TOTALLY SUBMITTED | GOD’S STORY
- Receive: Ask God to prepare your heart and mind to receive the right message as you read His Word. Pray this prayer as you examine God’s Word.
- Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that Your Holy Spirit guide me in all truth as I begin to study Your Word. Cause the obscure and confusing things to become clear. Give me deeper levels of insight and application in my daily living. Let this insight and understanding of Your Word multiply my hunger, thirst and delight for Your Spirit and Your Word in the deepest places of my soul. Bless me with the courage and strength that I need to heed Your Word and to follow it faithfully. In the most holy and precious name of Jesus I pray, AMEN.
- Read: the following passages from God’s Word in order to gain more knowledge, understanding and wisdom
Surrender
Alabaster Box Mary of Bethany
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:36-39
Unconditional Love
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28
Beholden
Blessed and Highly Favored Mary, Mother of Jesus
“Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. There Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…” Luke 8:1-2
Motivation
Standing By Til The End Mary of Clopas
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25
Intimacy
At Jesus’ Feet Mary of Bethany
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lordʼs feet listening to what he said.40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, donʼt you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41“Martha, Martha,”the Lord answered,“you are worry and upset about many things,42but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a]Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Trust
At Jesus’ Feet Mary of Bethany
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. John 12:12
After having read the aforementioned passages, journal the following:
- Reflect: Allow the passage(s) to speak to you by meditating on the words. Ask and answer the following SPACES questions:
- Is there Sin to confess?
- Is there a Promise to claim?
- Is there an Attitude to change?
- Is there a Command to obey?
- Is there an Example to follow?
- What do you See and how does it apply to your life?
- Record observations and application: Record your insights and questions as well as the ways you will apply what you’ve learned to your life.
From Pastor Damein Johnson, https://seabrooksda.org/about-us/