encouragement and wisdom for the journey : a devotional

What's Next?decide. live. go. seek. trust.

What’s Next for you?Do you want to grow in your personal health and improve your fitness level? Do you want to live a deeper spiritual life? Are you looking for community and connection that will encourage you? We can help! In Body & Soul we will be listening to music with a message that will lift you up personally and spiritually as you work out physically.

The music and message of Body & Soul will encourage and inspire you as we explore the following themes:

• Make a Decision – what choices lie ahead for you?• Live Deeper – are you ready for the next step?• Go Higher – are you ready to “fly?” in some area of your

life?• Seek Freedom – do you need to break some chains that

bind you?• Trust & Wait – do you want to develop the patience to wait

for God’s answers?

Get ready to grow in both faith & fitness. Good things await!

Blessings,

Jeannie BlocherDirector of Spiritual Impact

Amy StaffordPresident, Body & Soul Fitness

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This is LivingBreathe

Bright SideWhat I Want Them to Say

Awake Our SoulsRevival

Wild Heart Recreate

Best of MeLive it Out

HigherSource of Life

The Very Next ThingGod is on the Move

Good DayWhat You Want

Beautiful LifeSteady Me

Guard Your Heart The God I KnowHelp Me Find It

Go Get ItSmile

The OneGet Hype

L.O.V.E

Hillsong Y&FJonny DiazOBBNewsboysTim TimmonsCitizen WayUrban RescueUrban RescueJordan FelizJordan FelizUnspokenBeckah ShaeCasting Crowns7eventh Time DownNatalie GrantTenth Avenue North7eventh Time DownHollyn1 Girl NationLove & the OutcomeSidewalk ProphetsMary Mary1 Girl Nation1 Girl Nation1 Girl NationTembalami & Friends

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Decide How to Live Life— Each and Every DayEach day: “Choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” –Deuteronomy 30:19b, 20

What better way to choose life than to choose to look on the bright side? In their song “Bright Side”, OBB sings this: “I don’t want to get caught up feeling like I don’t have enough when You have given me so much…This life is not a perfect life, but I’m gonna live on the bright side. I’ll paint every dark night waiting for the sunrise”

When you decide and choose to look at what is right about this world and about your life, you affect not only your own life, but the lives of your family and your friends, as they see you live out the choices you make. As you decide to love God no matter what, listen to his voice guiding you, and hold fast to his truth, your life changes in a positive direction. It causes you to look up and not down. It empowers you to love and to hope, and it gives you peace that passes understanding.

Hang in there through the dark nights and stay focused on the sunrise to come!

Step into What’s NextThis life is full of choices – where to live, what to do professionally,

where to worship, who to marry, and the list goes on. Having so many choices can be

daunting, not to mention that our choices determine our path, be it personally, professionally, or spiritually.

Even though these decisions determine our path, they do not define us, and thankfully God’s grace gives us room to change our minds (and our direction) if we find ourselves in a place we aren’t meant to be, shadowed by doubt or fear. The path God has laid out for us is always good and he reveals it “like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18).

Ask God to reveal the path He has created for you, then look up and follow the instructions that are sung in our first song of the session– “This is Living” by Hillsong Y&F: “See the sun… bursting through the clouds, turning black and white to color all around.” Once God has dispelled the shadows, take the next step into what’s next, and live this life, embracing the abundant choices.

Live DeeperWhat does “live deeper” mean to you? Think about it. When we “live on the surface,” going through the motions of the daily grind, we can lose track of our purpose. Living deeper means living with purpose that rises in our soul and spurs us on.

The song “Live it Out” by Jordan Feliz says it this way: “Nothing of this world could ever give me the hope that comes from You, and I just cannot hide it, gotta shine it so all can see the truth…I’m gonna live it out! Cause when I live it, I’m giving the world a piece of You. Anywhere I go, I’m showing just what your love can do.”

So, living deeper is loving deeper, and it is being intentional about showing God’s love so people will see Jesus in you. Jesus put it this way in John 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” What an amazing thought— that people would know who we follow by seeing how we love. Let’s plan to live deeper and shine out God’s love, starting today!

Be Like PaulLiving deeper requires digging deeper– regardless of the circumstances. Whether we are currently experiencing a time of rich blessings or a time of difficult struggles, we are commanded to give thanks.This thankfulness comes only from a place of surrender that requires digging deep into our relationship with the Lord.

As we dig, we get stronger. “Higher” by Unspoken is a strength training song this session and says: “The lower I go, the more I’m gonna lift You higher, higher, higher.” We do this by digging deep and pursuing the Lord, no matter our current circumstances. The song goes on to identify our life’s ambition: to worship, honor, and praise Him through the times of blessing as well as times of struggle. Believe that He is worthy of your unconditional worship, honor, and praise.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:12: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Paul dug deep with no regard for his circumstances.

May we be like Paul and live in the deep place of contentment and thanksgiving.

Go HigherGod is on the move, and if He is on the move, we are not meant to stand still! Let’s determine to take the high road, following his lead. Let’s look for those who are in need. Let’s have conversations with those who are seeking truth. Let’s choose to stand upon his Word, and let’s make it a point to stand firm.

As it says in 2 Chronicles 20:17: “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” “God is on the Move” by 7eventh Time Down says it this way: “Anytime in weakness someone falls upon their knees, or dares to speak the truth that sets men free. Anytime the choice is made to stand upon the Word, I know, I know, I know, I know that God is on the move. Hallelujah! God is on the move in many mighty ways.”

