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PiVAT Weekly
What is PiVAT Weekly? (Part of Insert #2 for your PiVAT Journal)
(See PiVAT first, to better understand PiVAT Weekly)
PiVAT Weekly is PiVAT from a Weekly Perspective – 4 Principles of Faithfulness from the Bible applied to this week
PiVAT Weekly helps you obey with Time Decisions. It lets God plan your week – so you can follow His plans.
PiVAT is an acronym for Prayer, Vision, Accountability, and Testimony - 4 Biblical Principles of Faithfulness
PiVAT Weekly can be done in 5-10 minutes – Do PiVAT Weekly on Sunday - to get God’s plan for you for this week.
PiVAT is a change of direction - from man's way to God's way.
Isaiah 55:8 - There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:12 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you a hope and a future. God has a plan for your week, do you know what it is? It will prosper you!
PiVAT Weekly is a 2-step process:
#1 Do PiVAT Weekly on Sunday
#2 Do PiVAT before dinner
STEP 1: Do PiVAT Weekly on Sunday (before the week begins)
Every Sunday afternoon take 10 minutes and Ask God for HIS PLAN for you for the coming week. (Mon-Sun)
Don't wait until the week begins, by the time you get around to it, you might miss something He had for you.
Doing PiVAT on Sunday gives opportunity before the week starts to share and pray with your spouse - what you (both) need most from God, and what He is telling you to do this week. Doing this on Sunday also allows God to counsel you in the night season (Psalms 16:7).
By morning, God will either confirm His plan in your spirit, or He may clarify your understanding of what He wants you to do this week.
Remember, God is not obligated to reveal everything that will occur in the next 7 days, but if we ask for His plan, He will tell us, specifically, and show us things to come.
Psalm 32:8 - "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go - I will guide you with my eye upon you."
John 16:13 - But when he the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
STEP 2: Do PiVAT before dinner
Get God’s plans for you for tomorrow - He will lead you in what steps you must take tomorrow in order to fulfill what He told you to do this week.
Screen all interruptions or change of plans this week through Him.
Emergencies do arise; other obligations do come up at short notice, but is this really what God wants you to divert your attention to - or is it the devil's distraction to keep you from what God told you to do today or this week?
Update your PiVAT MAYBE To Do List!
Each week presents many opportunities to deviate from the original plan and focus on something different.
Anything that would change or alter your course this week FIRST goes on your PiVAT MAYBE To Do List - for God to confirm, delay, or delete.
Every new opportunity - even for good things, is not necessarily God's plan for you this week. What is God telling you to say “NO” to? Be sure you hear and obey. Walk in the Spirit in time decisions. PiVAT, PiVAT Maybe, and PiVAT Weekly will train you to hear His voice, walk in the Spirit, and respond to people and situations as He directs.
How to Fill Out PiVAT Weekly
STEP 1 PRAYER - What do I need most from God this week? - You won't know, ask Him, He’ll tell you - James 1:5
Before you fill in time slots - First Ask God what you need most from Him. This may or may not be related to His V: Vision for you this week. He knows what you will face in the next seven days, He’s already been there.
He will reveal during your PiVAT WEEKLY time as much as He chooses. But He will likely leave some things unmentioned so you will grow in walking daily by His Holy Spirit. Remember His ways and thoughts are very different from ours (Isaiah 55:7-9) and He knows what you need before you ask (Matthew 6:8). Asking Him what you need most - also prevents you from asking amiss.
God's plan for you is to be a different person before the week is done. Whether a week of blessing, or of trial (which is still a blessing), God wants you to be more mature, more complete, and more conformed to His image by Friday, than you were on Monday. (Saturday and Sunday too!) When asking God what you need most from Him this week - think in terms of what God gives. The fruit of the Spirit is a great start (Galatians 5:22) but the list of what God gives is extensive. And don't think because things are going "OK" in your life, that you don't need anything from Him. To fulfill the purpose He has for you this week - you will need things - beyond yourself. If you only knew what He can give - you'd be asking Him for more - and more often! (See RELATIONSHIP TOPIC - What Does God Give)
STEP 2 VISION: What is God telling me to do this week? The Top 3 Things (Habakkuk 2:2)
Ask God for His Number 1 priority for you for this week (beyond just going to work, or going to school). Then ask Him for the Number 2 and Number 3 Priority He has for you. These may be family, ministry, career or personal. It may be "Print out a new PRISM Topic to meditate on," or it may be "prepare for next week's final exam," or "leave work on time for your daughter's soccer game on Thursday." Maybe its "spend concentrated time in prayer," or "cut a neighbor's lawn," or "call someone who needs encouragement." Ask God, He’ll tell you.
STEP 3 ACCOUNTABILITY: When is He telling me to do it? (The specific day and time) (I Chronicles 14:14-16)
Accountability is always the specific day and time God is telling you to it. Monday 3 p.m., or Tues & Thurs 7-9 p.m. If God tells you to do something He will also tell you when He wants you to do it. Whatever God has for you to do, He also has a time for you to do it. Just ask Him.
STEP 4 TESTIMONY:
What did God DO this week? (TOP 3 Things) As I’m learning to obey… and
What did God REVEAL this week? (through my time in His Word – PRISM time) (Rev 12:11)
Write the Top 5 things God did this week, and the Top 5 things God revealed through your PRISM Time in His Word this week. Just go back and pick the highlights from this week - from each day's DAILY CALL Testimony: and write them in your PiVAT Weekly. You'll be amazed at how God answers prayer and what He accomplishes in and through you within a week's time! The power of your testimony cannot be overstated. It is not just an encouragement to others - it's a way that God has designed for you to overcome the adversary! - Rev 12:11
Sharing this week's testimony the first day of each week in your Daily Call will have profound impact on you and them. The more you obey - the more He blesses - not only in what He does, but through what He reveals from His Word! You will be greatly encouraged and amazed at how often God is speaking the same thing to both of you! Your testimony encourages others, and establishes your life in victory. Get good at the Testimony! He's worthy of it!
