Step 11 – We sought through prayer & meditation, to improve our conscious contact with god as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us, & the power to carry that out.

LIFE FIX 13 – STEP 11 – SEEK GOD CONTACT, 9-21-25, Lead Pastor - Jeff Aenk, New Hope Christian Church

Key Verse – John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me.

3 TOOLS Keep us Connected to Jesus - the SOURCE of our Healing, Freedom, & Life. Without Using them, Our Willful Self-Propulsion will Fail!

1. PRAYER – Talking & Uniting with God, Practicing His Presence Always Daily, & Occasionally Fasting to Increase Focus on Him.

Psalm 37:4 - Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Matthew 6:9-13 - 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Matthew 7:7-11 - 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 9:14-15 - 14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

2. MEDITATION – On God, His Word, His Presence, His Voice, & One-Ing with Him Daily, Charging our Spiritual Batteries.

Psalm 1:1-3 - 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

John 10:27 - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 - 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Matthew 6:6 - But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

John 17:22-23 - 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

“ONEING” with God or Centering Prayer, helps us silently enter God's presence, Allowing Him to Heal our unconscious Minds and Hearts by disengaging our busy thoughts and Surrendering & Falling into God & His FREE Divine Therapy, as He “Takes Out” our enormous mass of Mental & Emotional Trash.

***You can Practice Centering Prayer or “ONEING” with God for 5-20 minutes a Day Anytime in 5 Simple Steps:

1. Choose a sacred word (Ex. Jesus, Love, Peace, Joy) as an anchor (not a mantra) to consent to God's presence & action within.

2. Sit, close your eyes, & silently repeat the word. 3. Whenever your mind wanders, gently return to the word until calm, then release it.

4. After, sit quietly to enjoy the peace of God’s presence. 5. Then, slowly open your eyes & continue your day.

Isaiah 26:3-4 - 3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

3. PRAYING FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL & THE POWER TO CARRY IT OUT.

Luke 22:42 - “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Psalm 51:10-12 - 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Here’s What I Want us To Do This Week

*seek through prayer & meditation, to improve our conscious contact with god, praying only for knowledge of his will for us, & the power to carry that out. *Read Chapter 11 – Step 11: Seek Higher Contact - Pages 105-114 in Black “The Fix Workbook” below to Left, & Answer the Questions in it in Writing. *Also, Attend your “Life Fix” Group this week. If you’re Not in one, Get the following Workbook, & Book or AudioBook, & go through them Yourself. *****Disclaimer – “The Fix” Books are NOT God’s Word, but Man’s. The Bible is God’s Word & we Filter Everything through it. However, the 12 Steps are Based on Teachings of Jesus.

ß “The Fix Workbook: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone in Between.”

by Ian Morgan Cron. *Amazon carries the Paperback & Kindle Version of the Black Workbook. *This is the Workbook with Lots of Questions you will Write Answers In, Working you through the 12 Steps.

“The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone In Between.” à

by Ian Morgan Cron. *Amazon carries Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, & Audiobook through Audible. *Crème Book –gives more detail & perspective of the 12 Steps & how to work them.

*Scripture Assignment this Week: 1. Write/Type following Verses, One Each Day, in your Own Words. 2. Write/Type what God is Saying to You Personally through it. 3. Write/Type what You will Do as a Result. *Mon – James 1:19-20, Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 29:11, Tue – Psalm 42:5, John 16:33, Wed – Psalm 139:23-24, Proverbs 4:26, Thu – John 8:44, John 8:32, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Proverbs 27:17, Fri – Ephesians 4:26-27, Romans 12:2, Romans 8:5-6, Sat – Lamentations 3:40, Acts 3:19, 2 Corinthians 7:10. (All Scriptures used are from the NIV 2011 unless otherwise noted.) *If you miss a Sunday & want to catch up, want to watch or listen to a message again, or want a friend to see it, visit our Church App, Website www.gothope.cc , FaceBook, or YouTube.