What Prevents Vulnerability
Over the next five weeks, we will be exploring reasons we may feel distant from God. Seeing that this ministry is all about helping to create a connection with God, this week, we wanted to take you through some different practices to help you explore your life and the things that hinder you from experiencing God’s presence in your life.
Each day you will receive a scripture to read, a series of reflection questions, and a link to a worship song. Take time to read or listen through the scripture and note any key points that stick out to you. This is often how God speaks to us, so pay close attention and listen for those moments that make you excited, scared, convicted, or encouraged. The reflection questions supplied will guide you into a time of thinking about how and why it is important to seek God’s presence in our lives. And then finally there will be a link to a YouTube video with worship music. This is supplied to create time to pray and seek God. You can use your own music or sit in silence but be sure to close your time by asking God to draw near to you.
I pray that as you explore what it means to be close to God and why we sometimes feel distant, it creates a hunger for more of God’s presence in your life.
Scriptures (NIV):
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 16:5
The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Reflection Questions: What catches your attention in these verses about pride? What connections do you see between pride and vulnerability? Take a few minutes and look up some other verses in the Bible that talk about pride. What additional insights about pride do they provide?
Song: "I Can't Get Away" by Melissa Helser, feat. Naomi Raine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjBDPAmZU-I
Each day you will receive a scripture to read, a series of reflection questions, and a link to a worship song. Take time to read or listen through the scripture and note any key points that stick out to you. This is often how God speaks to us, so pay close attention and listen for those moments that make you excited, scared, convicted, or encouraged. The reflection questions supplied will guide you into a time of thinking about how and why it is important to seek God’s presence in our lives. And then finally there will be a link to a YouTube video with worship music. This is supplied to create time to pray and seek God. You can use your own music or sit in silence but be sure to close your time by asking God to draw near to you.
I pray that as you explore what it means to be close to God and why we sometimes feel distant, it creates a hunger for more of God’s presence in your life.
Scriptures (NIV):
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 16:5
The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Reflection Questions: What catches your attention in these verses about pride? What connections do you see between pride and vulnerability? Take a few minutes and look up some other verses in the Bible that talk about pride. What additional insights about pride do they provide?
Song: "I Can't Get Away" by Melissa Helser, feat. Naomi Raine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjBDPAmZU-I

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