Read Exodus 2:1-4

I can’t help but notice that Moses’ mom coats the basket with pitch before she puts Moses into the water in it. Genesis 6 tells us that Noah was commanded by God to coat the ark inside and out with pitch. Perhaps pitch is a common coating for things?

But it reminded me of God’s protection for Noah’s family. How He called the animals to Noah. How He closed the door after they went inside and did not leave it to them to shut people outside.

• What do you think was going through the mind of Noah’s mother as she set the basket off floating?
• Can you think of a time or situation when you stretched out in faith despite it seeming hopeless?
• Where do you need a stretch of faith right now?

Read through Exodus 2: 1-25 a couple of times.

• What are the words or statements that pop out to you?
• What are the emotions that this passage brings to the surface in you?
• What do you come to know about the Lord’s character in this chapter?
• What about people in general- can you learn anything from this passage? Who are they “being”?
• Is there anything the Lord is prompting you to do based on this chapter?

Spend some time this morning sitting quietly before the Lord preparing your heart for corporate worship. Listen to some music, pray, rest in the Father.

• On a separate piece of paper, journal about anything that comes to mind.

Our final area to consider is our physical selves. The Lord has given us bodies to care for and steward. Without strength in our bodies, it is hard to serve and give ourselves for his purposes.

• In what ways are you working to care for your body well? Think through eating, exercise, rest, play, and other pieces of your physical self.
• What areas need attention in the care of your physical self? Do you get enough rest? Do you exercise to your ability? How do you plan your food intake? Do you have times of play and laughter?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Today we will consider the emotional part of ourselves.

• How would you describe your emotional state? Healthy? Struggling? Depleted? Dry?
• What have been the circumstances, people, events, that have contributed to where you are at emotionally?
• How comfortable are you with naming how you are feeling and expressing that to someone close to you?
• Where would you ask the Lord for emotional healing?

Philippians 4: 6-8

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

John 14:27

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Today we will continue to spend time assessing where we are in the hope to prepare the soil for where we are going.

• As you think back over the past couple of years, how are the people relationships around you? Have they grown in depth and substance, stayed constant, or shrunk?
• What are the ways you need to be pursuing deeper friendships? What helps this happen for you?
• Who are people in your life who sharpen you and push you to know God in richer ways?
• What are your desires going forward in the area of relationships?

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

If we, as Keith has said, are to be rebuilt, we must first take stock of where we are.

We are going to take the next couple of days to pray and assess several areas of our life. The hope is that through this reflection, we will see accurately pieces of our lives and hearts that need attention.

As we pay attention to those areas, we will see the Lord move in us as individuals, and in us as a body. We cannot change what we don’t pay attention to.

• As you think back over the past couple of years, where are you at relationally with the Lord? How would you describe your relationship with Him right now?
• What are the parts of your relationship that are growing and thriving?
• What are the areas where you see gaps or hard spots?
• What are the circumstances that have contributed to the hard spots?

Colossians 2:6-7; 3:1-3

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.