In authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. And consider the example that Jesus has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation. – Philippians 2:3-5 

Survival Skill #6 • The ability to give aid. 

Throughout this year, we’ve been developing the skills to enable us to thrive spiritually no matter what life gives or takes away. The strength we are building isn’t just for ourselves! We are all called to also develop our ability to give aid to others!

To develop Survival Skill #6, the ability to give aid, you will need to…

• Walk in the Spirit. 
• Walk in community. 
• Walk in obedience. 

Walk in the Spirit • Pursue intimate communion in God’s presence. 

We often rightly think of communing with God to begin our day, vulnerably sharing our heart in prayer and listening intently for His voice as we spend time in His Word. With that as a foundation, let’s grow in communing with God throughout the day, learning to practice His presence. As we do, we will experience His leading, opening our eyes to the needs of those around us, as we go about our day. 

In our busy days, so many things can crowd out our awareness of God’s voice. Some tips to help stay tuned in to Him:

• S – Start and end each day with God
• T – Thank God first
• E – Exchange your thoughts for prayers
• P – Practice the presence of God

If the Spirit is the source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives. – Galatians 5:25 

Walk in community • Prioritize intentional time with God’s people.

As we walk in community, we are positioning ourselves to know the needs of our spiritual brothers and sisters. So often people who are experiencing struggles and challenges find it difficult to ask for help. When we’re in community, they won’t need to ask. Through our relationships, we will know what they are experiencing and where they need aid! 

You may be longing for that type of community, but haven’t experienced it yet. Don’t give up!

• Commit to finding and being part of a life-giving church!
• Find a place to use your gifts and serve. 
• Join a small group, Bible study or support group – or help start one!
• Linger after the services and initiate conversations.

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. – Galatians 6:10 

Walk in obedience • Practice instant completion of God’s prompting.

That thought you had about texting a friend or stopping by with a bag of groceries? That’s God’s prompting to give aid! At that moment, we have the choice to delay it until later, ignore it completely, or make time to respond in obedience! When we obey completely, we’ll experience responses like “How did you know that’s what I needed?” or “God used you in my life!” 

Sometimes we hesitate to respond because we’re not sure we really heard from God. Remember what we learned about how God speaks to us? Consider how what you’re sensing aligns with what you see in God’s Word. Perhaps check in with someone who knows the person and situation better. As you hone your listening and are faithful to step out in obedience and see how God works, you will experience the joy of being used by God to meet a need!!

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” – Romans 15:1-2 

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. – Psalm 23:4

Survival Skill #5 • The ability to navigate your way. 

Without the ability to navigate your way, you would likely begin to follow the well-worn wide path traveled by many, thinking it must be the way. Yet the Bible warns us “…wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13)

To develop Survival Skill #5, you will need to…

• Set your Compass
• Select your Map
• Listen to your Guide

Set your Compass 

To be able to navigate your way, you must first get oriented. You get oriented by identifying which way is North and setting your compass.

When you set Jesus as your true North and orient your life to Him, you can be confident you are headed in the right direction. 

“…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes (our compass) on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

Let’s avoid wandering in circles or following the crowd. Set your compass by setting Jesus as your true North!

Select your Map  

In addition to setting your compass, the second key to navigating your way is to select the right Map!

What should I do when I feel paralyzed by fear? What is a right response to injustice? Should I quit on my marriage? How can I forgive that person? Is there any hope?

Where you choose to look for answers to these difficult questions and more will determine your course and therefore, your destination. Getting the answers to life’s questions right will help you successfully navigate to the abundant life Jesus promised. 

These answers and more are ready to be known. Your Bible serves as the map, containing important directions to life! Get your Bible out… Read it. Learn it. Obey it! 

Work at practically applying God’s Word to your life and watch His promises come alive!

Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. – Joshua 1:8

Listen to your Guide 

Finally, God does not leave us to navigate on our own! He didn’t only give us a compass and a map to help us navigate our way… He gave us Himself!! We must tune our ears to hear the very voice of God, speaking by His Spirit, who lives in us as believers. We have a Guide who is with us always! 

The Spirit will speak to you and tell you which way to go. We are not suggesting that it will be an audible voice in your ear. We have loved studying Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry & Richard Blackaby, which helps in understanding how God speaks to us. We enthusiastically encourage you to grab a copy! 

