Week 3 – Let Go and Trust
Discussion Guide
Are you in a place of contentment, or are you striving to get there? Are you at peace today--in the present—or would you say you are trying to get somewhere different or get away from your past? We need to let go of the past, the future, the glory, and the failures. We need to give our lives to God to be at rest and in a place and contentment.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Our opening clip ends with: “Where am I?” Do you occasionally find yourself surprised at where you are right now?
2. Read Matthew 6:34. Do you tend to live thinking about regrets of the past or in fear for your future? How can memorizing and leaning on this verse help you trust God? In fact, how much do you need for today? How would choosing to be present right now change your perspective?
3. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What do you need to let go of in your life? How does knowing God will direct your path help you let go?
4. Read Philippians 3:13-14. How can you “give” God your past? Does this mean forgetting it? How can we press on, and allow God to use our past, while seeking to live for Him today?
5. Read 1 Peter 5:6-7. To change the direction of your life and trust God, what steps does this verse outline? Read Matthew 10:39. What does Jesus say about trying to cling to your life, and what is guaranteed? If you can trust Jesus with your eternity, can you trust Him with your everyday life?
6. Action Step: What can you do to let go and trust God? What about your thought life? What about guilt? What about planning? What about worrying? Can these be sins?
Deeper
The Bible is given to us as examples (1 Corinthians 10:6) of how God acts, how people fail and then succeed with His help, and how trusting in God changes things. Look at some of these who might be considered “control freaks.”
7. MARTHA: Read Luke 10:38-42. What “feelings” did Martha’s actions cause in her? What was the remedy?
8. PAUL: Read Acts 7:54-59, 8:1-3, 9:3-16, 23-27. What horror and regrets did Paul have in his past? Does this put Philippians 3:13-14 (above) in a different light?
9. JONAH: Read Jonah 1:1-3, 2:9-10, 3:1-5, 10, 4:1-3, 5-6, 8-11. In so many ways, Jonah wants to either ignore God or control the outcomes. List them. How are these like your own efforts?