Welcome

Welcome: I hope that this interactive devotional can help each participant to build a stronger devotional life.   Full Heart Search has one purpose, to develop a deeper, stronger, relationship with Jesus. Please read the welcome, prayer, and spiritual growth section before you begin. By starting with Day 1-Search Me on Sunday you will be in sync so that Sabbath readings fall on Sabbath.  Starting it at another time works, but Sabbath readings will not fall on Saturday.

What inspired me to write this? In my own life I realized I needed something deeper. So I committed an hour a day to Christ, for forty days, to grow closer to Him.  Previously I put in the time in Bible study, but not at the personal level of intimately connecting with God for my own experience. 
He promises 
“And you will seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. 
 I am testifying His promise is true.

Why 40 days? For 40 days Noah and his family depended on God, waiting, believing, trusting Him to see them through safely (Genesis 7:4). I want to learn dependence on my Lord during the storms of doubt and chaos in today’s society. For 40 days Moses went up on the Mount of God and communed with Him, gaining instruction, truth, and a closeness that radiated from His very being (Exodus 24:18). I want to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him. I want to come away with the knowledge of how God wants me to live. I want to hear His instruction and see His glory. I want Him to fill me so others can see Him shining from my face. For 40 days Israel went searching out a land that God had promised them (Numbers 13:2). They looked and saw only hazards, the giants, the fortresses. Two men spent the 40 days looking at the land through God’s eyes. They came through with confidence in their Lord (Numbers 13:30). I have giants who threaten, fortresses which promise not to yield in my land. I need 40 days of seeing from God’s view to keep my courage strong and not forget the promises He has made. Maybe 40 days of deep dedication will save 40 years of wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 14:34). I need God to help me make right choices.

God gave 40 days to the people of Nineveh to prepare for judgment (Jonah 3:4). The people believed God, fasted, and repented. Nineveh was spared form the judgment that was planned. I need to prepare for God’s judgment. I will use the 40 days to examine my life, repent of my sin, and seek my God. Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days by the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:12-13). Yes, Satan used that as an opportunity to tempt Jesus. Whenever we drawn near to God Satan will tempt us. But God used it as a tempering opportunity. Jesus stood against Satan, relying “On the Word”. Christ cast doubt aside about who He was. He surrendered His well and His plan to the Father. HE decided that HE would not just go the easy way. He would go God’s way (Matthew 4:1-11). He set God, the Father, on the throne for daily living and began His public ministry. I need tempering. I seek God’s power to resist the devil so he will flee from me as I draw near to God (James 4:7). I need to learn the power of God’s Word in my life that I not sin against Him. I want to surrender to His will, His plan. I want to set God on the throne of my life. I want to minister and fulfill the purpose in life to which He has called me. I sought God to transform me, He challenged me with 40 days.

Just for me? The 40 day experience can be used with other people I wrote it as a personal experience.  That does not mean that it will not have a group affect. The church is made up of individuals. Each individual’s decision and commitment can affect the whole body. We should share our testimonies like Joshua and Caleb, regardless of the result. Jesus’ personal 40-day experience affected the universe. Who knows who our experience might affect? I was a collection of individual decisions that saved Nineveh first destruction in Jonah’s time. I desire revival for the body of Christ. This experience should not just be looking inward. Noah, the spies, Jonah, all sought others to join them in their commitment to God. Being with God brings a desire to reach out. Love compels us to serve and seek the lost!

What’s the Format? How do I use this guide?

Personalized: I designed this study so that each participant could personalize it to meet their needs. You determine what elements you will use of what is provided.  You in prayer with the Holy Spirit, decide how much time you will dedicate.

Daily Studies: Each daily study has a general format as follows…

Prayer Devotional: Most of these are written in the first person as your prayer to God. You may wish to keep your own journal and build on the day’s devotional, opening your heart to God on this subject.

A few selections are pages from my personal journal. Treat them as you would a psalm. Relate to what you can. Pray your own experience where it applies, and treat the rest as a testimony shared with you.

God Speaks: A few, select devotionals are written from what I believe God wants to say to us

Scripture Study: This section is intended to open our hearts to gain wisdom more than knowledge. We want to look at how God’s Word applies to our lives.

Special Feature, Action Line: These are included as spice for directed activity.

Additional Devotional Materials: (These are intended to be read before beginning the 40 day experience.)

Prayer: I have provided a prayer resource overview to help spark some ideas of how to have a prayer experience. If you have committed an hour or more, the prayer section can aid you to structure the time you have remaining after your daily devotional reading.

