INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATION
Week 1 Introduction
What you have in your hands is not just a book, it more of a guide that will help you live an integral transformation in 40 days. Each one of us needs to change to be better and realize the purpose of God in our lives. At the end of these 40 days you will have explored the most important parts of you. You will have the opportunity to make decisions to change, which will place you in the path of integral prosperity by the hand of God.
Why 40 days?
In the Bible we see that 40 days is a period of time which has a very special meaning for God. For example:
Noah endured 40 days of rain before starting a new life with his family.
Moses spent 40 days with God in Mount Sinai before receiving the Holy law.
The spies that Moses sent spent 40 days in the promised land but only two of them believed the promises of God.
David came to battle and defeated Goliath after 40 days of threats to the people.
Jesus received the power of the Holy Spirit after 40 days of fasting in the desert.
Jesus disciples received 40 days of final instruction after His resurrection.
In the same way we are believing God that the next 40 days of your life you will be transformed in a supernatural and powerful way.
This devotional is divided into 40 short meditations. The recommendation is that you read one per day and that you meditate in them and that you apply them in your life. If you fail to take the time to apply these principles you will just be receiving information and you will not be transformed. Let God speak to you every day, and believe that at the end of these 40 days your life will be transformed and prepared to enjoy a better future living in the purpose of God
WEEK 1
I NEED TO BE TRANSFORMED
Verse to memorize for the week:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
DAY 1
THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
According to the dictionary the word transformation means, to make a change in form or aspect, to change a thing to another and make a change in character and the customs of a person.
The plan of God for your future is better than what you are currently living today at a personal level, familial level, financial etc. Your opportunity is to change everything that is necessary so that you can enjoy more of His plan. The world we live in often tries to “shape” your life into a box, where your aspirations are limited and can never be overcome because the world often tell you that prosperity is only for a few. Nonetheless, the Bible say that the will of God for the life of His children is good, pleasing and perfect. The key to enjoying the will of God is a “transformation”, a change of form, a change of character and habits. A better version of you is waiting to come to light, but it all depends on your willingness to make certain decisions. Staying the same will not give you different results in life. So decide to make changes today.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18
What areas of your life do you think need a transformation? Make a list and pray to God to help you in this process to transform you in these specific areas.
DAY 2
MY MIND NEEDS TO CHANGE
(Insert Bible Verse) Romans 12:2
Yesterday you learned that to enjoy a better life by the hand of God, you need to make changes in different areas of your life. The question is how? The truth is that many times change is difficult and we often don’t know where to start. God in His Word teaches us that the change begins in your mind or the way you think. The key to this is that you change your thought for the thoughts of God. Your thoughts are limited, while those of God are limitless. Your thoughts are natural, God’s thoughts are supernatural. Your thoughts are humanly, God’s thoughts are divine. If you are a child of God, you should think like Him. For example: What does think of your image and health? Of your family? Of your marriage? Of your relationship with your parents? Of your financial life? etc. The goal is to think like God thinks in these areas of your life and that is only possible by knowing the thoughts of your celestial Father. You can know what your Father thinks by reading His scriptures and being in communion with the Holy Spirit. For that reason the first area of transformation that we will touch is that of your spiritual life, where you will learn to develop a better relationship with God.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 55:8-9
What do you think God thinks of you? What do you think of yourself? Do you think you need to change the way that you think of yourself? If God were to write a letter letting you know what He thinks of you, what would that letter say? Write it as if you were Him.
DAY 3
GOD HAS ALWAYS HAD A PLAN FOR ME
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29
Before you were born, even before you were conceived in the womb of your mother, God already knew you. The dictionary defines the word “know” as: To capture by way of our intellectual faculties – nature, qualities and circumstances of people or things. In other words, before your existence, God thought of about how you wanted to be and act. He thought of your nature, your character and the circumstances of your life. Nonetheless, you were born with a nature separate then that of God (what is known in the Bible as man’s sinful nature). Because of this, the nature that you were born with needs to be changed to the one that God had planned for you. For this reason, the first thing you need is a living spiritual nature, which you receive when you believe in Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life. The moment that you recognize that you have done things in your life that do not please God, you ask for forgiveness, you choose to be obedient to God and you put your trust in God, He takes you as His child and gives you a new spiritual nature. From then on it is necessary that you start changing your life, so that each day you start looking more and more like Jesus. To do this it is necessary to know how Jesus lived, what he ordered and taught in order to follow them and be obedient.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Ephesians 2:4-6, John 1:11-13, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Are you sure that you have a spiritual nature? Why are you sure that you are a child of God? What do you think would be the best way to learn about the life of Jesus? Write three practical steps that you can take in order to look more like Jesus.
DAY 4
EVERYDAY I AM GETTING READY TO LIVE IN MY PURPOSE
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
God always wants His child to live well that is why when he gives you a new nature; He also gives you the capacity to do the right thing. Your old nature was trained to live a selfish life, focus only in yourself and your own interest. Your new nature has the capacity to live for you and for others, but it is necessary for you to develop it, deciding to do what is pleasing to God each and what benefits others. It is important for you to join the plan of God on Earth, your community and your family since God planed to do good through you. In order to do this, it is necessary to chain the focus of your life, you can no longer be the center, it must be God. You can no longer keep living focused on you, live focus on others. That is the way Jesus lived His life on Earth, always seeking the will of the father with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is the same formula you must apply in your life; seek to do the will of God with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is something that you wont be able to accomplish on your own strength. That is why our integral transformation is necessary in order for you to overcome the challenges that come with living your life for others, remember that if you accomplish this, you are living the purpose that God has for your life.
DAILY REFLECTION
Acts 10:37-38, 2 Corinthians
What do you think is the best deed that you can do on Earth? How important is the help of the Holy Spirit in our loves when we are focus on doing good things? Meditate and write what is at the center of your life today and how can you live a life focused on others.
DAY 5
INTENSIVE TRANSFORMATION
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. Luke 4:1-2
Before starting the most important task of his life on Earth, Jesus was led by the holy Spirit to his last face of preparation, an intensive transformation, of 40 days in the desert. Although Jesus believed in grace and wisdom as a child, a special process was necessary for his final stage. Just like other people the bible speaks of, this process would last 40 days. Why 40 days? The truth is that we don’t know why but God uses this time to provoke changes and transformation in His people in order for them to get ready to walk in His purpose. In Jesus’s case he had to totally depend on his heavenly father during this time, he also had to endure the temptations from the enemy who tried to defeat him in every area of His life, and he was not able to do it. At the end of the 40 days. Jesus came out of the desert with the power of the Holy Spirit upon Him. The same way Jesus was obedient to the Holy Spirit and He submitted himself to a time of transformation, you can be obedient and persevere in this time of intensive transformation in your life. Remember that you will be tempted to give up and abandon your process, but if you persevere, what waits for you at the end is the Power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the purpose of God in your life. This way you can achieve a better life for you and your family.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Luke 4:1-14
What differences do you find in the way that Jesus started His 40 days of transformation and how He finished? How does Jesus’s experience in the desert when he was tempted by Satan compare to the reality of your life today? Who accompanied Jesus in His 40 days of transformation? Write about what you expect at the end of this 40 days of integral transformation in your life?
