Got Your Holy On?
Welcome to week four of the Holy in the Moment Book Club!
For many, holiness is a church word associated with formal religion, holy communion, and holy week. But the reality is that holiness is a natural and integral part of your identity in Christ if you have accepted Jesus as your savior.
The life-long journey of growing in holiness, happens as we learn to live out of our identity in Christ, bringing our thoughts, words, beliefs, desires, and actions in line with the nature of Jesus within us. This is the work that God is doing within, making us holy and whole, spirit, soul, and body.
Navigating your soul.
When we drill down to the soul level, our thoughts, feelings, and attitudes reveal what we are believing in the moment. They are also key components to loving God, embracing truth, enjoying life, as we overcome the flesh-traits and old messages that keep us stuck. This week in the Holy in the Moment Book Club, we are going deeper into soul territory as we explore the importance of our feelings and obedience, which are bridges to good attitudes.
If you missed week one (chapters 1-3), week two (chapters 4-6), or week three (chapters 7-9), click one of the links to access the week you want to catch. A downloadable weekly guide is available for subscribers to my newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter here. Now for this weeks questions!
Chapter 10: Moments to Feel
- Our thoughts and feelings reveal what we believe in the moment. How can this awareness empower you to process your emotions?
- What false beliefs, misperceptions, or negative messages do you most commonly struggle with? What kinds of situations trigger your flesh? How are they sabotaging your faith?
- What are you learning about the relationship between emotional and spiritual growth? What aspect of handling emotions do you need to process with God?
- How can choosing to act like who you are in Christ rather than how you feel make a practical difference in your life? What can help you make this holy choice? What is one truth you most need to embrace today?
Chapter 11: Moments to Obey
- Based on your reading, what is the difference between legalism and holiness when it comes to obedience? In what ways does choosing to obey God foster growth and freedom in your life?
- How would you explain the relationship between obeying God and enjoying God to someone?
- What is one challenge you face in choosing obedience? What specific concepts have you learned in the book that are changing your thoughts, feelings, or behavior in this struggle?
Moments to Choose Good Attitudes
- Jesus came that we might have abundant life (John 10:10). How can choosing to rely on Christ in the moment open the door to joy in your life?
- How do negative attitudes trigger flesh and hinder holiness in your life? What are your most common attitude struggles and what coping ways of the flesh do they trigger? Example: Uncertainty in my life easily triggers fear and anxiety in my life.
- How frequently do you struggle with comparison, complaint, or criticism? What new choices can you make that will defuse the power of negative attitudes at work in your day to day?
- What is God revealing to you about the enemy’s tactics to steal your joy and block you for experiencing the life of Christ in your life?
- What little victories can you rejoice in today? Are there any big wins in your life that you have not taken time to celebrate with God?
Well done, Friend! These are thought-provoking questions that require you to get real with yourself and with God. You will discover that as you begin to process your thoughts and emotions in light of God’s truth, the Holy Spirit will help you be more aware of what you are actually believing in the moment.
Awareness is a key to making an intentional choice to love God, embrace truth, and enjoy life. Practice choosing holy in the moment as you process your emotions, respond with obedience, and enjoy life with a good attitude! What’s your favorite part of the book so far? Leave a comment and share what God is doing in your life through the book!
Moments to Pray, Listen, and Think Bring Us Closer to God
Welcome to Week Three of discussing Holy in the Moment! Choose to trust God in the moment. Be mindful of His presence and rely on His strength–these are simple choices that open a multitude of holy moments in our lives.
In the first section of the book, holy choices to believe, love God, abide, surrender, and rest profoundly deepen our relationship with God.
In Week One we covered chapters 1-3, digging into the concepts of holiness, believing God, and wholeheartedly loving God.
Last week we explored the practices of abiding, surrendering, and resting in faith, a sacred rhythm for experiencing the freedom of the Spirit.
Embrace truth in every moment.
Be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.–Ephesians 4:23-24 NIV
The second section of Holy in the Moment deals with our inner life–the territory of the soul and how we interact with God in our spirit. Prayer, listening to God, recognizing truth in our thoughts, handling our emotions, and choosing obedience are sacred practices for overcoming the flesh. In this practical section of the book, you will find many helpful concepts and ideas for cooperating with God as he renews your mind, making you holy and whole.
Learn more about the book here.
Read what people are saying about the book.