Spiritual Growth: I have included a section with concepts for spiritual growth. This includes a spiritual mentor.  This study could be done with others in small group, or family setting.

Prayer

This is just a tool. The real power comes in the interaction with God.

This has been written in prayer. Its only power is through the Spirit working in your life. Please pray with me that He will renew, revive, and reform us.

Spiritual Growth

Covenant Partner: One of the greatest supports to my spiritual growth has been a covenant partner. We have made a covenant to support each other by daily prayer. We meet once a week for an hour of worship, scripture reading, reflection, and prayer. We have shared with each other areas of weakness. We confess our failures and rejoice with each other over our victories. When tempted by sin we covenant to call each other, and we pray.

Meditation: Deep reflection can be of great value when it is focused on the right thing.

Meditate on the Law: “Oh how I love the Law. It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97. Read through Exodus 20, or Psalm 19, or Psalm 119, and try to focus on its message through the day. Ask God to help you see how it applies to your circumstances.

Meditate on the Lord: “…I meditate on Thee…” Psalm 63:6. Take an hour and rehearse the life of Christ. Go through the scenes of His life. Focus on how He dealt with people. Especially in the closing scenes of His life

Fasting: We may fast for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. We may fast, taking the time that would ordinarily be spent in food preparation and eating to focus on God. We may fast to gain control of our overeating or give our digestion a break. We may fast to give us clearer minds for us focus on God’s communication to us. A fast may range from eating and drinking nothing, to drinking only water or juice, to eating only fruit, or eating lightly. It may be missing only a meal, or not eating for several days.

Fasting is not to punish ourselves or to purchase God’s favor. It may reflect the intensity of our desire, but in itself it is only an outside work. You may wish to search out the following scriptures on fasting. (Isaiah 58; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Matthew 6:16; Matthew 9:14; Mark 2:18).

Spiritual Mentor: Another significant person in your spiritual growth is a spiritual mentor. Pray for God to send you someone with whom you could regularly spend time, who would share with you his/her insights into how to have a closer friendship with Jesus. It needs to be someone whom you respect and from whom you would be willing to take counsel.

Spiritual Diet: Look at the avenues of feeding your mind. Search for avenues to have a more positive input. Music, videos, general reading, entertainment can all be channeled to feed the heart.

Prayer

I believe in prayer. God, help me to pray more. More honestly. More fervently. More reverently. More effectively. More passionately. More selflessly. More often. And with more faith.

Prayer List

A prayer list is only a tool to aid your memory. It helps you think of the needs and also have a place to record answered prayers. Here is a sample prayer list:

Daily Prayer

Praising my God for who He is

For the Holy Spirit

Surrendering my life anew and my days schedule

Reviewing the last 24 hours: Confession of sin

Plans to make things right

Laying my known character weaknesses at His feet

Seeking for God to use me to witness

Special requests for the day: for myself, my family, and my covenant partner

Claiming the blood of Jesus for myself, my family, and my covenant partner

Sunday: Extended Family and Covenant Partner

Their areas of growth. The requests they have given me.

Monday: Friends and Acquaintances

Special needs they have requested. Areas I see.

Tuesday: Outreach

Those who are unsaved. Pray for God to show me how I can minister to them.

Wednesday

Prayer projects.

Thursday: Missionaries and Evangelists

Upcoming meetings.

Friday: Civic Leaders

Our country, out state, our town.

Sabbath: Our Church

Pastor. Conference Leaders. The Building Project. Our mission. Out Unity. Outreach. Finances. Holy Spirit.

Scriptural Praying

Choose a scripture and pray it back to the Lord. Here is an example:

“Lord, You came to earth with no outer physical beauty that I should be drawn to you. I rejected You, forsook You. Yet You took the full weight of all my sorrows and grief. You were crushed, You were pierced through for me. You took the beatings, pain, and penalty I deserve. I have wandered away like a sheep and gone my own way. You have never sinned, yet the separation and death from sin that belong to me fell upon You. Lord, I’m sorry. But I want to say in the same breath, Thank you.”

Selected from Isaiah 53.

You might try praying these portions of scripture:

Psalm 23

Romans 8:26-39

Psalm 5

1 John 3:1-10

1 John 3:11-24

Exodus 12

Psalm 84

1 Corinthians 13

John 1

Prayer Promises

Matthew 7:7, 8

1 John 5:14-15

James 5:16

Matthew 6:6

Matthew 21:22

Jeremiah 29:12

Job 22:27

Psalm 55:17

Isaiah 30:19

Isaiah 65:24

John 14:13-14

Praying Through the Lord’s Prayer

Papa                      “Our Father” Thanking God for who He is to me, reminding myself   of what it means to be son or daughter of God.

