Read this:

Introductions and chapter #1 (The Problem with Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality)

Discuss or reflect on this:

Grab a journal, some friends, or your spouse and spend a few minutes reflecting on the reading from this week.  Use these reflections questions to help you see what the Lord is teaching you and how He might be calling you to go deeper in this particular area.

• What stood out to you or challenged you most from the reading this week?

• Look back over the top ten symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality - which of these do you identify with most?  How do you (or have you) seen these areas of unhealth specifically playout in your life?

• Read 1 Samuel 15;7-14 and think through the following reflection questions:

• How did Saul respond to the events going on in this passage?

• What might have been going on under the surface of Saul’s life that led him to take these actions?

• How does Samuel describe Saul’s disobedience in vv.22-23?

• What are some examples of how we go through the motions of making “burn offerings” and “sacrifices” rather than obeying the word of the Lord?

• What challenges keep you from slowing down your life to be with God?

• What might be one or two simple decisions that you can make toward taking the first step to slow down your life?

Pray through this:

As you go throughout your week, spend some time praying through what the Lord is teaching you.  Grab a sticky note or your journal and jot down these prayer points and re-visit them throughout the week.

• Begin by taking 2 minutes to be silent before the Lord.  Embrace the difficulty of being completely silent and learn to listen to the Lord before speaking to Him.

• As you reflect on the list of emotionally unhealthy spirituality symptoms - be honest before the Lord and confess whatever sin(s) that you need to confess.

• Thank the Lord for how He has created you - as a whole being.  Go through the pie chart of how we are created (see pg.20) and find specific examples of how you are created spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc…and thank God for each of those.

• Ask God for wisdom to help you slow down in order to understand yourself and what God might be trying to do in your life.  Pray that God would help you to discern specific decisions you can make toward taking the first step toward slowing down your life?