suggested passages or others of your own choosing. I recommend you do the Four R’s at a consistent time (when you will be alert) and in a consistent place (free of distractions).

l Read (lectio): Pray first, and then slowly read the Scripture passage several times.

l Reflect (meditatio): Reflect and ruminate on the words and phrases in the text. Which ones speak most to you?

l Respond (oratio): Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer.

l Rest (contemplatio): Present yourself before God in silence, yielding yourself to him. When your mind wanders, use a preselected word or image that encapsulates the spirit of the passage.

Note: A Journal of Sacred Readings (available at kenboa.org) is a one-year guide through the Four R’s that allows you to record your encounters with an assigned Scripture reading for that day.

SCRIPTURE 3 | WORDS OF JESUS

The words of Jesus are powerful. Choose one of his sayings below to focus on. Write it down (or type it out) and put it in a place where you’ll see it often. Read it a few times during the day—whenever you see it. You might also want to get your Bible and take a look at the surrounding context of the verse you choose.

SUGGESTED

PASSAGES

Numbers 6:24–26

Joshua 1:8

2 Samuel 22:31–32

1 Chronicles 28:9

Psalm 42:1–2

Psalm 73:25–28

Matthew 16:24–26

John 14:27

https://kenboa.org/


l John 14:1: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God; believe also in Me.”

l John 15:5: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

l Luke 9:23: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

l Matthew 4:4: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

l Matthew 10:39: “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

l Matthew 11:28–29: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

l John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

SCRIPTURE 4 | MEDITATE ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) was a follower of Christ who lived in a dark time. Of all the practices he engaged in, the one he regarded to be of the highest importance (and most rewarding) was meditation on the life of Christ. Follow his example by reading from one of the four Gospel books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. As you read, focus your meditation by looking for one of the following key characteristics of Christ’s life, and then brainstorm a way, even a small way, to apply his example in your own life:*

l Trusting in the Father l Living in awareness of his identity as God’s Son

SUGGESTED

CHAPTERS

Matthew 5, 6, 7, 28

Mark 1, 3, 5

Luke 4, 5, 12, 15, 16

John 3, 4, 14, 15, 17


l Pursuing the Father’s agenda l Valuing what God values l Confessing God before others l Making time for silence and solitude l Praying continually l Loving others sacrificially

*Some tips for meditation: (1) Don’t hurry! Take time to linger over a story or even just one sentence or phrase. (2) Consider using the Four R’s practice (Scripture 2) as a way to work your way through a short text.

SCRIPTURE 5 | A PSALM A DAY

Many saints of the past have started each day by reading, singing, or meditating on a psalm. The book of Psalms displays the full range of human emotion, from the heights of joy in God, to the depths of despair as a result of persecution, unexplained suffering, or pain due to sin. From the list at right, pick a psalm to read each day (or a series of psalms to rotate through). You can also start at Psalm 1 and progress through the book sequentially. Don’t just read, but really savor the words—using them as a jumping-off point to converse with God, honestly expressing your feelings and always returning to his promises and faithfulness.

SCRIPTURE 6 | PSALMS OF LAMENT

In the midst of suffering, many godly people have used the book of the Psalms—especially the psalms of lament, which make up one-third of the entire book—as a way to draw near to God. If you’re going through a hard time right now (any type of difficulty), pick one of the psalms of individual lament below and meditate on it each day. Alternatively,

DAILY (same psalm each day):

16, 23, 62, 91, 103, 139, 145

SERIES (different psalm each day):

1–7, 32–38, 51–57, 100–106, 120–126, 127–132


suggest one to a friend currently enduring difficulties, or meditate on one of the psalms of corporate lament (for times of communal distress, such as natural disasters or national oppression). Read the psalm slowly, pausing often, and turn the words into a prayer to God. Don’t miss the transition from lament to praise!

Individual lament: 3, 6, 13, 22, 28, 44, 56, 57, 142

Corporate lament: 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 85, 90

SCRIPTURE 7 | PROVERBS

The book of Proverbs contains wise sayings applicable to the full gamut of human experiences and temptations. Pick one to meditate on—preferably one that relates to an area of current struggle or in which you need encouragement. Some suggestions are below. Read the saying a few times a day. Type it out, artistically write/draw the words, or create a short tune or rhyme—whatever helps you best remember the truth it contains.

l Proverbs 3:5–6 (tempted to forget or doubt God) l Proverbs 4:23 (tempted to give your heart away too easily) l Proverbs 5:21 or 28:13 (secret sin) l Proverbs 6:25 (lust) l Proverbs 10:19; 12:18; 15:1; 17:27; or 18:21 (controlling your

tongue/words) l Proverbs 10:28 (hopelessness) l Proverbs 12:24 (laziness) l Proverbs 19:21 (concern for future) l Proverbs 19:23 or 29:25 (fear of others) l Proverbs 23:4 (workaholic) l Proverbs 29:11 (anger) l Proverbs 31:30 (vanity/focus on outward appearance)


SCRIPTURE 8 | SHORT BOOKS

A key to understanding what God reveals to us in Scripture is to understand the context. We often miss the context because we rarely read a whole book of the Bible in one sitting. But this is a very doable task when we consider some of the shorter books of the Bible—books that can be read in their entirety in 10 minutes or less. Choose from one of those books below and read it once through every day for several days one week. Note how new points of emphasis are revealed with each reading or how patterns become more evident. Note, too, what the book reveals about who God is.