Chapter 7: Moments to Pray
Prayer transforms any moment from mundane to significant, from temporal to eternal. Through a prayerful life, God renews our minds and teaches us to put on the holy and right ways of living in our new self. Holy in the moment, prayer changes us and consecrates our lives. Holy in the Moment, p. 77
Pray in the moment. Be bold and brave and don’t wait until later. Pray now and minister a blessing in the midst of the need. Put your hand on a shoulder, trusting God to give you the words to pray as you let your heart speak. Holy in the Moment p. 79
What are you learning about the difference between
prayer as a set activity and prayer as a mindset for living?
How can you begin to keep a continual conversation with
God throughout the day?
What is your go-to response when problems arise? How
can you work on the holy habit of praying before reacting? What difference do
you think making prayer your first response will make?
Is your level of trust in God dependent on God
answering your prayer the way you envision? How is God enhancing your
experience with prayer through this chapter?
How does embracing the truth that God “cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7), relieve your anxiety level? How can believing God is caring for you in the midst of your struggle change the way you pray?
Chapter 8: Moments Listen to God
Hearing God through the Scriptures is about relationship. The most important thing about having a quiet time is hearing what God has to say.Holy in the Moment p. 98
Over time, we notice the difference between God and other voices because of the truth, content, wisdom, and clarity of the thought. Holy in the Moment p. 99
How is concentration and attention a sacred gift making it possible for us to know God better? What areas of spiritual attention are difficult for you? What ideas from the chapter would you like to implement in your life?
How is shifting your perspective on the Bible from reading to listening changing your time with God? What are you learning about listening to God as your read and meditate on Scripture?
When it comes to having a regular Quiet Time with God,
what does the statement “Fight for consistency, but walk in grace” mean to you?
How is discerning God speak through His Word to you
personally an experience with God. What does “hearing” God look like in your
life?
Chapter 9: Moments to Think
God is changing the way I think as I walk through each day abiding, trusting, praying, and listening to Christ. As I’m attentive to my thoughts, God teaches me ways to spot faulty thinking based on lies I have believed. God is working through our daily choices to embrace truth and reject lies embedded in the ideas we believe to be true.Holy in the Moment p. 110
How doe we get rid of these destructive thoughts? We capture our thoughts–recognize and notice them, refuse to let them run wild or build walls. Capturing is more than just recognizing ungodly thoughts; it is bringing them to Christ rather than letting them fester or entrench themselves into our minds.Holy in the Moment p. 116
Why does changing the way that you think take time? How
can you cooperate more fully with God in the process of transforming the way
you think?
What difference is “thinking about what you are
thinking about” making in your life? Why is awareness of the content of your
thoughts an important step to making a holy choice?
What characteristic do godly thoughts have? What
characteristics do thoughts from the enemy exhibit? What kinds of thoughts are
triggered by your flesh? How can identifying the signature/characteristic of
the thought help you to experience freedom from your flesh or the lies of the
enemy?
Apply the holy but concept to thoughts you
have had this week. What happens when you rephrase your thoughts or challenges
by putting your attention on what God says is true: Situation or thought but
God’s truth?
Want to join the Book Club?
Love to have you join us in our private FB group, the Holy in the Moment Community. Each Tuesday I post discussion questions in a thread. On Tuesday evening I hang out with the group via a FB Live Broadcast where I share more about the concepts in the book.
In my newsletter, I send out a weekly downloadable guide with more questions and graphics to enhance your reading. This is perfect for those who like to journal or are leading a small group study of the book! Sign up for my newsletter here to get the printable discussion guides available on my Subscriber Freebie Page.
Learn more about the book here.
Read what people are saying about the book.
Request to join the private FB group here.
Need a copy of the book? Choose from a variety of booksellers here.
Here’s a little taste of what’s happening in the Holy in the Moment Community group on FB.
Abide, Surrender, and Rest: Book Club Week 2
Have you noticed that there are many words that we talk about in spiritual terms that aren’t used much in every day language? Today in the Holy in the Moment Book Club we’re talking about these three words: abide, surrender, and rest. Welcome to week two! If you missed week one, you can find our discussion questions here. https://gingerharrington.com/holy-in-the-moment-book-club-lets-get-started/
Abide isn’t a word we use much in today’s culture. Think about it–when’s the last time you were out to dinner with a friend and you talked about the topic of abiding?
