Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

- Proverbs 4:23

• Share any reflections you have from lasts week's bible study (or Sunday's sermon) on Transforming Your Mind.

• Have you experienced any change (even a small change) in your thinking this week?

Read Luke 6:43-45

• Why do you think Jesus is focused on people hearts? Do you think this would have been unusual for his hearers?

• In what ways are you tempted to think of transformation as taking place on the outside (with your behaviour) instead of on the inside (in the heart)?

• If Jesus wants changes to come from the heart, how do we practically go about changing our hearts from evil to good?

Read Philippians 3:1 & Philippians 4:4-7

• Earlier this year, we studied Philippians in detail. What do you remember about these verses, and the theme of joy in the letter more generally?

• How does rejoicing in the Lord serve a 'a safeguard', bringing about the peace of God which surpasses all understanding?

• Does Paul's teaching in Philippians help to answer the earlier question about how we go about having a change of heart?

Read Psalm 139:23-24

• How does the Psalmists bring their true heart before God?

• Do you ever pray along these lines - if so, what affect has this had on your heart?

We're going to use another Psalm as a prayer exercise (based on the Lectio Divina) to bring everything in our hearts, good and bad, before God. Spend a good 3-5 minutes on each step if you can.

Psalm 51:1-12

1. Read and then re-read the passage slowly to yourself, allowing the words to speak over you.

2. Spend some time considering these words, thinking them through carefully and considering what God might be saying to you through this scripture.

3. Spend some time responding to God in prayer, praying the scripture and anything else that has come to mind in response to what you've been thinking about in step 2.

4. Finally, spend some time in silence, simply being in God's presence. Still your mind and open your heart to the 'still small voice' of the Holy Spirit.