Short books (and average reading time): Obadiah (4 minutes); Jonah (8 minutes); Nahum (8 minutes); Habakkuk (9 minutes); Zephaniah (10 minutes); Haggai (7 minutes); 2 Thessalonians (7 minutes); Philemon (3 minutes); 2 Peter (10 minutes); 2 John (2 minutes); 3 John (2 minutes); Jude (4 minutes).

SCRIPTURE 9 | RENEWAL VERSES

When we repeatedly expose ourselves to his Word, God can use this repetition to create new—or reinforce existing—habits or patterns of thinking due to the way he has wired our brains (the biological term is neuroplasticity, and these new patterns are called neural pathways). Once a day (preferably in the morning), read all the Scripture verses in one of the three Renewal Verse collections starting on page 118 of this guide. Ask God to help one or more of these verses to rise to the surface of your thoughts, and influence your thinking and actions throughout the week.

SCRIPTURE 10 | BIBLE APP

We can harness technology to make the words of Scripture more ubiquitous in our lives. If you have a smartphone or tablet and use it


often, download a free Bible app, like Bible Gateway or YouVersion, if you don’t already have one on your phone. Place it on your front screen so it’s readily accessible. Then, think about the times when you normally use your phone apps (to read news, check social media, etc.) and determine to turn at least one of those times (whether it’s at lunch, during a commute, or waiting in a doctor’s office) to read the Bible app instead. (Bible apps offer a plethora of devotional plans to sign up for, as well as a verse of the day, to guide your reading.)

SCRIPTURE 11 | MORNING AFFIRMATIONS, #1


l I have forgiveness from the penalty of sin because Christ died for me.

l I have freedom from the power of sin because I died with Christ. l I have fulfillment for this day because Christ lives in me. l By faith, I will allow Christ to manifest his life through me. l I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit, Lord, so I will not carry

out the desires of the flesh but, instead, produce the fruit of righteousness.

SCRIPTURE 12 | MORNING AFFIRMATIONS, #2

Repeat the Scripture 11 exercise with a different selection from the Morning Affirmations that begin on page 137—or use the suggested ones below.


You have promised to give me protection in the spiritual warfare all around me. Through your power in me, I ask you to:

l Renew my mind, setting it on things above rather than on the things of this earth. Help my mind dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute (Philippians 4:8).

l Remind me to reckon myself as dead to sin, but alive to Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11).

l Enable me to resist the devil as I submit myself and this day to you. Help me remember to take up the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13–18), that I may resist the enemy of my soul, standing firm in faith.

SCRIPTURE 13 | BIBLE READING PLAN

There’s no better way to get a comprehensive overview of God’s Word than through a Bible reading plan. Reading large sections of Scripture will give you an increasing familiarity with the flow of people, places, events, and concepts in the Old and New Testaments. Long-term use of planned reading takes you beyond favorite portions and exposes you to the whole counsel of Scripture. You’ll begin to think creatively across books and Testaments as you discover God and the connections among concepts in different passages. Find a long-term Bible reading plan that you’ll stick with, one with reasonable goals for your schedule. Consider some of the plans I’ve made available on my website:

l 4-Card Cycle: kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-system

l New Testament in a Year: kenboa.org/biblical/new-testament-in-a-year

l Overview of 10 Methods: kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-guide

https://kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-system-4-card-cycle/

http://kenboa.org/biblical/new-testament-in-a-year

http://kenboa.org/biblical/bible-reading-guide/


SENSORY 1 | CULTIVATE A SEEING EYE

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” says Psalm 19:1 (NIV). Wonders in the physical world point beyond themselves to the presence and mind of our awesome Creator. While driving, walking, or even just observing from your window or porch, take a few minutes each day to notice at least one aspect of the creation: flowers, leaves, trees (or plants in general), clouds, the colors of the sky, birds, or animals. Reflect on how their beauty and order point to the Creator. Don’t just physically see these things, but savor them—revel in them—and rejoice with God, thanking him for his amazing artistry. If you adopt this habit, you’ll be able to recognize different aspects of God’s glory throughout the seasons. Consider, for example, the cycles of trees, displaying not only the beauty of their foliage through various changes but also the wonder of the branch architecture visible in winter.

SENSORY 2 | THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC

Long dubbed the “universal language” or the “language of the soul,” music can elevate our hearts and minds—and even our bodies, scientific studies

When we begin to see life as monotonous and routine, our senses can become dulled. We fail to experience the transcendent and supernatural when we neglect to engage our God-given senses and enjoy him in the process. These exercises appeal to both heart and mind as we allow God to invade our senses.

Sensory


are now showing. Make a habit of listening to some instrumental (or other pleasurable) music as you work, do chores, or simply take a time-out to relax. People’s music tastes differ widely, so feel free to choose your own instrumental album/artist whose music ministers to your soul. Some favorites are in the Resources section of this guide (see page 135).

