James: The War Within You

Everyone has a war internally. It is our fanatical pursuit of “what I want and believe I deserve” that amplifies the war in our souls. Only God gives the grace and the ability to fight the battle. When we surrender to Him we resist the devil and the devil will flee. Imagine the freedom of no anxiety, competition, fights and quarrels. Imagine a stable and joyful soul, a deep satisfaction and certainty that your Father is good and powerful regardless of the craziness of the world. That is God’s promise if we draw near to Him.

Life Group Questions

• David Benner speaks of vocation and calling as "the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” This does not always mean that to find our calling means we totally change our careers but is something deeper about the way we partner with God in reconciling Heaven to Earth. If you have thought about vocation and calling, do you have a sense of where these two meet? If you haven't, what does that quote stir in you?
  

• James K. Smith speaks of our formation being tied to things that we love and give our attention to. In the past week, what do you find yourself giving your attention to, and how is that forming you?
  

• When you are making decisions, do you feel like you are able to share your true motives with God, or are able to invite Him into the process of understanding your motives? What does that feel like? Is it scary, comforting, or maybe another feeling? Why is that?