Right–it’s just not a concept that is part of our cultural conversation. But it is a holy choice for every day that enables us to receive God’s Spirit and provision. Abiding is a natural connection with God.
Start your day with a simple prayer for abiding in Christ:
“Lord, I want to stay connected to you today. I rely on you for apart from you I can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Surrender is a deep act of trust and worship.
Then there’s the word surrender. To be honest, this isn’t a word we like to chat about either. Most of us has mixed feelings about the idea of surrendering everything to Jesus.
We tend to think of it as some uber-spiritual practice that only the strongest believers can accomplish. We want to surrender our lives fully to God, but our flesh balks at “giving up” the rights we’ve come to claim as our own. When we make the sacred choice to surrender our desires to Christ,
Safe in the love of Christ, we can make the choice to release our rights, confront motivations, put aside ungodly thoughts, confess any sins, and surrender our wills. Surrender opens the prison door of the thoughts taking us captive.
Rest for your soul.
Now rest is a word we can get behind–especially when we drag ourselves out of bed, tired before the day has even begun. Living in overdrive, many of us have scheduled our lives with little to no white space for attending to our souls.
And yet–abide, surrender, and rest are three power words that make up a spiritual rhythm for everyday living , as well as for overcoming our greatest struggles.
Abiding in Christ, we learn to trust Him enough to surrender our hard things to His loving care. Surrendering our desires, hopes, and fears to Jesus brings rest for our souls–rest from fear, striving, bitterness, control, and discouragement.
Rest the outcomes of your efforts in God’s capable hands and release the stress of performance.
This week on the Holy in the Moment Book Club, we’re exploring chapters 4-6:
- Moments to Abide
- Moments to Surrender
- Moments to Rest
These three important concepts are the heart of Holy in the Moment, setting the foundation for the rest of the book. Give yourself time to read, using these questions to unpack holy choices that empower us to live in freedom and joy. . . every single day.
Chapter 4: Moments to Abide
- How can awareness of our needs draw us into an abiding relationship with Christ? When you experience the deep needs of your soul, do you tend to rely on Christ, others, or yourself? In what ways do you try to meet your needs with your own efforts?
- How can abiding in God help you to practice the presence of God rather than the presence of your problems? What simple things help you abide with Christ?
- We often define a good day in terms of what we’ve been able to accomplish. How would your stress level change if you focus trusting Christ rather than accomplishing every task, controlling uncertain situations, or fixing every problem?
Chapter 5: Moments to Surrender
- When we resort to the flesh, we want to control the answers, demanding things must be a certain way in order to be happy. What are your must-have’s or what-about-me’s, the things you believe you must have in order to be okay in life? What level of stress do you experience by trying to meet these needs through your own efforts?
- I can’t… I won’t… I don’t deserve… This is the language of resistance that can reveal areas of our lives in which we need to surrender our rights to God. When have you said one of these things to yourself? What right is attached to this area of your life? What choice can you make today that will help you trust God with that need so you can move forward?
- We often think of surrender in terms of losing something we want or think we must have to be okay. How can surrender open the door to receiving God’s blessings? What have you gained through the process of surrender in your experience?
Chapter 6: Moments to Rest
- What area of life do you most need rest at this time: physical, mental, relational, or spiritual? What warning signs do you experience when you are exhausted physically, mentally, relationally, or spiritually? What is God revealing to you about rest?
- What situations or relationships tempt you to take responsibility that isn’t yours to bear? How can you entrust them to Christ?
- What could it look like to rest the outcomes of your efforts in God’s capable hands and release the stress of performance? How might this empower you to rest in a new way?
- What relationship do you see between a need to rest and a lack of surrender in your life? What is God teaching as you learn about the holy rhythm of abiding, surrendering, and resting?
Grab Your Copy Now
A powerful encouragement for anyone who struggles to overcome anxiety, perfectionism, insecurity, or other mindsets that hold us back. Grow in holiness without the pressure to have everything “just right.” Through gentle encouragement, biblical insights, and applicable ideas you can experience a deeper life of freedom in Christ. Transparently sharing my own struggles, I want to help you live from the reality of hope, healing, and holiness.
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate link at no cost to you. Any books I recommend are resources I value and want to share.
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Ready to Go Grateful? Take the #GoGratefulChallenge!
Did you know gratitude can change your perspective, improve your health, and enhance your self-esteem? Can even help you sleep better? It’s true, believe it or not.
This month I’m throwing down a gratitude challenge!
