Journal

• • Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:
    • A Guide to Journaling & Prayer
    • A Guide to Self-Reflection
    • A Chart to help articulate feelings

Bible Text:

1 Timothy 4:1-8

¹ Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, ³ who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

⁶ If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. ⁷ Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; ⁸ for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 

Reflection & Application

1 Timothy 4:1-2

• What is the relationship between hypocrisy, deceit and searing of the conscience?
• How would a person with a seared conscience respond to truth?

1 Timothy 4:3-5

• How did the false teachers of that time try to address the problem of sin?  Why is this futile?  How do I try to address the problem of sin in my life?

1 Timothy 4:7-8

• What are some “myths” that prevail in today’s Christian pop culture about spirituality or what it means to be a Christian?
• How does the fact that one needs to train oneself to be godly contradict such falsehood?
• What are the characteristics of physical training that would also apply in training to be godly?  What are the steps that I can take to train myself to be godly?

Prayer