DAY 6
I AM TRANSFORMED STEP BY STEP
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
The end purpose of the integral transformation in our lives is to reflect the Glory of God in this world. In the original language that the Bible was written in, the word Glory means: dignity, glory and power. It is amazing to know that God wants to reveal His dignity, glory and power trough you. If you have a mirror and you want to use it to reflect light , you need the mirror to be clean and not foggy because the cleaner the mirror is, the more that the light will reflect. If you want this to be possible very day of your life you need the help of the Holy spirit at each step. He works in one area at the time, and if you allow Him, He will keep working in each are of your life. God wants to use your life to reflect His Glory, first of all in your family, in your partner’s life, in the life of your kids, your parents and every person you come into contact with. That is why it is important that you don’t cover your mirror (your face), that you don’t get embarrass when you need to talk about God to others, don’t ever feel shame in telling people who your savior is. Tell others what he did in your life.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 5:20
What do you think about the fact that God wants to use you to reflect His glory on Earth? What areas of your life are not permitting the Glory of God to reflect itself? How many people have you spoken about God to? Make a list of 10 people you will speak about God to in the next 40 days of transformation.
DAY 7
TRANSFORMED IN ORDER TO BEAR FRUIT
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16
Today we can enjoy the fruit of many trees. We can enjoy the sweetness of some of the fruits given off without thinking about the process that was needed in order for us to obtain these fruits. There needed to be a seed that endured a transformation and day by day changed. No one saw this seed in the ground but it began its transformation for a bigger and better future. This small seed one day converted in a tree which would bear fruit and be a blessing to others.
Our life is a seed that needs to endure a transformation. We convert into a tree and the next step is to bear fruit. Maybe you already have done this. But we need to give more! To do this we may need to trim certain branches from your life that may hinder you, don’t bear fruit or a robbing energy from your tree. There is always something that you need to change in order to bring more blessing to those that surround us, so that they can enjoy of our love. So that we can lift others with our faith. So that we can we can be ready to serve others with a smile. So that we can listen to others with a good attitude. So that we can talk to others about the good news of God. So that there is integrity, compassion and patience; so sweet and new fruit come from us. The Holy Spirit is ready to take you by the hand. Your spirit and heart are ready for the transformation. Don’t let this opportunity pass by any more!
DAILY REFLECTION
Read John 15, Matthew 16:24-27
What fruits do you want for your life? What decisions are you going to take today so that you can bear these fruits? What good fruits have you provided to your home? What good fruits have you provided in your church? What fruits would you like to give so that you can bless others with? It all begins with you. You can do it! Take the step. Make the decision and live determined to bear much fruit in your life.
TRANSFORM YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
Introduction Week 2
In this week you will learn important principles for transforming your spiritual life. The most important thing is to stay form and look for the presence of God; for this you need to create HABITS that will lead you to make the presence of God a way of life in your day to day living.
Jesus is interested in your spiritual growth, for this reason we must maintain a life that is in communion with the Holy Spirit. In Apocalypses 3:20 we can see that Jesus is waiting for us to take the first step, He is waiting for us to open the door so that He can enter and transform us; the verse says that Jesus will dine with us, this indicates that He wants to share intimate time with us, this week we invite you to open the door for Jesus.
WEEK 2
TRANSFORMING YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
Verse to memorize for the week:
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Apocalypses 3:20
DAY 8
HONOR GOOD WITH YOUR LIFE “THE PRINCIPLE OF DYING TO THYSELF”
This week we will learn something very important in order to transform your spiritual life and that is to stay firm and search for the presence of God; for this you need to create HABITS that will lead you to make the presence of God a lifestyle in your own life.
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
When the disciples were called by Jesus, they responded to His invitation with a “Yes.” They left their material things and jobs, in order to follow Him. There is a saying “Tell me what you are committed to and I will tell you what you will be and what you will obtain in the next 5 years.” In the case of the disciples, they committed themselves to Jesus and that defined their lives forever, in which they no longer wandered aimlessly but instead with a clear purpose from Jesus.
Jesus began to live amongst them and they began look like Him more and more each day, to the point that with only their way of speech people would recognize as Christ’s disciples. And that is what He wishes to do in our lives, to convert into real disciples and be more like Him. The first step to transform your spiritual life requires you to renew your mind, stop living a egotistical life, deny yourself and follow Him, this requires that your conduct and character be aligned with your convictions and from here on forward, all decisions that you take be backed by the word of God. Remember that being a Christian is not a religion, it is a “Lifestyle”, it is looking like Jesus more and more each day, and to do that you have to abandon your old routines, make new routines and change the way you think so you can be even more similar to Him. Remember that you have a helper, the Holy Spirit, and he will guide you to think like Jesus, helping you focus on others instead of on yourself.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Galatians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:11
What habits and areas of your life should you let go to the cross today? Make a list of them and commit yourself to Christ that you will let go of them, ask the Holy Spirit to replace those habit for qualities and values that will make you look more like Jesus, remember that it’s never too late. Start your transformation today!
DAY 9
PRAISE HIM “MAKE WORSHIPING A WAY OF LIFE”
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
Worshiping is a way of life, and the Lord desires that all of body love Him, and when you love someone it shows. Remember the first time you fell in love? Remember what you said to that person, and what you thought about that one person? When someone is in love the majority of time is spent around that person. It should be the same way with the Lord; He doesn’t want your left over time, a second rate obedience to Him or a second place in your life. God is waiting and desires ALL of you.
True praise is more than just a song, it is an attitude from the heart. When Jesus said, ‘Love God with all your heart”, He was saying that your worship should be authentic, it is not about saying or singing a few words. God looks at your heart and expects you to involve your entire self in worship and that it not just be one simple moment in the day, but that your life, your thoughts, your words and decisions be a continuous worship.
The true worship is a response of love from your spirit to the Spirit of God, so let your spirit guide you and he will teach you from the Word, involve all your senses in worship and don’t let daily distractions rob you of worshiping God and making Him smile on you.
DAILY REFLECTION
Psalms 99:5
What decisions are you going to take today in order to be closer to God?
How do you think your life of worship can be better?
DAY 10
SEARCH FOR HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART “THE LORD IS WAITING FOR YOU AND IN HIS PRESENCE YOU WILL BE TRANSFORMED”
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24
God has the desire for you to know Him intimately and for that you constantly look for him without pausing. Now that you know Christ and you have access to Him directly, ask yourself the following questions. Do you have a distant relationship r a close relationship with Him, or maybe something in between?
If you enjoy a close and personal relationship with Him today you have the opportunity to make that relationship even closer with Him. If you don’t have a close relationship with God don’t be frustrated. From today on out you can begin a new adventure with the Lord and learn more of His plan for your life.
To seek and learn more of the Lord you should learn to communicate with Him just how you do with your partner or your friends. In the same way we do with them, we should dedicate a time daily with Him and most importantly, share our feelings with sincerity; confide in Him and find interest in what He interest Himself in, this is the way we edify a true friendship with God. A good example of what it means to search for God is by the example of Moses, who prayed, “I ask you to show me Your way,” in other words, “I want to know Your plan for my life, I depend on you so that I can walk this path.”
And in Psalms 103:7 his prayer was responded to, Moses knew God in such a way that the people depended on Him in order to know the future plans. The people of Israel say the miracles of God, but Moses knew the plan of God. The people of Israel knew of God, but Moses knew God intimately. In this day God is waiting that you enter His presence and that you search for Him with all your heart, not for what He can do for you, but to demonstrate what He is for you in your life. So commit yourself to look for His presence without looking at your agenda or your watch!
