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Believer
We are told in I Peter 5:8 to “be of sober spirit, be on the alert. You adversary, the devil,
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” We are also reminded in
Galatians 5:1 that it is for “freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm
and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Throughout this study you will be given
key principles on how to protect yourself from sins such as pride, jealousy, feelings of
insecurity, sexual sin, disappointment, unforgiveness, compromise and more.
Day 2- Lesson 1
God has promised us victory over anything that seeks to separate us from the love of God.
Read Romans 8:37-38. There are two basic steps to having victory in areas where we are
tempted: 1. Admit that what we face are sins and are forbidden by the Lord; 2. God is more
than able to supply your needs.
Were it not for God’s grace and strength any of us could end up like King Saul.
Remember that Satan will not usually take a predictable route to get to us. However, if we
walk with God each day, God will help us to discern these landmines and give us power to
defeat them.
Day 3- Lesson 1
How can we say no to something that appears so innocent yet contains deadly potential?
1. Realize you are in a spiritual war.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (New King James Version)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Do you ever think about the spiritual warfare you will face during the day? If not, that
could be why you struggle with the same temptations over and over. If you do, why not
prepare before you go out each day by spending a few minutes in prayer and reading and
applying God’s word?
2. Trust God and know he will help you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (New King James Version)
8Be sober, be vigilant; because[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world
Learn to watch for the enemy’s attacks. God never abandons us. Jeremiah wrote in the
book of Lamentations:
Lamentations 3:22-23 (New King James Version)
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest
arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His
disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked
the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this
be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Remember nothing touches our lives unless it has passed through the hands of God. Jesus.
Jesus was in the boat with them as well!! He is always there with us in whatever storm we
are faced with.. God does not want us paralyzed with fear. We are to trust Him even in the
storm.
Day 5- Lesson 1
Recall the strength, mercy, and goodness of God The first thing we must always remember
is who we are in Christ. We are children of the King. We can say no to temptation because
He is with us and will deliver us, His children, from the evil one.
Psalm 18:32 (New King James Version)
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
Uzziah offered an offering to the Lord. This act was forbidden to do by anyone except for
those priests that had been set apart and prepared to do this. Uzziah wrongly assumed he
could jump ahead of God and do something that needed to be doing because he was above
the law. A spirit of pride will always encourage us to jump ahead of God and not wait on
His best.
Lesson 2- Day 3
Proverbs 29:23 (New King James Version)
23 A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.
Proverbs 16:18-19 (New King James Version)
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Lesson 2- Day 4
1 Peter 5:6 (New King James Version)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time,
One of the antidotes of pride is humility. Humility is when we recognize that we can do
nothing or have nothing apart from God. Most of us are not going to get up one day and
say to ourselves, “Self, today I am going to be proud. I am going to take credit for what I
did. I am not going to give God any glory but be selfish with my goods and take care of
number one.” Many times pride enters our lives very subtly, very quietly as a thought. A
thought turns into a deed, a deed into a habit, and a habit into a conviction. Only through
repentance as a result of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power are we able to escape.
Pride exalts itself against God. We begin seeking to please others, or to please ourselves.
Sorrow and sadness are pride’s only rewards.
Lesson 2- Day 5
When I have a fever or feel achy I know these are signs that I have an infection or virus of
some type. There are also signs that tell us that we are struggling with pride. Here are a
few of them:
Arrogance, self promotion, lack of giving to God and others, selfish attitudes, refusal to
listen to the advice of others, a spirit of rebellion, bragging, lack of humility before God and
others, and the inability to receive a compliment or a gift.
Do you believe you have to reach certain levels in life to be important? Do you think you
can live without anyone to advise or help you? If so you are probably struggling with pride.
Don’t fall for Satan’s tactics. Through Jesus Christ you are all you could ever hope to be.
Rest in His infinite care. God cares for us, no matter what status we hold. If you think you
are somebody, watch out, God may allow you to go through a lot of heat to purge you from
that pride. Remember: we are nobody apart from Jesus!
