side by side

Day 1: Can God Really Hear Me?
All I ever do is listen to other people. Can you relate? As if your actual job description is “sounding board for other peoples’ problems”? You listen to your family chat away, or you hear about the drama at work for hours at a time. But what about you?
You have thoughts and stories to share, but it doesn’t feel like anyone is listening. Not even God.
People ask me if mentoring really matters. They don’t see how talking about life with a mentor can make a difference, but in Malachi 3:16-17, we find God enjoys listening in on our conversations. He cares about what you care about. When you sit down with a brother or sister in Christ to talk about Him, He does more than listen. He writes it down.
God takes notes on your conversations.
Take a moment for that to sink in. We’re not talking about an award-winning actor or a New York Times bestselling author or the leader of a Fortune 500 company. We’re talking about God, who spoke the sun into the sky, who wove your DNA together, who keeps the universe spinning. He knows your thoughts, your dreams, your future. He can do anything—literally. When you open yourself to another person (especially your mentor) about your faith, share your heart, encourage someone else, confess your weaknesses, or pray with another believer, God pays attention. To you.
How does this make you feel?
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What’s the first thing you would tell God if you knew for sure He was listening?
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Malachi was a prophet, God’s representative on Earth, around 430 B.C., and he wrote the last book of the Old Testament. While the book of Malachi only has four chapters, it’s pivotal, because afterward God stopped speaking to His creation through prophets. He didn’t speak to us again for 400 years. So when you read Malachi, remember it’s God’s last words for His people before Jesus was born. (image#1)

Let’s check out Malachi 3:16 together.
What are the people in Malachi 3:16 doing?
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What does Malachi 3:16 say God does when His people talk about Him?
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What does God have written down and why?
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When you make a point to have intentional conversations with others, purposefully honoring God’s name, directing others to His Word, sharing about His power and character, He listens. He hears.
Depending on what version of Scripture you’re reading, Malachi 3:16 may use the term “book of remembrance.” So let’s take a quick trip over to the Book of Esther where another book of remembrance is mentioned.
Read Esther 2:23. What is the name of the book where the events were recorded?
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In whose presence was the event recorded?
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Read Esther 6:1. What did the king want to read?
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Thinking about both of these examples, how important was it for the information in the “book of remembrance” to be accurate?
Why? ________________________________________
Let’s dig into the following verses. How does each verse relate to how God pays attention to our conversations?
Psalm 33:18
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Psalm 34:15
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Proverbs 15:29
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According to the following verses, what questions can you ask God?
John 15:7
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James 1:5
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Malachi 3:16 is all about mentoring. It’s God’s take on what happens when you share your story with another person or when you acknowledge Him as part of your life. When you honor Him, you make Him happy. God loves conversation.

Read Hebrews 10:24-25 and describe the three “let us” statements:
1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________

Look at Hebrews 10:24 again. What specific ways can you encourage another believer toward love and good deeds?
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Recall a time when your mentor or a special person in your life spurred you on.
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Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
Who has been an encourager in your life?
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What impact did it make in your life? ______________________________________________________
Day 2: Walking Along the Road
Chaos and noise walk hand-in-hand in the twenty-first century. Can I get an amen? Sometimes you have to intentionally create quiet so you can hear yourself think.
I walk my dog, Rascal. When I’m out stretching my legs and focusing on the quiet, I spend time in prayer. I like to use this time to think and dream with God.
Many times I want Jesus to come to earth to walk alongside me or sit with me for an hour to have a cup of coffee and discuss my urgent issue. I know He is always with me, but there are times when I need Him to appear like Jesus, with skin on. How about you?
Where do you go to have one-on-one conversations with God?
What do you talk about?
Jesus loves conversations so much He disguised Himself so He could get in on one and reveal truth to the believers. This story takes place the night after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) mark the first Word from God to Israel in 400 years. And what was God talking about? His Son: Jesus.

Read the story in Luke 24:13-35 and answer the following questions:
What were the two men talking about? ________________________________
What kept the two men from recognizing Jesus? ________________________
Notice here, Jesus comes alongside these two followers and shows no condemnation for their doubts, disappointments, and unbelief. Instead He offers healing answers and hope.
What did the two men tell Jesus about what had happened in Jerusalem?
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How did Jesus respond? ______________________________________________
What distractions in your life cause you to miss Jesus?
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How do you think the two men felt after Jesus disappeared?
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