The Go Grateful Challenge
We all believe that gratitude is a worthy goal. On the spiritual side, gratefulness is also a holy habit that draws us closer to God, strengthens faith, and brings freedom from worry. In the busyness of overloaded schedules and the complexity of today’s world, a thankful attitude can feel out of reach.
It’s not easy to maintain an attitude of gratitude. At least not for me. I need inspiration, reminders, and motivation to keep choosing gratitude when it’s easier to worry, complain, or gripe.
Building holy habits and making moments for gratitude doesn’t just happen. It takes intention and practice. And since I don’t like to play by myself, I’m inviting you to join the challenge. Together let’s have fun cultivating gratitude this month. It takes at least 21 days to build a habit, so let’s make this month count.
With daily prompts, short action steps, inspiring quotes, biblical truth, helpful tips, and fun prizes we are choosing grateful every day this month! Check the end of this post for details or you can sign up below. Our playing ground will include my website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Participate on the social platforms you enjoy. You can respond to FB prompts, share a photo of the day on Instagram, answer a twitter question, or comment on blog posts throughout the month.
When is the last time you started your day in a good mood and all it took was one thing going wrong to plummet your good vibes to negative thinking?
It happened to me just yesterday.
I’ve been juggling tasks and traveling to speak at multiple events this fall. Some days I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water. You know that feeling, right?
I love to be on the go, but sometimes I feel frazzled. Each time stress builds, I take a deep breath and say this prayer: “Lord, I rely on you in this moment. I’m trusting you to help me.” I talk about this kind of thing in my book, Holy in the Moment.
That’s a practical prayer that empowers us to choose holiness, bringing God’s best in the moment. But even so, I still caught myself muttering as I loaded the washing machine. Griping and complaining, I spiraled into a state of momentary overwhelm.
I realized I was even feeling a twinge of resentment about some fun things coming up!
What?!
Time to slam on the breaks of a bad attitude that can be our default when life is stressful.
This girl’s got to do a little more practice when it comes to choosing gratitude rather than griping, thankfulness over worry, and appreciation instead of resentment.
Shoving the wet clothes into the dryer, I closed the door with a firm push. And I did the same thing with my thoughts. Making a firm decision to be grateful changed my perspective.
Recognizing when thoughts and attitudes need to change is one thing. Doing it is another. This is why a challenge is a great opportunity to build a better habit!
As soon I closed the door to my frazzle, something wonderful happened.
When I was busy with my mental chatter of worry and stress, I couldn’t hear what God wanted to say. My focus riveted on my to-do list and my emotions lectured me, accusing me that I wasn’t doing any of it well.
Enough! Time to Go Grateful!
Choosing gratitude changed my attitude. What seemed inconvenient is really a blessing. That interruption is actually God’s provision for rest in a busy season.
Lickety-split–my perspective changed. Friend, that one thing changed my entire day and probably a lot more.
This is a simple example of why gratitude matters. Why it’s worth fighting for.
All good. Every day.
Gratitude is the gift of holy for your heart.
Are you in?
[tweetthis twitter_handles=”via @GingHarrington” hidden_hashtags=”#gratitude #gratitudechallenge”]Ready to get your gratitude on? Join the #GoGratefulChallenge![/tweetthis]
Grateful moments won’t happen by accident so let’s practice together.
How to join the Go Grateful Challenge
Sign up for the challenge to get my emails with access to printable graphics, challenge calendar, opportunities to enter contests, and more. Then participate on the social media platforms you prefer–my Facebook page
I will have some of the challenge on my website, but email subscribers will get tip sheets, quote graphics, and extra chances for prizes.
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will be our playing ground for posting your challenges. You can play on all three or just participate on the platform you prefer.
My Facebook page is where most of it will take place, including FB Live broadcasts for extra fun and motivation. Tag me at @GingHarrington.
Instagram is where we’ll have a photo challenge is that’s your thing. Use the hashtag #GoGratfulChallenge and tag me @GingerHarrington. There will be a prize drawn from Instagram participation at the end of the month.
Can’t commit to the entire month? No problem, it’s a busy time.
Love to have you join us for one week or Go Grateful all month.
Your choice!
Go Grateful Challenge Kickoff Contest
Here’s how to enter the contest. The more ways you participate, the more entries you earn for a prize. You can enter up to the last week of the challenge on November 23. Challenge ends the last day of November.