Psalm 10:4 (New King James Version)
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
Proverbs 29:23 Read this verse. What does this say about pride?
Pride loves to be worshipped and is greatly offended when it is overlooked. (Kent
Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers,
2001, p. 125)
Lesson 3- Day 1
Exposing a Prideful Heart
No one is self sufficient. First of all we need God. He has created us; it is He that has saved
us. We also need each other. A person who doesn’t care to fellowship with others is either
mentally ill or very self centered. We are often tempted to look at what we have and think,
“Well, look at what I have done. I have achieved so much in life.” When our thoughts are
like this; we yield to the age old deception of pride.
1 Peter 5:6 (New King James Version)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time.
Look at these verses: First, we must humble ourselves. Don’t wait for God to humble you.
Each day, seek to humble yourself. One way to do this is by starting the day off in prayer
asking God to help you be thankful and grateful for all you have and seeking His Lordship
over your life. God’s hand is mighty. This is a reference to the Lord’s judgment on our
lives. He will bless and use you as He sees fit.
Lesson 3- Day 2
In Daniel 4 we see the results of a prideful life in the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. In chapter 4
we hear Nebuchadnezzar’s personal testimony of how He came to be pride filled and for 7
years God humbled him. Read this chapter through verse 18 and see how this proud King
began acting like an animal living outside and eating grass.
We learn in this story: 1. Pride hinders our fellowship with God. You cannot serve two
masters: self and God. 2. Pride leads to a broken relationship with others. It caused
Nebuchadnezzar to be separated from any fellowship for years because of his mental status.
The truth is no one is more important than anyone else. We are all standing on equal
ground. He loves each of us equally, and desires for us to be a conduit of His love to others.
Lesson 3- Day 3
Pride blocks God’s blessings and often causes us to lose our rewards. In Matthew 6:33 the
Bible says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added to you.” When we put making a living as our number one priority instead of making
a life, we will run into all types of issues we possibly could avoid.
Pride lessens the fullness of relationship with Him. Pride darkens our hearts to the light of
God’s truth and keeps us from experiencing the joy and hope that comes from living in
Christ. As long as we struggle with worry and anxiety without trusting in the true God, we
will not enjoy our relationship with Him. The new office, or the new car, or new home, or
new spouse will never satisfy us if we are not putting Him first.
Pride seeks to be around people that will build up our own egos. When someone questions
what we are doing or even criticizes us, what is your first response? Is it to write them off
or to see if there is any truth in what they say?
Nebuchadnezzar confessed, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King
of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who
walk in pride he is able to humble.”
Lesson 3- Day 4
Nicodemus was a high ranking Jewish religious official, known as a Pharisee. In John 3 it
says that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night asking questions about eternal life.
John 3:1-7 (New King James Version)
John 3
cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
The pride that Nicodemus had to swallow that night was nothing compared to the good
news that he heard. He found out that God loved him and us so much that He sent Jesus
for us, and through Him we can have life. He apparently surrendered his life to the Lord
for later in John 19:
John 19:39-42 (New King James Version)
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh
and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of
linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was
crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42
So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
Death to pride meant life to his person. Are you away from the Lord? What keeps you
there?
Lesson 3- Day 5
Seven steps can be taken to successfully deal with pride:
1. Realize that pride is present in your life.
2. Ask God to forgive you of being prideful.
3. Pray that He will give you the ability to turn away from pride.
4. Pray that God will set a hedge of protection around your life.
5. Remember where you came from and how far God has brought you.
6. Ask god to help you recall the good things that He has done in your life, and stop
comparing yourself to someone else.
7. Be willing to experience adversity.
Remember, apart from God’s work in our lives we would still be dead in our old lives.
Hurts, habits, and hang-ups that had become sinful strongholds were dragging us down.
Some of you would physically be addicted or dead were it not for the Lord. Others of
you that have been saved a long time, could have been here were it not for God saving
you from this type of lifestyle.