DAILY REFLECTION
Read 1 Chronicles 16:10-11
What habits or activities are preventing me from searching for God on a daily basis?
DAY 11
INTERCEDE “WHEN YOU FIGHT FOR OTHERS GOD WILL TAKE CHARGE AND FIGHT FOR YOU”
I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest. Isaiah 62:6-7
Intercession is praying for someone other than you. That “someone” can be a family member close to you, a friend, disciple or leader. Either for their physical, emotional or spiritual well-being when it has worried you or they have asked for you to intercede for them. That “someone can be an individual you may not know personally.
Intercession is very powerful when the children of God put aside their own requests and they take charge of petitioning for others. God is pleased and this brings us closer to Him and at the same time we are being transformed by the power of intercession.
Now that we know that intercession is prayer which is guided by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul goes on to say that the Holy Spirit is willing to help us when we do not what to pray for and how to pray.
The Holy Spirit not only guides your prayers, but He will also “lead them”. There will be occasions where God will bring certain people or situations to your mind and it is very important that you be obedient and intercede for these things. Remember it is a privilege to know that our cries for others are heard in heaven.
Constant prayer will create a physical and spiritual discipline in your life, so go and ask the Lord to guide you and to have you fight for others. Include intercession in your intimate time with the Lord and don’t stop till you get the victory!
DAILY REFLECTION
Read 2 Chronicles 7:14-15
Who should I intercede for today?
Make a list of these people and their petitions. Remember that although the answer might not come right away, you should persevere believing that the battle will be won.
DAY 12
TAKE TIME TO LISTEN TO GOD. GOD JUST DOESN’T HAVE EARS, HE ALSO HAS A MOUTH HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU WITH.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
Imagine having a conversation where only one person talks and talks and the other person only listens without saying a word. We often enter the presence of God and we begin to talk, intercede, we share our fears and dreams, and ask him questions, but when we get to the moment when He wants to speak to us we leave. How do you think God feels? He wants to share His desires and deepest secrets with you. In order to hear His voice we will share 4 principles.
Listen with expectation. This has to deal with your own emotions. Be joyful for you are in His presence! Be happy because you will hear Him, and you will have all your senses to hear him and be transformed.
Listen for Him in silence. Leave aside all the distractions; wait for him to speak to your spirit. He will do this to get your attention and guide you properly.
Listen patiently. Do not rush, do not put a time restraint and do not limit yourself to humanly methods. He is God and he will speak to you at the appropriate time and in the appropriate method.
Meditate and reflect on His word. Let Him speak to you, guide and instruct you through the Word. Read his Word, and upon reading His Word ask God to help you apply His Word every moment of your day. So just how a sheep hears its pastor’s voice and follows, we must do the same when we hear the voice of our Lord, but to do this we must recognize the Lord’s voice. So from this day forward you have a challenge, LISTEN to His voice and allow yourself to be transformed by His words.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Psalms 119:7
What instructions or words has the Lord given you today?
Make a record of all the words that the Lord has given you. So that when you need to be uplifted, have your faith renewed, or you simply want to remember what He has spoken to you, you can return to your record and be refreshed with the promises He has for your life.
DAY 13
PRAY TO GOD WITHOUT CEASING. PRAYER IS A LIFESTYLE.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Prayer is speaking with God, it is getting to a Holy place in order to have an encounter with God to speak with Him and Hear Him. Prayer is telling God what we want, telling Him our dreams, telling Him about our pains and confessing our sins. Prayer is giving thanks to Him for all the marvelous things he has given us, thanks for His mercy, thanks for His answers and thanks for giving us strength during the storm. It is beautiful to understand what prayer is, an even more beautiful it is to understand that we have direct access to our Father, our Heavenly creator. As children of God we have a right to be heard by our Father, He is always waiting to hear of our necessities, but we need to learn how it says in the Bible, that whoever knocks the door will be opened and whoever calls out he will be responded to. The ability to pray and present our needs to God shows us the necessity we have for God in our lives. It is impossible to live without the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father. But good news! He is always ready to listen what His children have to say.
Can you imagine what would happen if God decided to put an answering machine in Heaven? Imagine praying and hearing a message like this one:
Please select one of the following options: Press one for prayer requests, Press 2 to give thanks, Press 3 for complaints, Press 4 for all other matters. Imagine if God used this well known phrase as an excuse, “At the moment all our angels are currently unavailable, please try your prayer again later.”
Thankfully this does not happen. Thank God that you can call as many times as you want or need and He will pick up the phone the first time. Thank God that He knows our necessities before we even ask. Thank God for His infinite love.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read James 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Is it hard for you to set some time apart for prayer? Take the opportunity today to get up to date with God, give all of yourself to Him and this week take some time each day to present your life to Him.
DAY 14
SIMPLY OBEY HIM. WHEN GOD ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING, YOUR ANSWER SHOULD ALWAYS BE: “YES”
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Genesis 6:9
Noah’s example shows the importance of obedience in our life. Why look for God if in your heart you don’t chose to obey Him?
God called Noah to do something extraordinary, something that seems illogic and impossible, But Noah obeyed Him without asking any questions and did not allowed his own thoughts and the opinion of other people.
When we decide to obey, we should be prepared to receive negative reactions; just like Noah did, maybe we will be criticized but think about this: Noah decided to walk in obedience in the middle of such sinful society.
Today we can relate to Noah, a lot of time God will ask us for things that look crazy in the eyes of the world but at the end things will come together and make sense. They might be like Noah’s project of building the ark, which seemed ridiculous until the first drops of rain started pouring. If Noah would have allowed the people to influence him, the ark would have not been built and he would have died like all the other people. His obedience if what separates him between life and death for his family. Remember that you are not alone; the power of the Spirit lives inside of you and God would not ask you to do something without also giving you the capability to do it.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Job 33:11, Acts 5:32
Is there an area of your life where it’s hard to obey the word of God? Take sometime today to line up your life with God, with your all to him and promise Him that He can count on you to accomplish His purpose.
TRANSFORMING YOUR FAMILY
Introduction to Week 3
For God your family is the most precious jewel in creation, it is the base, which God uses to create order on the Earth. God designed your family for His Glory, so that he can be known over all the earth.
Your family and your home should be a holy place where the presence of God can be, where His power can manifest itself, His power and mercy. Your family and your home should be a safe place where many people can be blessed.
We have a big responsibility with God to be able to establish our homes in the kingdom of Heaven. A family should live in harmony with God; they should worship & praise together and make a habit of reading the word of God. Your family can make a difference.
God is a God of order, He established marriage between a man and a women and he gave them the authority to govern throughout the Earth. Together with their sons and daughters, God established your family with the divine purpose of multiplying itself and govern this Earth.
WEEK 3
TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE
Verse to memorize for the Week
And you are heirs of the prophets and have the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ Acts 3:25
DAY 15
YOUR MARRIAGE: A SACRED PACT
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Matthew 19:6
Being a pact established by God, neither man nor woman can break this pact that they made at the altar, under the presence of God, and God does not agree with divorce or the destruction of the family
In order to respect this pact and its origins in God, you should understand how important the family is to God, your family has a divine purpose that takes place every day of your life. He wants the best for you and your family and He wants to use your family to bless those who need help.