Purity                    “Hallowed be Thy Name” Acknowledging God has the best for me.

Priority                 “Thy Kingdom come” Laying my plans and timing in God’s hands.

Petition               “Give us this day” I open to God’s requests for today, for myself, and others

Pardon                 “Forgive us our debts” Sharing in confession, receiving forgiveness.

Power                   “Deliver us from evil” Seeking God’s Strength for moving forward.

Proclaim              “Thine is the kingdom, power, glory forever” Surrender all future to God.

Day-1 SEARCH ME

Self-inventory
Psalm 32

Prayer Devotional:

God, you speak to your last-day church and point out their sin. You say they do not realize they are, “Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17). I am part of that church. Today I ask that You would remove the blindness from my eyes. Help me see myself through the eyes of truth.

Help me to move past my human defensiveness. Break the denial and self-deception that allow me to say, “I am rich, I have acquired wealth, and I am in need of nothing.” (Revelation 3:17). I cloak my sinfulness with lies saying. “I can stop anytime. It’s not really that bad. At least my sins are not as bad as What-His-Name’s.” I tell myself I can handle this sin and stay in connection with You. Lord, by the light of your righteousness, expose my sin.

“Search me, O 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). Holy Spirit, convict me as you did David of old. Break my heart to see the sinfulness of all sin, but especially my sin.

Inventory (according to John Wesley and the Holiness Club over 200 years ago):

·         Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am a better person than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

·         Am I honest in all my acts or words, or do I exaggerate?

·         Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

·         Can I be trusted?

·         Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?

·         Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

·         Did the Bible live in me today?

·         Do I give it time to speak to me every day?

·         Am I enjoying prayer?

·         When did I last speak to somebody else with the object of trying to win that person for Christ?

·         Am I making contacts with other people and using them for the Master’s Glory?

·         Do I pray about the money I spend?

·         Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

·         Do I disobey God in anything?

·         Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

·         Am I defeated in any part of my life? Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

·         How do I spend my spare time?

·         Am I proud?

·         Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the Publican?

·         Is there anybody I fear, dislike, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

·         Do I grumble or complain constantly?

·         Is Christ real to me?

Read Psalm 32:

Why might David have waited so long to confess his sin? (32:4)

Have I waited?

Why?

What was the effect of unconfessed sin? (32:3-4)

Did David believe he could wait indefinitely and still find God? (32:8)

Cherished sin eventually removes the desire for purity. What sin do I need to bring to God?

David admitted to “missing the mark,” not measuring up to God’s requirement (Sin). He admitted he was willfully rebellious against God’s law (Transgression). He searched the depths of his heart and acknowledged his morally distorted, corrupt, crooked, evil, bent nature (Iniquity). (33:5). Do I have more than a sinful act to confess?

Am I rebellious toward God?

At the core of my being, do I crave sin?

Did David receive forgiveness? (32:5)

What sins had David committed? (2 Samuel 11:2-4, 15-16)

Did David know better?

Are my sins worse?

Will I trust Jesus to make me right with God through His death? (Romans 4:5-6).

I am forgiven

What does God promise to do for me? (32:7, 8, 10).

Prayer:

Lord, thank you that I am forgiven. I accept your unfailing love like warm arms wrapping around me. You are my hide-out against the accusations of Satan and the overwhelming guilt of the past. Help me to see you and not myself. Thank you for your blessing. Help me walk in your way.

Day 2- LET FORGIVENESS FLOW

Luke 7

God Speaks to Me Devotional:

“I have blotted out as thick cloud your transgressions and as a cloud your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22 Amp. Bible)

Confess your sins so I can forgive you. I want to relieve you for the burden of sin and failure.

You see yourself as unclean and removed from everything heavenly. I see you as my precious, purchased child. You think of yourself as a hopeless backslider, a broken refugee. I hold out my hand, come back. You can never dig a hole too deep for me to pull you out as long as you will lift up your hand, and call on my Name, from a heart in need.

Who is your accuser? Who is the one who condemns? I am for you not against you. My desire is to remove sin so you can live.

I have come to bring you life. Life eternal. Life in its fullness. When you forsake the way of wickedness and return to me I can shower love, pity, and mercy on you.