SENSORY 3 | TURN PLEASURES TO PRAISE

God gives all good things for our enjoyment. He is the Ultimate Giver—the source of every perfect gift. His desire is that we would give thanks and praise to him (Deuteronomy 8:10), realizing that everything we have is a gift from his gracious hands. When you’re enjoying good food, good times (with friends or family), good music, or other tangible blessings, turn them into an opportunity to adore the One who made them possible.

SENSORY 4 | NATURE WALKS

One way to cultivate a seeing eye—an eye that looks for God in our surroundings, including the environment—is to take a walk in nature on a regular basis. This is especially valuable if you live or work in an urban area. Find a place nearby to take such a walk at least once—daily if your schedule allows. Note: Do not rush—this is not for exercise! Stop and notice the small things: the spider spinning a web, the ant dragging something to the colony, the turtle sunning on a rock, or the trees blowing in the breeze. Listen to the sounds of nature, too—the birds, the wind, or rushing water. Notice how you feel after a nature walk, and whether it helps refresh your mind and perspective.

SENSORY 5 | PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographic images that capture the beauty and order in nature can call us to admire and give praise to God as the Creator. I (Ken) am personally enamored by photos of space, so I often look at NASA’s Astronomy


Picture of the Day (apod.nasa.gov), sometimes setting one as a background or screensaver on my computer. Spend time looking at images that help you admire God’s creative work in the world. Thanks to the generosity of some photographers, we’ve assembled a gallery of photos specifically for the purpose of accompanying this guide at kenboa.org/nature-gallery. Feel free to use your own sources as well.

SENSORY 6 | CONSIDER THE BIRDS

Make a conscious effort to notice birds. Listen for their singing and how their sounds vary between species. Watch them fly, walk, build a nest, dig for a worm, or sit cooing on a powerline. You can do this from indoors as soon as you wake up or on the way to your car—anytime you’re near the outdoors. As you listen and watch, remind yourself of God’s intimate care and provision for his creation—including for you: “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matthew 6:26).

SENSORY 7 | VIDEOS

Video can capture the beauty and order in nature—calling us, in turn, to admire and give praise to God as the Creator. Watch a video that will help you admire God’s creative work in the world. You can find several options in a special video gallery at kenboa.org/beauty/practicing-gods-presence -through-videos.

SENSORY 8 | SPECIAL PLACES

Schedule a time to go to a special place such as a museum, zoo, aquarium, park, or a historic or architectural site. Spend an afternoon there admiring the beauty of God’s creation (animals, plants, trees) and/or the creativity with which we are imbued as creatures made in God’s image.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

http://kenboa.org/nature-gallery/




SENSORY 9 | HIGHEST AND LOWEST MOMENTS

Beauty, intimacy, and adventure are three hints of heaven that we experience during our earthly sojourn. On the flip side, experiences of ugliness, alienation (from God or others), and malaise or boredom provide us with keen reminders that we are not home (to heaven) yet. Take time to review your greatest encounters with each of these this week; jot them down and talk to God about them, reflecting on their meaning to you. Thank him for the hints of heaven, and that he is preparing a place for you there.

SENSORY 10 | WATCH A GOOD FILM

Like books, films—especially those with spiritually centered themes and plots—can serve as powerful means for elevating and stretching our imaginations. Choose one of the films below (or another of your choice) and watch it with a family member or friend. Afterward, share your impressions and takeaways with each other, making sure to discuss its spiritual or moral theme.

More suggestions at kenboa.org/culture/film-studies-spiritual-and-moral-themes

SUGGESTED FILM

The Shawshank Redemption

Chariots of Fire

Babette’s Feast

Enchanted April

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Crimes and Misdemeanors

The Matrix

It’s a Wonderful Life

THEME

Redemptive suffering in a fallen world

Heroism inspired by radically different quests

Reconciliation through sacrificial love

Enhanced relationships as a hint of heaven

The quest for transcendence without God

The problem of morality without absolutes

The question of what is real in a postmodern world

Hope, love, and gratitude amidst greed and moral decay

http://kenboa.org/culture/film-studies-spiritual-and-moral-themes/


SENSORY 11 | GREAT WORKS OF ART

Like music, the visual arts can have a transcendent effect, serving as fresh windows into the truth and beauty of the invisible God. (Of course, some art does the opposite, reflecting instead the ugliness of our fallen world and its accompanying distortions of beauty.) Art is also a great evangelism tool because of its ability to overcome cultural and other boundaries. Take time to observe some beautiful artwork, either in person (at a museum) or online. As you view it, initiate a conversation with God about the art, seeking to discern:

l What this artwork reveals about his creation (people and the physical world)

l What this artwork reveals about him (the Creator)

Note: Some art apps that allow you to view and learn about works of art are Google’s “Arts & Culture” and the National Gallery of Art’s “Your Art.”

