POINT TO PONDER:I'm as close to God as I choose to be.
REFLECT: How did today's reading impact you?
"Like any friendship, I must work at developing my friendship with God. If I want a deeper, more intimate relationship with God I must choose to be honest with God, trust Him when He asks me to do something, learn to care about what He cares about, and desire His friendship more than anything else.
God is bored with my weak attempts at "nice Christianity". His heart patiently waits for my complete honesty -- it's not like I'm fooling Him, He knows my heart! When we gloss over our true thoughts and feelings with flowery prayers and worn-out Christian cliches, we come across as fakes to God. He wants us to be honest.
Expressing doubt is sometimes the first step towards the next level of intimacy with God. Where do I doubt His love for me? Reflecting back on my normal routines, what are the things that fill me with anger, joy, or break my heart? What am I passive about that God is passionate about? 
       "What pleases the LORD more- burnt offerings and sacrifices or 
   obedience to His voice?  It is better to obey than to sacrifice." 
   (I Samuel 15:22 - New Century Version)
We are often challenged to do "great things" for God. Actually, God is more pleased when we do small things for Him out of loving obedience. They may be unnoticed by others, but God sees and considers them acts of worship! Great opportunities come once in a lifetime, but small opportunities surround you and I every day. What small thing, unnoticed to anyone else but Him, can I do today out of obedience to develop my frienship with God? 
   "My determined purpose is that I may know Him--
   that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately
   acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and 
   understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and
   more clearly" (Philippians 3:10 - Amplified Version)
PRAYER:
"Gracious Father, I am relieved of the pressure of doing something great for You today. Help me to live this day in quiet, instant obedience before You as an act of worship. Amen"
FOR MY CONSIDERATION:
    What practical choices will I make today in order to grow closer to God?
This week's Memory verse: 
 	"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and 
	with all your strength."                         Mark 12:30 (NIV)
CBF Home How can we help you in this journey? Please let us know
-- Keep up to date with www.cbfchurch.org/go/40days