1 Corinthians 6:11 (New International Version)
11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The Landmines of Jealousy and Envy
Lesson 4- Day 1
Genesis 37:3
3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also
he made him a tunic of many colors.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Sometimes even parents can do some pretty dumb things. Take Jacob, for example.
Without knowing it Jacob (Israel) set the stage for one of most aggressive struggles a
person can face: jealousy and envy. The Bible tells us that “Joseph brought back a bad
report about his brothers to their father.” Joseph became very arrogant. He even began to
almost boast about the dreams God was giving him.
The brothers began to become very jealous of Joseph because they felt he had more than
they did ( 37:11). They felt left out, overlooked, and unappreciated by their father. I have
seen this type of situation happen in families throughout the years. Whether it comes as a
result of siblings jealous of their parent’s attention or lack of it; or through step families not
being able to get alone, or families caught up in issues of inheritance jealousies it is still bad
news.
Satan loves of your eyes to be fixed on yourself—your feelings—your rights, and your
needs. We must listen to Jesus and hear the words He speaks to us,
Matthew 16:24 (New King James Version)
24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Lesson 4- Day 2
There are two questions you must ask when dealing with feelings of jealousy or envy:
a) How will I respond to the jealous feelings; and b.) how will I deal with my actions,
which usually include feelings of anger?
Joseph’s brothers were sure their father was overlooking thoughts of jealousy burned deep
within their hearts until they acted on their emotions and did something that caused great
pain within their own lives and their father’s for many years.
And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness,
and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back
to his father.
23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his
tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit.
And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Often people become jealous without realizing that God has something good in store for
them. The plan that God has may not unfold at the time we are dealing with our negative
feelings or circumstances, but God has promised work all things out for our good and His
glory ( Romans 8:28).
Lesson 4- Day 3
Isn’t God a jealous God?
Joshua 24:19-20 (New King James Version)
19But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a
jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD
and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done
you good.”
There is a huge difference between the jealousy God feels for you. It is a protective
jealousy; it is not the kind that leads to sin. He is jealous of us not envious of us. He has a
passionate commitment for us because we rightfully belong to Him and He wants to protect
us from evil. Therefore, He watches over us with extreme care.
Israel decided not to obey God and ended up following after other gods. Some of them
continued to worship the Lord, but their lives were influenced by the pagan nations they
were sent to conquer. Partial obedience is not obedience at all.
That is why God is jealous over us. He does not want to see our lives lived in a shallow
way. He wants to see us live abundant lives. He wants us to make great choices that honor
Him and help build our character. Don’t end up worshipping the gods of this age and
cause God to become jealous over you!
Lesson 4- Day 4
Winning the struggle of jealousy is not without its pain. While Joseph survived his
brothers’ jealousy, he spent years in bondage to the Egyptians. He was sold as a slave.
Many of the years of bondage that Joseph experienced were far from enjoyable. He was
jailed and feared that he would never see his father again. Even though his brothers’
jealousy had changed the course of his life forever, He was not alone. God was with him.
Genesis 39:21 (New King James Version)
21But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of
the keeper of the prison.
Joseph’s brothers on the other hand had to conceal their kidnapping of their brother. One
sin led to another and another. Before long their jealousy had led them to lie to their dad,
break his heart, and live with the guilt of their decisions.
Genesis 37:31-35 (New King James Version)
31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then
they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found
this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”
33 and he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without
doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and
mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him;
but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in
mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
Doctors now believe that much sickness and even depression and anxiety in people comes
from feelings of jealousy, anger, envy, and bitterness never resolved. You must be willing to
work through these emotional and spiritual landmines before they cripple your testimony.
Lesson 4- Day 5
How do we effectively deal with jealousy in our lives?
1. We need to admit that we are jealous and envious.
2. We need to acknowledge that we are in conflict with God. As long as we think that
we can cover it over, smile and try to make it go away without confessing it to God,
it will never be resolved.
