The Lion's Den

The Book of Ron Workbook · story 12 of 48

Nugget of Wisdom

You will face challenges in life that are terrifying at times. Your first preparation to face those challenges should be prayer.

First General Order

Before beginning, come together as a group to briefly discuss prayer needs and pray for God's guidance, wisdom, and protection over this time.

Mission

Think back to a time in your childhood, typically between the ages of 10 and 13, when you experienced fear or a significant challenge. Begin by sharing stories within the group; not everyone has to share, but several should. Once complete, pair off with your partner and sit facing each other, preferably holding hands with your eyes closed. The purpose is to absorb each other’s feelings. One person speaks at a time while the other listens, focusing not just on the words, but on the emotions behind them—what was felt, what was formed, and what personality traits may have developed through that experience. Then reverse roles. Listen intently to each other, seeking emotional truth. The story you share may involve fear, but the deeper intent is to reflect on whether there was a moment when something beyond your own ability carried you through—when the Holy Spirit intervened, and it was not your strength alone that made the outcome possible.

Mission Execution

This is where you tell your own story. It does not have to be one that is frightening, although fear is encouraged. What matters is that it is something that affected you deeply. Allow yourself to be led, and tell the story honestly. The person listening must focus on absorbing the emotion—listening without interruption, without trying to fix it, and without analyzing it. Simply listen and absorb what the other person felt. As you tell your story, consider whether there was a moment where something beyond your own control was at work—where the Holy Spirit, or another force outside yourself, intervened and carried you through.

Questions

As you listened to your partner, what emotions did you sense in them beyond the words they were saying?
What personality traits do you believe were formed or strengthened through that experience?
How did that moment influence how you respond to fear or pressure today?
Have you ever been forced, or felt forced, into a fearful situation? How did you respond?
Can you see how fear may have laid a foundation for a stronghold in your life, did that stronghold develop, and can you begin tearing it down?

This Week’s Mission

This week’s mission is designed to build awareness without creating fear. Together, go find a simple dog magnet—something you can place on your refrigerator. When the dog is standing right side up, it represents the normal flow of daily life. It is simply there. However, when one of you turns the dog upside down, it becomes a signal. It means something is going on—fear, anxiety, stress, or something that needs to be shared but may be difficult to begin. The dog becomes a quiet way of saying, “I need you,” without having to find the words. Throughout the week, be intentional about noticing the dog each time you come into the house. Use it as a tool to become more in tune with each other. At the same time, make this week enjoyable. Plan time together—open doors, go shopping, share a meal, take each other to lunch or dinner. Sit down and plan this as an intentional event. Enjoy the process, and enjoy finding your dog.

Warning

You understand the purpose of the magnet now, but six months from now it may fade into the background if you are not intentional. This is especially true for men. My desire is for you to begin training yourselves to look for each other’s needs. The dog is simply the first training ground. Train yourself to look at that magnet every time you come into the house. And when one of you misses it, hold each other accountable. Ask, “Did you look at the dog today?” If the answer is no, remind each other of the commitment. Use it as both a light and serious moment if needed. “I’m glad we got that straight.” The dog is not the solution—it is the tool. The real goal is learning to focus on each other.

Help gently train and teach each other what your needs are. This little tool, this little magnet lesson, is nothing more than a tool. You can make it enjoyable for the rest of your lives, but do not be harsh with each other. If someone misses it, it does not mean they do not love you or care for you. Take that moment to banter back and forth, to encourage one another, and to grow together. Make it something you can live with for the rest of your life. Pass it down to your children and your grandchildren. And one day, if someone asks what the success of your marriage was based on, you may simply say—it was a magnet on the refrigerator.

Closing Prayer

Father, I care for this person more than I can tell them. Give me the strength to begin developing the tools to pay attention more deeply each day, to see what I have not seen, to hear what I have not heard, and to love them the way You intended.