Determine to let God take you higher this session—when he calls you to follow, take a step of faith and go! “Go and make disciples of all nations!” (Matthew 28:19)

Adventure into the Great UnknownDo you love adventure? Does it get you excited or does it stir fear in you? Adventure is defined as a “bold, usually risky undertaking”. It can also be described as going into the great unknown.

This is what Urban Rescue sings about in “Wild Heart”. They encourage us to follow God into the great unknown as He lights the way. Whether we are coming from the greatest heights where joy is easy to find, or the deepest sea where we are broken and thirsty, we find God when we look earnestly for Him. (See Psalm 63:1)

In order to look for and find God, we must take our thoughts and our focus higher. We allow Him to lift us higher when we trust Him enough to join Him on the adventure into the great unknown. We deepen our relationship with the Lord when we allow Him to lead the way.

Head out on the adventure today and go higher, putting fear behind you and pressing forward into the great unknown where you will find courage and joy and excitement!

Seek FreedomDo you sometimes feel like you are “sleepwalking” through life— exhausted, overloaded, worn out? We all have moments like that, but if we are going to live life deeper and go higher we need to wake up our souls, see the King working in our lives, and do more than just get through it. We can find freedom from the loads we carry and gain perspective on our lives, with God’s help.

The cardio song “Awake our Souls” by Tim Timmons says it this way: “A lot of us pray; we pray hard, with promises made when times are dark, but few are remembered, few are surrendered… awake our souls, awake our souls. Tear down the walls, dance in the freedom… everywhere the king is, there is the kingdom.”

To wake up our souls we need to start with prayer and pray hard— then we need to keep our eyes on our king and remember that he is in control. We need to watch as he tears down walls and then dance in the freedom he gives. “If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” (John 8 :36)

Be Made NewUrban Rescue writes “captivate, resonate, liberate, recreate us” in their song “Recreate”. It’s a call to freedom and a call to surrender. It’s a cry from one who longs to be made new.

New things are desired, pursued, and treasured, and God is in the business of making all things new. 2 Cor 5:17 promises that we become “a new creation” when we are found in Christ, and that “the old has gone, the new has come!” May we never take this freeing truth for granted.

Christ has come to set us free from slavery and imprisonment. When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residency in our hearts. This is how we are found in Christ, and this is how He makes us new.

Let’s commit to be captivated by Him today – to let Him hold our undivided attention. Then let His truth resonate within us, liberating us from that which binds us. And finally, let Him make us new – recreated – by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Trust and Wait“I can throw my hands up, worries down. I remember when he showed me how to break up with my doubt. Once I was lost but now I’m found. No strings attached, when he saved my soul… I came alive when I let go… I want you to know the God I know.”

Have you been worrying and waiting? Are you ready to “break up with your doubt?” If you are in that place right now, there are answers. There is a way you can lay your worries down if you make the choice to believe that Jesus died to save your soul and give you eternal life, just as “The God I Know” by Love & the Outcome says. You can place your worries at his feet.

Maybe you have already made that decision but you still feel concerns weighing you down. If you are feeling a little lost, reaffirm your faith by lifting your hands up, as this song says. Surrender your concerns to God and you will come to know him better as you trust him each day, one day at a time.

“Cast Your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” {Psalm 55:22a)

The Great Navigator“I don’t know where to go from here. It all used to seem so clear. I can’t do this on my own.” Have you ever been in this place that Sidewalk Prophets sings about in “Help Me Find It”?

Have you ever found yourself lost, even though you had your plan all mapped out? You are not alone. We have all planned a trip at some time in our lives that required our navigation system to reroute us. We made our plans, entered the desired location address, and trusted the guidance we received.

However, many trips didn’t go exactly as planned did they? We wait for the navigation to recalculate our route and we, again, trust the guidance. God is the Great Navigator and his “word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

His Word is worth waiting for and it is completely trustworthy. Surrender to God’s plan for you this day. Trust Him to help you find the road to walk. Wait on His guidance, yet begin the journey, because navigation only works when we’re moving toward what’s next.

What’s next for you?

Is it time for the most important decision of your life-- the decision to trust Jesus as your Savior and let him guide your life? Maybe you’ve considered this decision before. Maybe you even have a memory of making this decision as a child. But if you are still feeling lost, living a surface life and wandering around in doubt, now is the time for this next step.

God loves you and he has a plan for your life. He wants to fill your life with meaning and give you the gift of eternal life. God offers you grace and mercy— he gives you the opportunity for a second chance— a brand new start, and true freedom, but you have to be brave and make a decision.

Ask God to take control of your life by taking a step of faith and allowing Him to guide you to a new life of true freedom.

Admit your faults and mistakes— things that have wrapped chains around your heart and kept you from being free.

Accept God’s grace and forgiveness. He offers this grace to you in a supernatural way. He does not ask you to earn it. He knows you don’t deserve it; he offers it as a free gift.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works so that no one can boast.

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

The following is a suggested prayer:

Dear God, I am ready to make the decision to live deeper in your freedom. I am taking the step of faith to believe in you. I open the door of my heart and accept you as my Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me life that is everlasting. Take control of my life. Make me the person you want me to be. Thank you for your grace and your love.

You can be assured of this supernatural grace if you put your faith in God and allow him to take control of your life. He loves you so much that he sent his son to earth to cover your mistakes and open the door to everlasting life. God’s son Jesus bridges the gap between you and God. Choose, by faith, to believe that Jesus is the only way to ensure your eternal life of true freedom in heaven. Once you have made this decision, your new life will start and you will begin to experience the faithfulness of God, even in hard times.

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Devotionals written by: Amy Stafford & Jeannie Blocher Art design by: Rebecca Gilbert - JoyArtandDesign.com

301-258-1018 - 888-660-SOUL www.bodyandsoul.org