Finding God at Home
By: Dave Smurthwaite
Tags: Religion, Wellness, Study, Faith, Sunday

Welcome!

First off, if you’re reading this then I’d like to officially welcome you to the first-ever post in this series. It has been written with one reader in mind, but I hope that there are more of you that are interested in participating.

It’s probably best to begin by stating what I hope this will be and what this will not be.

What I hope this will be:

A written Sunday Service gameplan to help individuals wanting to have a home-based faith experience

An opportunity for heartfelt exchange between individuals of different faiths

A venue to show love and support for anyone and everyone

What this will NOT be:

A replacement for your church’s organized meetings or sermons

An active attempt at proselyting for any particular faith

A platform to position one’s beliefs as more accurate or more valuable than others’ beliefs

A revenue-generating activity for myself or any other contributor. Every post in the One Truth Publication is outside of the paywall, so there is no financial compensation that will come to me or any other person by participating in this or any other post. Our only recognized currencies here are love and compassion.

Thank you.

Let’s begin with music

As I mentioned above in the background, my religious background is Christian, so we’ll begin by using Christian references. In the future, I’d love for others to provide their own contributions based on their religious background.

“Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day!” — Psalms 96:1–2

Music has always been an essential part of worship. In some faiths, music and prayer are one and the same while in others they are separated.

We’ll begin today’s outline with a song of love and hope, performed by The Bonner Family:

“Debra and Harry Bonner served as Baptist missionaries in Africa before becoming members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this powerful performance, they and their children, who are also members, share the message dearest to their hearts: We need Him, and He is here.”

Prayer and Meditation

Following the inspirational musical number, it’s your time to engage in a meaningful exchange with the Divine.

Engaging in meaningful prayer doesn’t just happen. Like any other hobby or sport, it takes dedicated time and effort to see the benefits of prayer:

“Intimate times with God are strategic to every believer’s faith journey. However, those times don’t just happen. We have to intentionally carve time out of our busy schedules.” — Marilee Pierce Dunker

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions on how to have a meaningful spiritual exchange with the Divine.

1. Eliminate distractions

Remove anything that might distract you from having a meaningful moment, including or especially your mobile devices.

2. Express gratitude and love

Using prayer and meditation as a deliberate moment to express love and gratitude is a gift to yourself and the Divine.

“In 2007, Robert Emmons began researching gratitude through a psychological lens. He found that expressing gratitude improves mental, physical and relational well-being. Being grateful also impacts the overall experience of happiness, and these effects tend to be long-lasting.”

What are you grateful for today? This week? You might even consider making a grateful list or writing in a “gratitude journal” before you pray or meditate to keep impressions fresh in your mind.

3. Ask for divine assistance

Recognizing that the Divine’s power and understanding surpass our own places us in a state where we can witness miracles and be delivered from seemingly impossible problems.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” — Matthew 7:7–8, King James Version

You might want to consider making a list of people that you know that could use special help or blessings and then thinking of them and their needs during your prayer.

Time for Study

For the study portion of the meeting, I will be referencing Come, Follow Me, a great online Bible study curiculum made available from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The study guide is broken out by weeks, each week covering a different part of the New Testament. This week we’ll begin at the start of the New Testament: Matthew Chapter 1 and Luke Chapter 1.

The format can be followed individually or conducted in a family or small group setting. The key is to try and dive deep into your feelings and thoughts, for that is where you’ll get the most direction for your coming week.

Introduction

“From a mortal perspective, it was impossible. A virgin could not conceive. Nor could a barren woman who was well past child-bearing years. But God had a plan for the birth of His Son and of John the Baptist, so both Mary and Elisabeth, against all earthly odds, became mothers. It can be helpful to remember their miraculous experiences whenever we face something that seems impossible. Can we overcome our weaknesses? Can we touch the heart of an unresponsive family member? Gabriel could easily have been speaking to us when he reminded Mary, “With God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). And Mary’s response can also be ours when God reveals His will: “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). — Come Follow Me, Lesson 1 of the New Testament

Thought 1: God’s blessings come in His own time

Scriptures to read: Luke 1:5–25, 57–80

Luke 1:5–25, 57–80 Study passage: “If you find yourself having to wait for a blessing, or if it seems that God isn’t hearing your prayers, the story of Elisabeth and Zacharias can be a reminder that He hasn’t forgotten you. He has a plan for you, and He always keeps His promises to His righteous Saints.”

“If you find yourself having to wait for a blessing, or if it seems that God isn’t hearing your prayers, the story of Elisabeth and Zacharias can be a reminder that He hasn’t forgotten you. He has a plan for you, and He always keeps His promises to His righteous Saints.” Questions to consider (note: consider writing down answers in a personal journal or even responding below as part of our group conversation)

- How did Zacharias and Elisabeth remain faithful?

- Do you find yourself waiting for a blessing? What do you feel God expects of you while you wait? What are you learning as you wait?

Thought 2: The faithful willingly submit to God’s will

Scriptures to read: Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38

Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38 Study passage: Like Mary and Joseph, we sometimes find that God’s plans for our life are quite different from what we had planned.

Like Mary and Joseph, we sometimes find that God’s plans for our life are quite different from what we had planned. Questions to consider:

- What do you learn from Mary and Joseph about accepting God’s will?

- Consider drawing out a table where you note the angel’s counsel to Mary, Mary’s response, and how it applies to you. Here’s an example, if needed:

Thought 3: With God, nothing is impossible

Scripture to read: Luke 1:37

Luke 1:37 Study passage: There’s a big difference between reading and knowing that “with God, nothing shall be impossible.” The latter requires leaps of faith that are uncommon in today’s secular world. Consider reading all of Luke 1 and discussing things God did that would be considered impossible today.

There’s a big difference between reading and knowing that “with God, nothing shall be impossible.” The latter requires leaps of faith that are uncommon in today’s secular world. Consider reading all of Luke 1 and discussing things God did that would be considered impossible today. Questions to consider:

- How do these examples help strengthen your faith in God’s power? Do they strengthen your faith or do they bring up more questions and doubts?

Preparing for the week ahead

“Our lives must be spent seeking our God, for God hides; but His artifices, once they be known, seem so simple and smiling! From that moment, the merest nothing reveals His presence, and the greatness of our life depends on so little.” — Maurice Maeterlinck, The Treasure of the humble

A life of spiritual living is not a one-day-a-week affair. Ideally, it is something we seek after on a daily basis.

For those of us interested in furthering our spiritual experience this coming week, here are four suggestions:

Continue study of the Come, Follow Me Manual for Week 1

Consider how to make greater space for meaningful meditation and prayer this coming week

Consider adding a “gratitude journal” to your list of daily habits

Consider donating your time or talents to any number of individuals or organizations in need during the COVID-19 crisis. If you need suggestions, consider donating blood to the Red Cross or money to a local food bank. They’re in dire need during this season as people turn inward and are overwhelmed with the need to protect themselves and their families.

A Closing Song

“This world is weeping, hurting, broken and begging for change…

But still we are marching, praying, dying, and things stay the same

When will we see?

Till everyone’s free

There’ll never be peace between you and me

God, your love is the cure

For the rich and the poor

God, please will you open our eyes?”

- Tori Kelly

Have a blessed week.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this outline, whether it was helpful or not and what improvements you might suggest for the coming weeks.