Week 1: Gratitude, Attention, Change

Opening verse:

Romans 15:13 ESV - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

1 minute pause

Open in prayer

Gratitude

We want to start our journey of mental wellness with a state of gratitude. Gratitude isn’t about minimizing all the challenges around us. It simply helps us remember that among all the difficulties we struggle with in life, there are still many wonderful things to be thankful for.

The Bible says: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

What area in your life do you feel the most gratitude for?

+ A victory (big or small) to celebrate
+ A lesson you learned
+ A new opportunity to pursue
+ Provision for a specific need
+ A person in your life

Attention

Often we focus our attention on things in our lives that are making the most “noise”, or causing the most problems or taking the most energy. Sometimes the areas we focus our attention the most aren’t necessarily bad, and sometimes they can steal us away from what’s most important in life. The Bible says: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

What area in your life is taking up most of your attention right now?

+ A disappointment you experienced
+ A transition or change in your normal life
+ A difficult situation you’re processing
+ A need or desire you have
+ A crisis you’ve recently encountered

Change

As we lean into what God is showing us in our lives, there will be areas where it might feel like he’s motivating us to make a change of some kind. It could either be linked to the thing your attention is focused on, or, it can be something separate. The Bible says: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

What kind of difference or change would you like to see happen?

+ A new habit or practice to form
+ A belief or thought to reframe
+ A change in attitude or behavior
+ An emotion or feeling you want to address
+ A person or place to connect with