God also established that when man makes the decision of uniting himself in marriage to a woman, He leaves his home and his parents, to start a new life, under the approval and blessing of God.
There is an order that God established in order to live in harmony in your marriage and in your family. The man should submit himself to Christ and the woman should submit herself to her husband. The man has to establish and fulfill the purpose that god has for him and the woman has to recognize it and respect it. When this order is respected it makes a family stronger.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 11:3
What does your marriage mean to you? What is a pact? How can you assure yourself that your marriage will be forever?
Write a letter to your wife and kids, about what your family and your kids means to you and give them to them this week.
DAY 16
DEVELOPING RIGHT HABITS IN YOUR FAMILY
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then you’re Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6
When you are alone with God, He can transform you and renew you. Alone with Him, you will receive instruction so that you can have a family that is pleasing to Him.
One of the powerful habits that could transform your family and your marriage is prayer and intersection. This is a time that you can dedicate to ask God for every member of your family so that God can find mercy and love throughout their necessities.
Find a place where you could have this time of prayer, have your bible at hand and a notebook to take notes. Hide your watch, put your phone on silent and remember this is a divine time where you will meet with God, the one who has given you life, who worries about your things and takes care of your family. If your family needs to be transformed and renew, while you are alone with Him, you will learn how to make the necessary changes to make your family pleasing to God.
He will show you how to make better decisions, how you could manage time better and even the resources that God gives you. He will show you how to be of blessing for the ones at your home first and then to everybody else. Make this time special, desire and look for the presence of God and He will teach you how to remain in Him.
DAILY REFLECTION
John 15:7, Proverbs 15:29
How is your time of prayer? What changes can you do in your intimate time with God so that He could transform your life? This week dedicate 20 minutes to prayer and reading of the bible. One of the days does it with your family.
DAY 17
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MAN IN THE FAMILY
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Cor. 11:3
The man is the head that represents Christ for his wife and kids. You should learn to have an intimate relationship with God and teach about Him in your house. This is the order that God established, when you live it and respect it; your family will be blessed and will be protected form division and destruction.
As the head of the house you should know what your wife desires the most is your love and the way you love her is the way she will love you back.
Since the beginning in Genesis 3, God said to the man that he needed to provide for his necessities and the ones of his house. You as a man should make the biggest effort and responsibility to bring provision to your home.
As a man and husband you should treat your wife as a fragile vase, with much love and delicacy. God created women with a different nature than yours.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Ephesians 5:33, 1 Peter 3:7
Do you understand the position and function God has delegated to you as the head and companion of your wife?
This week, invite your wife to a nice restaurant and spend some quality time with her
DAY 18
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WOMEN IN THE FAMILY
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Genesis 2:18
The woman was called by God to help man in everything, not to do the job of man. You must be the wise woman and known in which moments your help is needed.
The word of God say that the wife should be submitted under the authority of her husband, That is the way that God established things and you will be established, honor and rewarded by God when you are obedient to this command. It is possible that your husband is not submitted to God but the word of God says that your testimony can win the life of your husband for Christ.
In some occasions as the perfect help for your husband you must not say a word and dedicate that time to prayer and intercession in order for the Spirit of the Lord to act in the life of your husband and renew and transform him.
What man needs the most is to be respected, not to be criticized, and that he could be respected in hardships that he goes trough. Especially in financial hardships or when he doesn’t make the right decisions.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Ephesians 5:22-24, Ephesians 5:33
What does your husband mean to you? What do you admire about your husband? Today make a gift for your husband that represents your love.
DAY 19
COMMUNICATION IN YOUR FAMILY
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
You should keep bad conversations out of your home. You should always speak words of encouragement that show love and affection and bless and edify.
When problems and difficulties come your self-discipline that comes from the Spirit of God should be in practice, this way nobody gets offended because sometimes the things that we say cause harm, destruction and division.
Unity is the most powerful weapon that you have to preserve your family throughout all the attacks of the enemies, he is always looking to destroy and divide something.
When we learn to hear each other out, we will minimize the problems and difficulties in our home. Many marriages get damage by the negative words that come out of our mouth; we can do so much damage to our family. Your family should be something that you speak well of, let every word that leaves your mouth be of the same nature that God speaks well of us. Start by changing the way you speak at your house, if you do it other in your home will do it too.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read James 1:19, Amos 3:3
What things can you adopt in order for the communication in your house to be good and effective?
Today dedicate it to speak to the people in your house words of affirmation.
DAY 20
LEARNING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND DIFICULTIES IN YOUR FAMILY
I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2
Before asking for someone to resolve your problems, you should speak to God. His word says that he provides help to solve our problems and difficulties.
Every problem and difficulty that you are facing today in your family could be solved, no matter how big the problem is.
Faith is necessary to believe God and those promises he left for us in His word. God never changes. It is easy to have faith in God when things are good, but our faith is testes when crisis comes our way but you must remember that the word of god says “he who is with us is stronger than anything in the world” it also says “ If God is with us, who can against us?” God is the one and only that could supply our necessities, for him there is no impossible, His faithfulness is indefinite. When you trust in him you can live in peace and tranquility. God gives us life, He formed us, and He is responsible as our creator of solving our problems or difficulties. It is your job to believe in Him, His word, power and faithfulness.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Luke 1:37, Mark 11:22
Normally, how do you solve your problems? Do you really trust God as the one and only one who could supply all of your necessities?
Pray today so that the Holy Spirit gives you wisdom, intelligence and discernment to solve problems that could come up.
DAY 21
A FAMILY THAT SERVES GOD
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Your family was created not only to demand and consume but also to bless the earth. Good deeds are your service to God; you serve God when you serve others. Your family also has a place, purpose and a function to fulfill; all of this gives value to your life. When peters mother in law was healed from her sickness the first things that she did was serve Jesus and the other people.
The Bible gives us an example of a powerful family from Israel, Joshua’s family. Taking authority, forming an army in his house, he declares to the people that it is an honor for him and his family that they serve God. When your family makes the decision of serving God, his power comes alive and we have the opportunity to leave a mark on the earth and bless others. It is here where his promises and blessing that are Witten in the bible become true in your family.
For your family it should be a priority to serve God, an honor to be able to serve and of instruments of Him. You are his hands to extend His kingdom on Earth by serving others.
DAILY REFLECTION
Joshua 24:15
Do you serve God? Does your family serve God? Why do you or why not?
If you don’t serve God, make the decision today to serve him in a department of Christian Community and help edify your church.
DAY 22
WILL THINGS GO WELL FOR ME OR NOT?
Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16
This is a commandment that has a promise if you do it and apply it in your life you will have a long and good life that is what the bible says; we are all sons and daughters and we should honor our parents. Give yourself some time to think about what your parents have done for you, I will use examples that will make you reflect on things, they gave you life, they took care of you when you were born, they cleaned up your dirty diapers, they bathe you, fed you, they cared for you when you were sick, they were patient with you when you had bad attitudes and they have dedicated their lives to shape you and teach you about life so that you can be the best you could be. Just think about everything they have done and will do for you.
They deserve your respect no matter how old you are, whether you like it or not your parents need to be honor by you. Jesus always honored his parents and we see how he honors his heavenly father. He was obedient to God till his death, he never dishonor him and always honor him. Jesus is our model to follow. Do you think Jesus was disrespectful to his mother or father? Or do you think he was disobedient when they gave him an order? He was obedient to everything.