SENSORY 12 | POETRY

Just as reading a book encourages you to slow down, think deeply, and make inferences or connections, reading poetry has a similar effect, perhaps to an even greater degree. Poetry, with all of its metaphors and allusions, can spark the imagination and express the inexpressible in a way many books and other works of prose cannot. The Bible is full of poetry, in fact, even though our translations today do not always make that obvious. Read one of the following poems. If you don’t understand what you read, research the poem or talk to someone about it, allowing it to spark a deeper, spiritual conversation. If this exercise appeals to you, choosing a poem to memorize can be rewarding.

l “Man’s Medley,” “Prayer (I),” or “Vanity (2)” (by George Herbert); also, Herbert’s collection The Temple

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

https://www.nga.gov/visit/tours-and-guides/mobile-app.html


l “Sailing to Byzantium” (by William Butler Yeats) l “Choruses from ‘The Rock’” (by T. S. Eliot) l “The World Is Too Much with Us” (by William Wordsworth) l “Death, Be Not Proud” (by John Donne)

SENSORY 13 | HOLY ICONS

From a fish symbol etched in stone (used to identify followers of Jesus in the early days of Christianity) to a fresco depicting a biblical scene to a three-dimensional crucifix, icons have been used for centuries, though they’re less appreciated today particularly among Protestants. Holy icons are theological statements—“theology in color”—used to proclaim and teach the faith. Even more, they can be “windows into heaven,” as they project the viewer into the time and space of a significant biblical event or truth in a way that words cannot. Do an online image search for religious icons. Try to look not just at but through the icon as a window for contemplating the divine and spiritual. Here are some suggested Orthodox icon searches: Trinity (especially The Trinity by Andrei Rublev, depicting Genesis 18:1–8); Pantocrator (“Ruler of all”); Transfiguration; Tree of Life.


TIME & WORK 1 | CHRONOS VS. KAIROS

There are two Greek words for “time.” Chronos refers to chronological, everyday events (“clock time”), while kairos refers to special opportunities and occurrences (as Paul talks about in Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5, where the concept of making the most of every “opportunity” is translated “redeeming the time” in the New King James Version). Be aware of this distinction, and heed Jesus’ example by being available—no matter how busy you are—to make the most of the kairos moments (opportunities) God providentially gives you during the course of each day. Realize the most significant thing you do in any given day may not be on your calendar.

TIME & WORK 2 | BALANCED SCHEDULE

We all must seek a balance between rest and work, recharging and discharging. Examine your schedule for the coming week and month. Ask yourself if you’ve been “overdoing it” lately. Is there margin in your agenda to allow you to embrace those kairos (specially appointed) opportunities that God brings into your days? Or do you barely leave enough time to get from one activity to the next? Do you often accept requests that flatter you but drain your time and energy?

Scripture calls us to redeem the time. To do so, we must bring our everyday work and endeavors into the presence of God, making more of our daily requirements than simply earning a living or fulfilling our duties. These exercises help us become aware of opportunities to invest the time we’ve been given and become conscious of God in our temporal tasks.

Time & Work


Take time to ask God to help you set clear criteria for accepting new invitations or requests. Run every new request through these criteria. This is important even if you’re not overcommitted right now, because it will help you guard against unnecessary busyness in the future. It will ensure you pursue excellence in a few things instead of doing a shoddy job on numerous tasks. (Idea: If you’re married, consider giving your spouse veto power over a new activity that overcommits your time or is dissonant with your life calling.)

TIME & WORK 3 | IMPORTANT VS. URGENT

We have to budget time in advance for the important things of life that could easily get swept away in the daily grind (see Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 5:16). At the start of the week, review your agenda; look to see if your schedule includes the most important things of life that contribute to your well-being, namely: (1) Time with God and his Word, (2) people (including Christian fellowship), (3) sufficient rest, and (4) some form of physical activity (even light stretching). If these things are not already built into your routine, put them on your calendar now!

TIME & WORK 4 | TIME STOPPING

Because we tend to live ahead of ourselves by dwelling in the future, try occasional time-stopping exercises—moments when you consciously stand in and relish the present moment. Martin Laird calls this having a “receptive engagement of the present moment.” In these moments (it helps to pick a specific time or place each day), realize Jesus is with you and in you at that very moment; thank him for never leaving or forsaking you even in the smallest of things (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).

TIME & WORK 5 | AVOID PRESUMPTION

Presumption is a sinful attitude that assumes we have all the time in the world to prepare for the next world/death. This mindset affects how we treat others and God; it affects how we use our time—often putting off until


later what could be done now. To avoid this sin and live more aware of the presence of God from moment to moment, pay attention to how you make and talk about long-term plans. When you start to presume either future success/accomplishments (resulting in pride) or future disaster (resulting in worry), call to your mind a few key words out of one of the following quotes/verses. Underline those key words and place them somewhere visible!

l “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)

l “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” ( James 4:13–15)

l “Our grand business undoubtedly is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.” (Thomas Carlyle)

TIME & WORK 6 | MULTIPLY DEVOTIONS

We often think of a devotional or quiet time as a single time each day when we sit down to pray and read God’s Word. But there’s no reason we can’t have these sorts of times more than once a day. For a week, try having multiple devotion times per day instead of one longer one. (You might still choose to keep one of your devotion times longer, but the point is to see if having more frequent moments of interaction with God in prayer and Bible reading helps you think of him more as you go about your daily activities and thoughts.)

TIME & WORK 7 | PRAY AND WORK

Following the old Benedictine Rule that Brother Lawrence used, ora et labora (“pray and work”), seek to do your work—whether it’s in an office,


at home, or elsewhere—with an ear cocked to the voice of God. When you combine prayer and action, even trivial tasks can be spiritualized through a divine orientation. Invite the Lord to animate your work so that the ordinary is translated into the eternal. If it helps, place the words ora et labora somewhere near your work area so you see this reminder often.