Ways to enter the Raffelcopter:
Use as many of the following ways to enter. The more entries the more chances to win:)
Sign up for my newsletter.
Follow me on Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest).
Like, share, or comment on Facebook posts. Be sure to tag me @GingHarrington on FB.
Invite friends to do the challenge with you. (Tag me).
Use the hashtag #GoGratefulChallenge on your posts.
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Get ready! Get set! Go Grateful!
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We all face days when we believe with our heads that God is faithful, but we need a boost of encouragement to refuel our weary souls. A month before my deadline, I felt frustrated and discouraged. The deadline for the manuscript weighed heavy on my heart and every word felt forced, awkward, and stiff. I spent hours staring at a blank screen and a blinking curser. hearing the minutes ticking. Help me, Lord, I prayed.
Working up to a rant, my emotions amplified fears the enemy served to my thoughts: You can’t do this. You’ll never finish on time. You’re going to fail and the book will be terrible. Your not enough.
Blah, blah, blah . . . We often listen to the wrong voices–the nay sayers, the what ifs, and the you’ll nevers that barge into our thoughts in vulnerable moments. It’s all too easy to fritter our attention and energy on our worries, draining confidence and motivation.
Is there a concern that makes your steps heavy and ignites the not enough buzz in your thoughts? You probably aren’t writing a book, but we all face moments of uncertainty that benefit from a word of reassurance from God. We need His word to be louder than our thoughts of self-doubt or fear.
The best response is to pray in the moment, turning our attention to God’s resources rather than our need and to His truth rather than our perceptions. Envisioning myself tripping just short of the finish line of a race, I prayed, Lord, these are the questions and fears my insecurity shouts, but I rely on You. Enable me to rest in my work, trusting You for the outcome. Please help me finish on time with excellence.
After dinner, I opened my Bible because that’s how I hear God the most clearly. I needed to counter the uncertainty and spiraling emotions with truth. In the fading light of evening, my scuffed and scratched table became holy ground as God spoke to every concern. I share this not to make everything about me. I hope God will speak to your struggles with the words I share.
I wrote the verses big and bold in my journal like this:
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that ALWAYS having all SUFFICIENCY in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. . . Now He who supplies seed to the sower [and words for the writer] and bread for food will SUPPLY AND MULTIPLY your seed for sowing and INCREASE THE HARVEST of your righteousness; you will be ENRICHED in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:8-11, emphasis and brackets added).
Taking time to study the words in a passage is one way to amply God’s words over our own. I longed to catch everything God revealed. As I studied, God showed me another passage also using the same word enriched. Failure, my deepest fear in writing the book, evaporated as God spoke through His word.
“That in everything you were ENRICHED in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that YOU ARE NOT LACKING IN ANY GIFT, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:5-7).
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#amwriting #trustGod”]When I worried I didn’t have what it takes, God reminded me that He gives what it takes.[/tweetthis]
Seeds for the sower and words for this writer. The word for not lacking or not coming behind is hystereō (wonder if that has any relationship to hysterical…). Reading the full explanation of the word, I knew that God was drawing my attention to His faithful provision. Not lacking means to not. . .
come late or too tardily
be left behind in the race and so fail to reach the goal or fall short of the end
be inferior in power, influence and rank
fail or be wanting
lack (be inferior) in excellence or worth
When I read the part about finishing the race, I was deeply encouraged by the kindness of God. Experiencing His loving care with such direct encouragement ministered to my heart, settled my emotions, and infused my writing with fresh energy.
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#amwriting #trustGod”]God’s word speaking our need is a holy moment for silencing fear.[/tweetthis]
What would have I missed if I didn’t give God my attention that night? This wasn’t a case of me trying to be spiritual–I was just trying to survive the moment and stand up under the pressure of a big task. God simply whispered the thought that I needed to listen for His voice in His word and I responded. He did the rest. He showed me a specific passage, nudged me to look up the words, and brought the words to completion. Through the working of the Holy Spirit I finished a week early to accommodate travel to a speaking event in California..
Consider the power and help that is yours when you bring your concerns to God. Listening to God’s truth silences the not enough voices in our head. We want the problem to be solved instantly, but God reminds us He is with us in the fight. He gives what is needed to take the next step, asking us hold on to faith, rely on His resources, and trust Him with the outcome.
One moment at a time.
How do you silence the not enough voices in your head? I’d love to know how God is working in your life. Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
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