Prov 16:18 (NIV) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Jesus, help me understand that I am only going to win in life and in eternal life if I can unlearn those things that are hurting me and learn those things that empower me to win. Teach me that the more I trust myself and what I know, the less I will grow spiritually. The more I think I know, will block off all I need to know. John 8:31-32 (NIV) To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you HOLD TO My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will KNOW the truth, and THE TRUTH will set you free.” Show me that only those who are open to Your teaching will be able to learn how to be a child of God.

Mat 18:1-4 (NIV) At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, help me understand the more I am successful through world training, human effort, and human talents, skills, abilities, and gifts, the harder it is going to be for me to be a good student with You. You only teach those who are open to Your teaching.

James 4:1 (NIV) What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? Jesus, make it clear to me that as long as I am my main interest, I will use techinques that I think are best for me. I won’t be able to in everything, do to others what I would have them do to me (Mat 7:12a). I will find myself trying to get You and Christianity to make sure I get MY needs met. If my focus is on me, my receptivity to training will be all about ME and MY needs.

Mat 6:31-33 (NIV) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these THINGS WILL be given to you as well. Jesus, help me see that if I gain the whole world and lose my soul, I would NOT consider myself successful. Mat 16:26 (NIV) What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Show me that if it is mainly about me, then others get left out of the plan.

James 4:2 (NIV) You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. Jesus, the advertisements and social standards have addicted me to what to wear, what to eat, what to get and own. I have been pursuing THINGS thinking that if I get them THEN I will be happy. If I seek first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, help me believe that all these THINGS WILL be given to me as well. Help me believe that being a river rather than a lake will bring happiness into my life.

You do not have, because you do not ask God. Jesus, help me be sure that I DON’T want anything that doesn’t come through God. Help me NOT want a career that God doesn’t want me to have. Help me NOT want a job that I didn’t ask God about. Help me NOT want goals, plans, and strategies that I didn’t get from God. Help me NOT want to keep trying to find happiness through the world, my body, or the devil. Teach me that learning to get everything by asking God will bring FAR MORE than happiness. Help me NOT TRY to apply these Christian principles to motives that look good to me but don’t to God.

Jer 17:9-10 (NIV) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” Jesus, use these courses to teach me that to always ask God for things is just the beginning. Teach me to allow God to check my motives because this also very important. James 4:3 (NIV) When you ask, you do not receive, BECAUSE you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. From this course on, help me with my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength of will. Help me see that I will be taught things that will be so powerful that I will be more than willing to give up world training, body desires, and satanic temptations.

Jesus, show me that You have a wonderful plan for my; You made sure I was born with the right type of body, with the right parents, in the right place on this planet, at the right time, with the right gender, and with the right talents, likes and dislikes, life classes, circumstances, and experiences to get me ready for my future. You are making sure I get the best Biblical training so You can empower me to be the very best there is in You. But, help me understand that for me to get into this very best for me, there are some things You have to teach me; there are some things You have to do to me, for me, in me, and through me. You have properly prepared me for all those things I need so that I can reach my full potential.