Below you’ll find teachings that draw heavily from Blackaby’s book.

God speaks to you by the Holy Spirit…

…through Scripture! 

• Understanding spiritual truth does not lead you to an encounter with God; it is the encounter with God. You are experiencing God in your life!
• As you spend time in a love relationship with God, you’ll come to know His voice. God has already given many messages and commands in the Bible. As you read Scripture, the Holy Spirit will be working to reveal truth about God, His purposes, and His ways. When He speaks, you must adjust yourself to the truth revealed and obey God. When you obey, you will experience Him working in and through you to accomplish His work.
  • “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

…through Prayer! 

• Prayer is not a religious activity. It is a relationship to a Person, a two-way communication with holy, Almighty God. When you pray, you enter the throne room of heaven—the nerve center of the universe.
• Prayer is a two-way conversation with God. What God says in prayer is far more important than what you say. Create space to listen when you pray!
  • “The Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26–27)

…through Circumstances! 

• Make the connection between your prayer and what happens next. If you do not pay attention to what follows your prayer, you may miss God’s answer.
• God used circumstances to reveal to Jesus what He was to do. Jesus paid attention to know where the Father wanted to involve Him in His work. God also will use circumstances to reveal His directions to you. However, you must check these against what God says through the Scriptures, prayer, and other Christians.
  • John 5:17, 19 – “But He answered them, ‘My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working… Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.’”

…through God’s People! 

• Each believer is interdependent with all the others to function correctly in the body. You cannot fully know God’s will for your involvement in the body of Christ apart from the counsel God provides through other members. All members of the body belong to each other, and they need each other. You can and should depend on God to speak through other believers and the church to help you know what assignment you are to carry out in the ministry of the kingdom.. 
  • Ephesians 4:15-16 – “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

God speaks to His people by the Holy Spirit. He can speak in any way He chooses, but the most common ways through which God speaks today include the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. He speaks to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways. When what God says through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church line up to say the same thing, you can proceed with confidence to follow God’s directions.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12 

Survival Skill #4 • The ability to find an ally.

Now, we know what you might be thinking… “Is finding an ally truly CRITICAL to surviving spiritually?” We believe God would not have put approximately 59 sections in the Bible that teach us how to relate to one another if it were not critical!

• Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
• Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25) 
• Serve one another (Galatians 5:13) 
• Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) 
• Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18) 
• Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Pray for one another (James 5:16)

When you look at survival training in war times and in the wilderness, one of the very first things you learn is to find an ally – someone to unite with, to mutually support, to take action with. Having two or more together increases your chances for survival dramatically. You can help one another overcome obstacles (physically and mentally), divide work and accomplish more. To survive, you need an ally!

To develop this skill, you will learn to find an ally by learning to be an ally and put into practice: 

• Share
• Prayer
• Care

Before we begin developing this skill, know that you will have to go first! To find an ally, we must first be an ally by putting ourselves out there, taking a risk and being vulnerable. When you’re tempted to believe the lie of complacency, wanting someone to reach out to you, dwell on Phillippians 2:3, “…in humility, value others above yourselves…”

It can feel risky putting yourself out there! Yet, you must be the initiator. And not just once, over and over again! 

Let’s get started! 

Share • We’ve already been practicing “the ability to feed ourselves” utilizing a Bible, a plan and a process – so let’s keep it simple! Remember, the 4th step of “the process” is to Pass It On! Share your thoughts and questions from your reading with at least one person each day and watch allies multiply. – thoughts tend to disentangle themselves when they pass through our lips.

This can be as simple as a text that reads, “Good morning! I was really encouraged by Psalm 23 today. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing!” Or, “I was reading my Bible and it really struck me that ____.”

Your ally will be encouraged to receive a message like that from you! Share and watch your insights grow. 

• Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
• Instruct one another (Romans 15:14). 

Prayer • Pray for one another and with one another.

Prayer is a powerful way to build each other up and encourage one another. Yet, sometimes it’s very difficult and uncomfortable for someone to answer the question, “How can I pray for you?” Try this instead: “I’m praying for you today. Is there anything specific you would like for me to pray about?” If they have an answer, that’s great. Either way they are ministered to by knowing that you’re praying for them. Now, make sure you follow through and pray for them. If they’ve given you something to pray about, consider checking back in to get a prayer update….and you’ve made another deposit! 