3. We need to thank God for what He has done in our lives and even for the people
who are the source of our conflict.
4. We need to pray and ask God to help us see the heart of the other person at the
center of the conflict. It may be that they are not at fault at all. They are just living
their lives the way God wants, and we are envious of that.
5. We need to be willing to wait for God to work. Times of waiting offer wonderful
opportunities for us to grow closer to the Lord.
6. We need to ask God to help us hear His voice over the clamor of the world,
7. We need to delight ourselves in the Lord and depend on Him to give us what we
need.
Psalm 37:4 (New King James Version)
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
Whenever God has a job to do and he calls on you to do the task, would you feel insecure?
Moses did. Moses told the Lord every reason in the world he could think of that He had chosen
the wrong person. God assured him that He had chosen the right person and that God knew more
about Moses than Moses did (4:11-12). The Lord allowed Aaron to be his helper, but Moses had
to be the primary vessel.
The real issue is obedience. Maybe you think that you can’t do anything well, but from God’s
perspective, you are a person of worth. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you
(Ph.4:13). God wants to challenge you to be more that you ever thought possible through
trusting in His power and ability and not your own.
Lesson 5- Day 2
Low self esteem can be a primary cause of insecurity. What is there about yourself that you do
not like? Some times there may actually be a physical flaw that detracts from your testimony or
your desire to work at a certain location. For example, if a person has offensive breath all of the
time and no one lets him know it can certainly affect his relationships with others and cause this
person to be curious as to why they cannot connect with people. It may be a deformity of some
type that can be repaired with surgery or therapy. If it is then by all means we need to seek to
correct it, if it has a big impact on our relationships and effectiveness.
Many times, however, the most insecure people are beauty queen types or muscle men. They
constantly compare themselves to others and focus so much on the outside that they have yet to
develop an inward foundation of peace and acceptance by God to build on.
Romans 8:37-40 (New King James Version)
37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present
nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Satan wants us to always feel insecure and un-loved. God wants us to remember we are more
than conquerors through Jesus Christ.
Lesson 5- Day 3
Lesson 5- Day 5
There are several effects of insecurity:
• a lack of lasting relationships
• people perceive we are prideful or snobbish
• indecisiveness
• a fearful attitude
• the inability to meet others and establish new relationships
• the desire to be in charge of every conversation
The main feeling is inner turmoil. This is what King Saul and the Israelites must have been
feeling when David told them, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of Goliath; your servant will
go and fight with the Philistine” (I Sam.17:32).
You must acknowledge before God your feelings of insecurity. God already knows that they
are there, but He wants to hear you confess them to Him. You must make the decision to
overcome insecurity. The first step is to be secure in your eternal destiny and your personal
relationship with Christ. You must make up your mind to stop hiding behind your
insecurity.
Focus on something secure such as God’s word. You must immerse yourself in it; take
Bible study classes, read it on your own, buy good books on the Bible. The surer you are of
God’s word, the less you will look at yourself or your abilities.
Hebrews 4:12 (New King James Version)
12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
Avoid the trap of blaming others and always trying to point out hurts in the past or
decisions others have made that keep you insecure. You are insecure because you choose to
be!
You have another choice. Choose Christ and His plan for you over what others have done.
Romans 8:33-34 (New King James Version)
33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who
condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also makes intercession for us.
Lesson 6- Day 1
The Landmine of Compromise
The definition of compromise:
a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by
adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal
modification of demands.
There are times in our lives where compromise is good. For example, in a disagreement over the
type of place we want to go on vacation. You can always find a compromise to seek to please
most every family member. However, there are times when compromise is deadly. Anything
that tempts you to abandon what you know is right should be viewed as deadly and dangerous
and should be avoided at all costs.
When we violate our conscience and begin flirting with that other person’s spouse. It may seem
to be innocent but it is compromise. Some may say, “One drink never hurt anyone.” Yes, it has,
and it will continue to hurt those who became drunkards because of that first drink. One step in
the wrong direction can lead to compromise and weakens our commitment to the Lord.