I want to tell you that honoring your parents starts with your heart, don’t do things just so they can see you doing them and for them. God sees everything that we do, he looks at you and sees everything, you can’t pretend to honor, and you have to genuinely honor your parents. Your words should be of blessing and not curse, never judge your parents because things will go wrong. Remember that it is a commandment with a promise; only if you live it and apply it will you have a long and good life. Ask the Spirit to help you, if it’s not easy for you. Just allow God to help you and you will see results.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Colossians 3:20
What can you do today to honor your parents? Call them and bless them with words and gifts. Care for them like they have cared for you.
TRANSFORMING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
Introduction to Week 4
This week we will learn about relationships. To learn how to properly relate to others we must learn from Jesus, knew how to relate to others and the crowds followed him the children approached him, the people loved, honored, respected him and looked after him.
He was honest, prudent, upright, and a great communicator, expressing wisdom he knew how to react, he knew when to speak and when to not, we could highlight the many qualities of which he is an example to follow.
But there were some that did not respect him, but wanted him stoned, chased, they spit on him and had him beaten and humiliated, mocked Him and despised him. He knows and understands relationships and how to make them last forever. We will discuss principles that will help us understand and improve the way you interact with each other at home, at work, with friends, at school wherever and with whomever you will be renewed will and transformed, prepare your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to help you in this week to be a better person, and especially to transform you.
WEEK 4
TRANSFORMING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
Verse to memorize this week:
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)
Day 23
UNITED
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)
In order to maintain in unity we have to really try every day, when even a small error can mess it up and the time of restoration in a relationship can take longer and be more difficult. Relationships are very delicate and must learn to relate with others you must understand that you’re different, you make mistakes and think in differently, in some areas, which is why the Bible commands us to be of the mind, otherwise you will be divided. A division is two different thoughts, how can two walk together except if they agree? Can a couple marry if they cannot agree on anything? It would be chaos, so we must strive to communicate and become united and live in peace.
Think how many times you have been offended, do not count them because they are many, but how often have you been the one who offended, we have all offended someone and sometimes without intention so you see, we are not perfect. You learn from the experiences you live and strive to treat others well. You will always be around people, you just need to just try not to be the problem, and everyone has enough problems we do not need to add ourselves as one more. You have to be a problem solver not the one that provokes the problems. I know there are people that are DTE (Difficult to endure), there are people that we have to learn to love and strive to be at peace, if you are the complicated one, change your attitude, your words, put a smile on your face, because the Bible says that whatever we do is if you were doing it for the Lord Jesus, what would happen if your coworker was Jesus? How would you treat him? How are you today? is there something that you recognize that you have to change and let the Holy Spirit transform? Of course, we all need to be transformed and getting better each and every day in our relationships, and if you’re not the complicated one, be patient support and pray for those who need help, remember, think like a giver not one that demands. Strive to be a blessing to be a facilitator for everyone else
DAILY REFLECTION
Read: Acts 20.35
How can you make your family’s life easier? Take time to sit with family and express how you want to be closer with them and ask what you can do for them today.
DAY 24
LORD I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Are you frustrated with someone? Perhaps your parents, your children, friends, boss or family members? And no longer know what to do? Have you tried to reach them in different ways to restore that healthy relationship? Do you feel you’re the only one striving to have a friendly conversation and the only thing you find is rejection, indifference apathy or indifference? Do you feel that they don’t care and it seems hard for you to relate to others?
You need to seek assistance from the Holy Spirit in those areas where you feel like you can’t go on anymore, you must be humble and recognize that if you need help if its difficult for you to relate to others. If you are a parent, I know there are times when you can say “I don’t know what to do with my kids “ or if you are a son or daughter in a situation with your parents, you have the Holy Spirit don’t throw in the towel. Do not give up, you will succeed and you will see how it all begins to set in order, God wants to transform your life and take it to another level, you must be patient and wait, give your best and do things the best you can, do not grow weary in doing good that in time you will reap the harvest you will see the result for which you are working. In your weakness the power of God is revealed so you do not have to feel helpless, that’s just a feeling that reminds you that, your weakness is an excuse to see the power of God, just believe and see his glory!
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Ephesians 3.20
In this moment present your weaknesses to your heavenly father and ask that his power acts in you and that it will make you a better person full of love and wisdom, and you will see that everything will begin to change. Plan a outing for your family, movies or our to dinner something that you can be together.
DAY 25
“LOVE”
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13.4-7
To love one must first understand what love is and especially who is love, God is love, love is wide long and high and deep, no one can embrace or understand, as we understand that He gave his son Jesus so that we may have salvation, if we have not even gave up one of our children, or have to give up our lives for others, Jesus said the greatest love you can have is the giving of life for your friends.
Begin to think about how you are giving your life up for people today. That’s how you know how you love others because loving is trying to give and trying to do things for other people.
Every day we are exposed to situation in where we have an option to love or to ignore people. The verse above explains it very well. But it is not enough just to know it, we have to live it. We cannot say we love God if we hate our neighbor because how can you say that you love someone that you cannot see, but hate someone that you can see. The people around us are is our schooling where we learn to love. Sometimes we have to put up with people because of the things that they do. Love is not a feeling that you feel for someone, it’s something that you show. We have feelings that are good but there not enough for people to convince people to believe. We have to show it. Love is an action, it’s a response, it’s an action in the correct form and remembers that if you are a child of God, you have to act like the loving Father because you are representing Him. We are His arms here on earth to hug the afflicted. He wants to use you; to speak to those in need, in anguish and alone.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Galations 6:10
Decide to love and give your time to others, love those who surround you, especially your family, your parents, your children and demonstrate that God is love. Express to your family how much you love them and how important they are to you. Tell them and see what their response will be.
Day 26
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HOME
If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? Timothy 3:5
How can you pretend to take care of others if you don’t take care of your own family, your family needs your time, your presence and your leadership? You cannot go to give outside what you are not giving inside. With what testimony will you speak to others if your own home is a disaster? You should govern your house right and give the time to your husband or wife and children because they need you. God had the idea of a family, because He is a Father.
The first disciples should be in your home. These are the ones that are the most important and that you should teach. The disciples of your home should be the first ones that you pour your life into and give your all to so that they can go forward and be triumphant in life. Jesus commanded us to make disciples but the first ones should be in your home. If you are not a parent yet, your disciples can be your friends and use the influence that God has given you to teach them to live in the kingdom of God.
Taking care of your family means not allowing anything to harm them and making your family look better every day. I have seen cars from the 50s that look like new and that tells me that the owner dedicated time, money, hard work and dedication to maintain it in its perfect condition. When you see these cars, you say, “Wow, what a beautiful car!”
People should say the same thing about your family, “WOW what a beautiful family, all these years and they still remain together.” That is the result of governing your home correctly. You have to take care of who you have and what you have. Our time on earth is short. Take good advantage of your time and live in happiness no matter what the circumstances are. Give to your family your happiness, your smile and enjoy every moment you have with them. That is God’s gift to you, try to give them back to God in a better state then what they were in.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read 1Timothy 5:8
Your family is a gift from God. Take care of them and try for them every day, realizing that when God looks at your home, you want him to find it better every time. Speak with your family, expressing to them that you will always be with them and that your family will go forward by the hand of God.
Day 27
HOW DO I TEACH THEM?