TIME & WORK 8 | ATTITUDE OF DEPENDENCE

Ask Jesus to energize your activities and cultivate an attitude of dependence on him, even in areas in which you have knowledge and skill. As part of your recognition of dependence, resist the temptation to allow work to invade rest by setting definite times for daily rest and for ending your workday. For each day you are “on the clock,” make a commitment to end your paid work at a specific time. Avoid checking your work email or tending to anything work-related later on, no matter how tempting it may be. (Tell a spouse or coworker about your commitment if you need the accountability.) As a reminder to rely on God, consider reading one of these Scriptures each day: Proverbs 23:4–5; Matthew 6:33; or Psalm 37.

TIME & WORK 9 | REGULAR ANNOYANCE

It’s often the most daily, minor frustrations, annoyances, and irritations that disrupt our sense of peace and focus on God. For one man I (Ken) know, that frustration was getting behind a school bus while driving to his place of work. Then, one day, he experienced a mental shift; instead of getting worked up, he began to pray for the children getting off the bus.

Think of something that regularly annoys you but that you can’t control. Maybe it’s being stuck in rush-hour traffic or at a red light; maybe it’s completely unrelated to driving. Instead of allowing that moment to steal your time and joy, brainstorm how you’ll turn that negative event into an opportunity to practice God’s presence (and to manifest him to others).


TIME & WORK 10 | SMARTPHONE ALERTS

Technology and media are a major distraction in our lives. We can use the ubiquity of our phones for good by setting alerts, reminders, or alarms that remind us to take time for the important things during the day, including prayer and reading God’s Word. If you have a smartphone that you use often, set an alert for multiple points during the day (for example, 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.). When the notification pops up, take one minute to either pray or read Scripture. You could even put one of the suggested verses to the right in your alert.

TIME & WORK 11 | TECHNOLOGY BREAK

In a very short time, technology has come to dominate many people’s lives—so much so that Americans, on average, spend as much as one-third or more of their waking hours on a smartphone or other mobile device. Science has shown a real effect within our brains of all this swiping and tapping, whereby we come to crave the rush of pleasure we get when we hear the sound of a text message or email arriving. This addiction to urgency and performance has made many of us externally driven instead of internally called. Take a break from your smartphone (or another form of technology/media you use frequently). During this time, do whatever necessary to make sure you’re not tempted to check it or turn it back on. See how this break, sometimes called a “media fast,” has an impact on your peace of mind, your physical feeling, and your spiritual awareness.

Note: You can purpose to take tech breaks once a day (e.g., for half an hour) or once a week for a longer time (e.g., a few hours or half a day).

SUGGESTED

VERSES

Matthew 22:37

Matthew 22:39

Romans 8:5–6

Romans 12:1–2

Galatians 5:16

Philippians 4:6–8

Colossians 3:1–2

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Hebrews 12:1–2


TIME & WORK 12 | EXCELLENCE VS. SUCCESS

There’s a natural tension between the desires to please God and to pursue success. We will be tempted to resolve this tension by putting a spiritual veneer over the quest for success—yielding to a subtle form of the temptation to pursue the “pride of life” (1 John 2:16). However, it is better to pursue excellence in what we do for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), rather than to pursue success to receive honor from people. Monitor your motives, especially when you receive feedback (positive or negative) on something you did, are tempted to take shortcuts in your work, and are asked to do something new. Use the following words (originally written by George Herbert, later converted to song by John Wesley) as your prayer to God:

Teach me, my God and King In all things Thee to see, And what I do in anything To do it as for Thee.

TIME & WORK 13 | PAY AND PRAY

Bill paying and other personal finance and paperwork tasks can be among the most dreaded and monotonous of activities. Focus on making the most of these mundane, necessary moments by living and thinking on two levels (the natural and the supernatural) at the same time. Each time you go to make a payment (online or with an old-fashioned paper check) or handle some other personal finance or paperwork detail, think of a way you can “pay and pray” simultaneously. For example, thank God for his provision of shelter as you pay your mortgage or rent; ask God to help you drink from his living water as you pay your water bill; or pray for the family member or friend to whom you’re sending some birthday money.


WISDOM 1 | MONITOR YOUR THOUGHT LIFE

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute—if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.” Use this verse to help you monitor your thought patterns, paying special attention to: (1) Moments when your mind tends to shift into “neutral” (e.g., when waiting at traffic lights or standing in line), and (2) when you may be tempted to complain. Ask God to use the words of Philippians 4:8 to draw your thoughts upward—to help you set your mind on him and the things that bring him delight. You might want to write out the verse on a 3 x 5 card and place it somewhere visible where you’ll see it often or most need it. (Better yet, memorize it!)

WISDOM 2 | IDENTITY IN CHRIST

Do you struggle with seeing yourself correctly—through God’s eyes? Only when we see ourselves correctly can we follow his command to love others compassionately. Work on “rewiring” your brain in this area by meditating

Wisdom is skill in the art of living. Like the Lifestyle category, this involves aspects of day-to-day life, but here the focus is on living with the end in mind, with a long-term perspective. These exercises help us to think God’s thoughts after him, living with an awareness of both our identities and destinies.

