Every week on Sunday we will be posting a new set of reflection questions based on themes and areas of our lives that are important to look at on a deeper level. We hope this is a chance to take some time to look inward, to process, to ask intentional questions about your life and bring those reflections to God, asking him to show us what is going well and what might need to change.

The sixth area of life we are going to reflect on is Jesus.

Why Jesus: Reflecting on how we think of Jesus can give us a lot of insight into how we are doing spiritually.  Just as we can get into relational ruts with others, we can get into a relational rut with Jesus too if we allow the status quo to just keep us going.  Taking time to ask ourselves how things are going and how we are feeling about a certain relationship is a great health check to see if everything is going well or if some things might need to change.

Reflect: Here are some reflection questions to help you work through this topic.  Feel free to answer all of them or just some, and if you’re not sure of the answer, try journaling about why you’re not sure of it…it may just help you figure it out!  If you’re an extrovert or a verbal processor, try going through these questions with a friend!

• Who do I picture Jesus to be?  What attributes do I associate with him?  What do I think his personality was like?
• How connected or close to Jesus do I feel?  What do I think is causing that closeness or distance?
• How do I think about Jesus’ dying on the cross?  Grateful? Ashamed? Questioning its necessity? Confused?
• If Jesus was sitting right across from me now, what would I ask him or say to him?
• What do I think Jesus would say back to me?
• How do I think Jesus fits into the “good life” God wants for me?

Pray with me: Jesus, you are an important part of my life.  Show me where you want to meet me today.  Reveal to me your true self and strip away all the misconceptions I have of you.  Increase the intimacy of our relationship and open my heart to you.  Help me follow you in your way, everlasting. Amen.

Bonus: If you make it through the thematic list of journaling prompts this week and would like some more general ones to guide you, try some of these:

• Am I noticing any changes in myself or my spiritual life as I journey through Lent?
• What has been heavy on my heart or mind today?
• How do I feel today? What am I worried about or excited for?
• How do I need God to show up for me today? Is there anything I need to ask him for?
• How have I seen God show up for me in the past?  What has he already done or been doing in my life?
• What am I grateful for today?

Every week on Sunday we will be posting a new set of reflection questions based on themes and areas of our lives that are important to look at on a deeper level. We hope this is a chance to take some time to look inward, to process, to ask intentional questions about your life and bring those reflections to God, asking him to show us what is going well and what might need to change.

The fifth area of life we are going to reflect on is church.

Why Church: Church with a capital “C” is the corporate body of believers around the world.  Church with a lowercase “c” is the specific community I worship God with at any given time.  The church is meant to be a reflection of the Church in a tangible way, a fellowship of believers coming together to encourage one another in the life God has given all of us on the earth in the here and now.  The Church and church, however, are imperfect places of imperfect people reflecting and sharing the love of God as best we can, however far we fall short.  Taking time to reflect on our experience of church, why we go, what we do there, what we receive and what we give to others, can help the Church move closer to a true reflection of God’s love and what he hopes we as his hands and feet can do in this world.

Reflection: Here are some reflection questions to help you work through this topic.  Feel free to answer all of them or just some, and if you’re not sure of the answer, try journaling about why you’re not sure of it…it may just help you figure it out!  If you’re an extrovert or a verbal processor, try going through these questions with a friend!

• Why do I (or don’t I) go to church?
• What do I think the point of church should be?  How do I think the church lacks these things?  What can I do to help change that?
• How do I give to my church community?  
• How do I receive from my church community?
• How do I think church fits into the “good life” God wants for me?

Pray with me: God thank you for the body of believers here in this world.  Help me see my role and my part in this body, both as one that is cared for by it and also cares for it in return.  Give us wisdom and direction as your church to do your will in this world, loving others as you have loved us.  Amen.

Bonus: If you make it through the thematic list of journaling prompts this week and would like some more general ones to guide you, try some of these:

• Am I noticing any changes in myself or my spiritual life as I journey through Lent?
• What has been heavy on my heart or mind today?
• How do I feel today? What am I worried about or excited for?
• How do I need God to show up for me today? Is there anything I need to ask him for?
• How have I seen God show up for me in the past?  What has he already done or been doing in my life?
• What am I grateful for today?

Every week on Sunday we will be posting a new set of reflection questions based on themes and areas of our lives that are important to look at on a deeper level. We hope this is a chance to take some time to look inward, to process, to ask intentional questions about your life and bring those reflections to God, asking him to show us what is going well and what might need to change.

The third area of life we are going to reflect on is our physical bodies.

Why Physical Bodies: Our bodies were formed by God, intentionally and with care.  We were created as physical beings that need food, rest, and exercise.  How we pay attention to our bodies (or not) greatly affects our life here on earth.  Therefore it is important to reflect on how we are caring for our bodies, how we are giving it what it needs and keeping it from what harms it.

Reflection: Here are some reflection questions to help you work through this topic.  Feel free to answer all of them or just some, and if you’re not sure of the answer, try journaling about why you’re not sure of it…it may just help you figure it out!  If you’re an extrovert or a verbal processor, try going through these questions with a friend!

• Do I find it difficult to take care of my physical body? Why or why not?
• Why do I eat what I eat?  Does what I eat energize me or weigh me down?
• How much rest do I get? What does rest look like for me?
• What is the most enjoyable type of physical activity for me? How often do I get to do this?
• How often do I spend time outside?  How do I feel after I’ve spent time outside?
• What might my physical body and health have to do with the “good life” God wants for me?

Pray with me: Lord, help me see my body as a gift from you that needs tender loving care and sometimes tough love as well.  Help me think of my physical self as just important as my spiritual and mental self.  Help me be intentional with what I do with my body and keep me from temptation and harmful things that keep me from the good life you want for me.  Amen.

Bonus: If you make it through the thematic list of journaling prompts this week and would like some more general ones to guide you, try some of these:

• Am I noticing any changes in myself or my spiritual life as I journey through Lent?
• What has been heavy on my heart or mind today?
• How do I feel today? What am I worried about or excited for?
• How do I need God to show up for me today? Is there anything I need to ask him for?
• How have I seen God show up for me in the past?  What has he already done or been doing in my life?
• What am I grateful for today?