Digging Deep
Pastor Jason Freeway, Week 2 – Awareness – Pulling Back the Curtain of Your Life
Devotion 1
Take some time to consider the following questions. Write down your top 3 answers for each one, even if they are duplicate answers (especially if they are duplicate answers!).
- What is causing you to worry right now?
- What are you concerned about right now?
- What causes you stress?
- What is keeping you up at night?
Are there any connections between the things you wrote down? What do you notice about your answers?
During Sunday’s Message, Pastor Jason talked about a technique of digging down to the root cause of problems by asking “Why?” at least 5 times (If you forgot, it was the Toyota story! If you missed it read or listen here!) Try asking 5 Whys about a few of your answers: Why is _____ causing you to worry or be concerned or stressed? Why…(dig deeper!)? Why…? Why…? Why?
Maybe digging deeper has led you to some insights. And maybe its just hard and confusing to try it out for the first time! Don’t worry…keep trying! And consider all your answers this way:
Can your answers help you identify any hidden buttons that are being pushed in your life? Consider some of the following buttons…
- Fear
- Pride
- Insecurity
- Anxiety
- Grief
- Guilt
- Shame
- Anger
- Jealousy
- Loneliness
- Depression
- Inadequacy
- A Part of Your Past
- Sense of Duty or Obligation
- Something else: ________________
Are you aware that there are things going on in your life or around you that are pushing your buttons causing you to worry, be concerned, and feel stress? How could you be more aware? How could you consistently stay more aware?
Spend some time talking to God about your answers and insights. And before you finish, be sure to pat yourself on the back and say something kind and encouraging to yourself for taking the time to dig deep and become more aware!
If You Missed Sunday’s Sermon…
Read or Listen to Awareness: Pulling Back the Curtain of Your Life – Luke 15:17
God’s Words for This Week
1 Kings 19:11-18 – A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. (The Message, v.11b-12)
Psalm 139 – Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; (The Message, v.23)
Matthew 26: 36-39 – Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” (CEB, v.36)
Luke 15:11-32 – When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, but I’m starving to death! (CEB, v17)
This Week at Hood
Monday, September 18, 6:00 pm – Disciples Women’s Ministry
Wednesday, September 20, 4:30 pm – Prayer & Inspiration
Wednesday, September 20, 6:00 pm – Young-ish Adult Small Group (ages 25-45)
Wednesday, September 20, 6:45 pm – Choir Practice
Thursday, September 21, 12 noon – 1:30 pm – Pastor Jason at The Cellar for Drop-In Coffee & Conversation (108 N Wilson St)
Sunday, September 24, 9:15 am – Christian Men’s Fellowship Breakfast at Cracker Barrel (Dunn)
Sunday, September 24, 11:00 am – Worship – Discovery – Your’re Stronger Than You Think You Are
Sunday, September 24, 3:00 pm – Back to School Party (for Children and Families at Rick & Maere Kay Lashmit’s Home)
Coming Soon…
Sunday, October 22 – Homecoming