STEP 5 Ask God How He Wants You To Fill The Time Slots This Week
Remember, PiVAT Weekly- is God's Calendar for you this week - not your own. Ask God what time commitments He wants you to keep. Then fill in the time blocks He tells you. Don't just assume that what you usually do is what He wants for you to do this week. Ask Him. Then, block out the times He tells you.
Do not try to fill in every time slot! If God tells you to do something at a certain time, block the time. But He isn't obligated to reveal everything for the coming week right now. He wants to lead you day by day in your PiVAT time with Him before dinner, and also moment by moment throughout the day as you get better at yielding to His will, truly walking in the Spirit. You can reference your PiVAT MAYBE To Do List after the fact, and double check with Him on anything He might want you to add for this week, but it's best to just let God fill in PiVAT Weekly and the Weekly Calendar as the Holy Spirit prompts you.
You may want to reference PiVAT MONTHLY, to verify what monthly assignments from God fall into this week's calendar. PiVAT Monthly and PiVAT Weekly - are not maybe to do's - they are God's To Do's for you, (just like PIVAT Daily) just from a longer term perspective. They result from you seeking God for His plan for your Week and your Month. It's good to review - to be sure that whatever He has for you to do this month or this week, that you also know the days and times He wants you to complete them.
As God reveals his perfect will and agenda for you this month; He will reveal some through PiVAT MONTHLY at the beginning of the month, He will reveal a little more of His plan for you during your PiVAT WEEKLY Time before the week begins. He will reveal still more during PiVAT before dinner each night, and finally moment by moment - as you check in with Him throughout the day - He will surely lead you, guide you and instruct you in the moment.
This practice of hearing and obeying is an acquired skill - but it is definitely what followers of Christ do. Jesus was the perfect example. He only did what His Heavenly Father told him. Great joy, true fruit, and eternal success await you as you learn to hear and obey monthly, weekly, and daily.
Frequently Asked Questions about PiVAT Weekly:
"What if something throws my whole week "Off-Schedule?"
First, make sure it's really what God wants you to do. Every emergency is not 'your emergency.'
If something completely alters your week, God is not surprised. He may have chosen not to reveal it to you last Sunday afternoon during your PiVAT Weekly time (seeking Him for His plan for you for this week).
Remember, the goal is not staying on schedule, but walking in the Spirit. If something pressures you to get off schedule from what you feel He revealed on Sunday for your week, just check in with God.
He either wants you to change course and accommodate it, or to make the tough choice to say, "NO" to other people's expectations of you, or what you’d rather do, and be faithful to what He told you to do this week. This is a "walking with God," hearing and obeying process. It takes some time to get used to. But it gives great opportunity for close communication, just what He wants! He loves you!
Don't think that God isn't interested in your schedule throughout each day this week. He loves the close communication. Nothing is too insignificant for Him. He delights in giving you His direction. Giving Him your day planner and weekly calendar is demonstrating a heart fully devoted to him, willing to obey whatever he says. He is searching the earth to and fro looking to show himself strong on behalf of obeyers like you! - II Chronicles 16:9.
"If I’m doing PiVAT every day – Do I really need PiVAT Weekly?"
As much as we grow in learning to hear and obey God's leading through PiVAT each day, it's amazing the perspective difference, when we seek Him for the week. Asking Him for His Plan for our week- allows us to see beyond the day to day perceived obligations that tend to blind us to the greater things He wants to bring about in our character and mission.
We typically wouldn't think of asking... "If I'm doing my devotions each day - do I still have to go to church every week? What God reveals weekly is an increased and unique perspective. Not that God can't prompt us each day - to accomplish the week's objectives, we just benefit greatly when we can talk to him about the forest, not just the trees.
I would encourage you to spend time with him daily & weekly to get His Plan for you; and also ask him before each month, and each year begins (PiVAT Monthly, and PiVAT Yearly). You will experience the great blessing of His guidance from different time perspectives. It will help you to "number your days aright. Psalm 90:12 – Teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
"I've been doing good with PiVAT Daily - it's been awesome! but I've missed a couple PiVAT Weekly's."
That’s OK, Just start now. Don't worry about what you missed, even if it's already Wednesday. Get His Vision & To Do's for the rest of this week. Ask Him for the day & time He wants you to complete them, and just start. Ask Him to help you make up for any lost time. He will! Don't miss out on the blessing of hearing and obeying for the week!
Final Thoughts on PiVAT Weekly
“First PiVAT, Now PiVAT WEEKLY, this is getting kind of crazy!”
We understand. It may be a little new... But if you ever want to grow in anything in life, you can only grow by experiencing something new. If you're a time management geek, or day-planner junkie, your greatest challenge will be relinquishing control - checking in with your Master. If you are a 'seat of the pants' kind of person, this will be new. But please do it!
Don't let the Devil lie to you - this is NOT works salvation, or putting tasks above relationships. Your Time belongs to God! He created you for a purpose; He knows better than you - how to set the course for your day and week. All you need to do is surrender to Him!
Try it. Give Him a chance. Be faithful for a season, you can always go back to the control-freak or the chaos you came from. Ask God for someone to walk with on a Daily CALL. (See the 3-Day-Challenge). Grow in obedience together. It will change your life!