Week One: Our Plans, His Purpose
Welcome to the first episode of 2024! Last year, God put it on my heart to dedicate the first month of this new year by hosting a “First Fruits” podcast series. We wrapped up our December Process and Pray series. If you missed it, you can still go back and listen.
In this First Fruits podcast series, we will take every Monday and give the first of a different area of our lives to the Lord. The first area God put on my heart was our plans.
Key verses:
Proverbs 19:21, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
Psalms 33:11, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”
Giving our first shifts our plans to His purpose. We give Him our first plans by pausing to ask for wisdom and discernment before moving forward. It’s not complex and doesn’t require much time, but it does mean being intentional in our planning.
Process:
“God, what plans do I need to submit to You?” Think of a specific plan you have in mind. Ask God for His timing on moving forward with this plan.
“God, show me any of my plans that are not from You. I don’t want to move forward if you aren’t in it.”
Resource:
If you are not yet in our JOYmail community, I want to invite you to join us today. Once a month I send an email with a personal note from me, favorite finds, podcast updates, and a free therapy resource. Go to rachaelgilbert.com and click the freebies tab to join the community.
Week Two: Time
God put it on my heart to dedicate the first month of this new year by hosting a “First Fruits” podcast series. In this series, we are coming together every Monday morning and giving the first of a different area of our lives to the Lord. Last week we gave our plans to the Lord and this week, we are dedicating the first of our day and our time/energy throughout the day.
We cannot pour from an empty cup. If you want secure confidence this year, start by spending time with the Savior. It’s in this sweet space that He imparts peace and tells us who we are. It’s something we can’t earn, yet He freely gives.
Process:
What can I do to remind myself to give the first of my day to the Lord?
What is taking my energy that is not fruitful?
What is a time thief in my days?
Pray:
“Lord, I yield to you as my shepherd today. Thank you for your goodness, mercy, love, and supernatural favor and wisdom that follow me everywhere I go. Enlarge my family’s territory in all that we do. Keep your hand upon us and deliver us from evil. Show us the way we should go, for to you we entrust our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Resource:
If you are not yet in our JOYmail community, I want to invite you to join today. Once a month I send an email with a personal note from me, favorite finds, podcast updates, and a free therapy resource. Go to rachaelgilbert.com and click the freebies tab to join the community.
Week Three: Sabbath Rest
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This is not a religious checklist; rather, it’s a gift from God.
It’s convicting to remember that not entering Sabbath rest is an act of disobedience. Honoring the Sabbath day is a commandment, that’s how deeply the Lord knows we need it and we trust Him when we set aside that time to enter His sacred rest.
Process:
Repent – God, I repent for not taking a Sabbath day of rest. Please forgive me for not receiving this gift of rest. I receive your grace and forgiveness today.
Rejoice – Thank God for rest. It was His idea.
Revisit – What does rest look like for me in this season?
Resource:
If you are not yet in our JOYmail community, I want to invite you to join today. Once a month I send an email with a personal note from me, favorite finds, podcast updates, and a free therapy resource. Go to rachaelgilbert.com and click the freebies tab to join the community.
Week Four: Health & Wellness
Since we are four weeks into the new year, chances are many of you listening have already started some form of New Year’s resolution to eat differently or move more. Chances are also high that those resolutions have already been broken. If that’s you, there is no shame here. Just a chance to give this area to the Lord once and for all, in a way that is honoring to the Lord. The world offers us quick fixes and promises about our bodies but the Lord shows us how to steward our bodies in a way that feels life-giving and full of joy and peace.
Key verses:
1 Corinthians 3:16-22, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.”
Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Process:
God, what does honoring my body look like in this season?
What is a simple step you are asking me to take that will improve my health this year?
What habit do I need to start or stop this year, as an act of worship to You?
Resources:
Learn more about our integrated medical practice BBC (Building Better Care) Health at bbchealth.com
Take the What is Your Body Trying to Tell You? quiz at rachaelgilbert.com/quiz
Check out my book Image Restored at imagerestoredbook.com
Week Five: Words
This week God put it on my heart to bring in a new topic – our words.
Key verses:
Proverbs 16:24, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Exodus 24:3, “Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do’.”
Job 19:2, “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?
Psalm 12:6, “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”
Psalm 17:6, “I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.”
Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
Process:
Lord, how is my heart?
How are my words?
Are there any words I need to stop listening to?
How would You like me to use my words this year?
Resource:
If you are not yet in our JOYmail community, I want to invite you to join today. Once a month I send an email with a personal note from me, favorite finds, podcast updates, and a free therapy resource. Go to rachaelgilbert.com and click the freebies tab to join the community.