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God Proverbs 2:1-5
If you make God’s words your own and cherish His commandments and listen with your heart, when you call ask and seek, you will understand and know God more.
In God you will find what you need to grow. His word is your food and your medicine. His word is the truth and has the ability to heal you, liberate you, save you and prosper you. Everything that we need, we can find in His word. “For man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that precedes out of the mouth of God.” If you need a word, you need to read His word. Before teaching someone else, you must learn to live it first. That way when you teach it, you can speak from authority and they will listen and live.
Maybe you did not grow up in a Christian home and did not learn the commandments of God. Perhaps no one has ever taught you about the word of God and this is all new to you, you may be asking yourself, how do I do this? How can I teach them this? I recommend taking the time out of your week, where you can sit with your family to read the word and read from it. Pray together and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you more. He is one that teaches with excellence, patience and over all desires to see you transformed by His word. It says in the word of God that His people parish due to the lack of knowledge. You should know the author of truth, that way you will understand His word and see your life transformed. What you learn, teach it, scream it and let others know, so that others can see that God is real, that God is good and wants His people to know Him. He is the most important person on earth.
Listen and you will find the answers for you and yours.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read 1Timothy 4:13
Today ask, search and listen to His wisdom and you will understand that God is good. Do you think that you have something to teach your family today? Teach them to take care of one another and to be their brother’s keeper.
DAY 28
DIFFERENT TIMES
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
How do we correct our children today? It is not how our grandparents and parents were disciplined. Times have changed. Parents are more lenient and now we see youth full of problems at a young age, destroyed from a lack of correction. Maybe you have corrected your children and have been very strict and perhaps you have done it in your own strength without relying on the wisdom of God. Since God is the Father, he has something to teach us. He love us, therefore He corrects us because he knows that, that correction will keep us from greater pain in the future. In the verse it says that if we instruct a child in the right way, even in old age they shall never stray Think about how many years have passed from child hood to when you become old. A lot of time once you think about it. The times change, but in this verse, it promises that if we instruct them in the right way, they will not stray even when they are old. But if we do not instruct them in the right way, they can end up straying. So where did we find the right way? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the light.” The right way is Jesus. Not the world, your friends, not the money, not the fame, its Jesus the Son of God.
The times change as the years pass and we should be better people with every day that passes. In the Bible, it says that we need to renew our minds but to be transformed is not to forget the commandments of God, but to take off the old that we have for the new that we may not know, His word is eternal. Heaven and earth will pass and His word will be confirmed.
We have to rid ourselves of our old way of thinking and let the word of God renew our minds because His word is affective and alive.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Hebrews 13:8
Even though times change, he is still God and his pact with us remains the same. He doesn’t need to change because He is perfect. But you and I have to change because unlike Him, we are not perfect. Let’s strive to be more like Him. Motivate your family today to be better people that they will try harder in their studies, in their jobs and in their service to God.
THE TOTAL TRANSFORMATION OF YOUR MONEY
Introduction to week 5
The challenge of the total transformation of your money. The word transformation means change in form in appearance, in nature and in character. Another meaning is a marvelous change in the appearance and actions seen by others.
Have you ever felt lost, uncontrolled and with not enough money and lots of debts to pay off with very little savings and have felt that you had no control of your life? In other words, have you been sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have a great challenge for you, are you willing to Face the reflection in the mirror? Winning ground is 80% behavior and 20% wisdom. Forgive me for being frank that is the problem with your money, 90% buy things that they do not need to buy.
My promise for you is: If you follow the orientation of sacrifice and the discipline you will be free of debt, and begin to save and give like never before. This system wonk work if you won’t work.
WEEK 5
TRANSFORM YOUR FINANCES
Verse to memorize this week
Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4
DAY 29
HOW TO BE A FAITHFUL ADMISNISTRATOR AND OF WHAT?
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.1 Corinthians 4:2
Your finances could be out of your control today, but you can decide today that it is only a temporary reality. The word faithfulness means to do with exactness and quickness what has been asked of me, that meens we need to be a faithful administrator with all the things that follow.
That means that we have to be a faithful administrator with all the things that are listed below. The word of God teaches us in Matthew 25:14-15 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
It’s the common denominator that the three had the function of taking care of and administrating, also multiplying what was given to them. What have you done until now with the things that God has given you such as talents, resources, money, goods, marriage, family, children, work, company, etc.
These are the eight areas that you have to become a great administrator in:
Work hard (how do I translate?)
Give generously: tithes, offerings and give to your neighbor
Saving and investing you money are the only two ways that your money will grow.
Spend wisely- Buying name brand and luxurery items only when they are on sale and compare prices.
Avoid getting into debt – Only use credit cards for items that you can pay off in 30 days.
Teach your children the word of God on how to manage their money because tomorrow they will be grateful for it.
Look for advice- Remember there is a multitude in of advice in wisdom
Practice Honesty
Remember that the word prosperity means to have enough provision from God to complete all the instructions of your life.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read 3 John 2
What area of your life needs a transformation? How is your life in soul, body and spirit?
DAY 30
THE PROPOSAL- THE GPS OF YOUR FINANCES
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14:28 – 30
On one occasion a pilot of a commercial airline announced the following, “Ladies and gentleman, I have good news and bad news. I will give you the good news first, because of the air currents being favorable we can go faster, but the bad news is the compass is broken and we do not know where we are.”
A proposal is an administrative tool, where you anticipate the cost that will permit a financial goal. It has also been said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
One does not lack faith to have a personal or family budget. Without a budget you are like a boat without a ruttier. A budget is not to make us rich but to take us to financial liberty. Financial liberty is simply being free of anxiety when it comes to our finances.
The realization of an effective plan requires you to apply 4 principles
1. Determine where you are going to spend your money.
2. Evaluate your expenses with your financial objectives.
3. Identify and eliminate the behavior or circumstances that lead to unnecessary spending.
4. Control your expenses to make sure that they are in line with your financial objective.
Now that you have prepared a plan, its time to start putting it into action. The plan that you establish will determine your quality of life now and in the future.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Proverbs 21:5
Without a budget you are a boat without a ruttier and a plane without the compass or even a car without a GPS. Make sure that you have a budget revised and follow it.
DAY 31
GENEROSITY, TITHES, OFFERINGS and HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR
“A generous man will prosper”- Proverbs 11:25
“He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” – 2 Corinthians 9:6
“Bring the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it’”-Malachi 3:10
How do you handle the money God has entrusted to you? The real question is not how much money you plan to give God, rather, how much of His money will you preserve for yourself? (2 times) The real question is not how much money you plan to give God, rather, how much of His money will you preserve for yourself? The highest priority in a financial strategy is to honor God by fulfilling our obligations to pay tithes- in other words- 10% of your income, many people may say, “Why does God want my money?” or “This is strictly a matter of Old Testament law that is already obsolete.” Remember, God does not want what you have left. Malachi 3:10 “Bring the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it’.” If you give tithes and still have financial problems then the problem is in how you managed the remaining 90%. 1 Kings 17:15-16 tells us that God always rewards obedience.
An offering is like the tip for a meal in a restaurant. Malachi 3:8 says, “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings.” The offerings demonstrate your generosity while tithing shows your obedience.
