Read Galatians 5:25. How often have you been inspired to say something like ‘I’m going to live my whole life for Jesus’ or ‘I’m going to serve God with everything I’ve got,’ only to loose your way or motivation on that journey? Getting from good intentions to faithfully living out that path God desires definitely takes the power of the Holy Spirit. However there is a difference in having that power in your life and keeping in step with where the Spirit wants to take you.

• Describe a time you were really lost or found yourself at the wrong place at the wrong time.
• Do you ever struggle with following through on good intentions? Why do you think this happens?

Read Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 145:13, & Luke 11:9-10. In order to keep in step with the Spirit you must first understand that the Spirit sets the Path.  Most followers of Jesus believe that God has the best in mind for them, but often trust in their own path ahead of trusting in God’s. By taking your path or purposely ignoring God’s directions you will continue to make the same old mistakes and fall into the same old sin as you did in the past. The key is to trust in God because God knows all and is faithful in all things. And when we daily ask for God’s direction, God will answer and begin leading you down that straight path.

• How much do you truly ”trust in God” with your daily decisions? Do you trust in your own path more?
• How much time do you spend each day/each week seeking God’s direction for you life?  How do you do that?

Read Mark 6:34. Not only does the Spirit set the path for you to walk, the Spirit sets the pace. It is easy to either get ahead of God, which happens because of your own agenda, or fall behind because of distractions, wanting to be in control, or following your own desires. But you need to keep in mind that God IS the guide of your path and not just a source of power for your own agenda.  Keeping pace means following God’s lead and relying on God’s timing, right where you are. And the Spirit will use you to share God’s compassion and love to a hurting and dying world. 

• Do you typically ask God to bless what you are doing or do you ask what you can do to bless God?
• Where has the Spirit led you recently to serve or minister to others? How did you know it was the Spirit’s direction?

Read Luke 4:18-19. When you are on the path and the pace that the Spirit sets for your life you will then understand the goals of the Spirit. However, you might find yourself out of touch with the Spirit because you are out of touch with what the Spirit prioritizes, and that priority is people. People matter the most to God and when you keep in step with the Spirit you will find yourself in places where you are the hands and feet of Jesus bringing hope and life to those who need it the most.

• What are some of your priorities in life? Do you think they match up with God’s priorities?
• How has God changed your heart and priorities while serving on mission or through serving others?
• Where do you feel the Spirit is leading you to commit to serving God’s objectives and priorities this year?