Wisdom


on what God’s Word says is true about you. Choose one or two of the following truths that you struggle to believe about how God sees you.* Write the words on a piece of paper and put them next to your bed. Read them every day at bedtime, making them part of your prayers.

l I am a child of God. ( John 1:12) l I have been accepted by Christ. (Romans 15:7) l I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir. (Galatians 4:7) l I have been set free in Christ. (Galatians 5:1) l I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works.

(Ephesians 2:10) l I have been made complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10) l God loves me and has chosen me. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

*You can also pick from a longer list of Who Does God Say I Am? statements in the Resources section (see page 128).

WISDOM 3 | LIVING IN LIGHT OF “WELL DONE”

When we’re before the Judgment Seat of Christ, the best words we can hope to hear are, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21), while the most terrifying words will be, “I never knew you; depart from me” (Matthew 7:23). Are you living each day in light of “Well done”? Think of a creative way to remind yourself to live in this way (like a note or picture on the refrigerator), so that you live each day with the sole purpose of pleasing and honoring God, not other people or even yourself.

WISDOM 4 | FOUR LAST THINGS

Sir Thomas More spoke of a need to meditate on what he called the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. This isn’t meant to be morbid or frightening, but a readjustment of perspective to help us live in light of the end rather than presuming we have a lot more time to prepare for the


next world (Psalm 90:12). God can also help you combat spiritual pride, sloth, covetousness, and other sins when you ponder these things from his viewpoint. Use 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 and take a verse or two per day to meditate on the four last things.

WISDOM 5 | FOUR TRANSFORMING WORDS

Psalm 37 invites us to adopt a long-run perspective on life by embracing God’s purposes and ordering all of our affairs (e.g., family, work, leisure, finances, ministry) in light of them. Urging us to find our primary pleasure in God alone, the psalm gives four positive commands involving our relationship with the Lord: Trust, Delight, Commit, and Wait. Read Psalm 37 in full today, and then review these words and commands each day, drawing near to God and asking him to align your perspective with his.*

l Trust in the Lord (verses 3, 5): Put your confidence and hope in his character and promises.

l Delight in the Lord (verse 4): Let his nearness be your good; cultivate intimacy with him through time in prayer and in his Word.

l Commit your way to the Lord (verse 5): Unreservedly give all your plans, dreams, hopes, and desires to God.

l Wait for the Lord (verses 7, 9, 34): Be still. Trust not only his character but also his timing.

*This is a great exercise anytime, but it can be especially beneficial when you’ve been struggling with sin or are in a period of spiritual dryness or suffering.

WISDOM 6 | EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE

Ask for the grace to see every circumstance you face today as a gift of God. Whether these experiences are bitter or sweet, painful or pleasurable, acknowledge them as coming from his hand for a purpose. Consciously


submit your life to him, and if it helps, as a reminder, place this phrase somewhere you’ll see it often: “Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

WISDOM 7 | CONFESSION

Everyone sins. When we do and become conscious of it, it’s important to confess our sin to God right away, rather than trying to conceal or justify the sin. A good guide for confession is 1 John 1:9: “If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive me my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness.”* Read this verse at a consistent time each day. While (or after) you read:

l Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to him.

l Thank God for his forgiveness, and for loving you while you were still a sinner.

l Ask him to help you seek and enjoy the greater, eternal pleasures he offers above the fleeting pleasure sin brings.

*This version of 1 John 1:9 is adapted from the NASB and excerpted from Kenneth Boa, Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God (Atlanta, GA: Trinity House Publishers, 1993), 394. Other good Scriptural guides to confession are Psalm 51:7 or Isaiah 66:2b.

WISDOM 8 | MONITOR TEMPTATIONS AS THEY ARISE

If we want to avoid distancing ourselves from God and becoming hardened by the lies the tempter tells us, it’s important to monitor temptations as they arise and to surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to value our relationship with God. Temptations come with an appeal to one of three lusts according to 1 John 2:16. Be alert and submit to God every time you encounter temptation—following these steps:


1. Identify the source: Where’s the temptation to sin coming from?

2. Name the category of temptation from 1 John 2:16: Lust of the flesh (sexual sins, physical violence, gossip, substance abuse, gluttony); lust of the eyes (coveting, envying); or the pride of life (a hunger for power for your own ego’s sake or bragging rights, wanting glory for something others did, desiring to be held in high esteem, an obsessive desire to feel valued or more important than others around you).

3. Focus on Jesus: We don’t overcome sin by trying to avoid sin but by training our attention on Jesus. Ask yourself: What does Jesus offer that is lasting and better than the sin that is before me?

WISDOM 9 | REFLECT ON THE PAST

We should never live in the past, but we should learn from it. Thus, it can be immensely beneficial to review our personal timelines as well as the biographies of others. Do one (or both!) of these things:

READ ABOUT A BIBLICAL OR CHURCH HISTORY FIGURE. Consider how the person lived, what fueled his or her life, and how the person cultivated a closer relationship with God. (If you’re unsure who to pick, consider someone named in Hebrews 11, or do an online search for major church history figures.)

