Week 2: Approaching God's Throne

SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE SOUL

“Approaching God’s Throne”

We encourage you to respond in practical ways to God's Word from this past Sunday's Worship Online sermon.  Here are some additional questions for reflection and practices based on Hebrews 4:14-16 that you can explore as we aim to invest deeply in our relationship with God and with one another -- even during this time of social distancing.
 

1. How will you actually "approach God's throne of grace" during this season to find the mercy and grace we need to stand firm through it all? 

  • Go outside and go for a walk! Don't get caught staying inside just because you have to stay distanced form others. Go for a walk along the backshore. Go for a walk around your neighborhood. For many of us, it's often easier to pray while walking, even talking out loud. Share your fear or apprehension with the Lord, and ask for his comfort and strength in this trying time.
     

  • As the weather turns nicer, go outside and cultivate a small area as a garden.  Plant some seeds, and with each seed, pray for some aspect of this situation about which you are concerned.  Over the next few weeks, watch as those seeds begin to sprout, as God takes your concerns and turns them into something beautiful!
     

  • Find a quiet place in your own home to pray, and use a candle to help focus on Jesus.  As you begin to pray, light the candle and ask Jesus for an awareness of his promised presence.  Recall that Jesus called himself the Light of the World (John 8:12), and pray for our community and our world.  Allow the light of the candle to be a metaphor reminding you of his presence as you pray.

  2. Hebrews 4:14-16 reminds us that we can turn to the Lord, who will generously provide both comfort and the grace we need to stand firm in the face of such a challenging season.  If you remember the Call to Worship, however, there was a beautiful "next step" built into 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.  It speaks of our compassionate God, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

  • This is an invitation to go beyond merely receiving comfort from God, but to extend that same comfort to others in Jesus' name.  Prayerfully ask the Lord to bring some people to mind who might benefit from the comfort of a FaceTime call, a phone call, a text, or a check-in just to see how they're doing, and to pray with them.  Allow yourself to be a voice of comfort to others as well.

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