Genesis 3
fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall
you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day
you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with
her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Compromise can cost us more that we ever thought we would have to pay. When we
compromise, in effect, we say that we really don’t believe God’s promises or His challenges.
God told them, “You will not surely die,” but spiritually they did die. When you compromise you
begin the downward spiral.
Lesson 6- Day 2
1 Kings 2:3-4 (New King James Version)
3 Andkeep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His
commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that
you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; 4 that the LORD may fulfill His word
which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me
in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the
throne of Israel.’
David gave Solomon a serious challenge as written above. Solomon seemed overwhelmed at
first with the huge responsibility. In I Kings 3:7-9 Solomon prays for “an understanding heart to
judge Your people to discern between good and evil.” He begins in a spirit of humility.
Later there was a shift in his devotion. He gradually began to compromise. God told him not to
associate with the leaders of Egypt, or the Hittites and the Arameans. Instead Solomon begins to
do much business with them through importing and exporting. He still continued to worship God
yet enter into ungodly relationships.
Solomon ended up becoming miserable in his life and constantly having to deal with major
issues. He was introduced to the flaw of compromise.
Lesson 6 – Day 3
Why do people compromise? Doubt and fear can cause us to compromise. Doubt clouds
our mind, while fear prevents us from moving head and causes us to be indecisive. We
begin to struggle with fear of failure, tragedy, abandonment by God, or any number of
mind games. God responds to us by saying:
Isaiah 40:26-29 (New King James Version)
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
Lesson 7- Day 1
The Landmine of unforgiveness
The landmine of unforgiveness is unlike the other landmines. It has a tendency to stay
below the surface too often, and if not dealt with scripturally keep coming back over and
over. Every person has had to deal with this landmine at one time or the other; some of you
are currently dealing with it. Like a yo-yo every time you sling it out, it comes back.
The Lord wants us to live abundant lives but we cannot if we do not forgive. There are
many Christians that outwardly seem to have everything together but inwardly struggle
with unforgiveness, sometimes for years. You feel hurt, disappointed, angry, and perhaps
bitter. It is a choice you have made no matter which way you look at it. Remember this
scripture as you go through today:
Ephesians 4:30-32 (New King James Version)
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you,
with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
in Christ forgave you.
Lesson 7- Day 2
Dr. Stanley in the book from which these lessons come says there are three parts to
uncovering the landmine of unforgiveness. Each one is the result of a godly choice:
1. Choose to let go of every feeling of resentment. No matter what others have done,
forgiveness means not harboring angry feelings against those who have harmed us.
2. Lay down the right to get even. Jesus had every right not to die for our sins since he
was sinless. Yet he laid aside his rights for us. He will give us the same strength to
do that for others.
Philippians 2:5-8 (New King James Version)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross.
3. Allow God to deal with the person who has hurt or abused you. Nothing takes God
by surprise. Do you not think He knows what is going on? He has promised to work
all things out for your good. Trust Him to do that.
Lesson 7- Day 3
Romans 12:17-21 (New King James Version)
17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is
possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”
says the Lord. 20 Therefore
Lesson 7- Day 4
God has a step by step plan concerning forgiveness:
1. Lift your head and heart toward Him. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “ I know the plans I
have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a
hope.” These words were recorded during a time that Israel was in captivity.
Jeremiah himself was badly mistreated. Yet he still had hope.
2. Pray for the person who has hurt you. This can be very difficult, but the quickest
way to deal with your feelings is to go against them and pray a prayer for the
offender. At least pray that God would make you willing to pray for the person.
3. Choose to forgive before you seek to feel like forgiving. Your life must be pulled by
the engine of God’s will, not by the caboose of doing what I feel like. Read Matthew
6:14-15. What do you believe God wants you to do?
4. The consequences of un-forgiveness is not worth the feelings of justification you feel
right now. The broken relationship with God, the depression or guilt, and the way
you treat others all come as a result of unforgiveness.
