Use the simple drawings you created yesterday to represent a few of the words in Philippians 2:12-13 to continue to practice the memory work. Write out the verses and see how much you can do by memory.

The week’s memory work is Galatians 6:7-9:

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he 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. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Planting the seeds of change requires us to press on with God as we wait for the seeds to take root and grow. Experience takes what we know at a cognitive level and lets it touch our thoughts, feelings, emotions, behaviors, and other areas of our life, and that takes time. In experience we are opening up to God’s influence and committing to Him in the journey. God will mold our attitudes, perspectives, behaviors, habits, values, and character as we open up to Him more and more, letting Him plant and water the seeds as we partner with Him in the journey.

How is experience different from a focused effort to fix a problem or change a habit?

Last week you started creating a plan for your next step in the journey. How did you design your plan to have fun and connect with God in the process?

It seems it would be easier if God would download the skills we need into our brain, but He sets His Spirit in our soul for experience with Him. Real change happens in relationship with God, but the tricky part is that we have to keep working and wait for the change to grow.

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

As you think about change in the journey, what obstacles stop you? Do you make excuses, focus on past failures, listen to discouraging voices, stay too busy, or possibly live emotionally exhausted?

God is calling us to be trees that bear fruit. Bearing fruit requires the self-discipline to stay focused on God and His work by His Holy Spirit.

How can you better experience the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance in your life as you partner with God to change?

Read Matthew 7:15-27

The Holy Spirit will bear the good fruit in us, but the Holy Spirit requires our participation. Spend time in prayer. What is God revealing to you?