THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR EFFECTIVE GODLY LIFE

ASSESSMENTS1. We must be committed to the authority of God’s Word as the basis for truth about

ourselves.9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond

cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man

according to his conduct, according to what his deeds

deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

Since our heart is deceitful, our self-examination by itself will not

be reliable. Because we are using a deceitful heart to examine

ourselves, we cannot avoid being deceived by this deceitful heart.

So we need an accurate and precise measurement tool, a

reliable scale, outside of ourselves and this world that is authoritative

by which we can measure and weigh the truth about ourselves.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in

righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be

thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

137 You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right. 138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they

are fully trustworthy. Psalm 119:137-138

127 Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, 128 and because I consider all

your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. Psalm 119:127-128

2. We must be committed to assess our lives honestly and completely,“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

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40

3. We don’t want to underestimate the influences of our past on our present,

but we also don’t want to underestimate the impact our choices

right now can have on the quality of our future life.

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has

enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 Know therefore today,

(“Today” used 57 times in Deuteronomy)

and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. 

40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, 

that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the

land that the Lord your God is giving you for all

time.” Deuteronomy 4:39-40

Live life well today by making godly choices and you will have

few regrets tomorrow!4. We must commit to make time.Somehow we always can find

time to do what is important to us.

5. We need to accept transformation as a lifelong process not a moment in

time.12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ

Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will

transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all

things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

6. We need to be patient with ourselves. Some things will change quicker

and easier than others while others will be more challenging

and take longer.But I will not drive them out in a single year,

because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.

Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take

possession of the land. Exodus 23:29-309 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more

and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

discernment which "cuts through" hazy ethical (moral) matters to really "size

things up" (used only in Phil 1:9).

 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of

Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of

God. Philippians 1:9-11

And I am sure [confident, convinced]

of this, that he who began [commenced, started]

a good work [His good, acceptable and perfect will]

in you will bring it to completion[God does not start anything He doesn’t

finish.Creation – Genesis 2:1Salvation – John 19:30

History – Revelation 21:6]

at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Weekly Going Deeper Study Guide ForEffectively Using Life Assessments

Before beginning each day simply ask God to help you see things that He would have you to see. When finished, pray again asking for the faith and the courage to follow His lead in areas He speaks to

you about.

DAY 11. Using your inventory read through the 10 principles of Compassionate Recovery on p.4.2. Write a couple of sentences about how you would describe your journey through these principles so far.

DAY 21. Using your inventory read the article “Resolve to Live with Integrity” on p. 7.2. Write a few sentences about what this article means to you.

DAY 31. Using your inventory complete page 9. (It might be helpful to review Lesson 15: “Our Help in Time of Need”)2. If you haven’t already done so contact one of these people and ask them if they would be willing to play this

role in your life.

DAY 41. Using your inventory read p.11 and familiarize yourself with “How to Approach Your Personal Assessments.”

DAY 51. Using your inventory read the verses on page 12 and make notes under any verse God speaks to you.2. If God has convicted you by any of the verses, put an “X” at the top of the page.

DAY 6-71. Reread lessons 15-17.2. Write some thoughts about what God has spoken to you most in reading these lessons.