5. Bitterness will always come out in some form. Do not let it get a root in your heart:
Hebrews 12:14-15 (New King James Version)
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking
carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause
trouble, and by this many become defiled;
.
Lesson 7- Day 5
It is time when you lay down your anger and move on with your life. Just as we choose to
be angry and unforgiving we must choose as I said before to forgive. God will give us the
strength.
Psalm 55:22 (New King James Version)
22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
Psalm 57
–To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled
from Saul into the cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
David was learning to live beyond disappointment. He was learning also that God is not
swayed by disappointments. He is never taken by surprise and always has a plan. Anything
that drives us to the Lord is good for us.
Lesson 8- Day 2
What do you do when feelings of disappointment explode? Do you pick up the phone and
call someone as quickly as possible, or do you turn to the Lord in prayer?
Psalm 42
1 Asthe deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Make sure that He is the first one that hears your cry for help. While godly friends are
important, no one can help us like God. You are never alone. Hear the promise of Christ as
he says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).
Lesson 8- Day 3
There are many sources of disappointment. It could include areas of weakness in our life
that constantly causes us to mess up or to give in to temptation. Unrealistic goals for our
lives can be a constant source of disappointment. If we do not know our limitations as well
as our strengths we can be in for some long days of heart break. It could be that in your
mind you know how to handle certain situations but your leadership skills are lacking to
actually implement the desired goal. This may take further training, and perhaps months
or years of help from leaders who have succeeded in these areas.
Realize that God is aware of your circumstances. While you may be stunned or shocked,
God never is. He has promised to provide for you. Understand also that disappointment is
a part of life. You will have to make a choice not if you will be disappointed but how will I
respond to it.
James 4:8-10 (New King James Version)
8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify
your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to
mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift
you up.
Most of the people that live in the day that James wrote these words were living under
some very difficult circumstances. Disappointment was almost daily. There are some clear
steps he outlines here to deal with challenging times:
1. Make God your first resources not your last
2. Deal with any attitude or sin that does not reflect Jesus. Often it is in times of
difficulty that we can learn how best to change our own lives.
3. Humility is not weakness but strength. It is that response to God’s promptings in
our life that gives Him the great joy of responding and lifting us up.
Lesson 8 – Day 4
The greatest ministries that have developed came from people’s disappointments.
The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing
before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith. One dream dominated his heart.
He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, "Lord, I want to go as a
missionary for you. Open a door of service for me." Now, at last, his prayer would be
answered. When the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down. He did
not meet their qualifications. He failed the test. Oswald Smith had set his direction, but
now life gave him a detour. What would he do? As Oswald Smith prayed, God planted
another idea in his heart. If he could not go as a missionary, he would build a church which
could send out missionaries. And that is what he did. Oswald Smith pastored The People's
Church in Toronto, Canada, which sent out more missionaries than any other church at
that time. Oswald Smith brought God into the situation, and God transformed his detour
into a main thoroughfare of service.
Brian L. Harbour, Rising Above the Crowd.
In I Corinthians 10:13 the Bible says, “No temptation has overtake you but such as is common to
man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able , but
with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
The Greek word there for temptation refers to suffering, disappointment, and trial. Trials can
have a beneficial purpose. God’s goal is always to draw you close to Him and accomplish His
purposes in the world.
Lesson 8- Day 5
Psalm 23 has stood as a tower of strength for so many during days of disappointment. Keep
in mind these truths about the Psalm.
1. David wrote these words during a very trying time. He was facing an extreme
physical threat.
2. David admitted there was a problem. He did not try to deny it or ignore it.
Whatever dark valley he was walking through was very real to him.
3. David understood that God did not send the trial he was facing. The Lord had
allowed it for a purpose and that he could learn a lesson through it.
4. David never shifted his focus onto himself. It always remained on God. David knew
that God would bring “goodness and mercy into his life, and that he had the
assurance to know that he would dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
5. David confessed with his mouth that God would do exactly what He had promised.
Conclusion
• Few of us know how to go it alone.