In the third level of financial obedience is helping your neighbor, these are works that we do for others in the form of money or goods. Proverbs 19:17 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.” When you help someone in need God in essence writes an IOU, the interesting thing is that He never forgets. Cornelius the centurion gave generously to those who were in need, when God decided to bless him and his household He sent this message through an angel: ‘your prayers and your gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Acts 10:4.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Acts 20:35
If you want to see real change in your finances trust in God and start paying your tithes, give offerings and help the needy. You really cannot beat God in giving.
DAY 32
SAVINGS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES YOUR MONEY GROW
“Foolish men and women devour all they have” Proverbs 21:20
Should you save money when you have a lot of debt? The answer is yes! Save a minimum of 5 to 10% of what you earn. How is your lifestyle? Do you live like many who only care about the present? Let me remind you of the warning of King Solomon “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and they suffer for it.” Proverbs 22:3.
Financial planners advise that one should save from 5 to 10% of their gross income. You should first pay God your tithes and offerings and then save. Statistics show that 79% of people do not have savings. They also say that the rich invest while the poor spend. In which of the two categories are you?
Let us first ask an interesting question. Should we save money when we have a lot of debt? The answer is yes! And not only save but to also have an emergency fund that begins with one month of your monthly expenses and eventually up until at least six months of your monthly expenses.
Ants provide a good model because they are very wise in their preservation and planning, Proverbs 30:25 says, “Ants are creatures of little strength, but they store their food in the summer.”
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Proverbs 30:25
A good general philosophy about saving your money should be: give, save and spend wisely. Of the last 12 months how much have you saved?
DAY 33
DEBT: WHAT A HEADACHE AND SLAVERY
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other” Romans 13:8
We are a consumer nation with credit instantly available to satisfy our desires. Recent research revealed that the average family spends 122% of their gross income and keep credit card balances of an average of $ 7,500 dollars. Excessive consumer debt shows that we spend money we would like to earn. God’s position on debt is very clear, debt is a subtle form of slavery and He does not want his children to live in bondage to anyone. When you cannot take vacation because of your debts are enslaved.
When you cannot go on vacation because of your debt, you are enslaved. When you can only make your minimum monthly credit card payments you are enslaved. When you cannot make a donation to your church project because of your debts you are enslaved. If we were all debt free and embraced the principles of tithing and offering there would not be a necessity for loans. Debt limits your freedom to make decisions about the rest of your life. What’s important is to reduce and then eliminate them.
Here is a simple plan to get out of debt. Start with the debt with the lowest balance this is the first one you will pay off, that way you will have a greater incentive to continue. Once you’ve managed to pay all your debts make an effort to stay debt free. Every indebted person tends to lose peace of their life because of debts therefore identify your enemy first and second declare war.
Identifying your enemy means to make a list of all your debts and like we said before, pay off the smallest debt first and keep going. Declaring war means accepting responsibility by making a promise or vow to be debt free starting today. 2 Kings 4:1-7 tells of a widow whose husband left her in an awfully embarrassing situation regarding debt even though they were Christians and the lessons we can learn from this story are:
1. Leaving your family with debt is a horrible way to be remembered.
2. God always has unexpected ways and people to help us but seek advice and follow it.
3. This woman and her children had to work very hard to pay their debts and have enough to live.
4. First they paid their debt and then lived with the money left over.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Proverbs 22:7
Make a commitment today to live debt free. Not another debt from here on out.
DAY 34
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR TIME
“Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:15-16
There are three irrevocable things in life and one of them is time wasted. The more time you waste being unproductive, the less chances you will have to maximize your time on something productive. What is time? It is an occasion, a moment to do something, an opportunity. Its definition is supported by how we administer ourselves. What we do with our time affects the quality of our existence, time does not discriminate against anyone, rich or poor, high or low, all of us receive 1440 minutes per day. Where we spend our time is an indication of what we value. Do you dominate your time or does time dominate you? Do you dominate your work or are you dominated by your work? It is unfortunate to let other people or circumstances within our control dictate where we invest our time; that is why Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom “.
Always make time for at least these 7 things:
1. For your relationship with God
2. For your marriage / family
3. For your job
4. For your church
5. To rest
6. Recreation/vacation
7. To improve yourself
We have been given time along with talents and skills to use them wisely. Remember that wasting time is wasting your life, and wasted time can never be recovered.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Psalm 90:12
Remember that time is very much like a coin, once it’s spent, it’s gone.
DAY 35
BEWARE OF WASTEFUL, EXCESSIVE AND UNNECESSARY SPENDING
“Gather up the pieces that remain. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12
Do not waste what God has given you even when it seems like you do not need the surplus. Are you wasteful in some area of your life? Jesus is a great example of thriftiness even when He performed a miracle and fed a crowd of 500 men and undisclosed number of women and children, with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish. He ordered his disciples to collect what was left, when the disciples finished, they collected 12 baskets full. Was this necessary? Jesus could have performed another miracle and make more bread nevertheless Jesus showed the importance of not wasting what God has given us even when it seems there is no need for the surplus.
In one of Jesus’ parables, He spoke of a son who convinced his father to give him his inheritance before the appointed time, “Not long after that, the younder son got together all he hadm set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.” Luke 15:13.
Are you wasteful in some area of your life? For example, do you allow your children to open a can of soda, take a sip and then throw it away? Are you too embarrassed to ask for a to-go bag when you eat out? Do you always turn off the lights when you leave a room? You should do everything you can to save money, not to hoard it but to share it. Wastefulness can bring your finances to the brink of collapse and not being wasteful proves to God that He can trust you with more resources because you have learned to manage what He had already supplied you.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Proverbs 18:9
It is important to enjoy the abundant life that Christ came to give us. It is equally important to understand that wealth should not be compared with waste. In what areas of your life are you wasteful?
YOUR IMAGE AND HEALTH
Week 6 Introduction
Learning about your image and health may seem like an issue that is not spiritual or even boring. Actually, there is much talk about image, diets, gyms, surgeries, etc. Interestingly at the same time, we are bombarded by the media to consume products that are harmful for our body. If we add that to a lifestyle that is increasingly stressful and full of bad habits, we ended up mixing them all and a majority of the time with the wrong decisions.
This week you will learn how God sees your body and how He wants to use it. It is important to understand that the first thing people see about you is your external image and your body, this makes it necessary for you to be clear who you are and what you represent, you will then take more seriously and realize the importance of the care of your image and health.
WEEK 6
YOUR HEALTH YOUR IMAGE
Verse to memorize for this week:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Romans 12:1 NIV
DAY 36
DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?
Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, over the animals, over all the earth, and over every living creature that moves on the ground. Genesis 1: 26 NIV
You were made by God, you were created in His image and likeness, from the day of creation you received a blessing, you are an ambassador of heaven on earth, you are light in the darkness, you are the salt of the earth, God decided that His Holy Spirit would dwell in you, through Jesus’ death on the Cross, you received power and authority and with that you received a mission. You are valuable to God and you are part of His plan, that is why it is very important to understand that you cannot live without knowing who you are, who you represent and what you have to do.