Praying for one another impacts a life, often leading to finding an ally.

• Join one another in the battle (Romans 15:30).
• Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Care • As you are pursuing a relationship, be aware! Pay attention to needs that are expressed in conversation. Needs are a doorway for ministry in a person’s life, so be prepared to help meet those needs… without being ASKED! And watch as you begin to build an alliance!

When you see a need, meet a need!

Meeting a need might look like… 

• offering encouragement
• running an errand
• being available to talk during the week
• making a meal

The simple act of caring enough to meet a need when you see a need, sacrificing your comfort, time or plans, can make a world of difference in your life and the life of another… and build an ally!

• Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25).
• Be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9). 

So are you ready? Train yourself to find an ally, by being an ally! You’ve got this!!

“Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8-11 (TPT) 

Survival Skill #3 • The ability to recognize and respond to danger!

To develop this skill, we’ll need to train ourselves to recognize spiritual danger and discern when to …

• Flee it
• Fight it
• Face it

FLEE IT

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay!! We must recognize temptation when it comes and FLEE! 

1 Timothy 6:11 – But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. 

Recognize: Your adversary is seeking to defile and disqualify you. To recognize his tactics, you can know that most temptations will fall into one of three categories listed in 1 John 2:16: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 

Respond: Tips for FLEEING danger:

1. Respond first and fast – Run the other way. You put yourself at great risk if you simply sample the sinful behavior. See danger =  Run! Flee as if your life depends on it.
2. Strengthen the muscles needed to flee – Starting to FLEE, especially a sin you might have been engaged in for some time, may be challenging and awkward, but it will get easier over time! Persevere! 
3. Ask for God’s help – It’s the Spirit of God inside you who will prompt you to respond by fleeing. You may not feel like you can do this on your own, but remember, you are never alone!
4. Seek support – If you are in a place entangled by sin, seek out a brother or sister in Christ whom you can be honest with and who can help provide the counsel and encouragement you need.

Sin fascinates and then it assassinates! We must recognize temptation when it comes and flee! 

1 Timothy 6:11 – But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. 

FIGHT IT

Our minds are the target, lies are the weapon of attack! We must recognize the danger of being deceived by the narrative of this world, arm ourselves with truth and fight for our faith! 

1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of the faith.

Recognize: Our adversary seeks to deceive and cause doubt. Satan is a liar. He especially likes to cause us to doubt that God is who He said He is and that God will do what He says He will do.

Respond: Fight the lie!

1. Arm yourself with truth by exercising Survival Skill #1. Truth is found in God’s word.
2. Arm yourself by going to church… because Church, honestly it’s for everyone!
3. Arm yourself with prayer by following Jesus’ example: Luke 22:31–32, “…but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” 

1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of the faith.

FACE IT

We must recognize the danger of adversity distracting us, taking our eyes off Jesus, leading to doubt and discouragement. During seasons of trial, we must Face it full of faith! Trusting that God WILL fulfill His promises! 

James 1:2-4 – “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way!”

Recognize: Our adversary seeks to discourage us and distract us by getting our eyes off God.

Respond: We must stand strong and face the adversity.

1. Maintain hope in the storm by exercising Spiritual Survival Skill  #2
2. Maintain faith in the storm by exercising Spiritual Survival Skill #1! We know, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!” – Romans 10:17

James 1:2-4 – “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way!”

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

You cannot survive without hope. So, we continue our survival training there.

Survival Skill #2 • The ability to maintain hope!

To develop this skill, you’ll need to…

1. Manage Your Exposure
2. Meditate on Truth
3. Move Your Body

To help sharpen this skill, join us for a Hope Reset in the month of April! 

The Hope Reset consists of… 

Managing Your Exposure • We have nearly constant exposure to news, thoughts and perspectives that are often not truth centered or hope filled. Quite frankly, this near constant exposure is slowly killing our hope. 

We must reset our exposure to those elements that drain our hope so we can once again remember what a healthy amount of exposure feels like. 

So, for the Hope Reset in April, consider managing your exposure by:

1. Taking a break from social media (on both phones and computers)
2. Taking a break from TV, news and commercials
3. Taking a break from toxic conversations

Yes, we are talking about a total media fast for the month of April.