Do not caress guilt as though you deserve it. Do not punish yourself as a way of paying for your sins. Guilt is meant to give you a recognition of your sins and your need of Me. My blood erases not only the punishment of sin but the guilt as well.

Replace your old, tattered, foul-smelling coat of collected sins and guilt, with a garment of praise. Take the purity of my robe.

Paraphrased from His Thoughts Toward me by Marie Chapian. Based on Isaiah 55:7, 8, 9; 54:11, 14

Scripture Study

Luke 7:36-50

1.       Did the sinful woman, a prostitute, know how a Pharisee would respond to her?

Knowing this, what drew her to his house?

Do I take risks in how other people might deal with me when I come to Jesus?

2.       Why did the prostitute buy Jesus the perfume?

In the light of the parable that Jesus told, did she feel forgiveness already, or was she seeking forgiveness?

3.       Did Simon, the Pharisee observe the social custom of washing Jesus’ feet?

Why might he not have done this?

Simon felt that because Jesus allowed a prostitute to touch him He must not be a prophet. What does Jesus’ action tell me about who He is?

4.       How did Simon see the woman?

How did Jesus see her?

If they could know my secret life, how would the world see me?

What labels might they use?

How does Jesus see me?

5.       How might the woman have felt when Jesus explained to Simon that her many sins had been forgiven?

Do I believe my sins are forgiven?

6.       According to the parable, who saw himself/herself as the biggest debtor, the prostitute or Simon?

Was Simon a sinner?

In this story was it the stingy, pious-acting religious leader or the grateful prostitute who received forgiveness.

7.       Do I realize the depth of my sin?

Do I have so much assurance of Jesus’ forgiveness that natural gratitude flows from my heart?

8.       What does this story tell me about Jesus?

How does He deal with sinners who know they are sinning?

How does He treat sinners who don’t know they are sinning?

Did He leave the woman embarrassed?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, sometimes I have tried to hide my sin and act pious. I have judged others to make myself look better. I have been repulsed by their sin and can hardly stand to be around them, and have not seen my own. Forgive me for being blind to my own condition.  I come to the realization that I owe a great debt. I ask to comprehend the extent of Your forgiving me.  To grasp how big the debt is that You paid on my behalf and to allow that reality to ignite the fire of gratitude so that I am burning inside with gratitude and it comes out in praise!

Day 3- ON FIRE

 Luke 18

PRAYER DEVOTIONAL:

Jesus, I have accepted You as Savior in my life. I thank You for what You have done. But help me to also place You as Lord. I do want the forgiveness You bring for my sin. I also want the transformation You bring so that I don’t continue in sin. I want Your power and rulership. I want Your vision. Control me.

I don’t want just to add You to my busy life while I pursue life as normal. I want You to add me to Your list of submitted solders. Let me be a tool in Your hand. Lord, help me to subtract from my life anything that doesn’t fit with Your kingdom or plan for my life. Help me make a difference in the world. Let me be a messenger for You, not a monk. I want to be a reformer, not a recluse.

Lord, give me marching order. I know there is a mission field all around me. Don’t let me get so caught up in earning a living that I don’t have time to minister to people. Show me what pursuits, what possession, what projects must go so I have time, energy and the possibility of living my life in Your pattern.

Sometimes, Dear God, I’ve wanted to visit at Your house, take in Your hospitality eat at Your table, but not have any responsibilities of being part of Your family. No meal preparation, no cleaning, no dishes. Yet I’ve also felt somewhat left out. Yes Lord, I live in a cold, dark world. I have drawn close to You as a warming light. The light, as I draw near, exposes my imperfections. Its rays burn away my impurities. Naturally, I draw back, not wanting the burning process, even though it ultimately heals. It’s sometimes easier to endure the pain than face the operation. After a while, the pain, cold and darkness bring me back. I try to get close enough to You to be warmed, but not so close as to be set on fire. Save me from being  lukewarm.

God, today I surrender the comfort zone. I am ready to be purified, set on fire. Give me the marching orders, and I will move ahead. My possessions, my pursuits, my popularity, my projects, my perspective, my whole person is under Your control. Set me on fire.

Scripture Study:

Read Luke 18:18-30.

1.      

      What questions did the rich young ruler bring? (18:18)

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Was he concerned about spiritual things?

Does the ruler seem to think salvation comes by a person or a group of activities?

Does he recognize Jesus as God? (18:19)

2.       Why might Jesus quote commandments that focus on loving man? (18:20)

What was the one thing that the rich young ruler lacked?