MAKE A TIMELINE OF YOUR LIFE. Place on it major markers or “Ebenezers”—special milestones (1 Samuel 7:12), when God broke through and spoke/worked in your life through either joyful or difficult events. Reflect on these past events and experiences of God’s presence, thanking God for them.


WISDOM 10 | FROM IMAGE TO LIKENESS

Jesus came not only to undo the effects of sin, but to perfectly embody our journey from divine image (a human capacity to display God’s character) to divine likeness (realizing that capacity). As bearers of his Spirit and sharers in his divine life and glory, we are on that journey to becoming what God has already made us in our being through the work of Christ. Review the truths below. Think about how each one might translate into practical, day-to-day living. Ask God to help you believe and live out your identity in him—moving from divine image toward divine likeness.

WISDOM 11 | THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN SEVEN G’S

Every time you’re inclined to worry, doubt, despair, or simply get bogged down in the temporal, pull out this list of seven words, all starting with “G,” that help refocus your mind to an eternal perspective:

l Greatness / God’s transcendence, omnipresence, and omniscience l Goodness / God’s love for you, as a lover has for his beloved bride l Grace / God’s mercy on us and sacrifice for us while we were

still sinners

IMAGE (my new identity in Christ)

LIKENESS (how to live out my new identity, including how to treat others)

I am no longer a slave, but an heir with Christ to a rich inheritance in heaven.

I am no longer condemned, but forgiven and accepted by Christ.

I am no longer my old self, but a new creature in Christ.


l Gratitude / For his grace even though we deserve his wrath l Growing / To become in practice (day-to-day living) who God,

through his Son, has made us in position (a new being or creation in Christ)

l Going / In obedience to Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19–20 (the Great Commission)

l Glory / Our entrance into the next life (the culmination of our growing and going)

WISDOM 12 | THE DAILY EXAMEN*

As humans, we tend to avoid an honest examination of ourselves in the presence of God. We try to hide behind flimsy fig leaves in various creative ways each day—whether it’s deliberate hiding or simply the diversions, distractions, and busyness of everyday life. Instead of eluding this encounter, realize that God already sees and knows everything anyway—your external actions as well as the deepest motives of your heart that even you aren’t fully aware of. At the end of the day, use these steps to develop an open conversation with God in a prayer-filled mindfulness of his presence:

l Step 1: Acknowledge God’s presence. l Step 2: Review the day with gratitude. l Step 3: Pay attention to your emotions. l Step 4: Choose one thing about today (something that happened,

something you learned), and pray about it. (Your emotions are often a clue about something you should pray about.)

l Step 5: Look toward tomorrow. l Step 6: End with a conversation with Jesus, asking for his forgiveness,

protection, help, and wisdom, all in a spirit of gratitude.

* Based on a practice by St. Ignatius of Loyola


WISDOM 13 | THE GOOD LIFE (VIM MODEL)

Author Dallas Willard devised a model called the “VIM model” (Vision, Intention, and Means), which can help you imagine the good life as God intended it.* It may look technical, but it can spur you to the spiritual. After reading the descriptions of each letter, jot down notes about your vision of the good life on a separate paper (making a column for Vision, Intention, and Means as done below). Then, set a calendar reminder for yourself six months or a year from today to revisit your vision.


WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE?

What is your vision for the fruitful, flourishing life? What do you seek? With words or images, paint a picture of that life. Make sure you’re embedding your story into God’s larger narrative and plan for his creation.

WHAT IS THE PRICE TAG FOR THE VISION YOU ARTICULATED?

In other words, what will you have to give up, and what new practices will you need to take up to see it to fruition?

WHAT PRACTICES WILL EMPOWER YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR INTENTION?

Training involves habituation through practice. What specific disciplines will move you toward the fulfillment of your vision?

Note: For a sample using a trivial example, see page 114.

*From Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002), 85–90.

• • • 199Index

L I F E S T Y L E1 Four Areas of Gratitude 10, 1502 Gratitude in Everything 25, 1503 Daily Rest 27, 1514 Weekly Rest 37, 1515 Daily Solitude 43, 1516 Contentment 52, 1527 Everything Matters 60, 1528 Audience of One 67, 1529 Two Eternal Things on Earth 74, 15310 Calling and Purpose 86, 15311 Before Rising from Bed 95, 15412 Before Going to Sleep 101, 15413 The Hard Thanksgiving 111, 155

P H Y S I C A L1 3 x 5 Cards 11, 28, 47, 64, 76, 97, 110, 156 2 Physical Reminders 18, 1563 Read a Good Book 38, 1574 Mindful Movement 55, 1585 Memento Mori 68, 1586 Consider the Flowers 82, 1587 Breath Prayers 102, 159

P R A Y E R1 Flash Prayers 12, 1602 The Seven Components of Prayer 19, 1603 Paul’s Life-Changing Prayers, #1 26, 1614 The Lord’s Prayer 35, 1615 Paul’s Life-Changing Prayers, #2 48, 1626 Pray with Others 56, 162

Index

CATEGORY/EXERCISE PAGE #


. . . PRAYER, continued

7 Paul’s Life-Changing Prayers, #3 61, 1628 Wordless Prayer 69, 1629 Pray for Others 75, 163 10 Ask for Direction in Prayer 85, 16311 Paul’s Life-Changing Prayers, #4 90, 16312 Written Prayers 104, 16313 Handbook to Prayer 109, 164