Meditating on Truth • In order to manage your exposure, instead of pulling up news or your social media, meditate on truth! Here are some suggestions:

• Haven’t started Survival Skill #1 yet? Make a new habit of your Bible app being your go-to news feed! Filling the space social media once held with feeding your soul will help you maintain hope! All you need is a Bible, a plan and a process! 
• Bring Hope into your home by listening to MyBridge Radio! Every person who registers for the April Hope Reset will be registered to win a smart speaker!
• Memorize Scripture verses that will help you maintain hope! We’d encourage you to pick one truth to meditate on & memorize each week. Here are a few suggestions: 
• God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. – Psalm 46:1-2 
• Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:21-23 
• The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:1-4
• For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

Moving Your Body • Even a small amount of activity can make a huge difference to how well you think and feel. In fact, healthy movement is a powerful tool we have for maintaining hope!

Exercise can help ease depression, stress and anxiety. You won’t feel good mentally and spiritually if you don’t feel good physically!

An Omaha-based partnership has developed devotional workouts that strengthen your relationship with God while strengthening your body. It’s FaithFit and we give it 5 stars! They have a 7-day free trial if you would like to check it out. 

If that’s not really your thing, find a way to move your body for 30 minutes a day, for 30 days… walk, stretch, dance! You’ll start a new habit that will help you maintain hope!

Ready to develop the skill of maintaining hope? Register for the April Hope Reset. As you hone your skill, let us know how your Hope Reset is going! Join the conversation.

“In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life.” – 1 Peter 2:2 (TPT)

You can’t survive without the ability to feed yourself, so we’ll start our survival skill training there.

Survival Skill #1 • The ability to feed yourself!

To develop this skill is simple! All you need is…`

1. A Bible
2. A plan
3. A process

A Bible • If you get stuck on which of the numerous versions available is the right one for you, here are some of the most popular options, and what to consider with each one:

– The New Living Translation (NLT) is all about readability. If you are new to reading the Bible, you will find the words used in the NLT to be very understandable. It is our recommendation for newbies!

– The New American Standard (NAS) and English Standard Version (ESV) are literal translations of the original Bible manuscripts and are therefore considered the most accurate. 

– The New International Version (NIV) combines a literal translation with more common word use, at times exchanging accuracy for understandability.

– The Message (MSG) and The Passion Translation (TPT) are not literal translations and take significant liberties in creatively expressing their interpretation of the meaning using more modern language. 

A Plan • A reading plan answers the question of “What should I read today?” and helps you be consistent and stay on track. 

The plan we have found to be very impactful year after year is the One Year Bible reading plan. You can access the plan however works best for you – by printing the plan and using your own Bible, reading or listening each day on the YouVersion app, or using a physical One Year Bible that is conveniently arranged by what to read each day! 

The YouVersion app or a physical One Year Bible give you both the Bible and the plan in one!

The plan guides you through reading a portion of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, taking about 15 minutes a day. If you prefer a more gradual first experience, you could also consider starting with just the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs readings within the plan for this year, then add the Old Testament next year. 

A Process • A quick read of God’s Word does not guarantee that we will get the vital nutrients out of it. If you’ve ever read God’s Word, and then 5 minutes later couldn’t remember a thing you read let alone have something you got out of it, you know what we mean! Here’s a simple process to follow to sink your teeth into God’s wonderful Word!:

1. Read it Over – God wants to speak to you so slow down, paying attention to what gets your attention, choosing one thought to chase.
2. Write it Down – Chase that thought in writing. Thoughts tend to disentangle themselves when they pass through our fingertips. Don’t give up too easily; it will come!
3. Pray it up – Express to God your thoughts and/or questions! Communication is two ways, so after reading His words, it’s your turn. 
4. Pass it On – Share your thoughts and questions with at least one person each day. Thoughts tend to disentangle themselves when they pass through our lips. Share and watch your insights multiply!

Following those 4 simple steps regularly will help you get the Bible nutrients you need each day to spiritually survive in 2021!

There you go! As we sharpen this skill, we strengthen our ability to feed ourselves spiritually no matter what life brings our way!

Let us know how we can help!