• We need to travel on the high paths of righteousness, in the footsteps of our
Lord.
• Illustration: A story tells of a young man who could skillfully recite the
psalm, he was an actor on Broadway. When he came home to visit his
parents he went to church with them. He was asked to recite the 23rd Psalm.
When he finished everyone was very polite and acknowledged how well he
did. The pastor an elderly man, just happened to be preaching on that
Psalm that day. He began to recite the Psalm from memory. It was
different. He knew the shepherd and not just the Psalm. When he finished
everyone was in tears.
• Big Idea: This psalm lives because it says there is a Shepherd who knows
his sheep by name, who is abundantly able to provide, who guides and
protects, and who at the close of day welcomes his own into the fold.
Lesson 9- Day 1
The Landmine of Fear
In 1942 England was on the brink of disaster. The Germans were bombing
England daily. The British air force was shrinking quickly. Fear filled the hearts of
the people and would have overcome them except for two things: their will and
their faith. Winston Churchill challenged the people with these words, “ Never
give in, never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing, great or small, large
or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield
to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Isaiah 40:29-31 (New King James Version)
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
Lesson 9- Day 2
people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I
looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be
afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons,
your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought
their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
When God called Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to lead the people to re-build the city
walls, there were people there that did not want that to happen. They issued one threat
after another ( Neh. 4). Notice what Nehemiah did not do:
1. He did not panic, become fearful, or cynical.
2. He did not listen to the voice of the enemy.
3. He did not stop construction of the walls.
You can know what God wants you to do if you seek him and ask him. When you do seek
to do God’s will there will rise up a host of fears and doubts the enemy will assault you
with. There may be people who try to prevent God’s will to be accomplished in your life.
Be sure you are listening to is voice and not your own will. If you are certain of God’s plan.
Go forth!
Lesson 9- Day 3
Mark 4:35-40 (New King James Version)
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other
side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And
other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the
boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke
Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind
ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it
that you have no faith?”[a]
Notice Jesus instructed his disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side? Did he not
know there would be a storm? Did he not realize what danger they faced?
1. Yes, he did know there was going to be a storm.
2. No, there was no danger. He was right there in the middle of the storm.
Even though he appeared to be asleep, He was aware of their circumstances. He was in
control of the wind, the rain, and the sea. He knew exactly what was going on around their
small boat. He knows what is happening around you all the time.
He wanted them to come to Him in faith, not in fear. He wasn’t surprised by their fear, and
He certainly made it clear that He was God when he spoke to the storm and told it to be
still. Victory over fear comes when you learn to focus on the Savior and not the storm.
Lesson 9 – Day 4
Isaiah 58:11 (New King James Version)
11The LORD will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Though trouble comes from time to time and changes the landscape of our lives, God never
changes (Hebrews 13:8). Fear does not fit who you are as a child of God. In times of crisis
or tragedy, remember God will strengthen your bones, and keep your soul watered in times
of drought.
Fear may come as a result of how we were raised. Sometimes we as parents can be very
over protective. We can instill fearful ideas in our children’s lives. Other times fear may
come because of our imagination not being under God’s control. We can become so
distracted that we lose focus on what is as we worry about what MIGHT be. Sometimes
our fears may be based on something wrong we did and we face consequences of that
action. God may not deliver us from the consequences, but deliver us through them.
We are adequate through Jesus Christ to face any fear and overcome it. You need to see
your future through His perspective and not your own. If you are faced with a challenge
that is greater than your ability to handle it, ask the Lord to give you His perspective and
rely upon that.
Lesson 9- Day 5
Isaiah 41:10-13 (New King James Version)
10 Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “ Behold, all those who were incensed against you
Conquering fear is done when we focus on Someone greater than the circumstances. If
God has placed you in a certain position , He will handle all the details concerning it and
your life. Your only responsibility is to obey Him and leave the consequences to Him.
