Aligning Will with Divine Wisdom and Love

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Life's Challenges as Opportunities for Growth

Description: Life is filled with challenges and changes that can often feel overwhelming. However, these challenges are not meant to be obstacles but rather opportunities for growth and transformation. By recognizing and acknowledging these challenges, we position ourselves to work with them rather than against them. This perspective shift allows us to turn trials into stepping stones for spiritual development. When we see challenges as opportunities, we open ourselves to the possibility of growth and transformation, aligning our will with the divine purpose. [07:52]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you reframe this challenge as an opportunity for growth and spiritual development?

Day 2: Release Resistance and Trust in Divine Guidance

Description: The lion's initial struggle against the wind in the fable symbolizes our human tendency to resist or control uncomfortable situations. Releasing this resistance means trusting in a higher power to guide us through life's storms. Surrendering control is not a sign of weakness but an act of faith, allowing us to navigate challenges with greater ease and grace. By letting go of our need to control and trusting in divine guidance, we can find peace and strength in the midst of life's storms. [09:46]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are resisting change or trying to control the outcome. How can you release this resistance and trust in God's guidance today?

Day 3: Seek Divine Wisdom for Clarity and Purpose

Description: Aligning our will with higher guidance is crucial for making wise decisions. The lion learns from the wise owl to align his actions with the wisdom of the wind. Similarly, we must seek divine guidance to ensure our actions are in harmony with the greater good, not just our personal desires. This alignment brings clarity and purpose to our lives, helping us to make decisions that are in line with divine wisdom and love. By seeking divine wisdom, we can navigate life's challenges with a sense of clarity and purpose. [09:46]

James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Reflection: Think of a decision you need to make. How can you seek God's wisdom to ensure your decision aligns with His greater purpose?

Day 4: Embrace the Flow of Life with Grace

Description: Just as the lion learns to move with the wind, we must learn to embrace the flow of life. This involves adapting to circumstances and using our will to navigate them gracefully. When we work with the divine flow, life's challenges become easier to bear, and we can move forward with renewed strength and purpose. Embracing the flow of life means trusting in the divine plan and allowing ourselves to be guided by it, rather than resisting or fighting against it. [11:39]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you have been resisting the natural flow of life. How can you embrace this flow and trust in God's plan for you?

Day 5: Lead with Love and Wisdom for the Greater Good

Description: The lion's transformation into a wiser and more compassionate leader teaches us to use our will for the greater good. Leading with love and wisdom means acting with integrity, compassion, and a sense of higher purpose. Our will should uplift others and contribute to the greater good, turning even the fiercest challenges into opportunities for growth and transformation. By leading with love and wisdom, we can make a positive impact on those around us and fulfill our divine purpose. [11:39]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you can lead with love and wisdom. How can you act with integrity and compassion to uplift others and contribute to the greater good?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Greetings and welcome to Unity of Chicago South. Today, we explore the spiritual power of will, represented by the disciple Matthew. The will is a central force in our mind and body, anchored in both the root and crown chakras, symbolizing our will to live and our spiritual will, respectively. Through the fable of a powerful lion and the wind of change, we learn that true strength lies not in resisting life's challenges but in aligning our will with divine wisdom and love.

The lion, initially confident in his strength, tries to resist the wind but ultimately learns from a wise owl that true power comes from flowing with the wind. This story teaches us that our will is amplified when we align it with the forces of nature and the divine. The lion's journey from resistance to harmony illustrates the transformative power of aligning our will with higher wisdom and love.

We can apply this lesson in our lives through five steps: recognizing life's challenges, releasing resistance, seeking divine wisdom, embracing the flow, and leading with love and wisdom. By doing so, we transform our will into a powerful force for good, capable of turning challenges into opportunities for growth and transformation. As we navigate the winds of life, may we all learn to flow with grace, wisdom, and unwavering strength, just like the lion.

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Key Takeaways

1. Recognize Life's Challenges: The first step in aligning our will with the divine is to recognize the inevitable challenges and changes that come our way. These challenges are not obstacles but opportunities for growth and transformation. By acknowledging them, we position ourselves to work with them rather than against them, turning trials into stepping stones for spiritual development. [07:52]
2. Release Resistance: The lion's initial struggle against the wind symbolizes our human tendency to resist or control uncomfortable situations. Releasing this resistance means trusting in a higher power to guide us through life's storms. Surrendering control is not a sign of weakness but an act of faith, allowing us to navigate challenges with greater ease and grace. [09:46]
3. Seek Divine Wisdom: Aligning our will with higher guidance is crucial for making wise decisions. The lion learns from the wise owl to align his actions with the wisdom of the wind. Similarly, we must seek divine guidance to ensure our actions are in harmony with the greater good, not just our personal desires. This alignment brings clarity and purpose to our lives. [09:46]
4. Embrace the Flow: Just as the lion learns to move with the wind, we must learn to embrace the flow of life. This involves adapting to circumstances and using our will to navigate them gracefully. When we work with the divine flow, life's challenges become easier to bear, and we can move forward with renewed strength and purpose. [11:39]
5. Lead with Love and Wisdom: The lion's transformation into a wiser and more compassionate leader teaches us to use our will for the greater good. Leading with love and wisdom means acting with integrity, compassion, and a sense of higher purpose. Our will should uplift others and contribute to the greater good, turning even the fiercest challenges into opportunities for growth and transformation. [11:39]
### [11:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:08] - Introduction to the Spiritual Power of Will
[02:21] - The Fable of the Lion and the Wind
[03:23] - The Lion's Struggle
[04:39] - The Owl's Wisdom
[05:56] - The Lion's Transformation
[07:52] - Step 1: Recognize Life's Challenges
[09:46] - Step 2: Release Resistance
[09:46] - Step 3: Seek Divine Wisdom
[11:39] - Step 4: Embrace the Flow
[11:39] - Step 5: Lead with Love and Wisdom
[13:26] - Practical Application
[15:01] - Conclusion and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to James 1:2-4, what is the purpose of facing trials and challenges in life?
In the sermon, what does the lion initially try to do when faced with the wind of change? ([03:23])
How does the wise owl advise the lion to handle the wind of change? ([04:39])
What transformation does the lion undergo by the end of the fable? ([05:56])

