As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." Luke 8:42-48 (NIV)
ACTION PLAN: Spend time every day this week reading through Luke 8:42-48. Each day, examine this story from a different perspective (the woman, Jesus, the disciples, the crowd). Be open to God teaching you something new each day.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)c
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
1. SEARCH ME
ACTION PLAN: Take time in a quiet space to pray and ask God to search you. Pray for God to reveal an area of growth to you, such as something that you have made more important than God in your life, a hurt that you've been ignoring, or an anxiety that you need to give to Him. As you pray, spend more time listening to His voice than talking at Him.
2. SHOW ME
3. USE ME
ACTION PLAN: One of the best ways to start letting God use you is by serving. If you're not sure where you can be used within your SHAPE, take this ministry quiz (saddleback.com/connect/ministries/ministry-quiz) or attend Class 301 (saddleback.com/events/class) to learn about how the skills and gifts God gave you can work within ministry.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)
ACTION PLAN: At the beginning of each day, pray this simple prayer: "God, use me today." Keep your eyes open throughout the day for the different opportunities that God puts in front of you to serve His people. What seems like an interruption at first may end up being a divine opportunity, that moment needing patience may be a moment to listen to Him. When this happens, write it down, then be sure to thank God at the end of the day.