R E L A T I O N A L1 Every Encounter 13, 1652 The Least, Last, and Lost 20, 1653 Spiritual Discussions 29, 1664 Tangible Expressions 34, 1665 Difficult People 44, 1666 Two Things We Can’t Do in Heaven 53, 1677 Invite Mentorship 62, 1678 Seek Soul Friends 70, 1689 Be Your Spouse’s Student 78, 16810 Ongoing Dialogue 87, 16911 Practice Forgiveness 91, 16912 Handwritten Notes 98, 17013 The Witness of Christian Koinonia 112, 170

S C R I P T U R E1 Images of Living in His Presence 14, 116, 1712 The Four R’s 21, 1723 Words of Jesus 30, 1724 Meditate on the Life of Christ 36, 1735 A Psalm a Day 42, 1746 Psalms of Lament 57, 1747 Proverbs 65, 1758 Short Books 72, 1769 Renewal Verses 81, 118, 17610 Bible App 83, 176


• • • 201Index

. . . SCRIPTURE, continued

11 Morning Affirmations, #1 92, 137, 17712 Morning Affirmations, #2 99, 140, 17713 Bible Reading Plan 106, 178

S E N S O R Y1 Cultivate a Seeing Eye 15, 1792 The Ministry of Music 22, 135, 1793 Turn Pleasures to Praise 33, 180 4 Nature Walks 39, 1805 Photographs 45, 1806 Consider the Birds 50, 1817 Videos 59, 1818 Special Places 73, 1819 Highest and Lowest Moments 79, 18210 Watch a Good Film 84, 18211 Great Works of Art 93, 18312 Poetry 100, 18313 Holy Icons 107, 184

T I M E & W O R K1 Chronos vs. Kairos 16, 1852 Balanced Schedule 23, 1853 Important vs. Urgent 31, 1864 Time Stopping 40, 1865 Avoid Presumption 49, 1866 Multiply Devotions 54, 1877 Pray and Work 58, 1878 Attitude of Dependence 71, 1889 Regular Annoyance 77, 18810 Smartphone Alerts 88, 18911 Technology Break 94, 18912 Excellence vs. Success 105, 19013 Pay and Pray 108, 190



W I S D O M1 Monitor Your Thought Life 17, 1912 Identity in Christ 24, 128, 1913 Living in Light of “Well Done” 32, 1924 Four Last Things 41, 1925 Four Transforming Words 46, 1936 Every Circumstance 51, 1937 Confession 63, 1948 Monitor Temptations as They Arise 66, 1949 Reflect on the Past 80, 19510 From Image to Likeness 89, 19611 The Kingdom of God in Seven G’s 96, 19612 The Daily Examen 103, 19713 The Good Life (VIM Model) 113, 198


Special thanks to the members of GraceLife Church of Pineville and Pastor Rodney Cripps for going through these exercises over the course of a year, providing feedback on their experiences. Their suggestions and encouragements helped to shape this current edition.

Thanks, too, to Michael Stewart, for his input in shaping this guide. Because of his creative input, we modified the eight category descriptions so there would be 13 exercises in each. That made it possible to shape the 52-Week Plan, with two exercises per week.

Acknowledgements

Dr. Kenneth Boa is engaged in a ministry of relational evangelism and discipleship, teaching, writing, and speaking. He is the author of more than 50 books, including Life in the Presence of God, Rewriting Your Broken Story, Faith Has Its Reasons, Conformed to His Image, Handbook to Prayer, Handbook to Scripture, Handbook to Renewal, A Journal of Sacred Readings, I’m Glad You Asked, and 20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists. The president of Reflections Ministries and Trinity House Publishers, he holds a BS from Case Institute of Technology, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, a PhD from New York University, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford in England. He resides in Atlanta with his wife, Karen.

Mrs. Jenny M. (Robinson) Abel is a freelance writer and editor. Having sat under Ken Boa’s teaching since she was a teen, she began working with him in 2013 and served as editor of Life in the Presence of God. She holds a BS from Furman University and resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband, Ben.

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A companion to Life in the Presence of God (Kenneth Boa, InterVarsity Press, 2017), this guide contains a suite of 104 practices encompassing a wide range of experiences, contexts, and interactions. The exercises go beyond traditional Bible reading and prayer (although those are included as well), tapping into all of your God-given senses in ways you may not have thought of.

These practices are designed to help increase your intimacy with Christ and make it more likely you’ll experience what the poet George Herbert called “heaven in ordinary”—God’s presence in everyday life, from home to work and everywhere in between.

The exercises may be used individually as well as corporately in churches or other group settings.

This guide offers no magic pill. It’s only a toolkit. But it might just contain the most important, fruitful, enjoyable things you do.

THIS GUIDE ISN’T A DEVOTIONAL.

IT’S NOT A BUNCH OF THINGS

TO ADD TO YOUR TO-DO LIST.

It’s a book about

BECOMING MORE INTENTIONAL

IN YOUR AWARENESS OF GOD, rather than increasing your activities for God.


practicing god’s presence - intervarsity press · this guide is a practical companion to life in...

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