God promised that He would renew you strength when you do not have any, that He would be advising you daily on your decisions, that He would be with you wherever you go, yet the decision to live that way is yours. God asks that you love Him with all your strength and with all your mind, to do that, you need to make the right decisions, that part is up to you. How do you take care of yourself? What do you eat? What do you see? What do you hear? What do you speak? Do you take care of yourself? Do you eat, see, hear, and speak, according to what God expects from you? Most of society lives contrary to what God says, every day we are more accustomed to living with stress, unhealthy food, seeing how “fashion and reality” makes us view what is not ok as “normal”. You cannot fall and live according to that culture, you have everything you need to live differently in the midst of this society, it is your responsibility to do it, as a human being you can and have the capability to decide, additionally, you have self-control. Today you might have the body, mind, health and strength you need to represent God and to be a blessing for many; it could be that you are not that well, anyway, the way you are today is the result of choices you made in the past. You can start today knowing who you are, what you stand for and what you need to do. Make the right decisions today to transform your future and get a healthy body worthy of representing God.
DAILY REFLECTION
2 Corinthians 5:20
You are very important to God and for those around you. How would you evaluate yourself today in regards to your image and health? Do they properly represent who are you? Pray and make a list of habits that you have to correct to transform your image and health.
DAY 37
ARE YOU HONORING GOD WITH YOUR BODY?
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were purchased for a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It is one thing to not take care of what belongs to you, it is quite another to not take care of what is not yours, especially if the owner is God. What would you tell a friend who lent you an object to take care of and when he asks for it in return you must return it broken? In this case we do not speak of an object but of your own body. The Bible says that our bodies belong to God, so I ask “In what condition will you return it? God has promised us a renewed body, but that is for when we get to heaven. While we are here on earth He wants our bodies to be for His honor, meaning we ought to stay away from everything that does not honor God with our bodies. The Bible says we should offer ourselves as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God. I honestly do not think that if God sent His Son to die on a cross to carry our infirmities and sins, that He we would like for us to honor Him with cholesterol-filled and battered bodies, especially when these abuses come from excesses that we decide to take ourselves. Gluttony, lack of exercise, unhealthy food, not to mention, alcohol or cigarettes etc.
Your body belongs to God, try to keep it holy, healthy, exercised. Take care of it as much as you can, but do not fall into the excess of caring so much that instead of honoring God, your body takes it, find the balance and let God smile when you honor Him.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read Proverbs 14:33
Are you taking care of your body with wisdom and knowing that is not yours but God’s? Make a list of what improvements you have made from last week to this week and what you have left to do.
DAY 38
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU, YOUR NEIGHBOR NEEDS YOU.
Wherever you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is close.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-9
God anoints the body. The anointing goes on the outside. He does not anoint minds or souls, but bodies. The temple of the Holy Spirit is the body, this is devoted to God. You will be a blessing to others for as much as your body can take. If you have a full spirit but a weak body, you will not be able to do many things, the Spirit does not get tired but the Bible says that the body is the one who gets weary. When a body was needed to carry the sin of world and to be a worthy sacrifice, Jesus was chosen. The question is: if Jesus was going to give his body as a living sacrifice, do you think He took care of it? The Bible tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices , holy and pleasing to God, as a spiritual act of worship and that this act of giving our body will show God’s good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2). How then can you offer your body as an offering, dirty, or uncared for? God wants you to represent Him wherever you go. How do you represent Him? Worthy? Or Would God be embarrassed by the fashionable clothes you wear? Your Spirit is not the first thing people are going to see, it’s your body. Your body is definitely needed to heal, to pray for others, hug your loved ones or extend a helping hand. Your Spirit alone cannot do it. Live your life caring for your body in such a way that when God or your neighbor need you, they can count on you.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read: Luke 12:34-36
Are you ready for God to use you at any moment and at any time? Pray and List at least 5 people who need prayer, try to contact them and pray for them.
DAY 39
INCLUDE GOD IN EVERYTHING YOU DO AND YOU WILL BE HEALTHY AND STRONG.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:6-8
The majority of times we think of God for spiritual things, we remember Him in our need, in church, perhaps several times throughout the day, but we forget Him when making simple decisions such as: What should I eat or wear today? We constantly decide according to what we think is best and we rely on our own opinion, contrary to that, the Bible teaches us that if we ask His opinion in “ALL THINGS” He will bring us health and strengthen our being.
How many times a day do you ask God for His opinion? How many times, no matter how simple the decision seems to be, do you involve God? Jesus said “It is for your good that I leave so that another Counselor may come, the Holy Spirit who will be with you forever.” We have the blessing of always having a helper like the Holy Spirit with us. He can you tell if what you are going to eat is good for you, if what you are going to wear is pleasing to God, if the way you speak is correct, if what you are going to watch pleases God, if you are taking care of your body or not. Learn to listen to Him. It is God who works in us to will and to do what pleases Him, do not do what is contrary to what God wants, take control and the decision to take care of your body involving God, then it will be better, you will be healthier and strengthened.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read: Proverbs 3:6-8
How many times do you involve the Holy Spirit in your ordinary decisions? Try as soon as possible to take the time to ask the Holy Spirit on your decisions and give yourself the time to hear what you answer.
DAY 40
EVERYTHING IS NOT FOR YOUR BENEFIT, DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRANSFORM YOUR FUTURE
Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23
Caring for your body is extremely important, much of your future depends on it. In the same manner that a car takes you to different places, your body is the “car” that carries many of your valuables and takes you to many places but like a car stops working if it is not properly maintained, your body will fail if you do not properly care for it, therefore your future will be affected. Today’s word says that everything is permissible, is true, you have access to everything, both good and bad, he continues, not everything will benefit you or not everything will edify you. From birth go through an edification process, we learn things and acquire habits.
In the first stages we are guided until it’s time we started making our own decisions, to create our own habits, we can choose good or bad, depends solely on us. A well-known phrase says “healthy body, healthy mind” this sentence is correct, the healthier your body gets, the better your performance will be for your endeavors. There are basic factors that you cannot ignore, healthy eating, drinking water, exercising and rest, if you begin with these steps, your life will transform. Again, it depends solely on you, you are valuable, starting today to forge a better future.
God promises to renew all your strength, the question is: What are you spending it on? Are you investing your strength properly? You can evaluate yourself today and make a difference, make decisions, make adjustments, you have the support of God, the greatest benefit will be for you.
DAILY REFLECTION
Read 1 Corinthians 10: 23
Regarding your image and health, what have been the results of your recent decisions , we have they edified you or cause you trouble? Make a list of decisions you have to make between good and bad, decide what benefits and edifies you.
CONCLUSION
After forty days’ as the twelve men returned from exploring the land … and they reported information to all of them and showed them the fruit of the earth … The land abounds with milk and honey …. but the people who live there are powerful. Numbers 13:25-28 NIV (partial verses).
The spies that Moses sent to explore the land that God promised the people of Israel were there 40 days. They could see the opportunities provided by that land, but they also saw the obstacles. Upon returning to give their report 10 scouts gave a negative point of view, a view lacking faith, of disbelief; and two of the explorers presented the positive side, that of faith that moves mountains, one of trust in the God who made the promise.
The result was that the people believed more in those who saw greater problems and difficulties than in those who saw opportunity. God had to judge the disbelievers and reward those who had faith to believe. Which of the two groups do you belong to? Will you belong to those who after 40 days see the opportunities that lie ahead? Will you believe? Or will you be like those who doubted? After these forty days begins the most important stage, to keep the changes you have made. Make the decision to not turn back even during difficult moments. If you fail once do not quit, remember: losing a battle does not mean losing the war. Keep fighting your battles and remember: today you can enjoy another level of God’s will that is good and acceptable and perfect.