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of "considering it pure joy" when facing trials (James 1:2-4) align with the lion's journey in the sermon? ([07:52])
What does it mean to "trust in the Lord with all your heart" in the context of releasing resistance, as discussed in the sermon? ([09:46])
How can seeking divine wisdom, as advised in Proverbs 3:5-6, help us align our will with the greater good? ([09:46])
In what ways does embracing the flow of life, as described in Isaiah 40:31, help us navigate challenges with grace and strength? ([11:39])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you initially respond, and how might you have responded differently by recognizing it as an opportunity for growth? ([07:52])
Think of a situation where you tried to control the outcome. How can you practice releasing resistance and trusting in a higher power in similar future situations? ([09:46])
Identify a decision you need to make soon. How can you seek divine wisdom to ensure your actions align with the greater good rather than just personal desires? ([09:46])
Describe a time when you felt out of sync with the flow of life. What steps can you take to better embrace the flow and adapt to circumstances with grace? ([11:39])
Consider a leadership role you hold, whether at work, home, or in the community. How can you lead with love and wisdom, using your will to uplift others and contribute to the greater good? ([11:39])
When faced with a difficult situation, how can you remind yourself to get still and seek guidance from within? What practices can you implement to make this a habit? ([13:26])
Reflect on a time when you felt your will was in harmony with a higher purpose. How did this alignment impact your actions and outcomes? How can you strive to achieve this alignment more consistently? ([15:01])

Sermon Clips

1. "Just for today, we will keep our minds filled with possibilities, not obstacles. We will keep our conversations filled with the good we deserve and watch that goodness engulf us. Just for today, nothing will be impossible. Just for today, I will not be separated from God." [00:10] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The wind of change is not an enemy to be fought, but a force to be embraced. It carries with it the seeds of new life, new opportunities, and new growth. So use your will. Use your will not to resist, but to flow with the wind, and you will find your true power." [03:23] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The lion understood the true strength. His strength quickly Prime to its тест, all the strength sown and wouldn't stop. not enforcing his will upon the world, but in harmonizing his will with the forces of nature and the divine. He became a wiser and more compassionate ruler, and the savannah flourished under his leadership." [05:56] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Step number one, recognize the wind and acknowledge life's challenges. In this fable, the lion first encounters the wind of change and tries to resist it. The wind represents the inevitable challenges and changes that will come our way. Our first step is to recognize these winds in our lives. So instead of seeing challenges as a result of our will, we must see them as obstacles. We should view them as opportunities for growth and transformation." [07:52] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The next step is to release resistance and let go of the need to control. The lion initially tries to control the wind, believing his will alone could stop it. This reflects our human tendency to resist or control situations that we find uncomfortable. The second step is to release this resistance, understanding that not, everything is within our control. And that's okay. Surrendering control doesn't mean that you're giving up. It means that you are trusting in a higher power to guide you through." [07:52] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Step four, embrace the flow. Work with the divine, not against it. As the lion learned to move with the wind rather than against it, we too must learn to embrace the flow of life. This step involves adapting to the circumstances we face and using our will to navigate them with grace. And when we work with the divine flow, we find that life's challenges become easier to bear. And we can move forward with greater ease." [09:46] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Step five is to lead with love and wisdom. Use will for the greater good. So in the end, the lion becomes a wiser and more compassionate leader by aligning his will with love and wisdom. This final step calls us to use our spiritual power of will to lead by example. And it requires us to act with integrity and compassion and a sense of higher purpose. Our will is not just for personal gain, but for uplifting others and contributing to the greater good." [09:46] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Sometimes the trials and tribulations are there just to let you know that you're not on the right path and maybe you need to change that path. And when that happens, just get still, see yourself accomplished, and then you're ready to go. Accomplishing what it is you want to do, see yourself already doing it, see it already happening, feel it, taste it, smell it, and see it. And then you will know exactly what your next step would be." [13:26] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "As a matter of fact, it will help you accomplish even more than you thought possible. So with that, as we leave here today, let us remember that when we align our will with divine purpose, we can navigate the winds of life with grace, wisdom, and unwavering strength. May we all be like the lion who learned to flow with the wind, discovering the true power of our will as it is aligned with love and grace. And wisdom." [15:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "And so the lion learned the greatest lesson of all, that will when aligned with wisdom and love can turn even the fiercest challenges into opportunities for growth and transformation. Recognizing that your will is perfect aligned with the spiritual will. And so we are ready to go." [15:01] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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