Week 6

DISCIPLINE: THE PATH TO JOY (Part 2)

By Sandra Clifton, D.Min.

 

Begin your study by reading “Discipline: the Path to Joy” by R.T. Kendall (SpiritLed Woman magazine, Oct/ Nov 2006).

 

Introduction

Whatever you are facing, you can have peace and joy along the way. How is this possible? Through God’s Word—guiding you to walk the disciplined path where you will encounter His miraculous blessings each day!

 

What God Says

Read: Prov. 3:5-6.

 

Write it out.

 

Deeper Insight

Read the following scriptures (in New King James Version, as the exercises to follow will be based on that). Make brief notes of what each scriptural passage has to say about pressing on and not giving up.

 

Prov. 3:5-6:_____________________________________________________

 

2 Cor. 4:8:_______________________________________________________

 

2 Cor. 4:16-18:____________________________________________________

 

Phil. 4:8-9:_______________________________________________________

 

Application

Fill in the blanks of the Scriptures below (NKJV) taken from the previous Deeper Insight section. Check afterward to see how you did by looking up each one. Put each one on a 3x5 note card, memorizing them, as powerful reminders that you are to press on and not to give up!

 

Prov. 3:5-6: “Trust in the _____ with all your ____, and ____ not on your own __________; in all your ways acknowledge ____, and He shall _____ your ____.”

 

2 Cor. 4:8: ”We are hard _________ on every ___, yet not ________; we are ________, but not in ________.”

 

2 Cor. 4: 16: “Therefore we do not lose _____. Even though our outward ___ is _________, yet the _______ man is being _________ day by ___.”

 

Phil. 4:8-9: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are _____, whatever things are _____, whatever things are ____, whatever things are ____, whatever things are _______, whatever things are of ____ report, if there is any ________and if there is anything __________--meditate on these ______.”

 

For Group Study

Begin your group time by reading aloud Prov. 3:5-6. Discuss what all this might mean to each member of the group (go around circle). Ask for testimonies—where they had to trust in the Lord, despite what met the eye or “their own understanding” and how this resulted in victory.

End the meeting by taking prayer needs and agreeing in prayer that the group will trust in the Lord for victory over each situation prayed for. Regardless of how challenging each situation has been, the joy of the Lord will carry each person and the Lord will give the victory!

 

Prayer

Memorize Phil. 4:8-9. Read it out loud at the beginning of your prayer and thank the Lord that as you focus on these “paths of thinking” from His Word that you will walk in joy and peace and complete victory through everything you face this day—and the week and in the days to come. Thank the Lord that He always gives you the victory!