What is the ultimate goal Jesus has for the rich young ruler? (18:22)

If there was one thing God would ask me to subtract so I could follow Him, what would it be?

3.       Why was the ruler sad?

How do I respond when Jesus asks something from me?

What is there that is more valuable than eternal life?

How am I trying to have both worlds?

4.       According to the story, who can be saved?

a.       Those who are living good, moral lives.

b.      Only those who follow in full surrender to God.

Am I trying to earn the kingdom?

Is it possible for me to earn it?

5.       Does following God only brings us blessings in heaven? (18:30)

Prayer

                Lord, set me ablaze in Your Spirit.  I recognize that in order to surrender to Your Lordship I need to surrender the following things in my life….

 

God nothing seems more important to me than relationships.  I find that I need to trust that You love the following people as much as I do and trust them in your care…..    

Lord bring to my mind any relationship I need to change or break in order to fully follow You.

Set me ablaze Lord, with the fire of passion of living fully, completely, unreservedly for You.

                                                                                                Amen.

Day 4- WHO AM I?

Self-Esteem

PRAYER DEVOTIONAL

Lord, who am I? I look naturally to other people's opinion of me as my mirror. My “self-image” is shaped by how I think others feel about me. As I say. "Mirror, mirror on the wall…” I am searching for a glowing imagine of myself to boost my self-esteem. But people's views of me are not a reliable reflection. Their own values, experiences, and self-image warp the reflection like the mirrors in a fun house.

People do not see who I am. They see how I look. My clothes, my body shape, my hairstyle and color, my smile. They see what I do. My job, my interaction with people, my production. They see what I have, the things that I bring. Rich or poor, they see how others relate to me. Then based on their likes and dislikes they run it all through their filter and feedback an image of acceptance or rejection.

Just this week I've had people make fun of my bald head, compliment my appearance, thank me for my spiritual example, and tell me to my face that I am, “A liar, and a tool of Satan." I have been reprimanded for my incompetence and praised for excellence on the same program. Lord, I know human mirrors are not reliable. If Jesus looked into the eyes of humans for His image, He would have seen Himself as a wino, a glutton, a failed coward, deliverer from Rome, a meddling false teacher in league with Satan.

Lord, in Your eyes, who am I? When pretense is stripped away, when the genetic grab bag is forgotten, without reference to my status, earnings or nationality, who am I, in Your eyes? Help me to see myself through You. Help me to have respect in spite of others hurtful images. Help me to see myself as You see me.

Scriptural Study

Scripture says I am ...

1.       A.            God's child – John 1:12; 1 John 3:1, 2

Christ’s friend – John 15:15

Born of God – 1 John 5! 18

One in Christ – Galatians 3:26, 28; 1 Corinthians 6:17

Hidden with Christ in God – Colossians 3:3

Reconciled to God – 2 Corinthians 5: 18-19

                B.            New creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17

A saint - 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1

Christ's workmanship. His handiwork, born anew to do His work -Ephesians 2:lO

A member of chosen race, Royal Priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession – 1 Peter 2:9, 10

Righteous and holy – Ephesians 4:24

Son of light – 1 Thessalonians 5:5

C.            A Minister of reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

An expression of the life of Christ – Colossians 3:4

Salt to the earth – Matthew 5:13

Light of the world – Matthew 5:14

A member of body – 1 Corinthians 12:27

D.            A joint heir – Romans 8:17

A citizen of heaven- Ephesians 2:6, Philippians 3:20

A fellow citizen of God's family - Ephesians 2:19

A living stone of Christ's house - 1 Peter 2:5

The temple of God – 1 Corinthians 3: 16

A chosen – Colossians 3: 12

Called – Hebrews 3:1

An alien to this world – 1 Peter 2: 11

1.       Which description do you like best?

Which truth is hardest for you to believe about yourself?

How does it feel to be a King's kid?

Prayer

I have seen myself, and despised the touch of sin on my being. I know that sin has marred the reflection of the stamp of Your character in my life.  I know that I have inherited the nature of a sinner.  But God…. Thank You that that is not all that I am.   Thank You that I have an Identity in my relationship with You.   Thank you that Your I am still Your child and as such bear Your mark.  Thank you that through the cross what I am is not what I was.  Thank you that I have a future.  Thank You for the truth that I am someone special “in You” and because of You.  I love You God not only for who You are but for who You have made and remade me in You!