For too many people fear is an addiction. Some even gain attention by telling others about
their fears. They become paralyzed in their personal lives and affect others, especially
their own families by their fears. There can be fears and anxieties that come from
depression. This can actually have a physical cause, and need to be treated by medical
help. Other times it is caused by spiritual issues and can be resolved through :
Admitting there is a problem and you need God’s help.
Confess your belief in God’s sovereign care.
Commit yourself to spending time each day with God in prayer.
Meditate on God’s Word, which contains His personal promises to you.
The Enemy may whisper, “ What if…?” But you can answer with, “I know whom I have
believed….”
Psalm 46:1-2 (New King James Version)
Psalm 46
Psalm 51
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after
he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your loving-kindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
God has the ability to defuse any type of sinful passion and replace it with a sense of godly
contentment. If you will allow Him to have control of your sexual desire, He will show you
how to live with a pure heart, whether you are married or single. If you have failed He and
He alone can restore and repair the broken lives. Forgiveness is instant but rebuilding may
take years. Give God the chance.
THE LANDMINE OF SLOTHFULNESS
LESSON 11 – DAY 1
Another word for slothfulness is laziness. Usually the person who struggles with this sin
also struggles with self esteem, pride, and a passive-aggressive attitude. In II Thessalonians
3:6 Paul was dealing with a group of people who had become lazy in their devotion to God
and in their work. They assumed incorrectly that Jesus was to return any day. Why
should they work hard if he was coming to take them home.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 (New King James Version)
nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that
we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make
ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither
shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not
working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through
our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good
The question you must ask yourself is am I doing my best? Do I offer something much
less to my employer and coworkers as a result of taking shortcuts and procrastinating.
Lesson 11- Day 2
John 5:2-9 (New King James Version)
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,
having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed,
waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and
stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well
of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight
years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a
long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is
stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made
31Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My
disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Lesson 11- Day 5
Living on Purpose is really what we are talking about. If you understand that God has a
purpose for your life, and you can know His purpose then you can focus on Him and His
plans for you. Remember His plans for you always include others. It’s not about you. It’s
about Him and His purposes for this world.
Never forget the truth of Jeremiah 29:11: (NKJV)
11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of
evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Lesson 12=Defusing the Landmines Along your Path
Day 1
Genesis 18:13-14 (New King James Version)
13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child,
since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you,
according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Is there anything too hard for God? We cannot use the excuse, “Well I couldn’t help
myself.” Without a strong faith in God, we will become easy targets for the enemy. Like
Sarah, we will be tempted to laugh instead of obey.
The closer we stay to God the further away the landmine will be. Every landmine poses a
serious threat to the path of the believer. You and I have a resource the non Christian does
not have, that is that God promises to deliver us through and from temptation. Trust in
Him to do it.
Lesson 12- Day 2
Peter failed the Lord miserably. After telling Christ he would never run or deny Him,
Peter did deny the Lord three times. Peter repented and turned back to the Lord. He
became a great evangelist after his failure when he repented and turned back to Christ.
There are two ways we encounter landmines. The first is by taking a route that God does
not want us to travel without knowing the consequences. Even when the landmine explodes
and we fail we may still have to experience the consequences, but we can be forgiven and
restored back to the Lord.
The second is to make a choice without any consideration of God. We know there are
consequences. The passions and desires of our heart supersede what we know is right. We
take a chance anyway and boom, there goes the landmine. We hurt ourselves and others.
READ PSALM 51 today for your understanding of the consequences and cure for failure.
Lesson 12- Day 3
Psalm 139:23-24 (New King James Version)
God knows where the landmines are. As you respond to the promptings of God’s spirit, and
His word He can direct you around the landmines. Will you trust Him to order your steps
of your life, to lead you along a pathway that is secure from enemy attack?
The moment you say , “Lord use me, train me, and teach me more about yourself,” He will
answer your prayer, and all of heaven’s joy, contentment, and eternal peace will be yours.