21-Days-Of-Prayer-Guide-85X11.Pdf

DAY ONE 1.6.20

Why 21 Days Hey everyone, this is Pastor Steve and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 1. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture And behold, a hand touched Devotional Thought Reading me and set me trembling on my Daniel 10:10-14 hands and knees. And he said You may remember these verses we have to PUSH, to Pray Until to me, “O Daniel, man greatly from yesterday’s message. I Something Happens. We have to loved, understand the words that wanted to start our 21 days keep praying until God gives us I speak to you, and stand upright, with a reminder of why we are clarity on His answer. for now I have been sent to you.” doing this. We are in this season And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then because we want to pursue the Over the next 21 days, you are he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for Jesus centered life together. going to be tempted to give up, from the first day that you set your But you may wonder, why 21 to give in. If you are fasting, you heart to understand and humbled days? The reason is simple, this are going to feel the pressure of yourself before your God, your is a biblical time period of prayer, what you are abstaining from words have been heard, and I have from the book of Daniel… the begin to creep up on you. If you come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia same one who was thrown in are praying, you may feel like withstood me twenty-one days, the lion’s den. Daniel was in a your prayers are just bouncing off but Michael, one of the chief season of deep prayer and fasting the ceiling. But don’t give up… princes, came to help me, for I in Daniel chapter 10. The Bible Don’t give in! Persevere. was left there with the kings of tells us that he began calling Persia, and came to make you out to God and fasted, eating As Daniel 10 teaches us, when understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. no delicacies, meat or wine. He we pray we are engaging in a For the vision is for days yet to was serious about seeking God. spiritual battle. The angel sent come.” But the interesting thing is that from God spoke of a spiritual God did not immediately answer battle that raged even while Daniel’s prayer. Daniel prayed. The same thing is true as we fast and pray. The As we talked about in the good news is that God has message yesterday, Daniel had already won the battle. Jesus to persevere in prayer in order to said, “take heart; I have overcome experience the breakthrough he the world.” So as we pray, let’s was looking for from God. Don’t persevere together. get this twisted… I’m not saying that the more that you prayer the more you get what you want. But I am saying that sometimes Prayer Time

Let’s take a moment right now as you are listening to stop and pray. This will be a guided prayer time, so I’ll give you specific prompts on what to pray from God’s Word. If at any point you need some additional time to pray, simply press pause and resume whenever you are ready.

1. In Daniel 10:10, Daniel is referred to as a “man greatly loved” by God. Jesus and ask for His power to repent. Ask for God’s strength to That description is also true of you. You are a man or woman greatly remain humble. loved by God. Lift a prayer of praise to God for His steadfast love in 5. The angel told Daniel, “your words have been heard.” Realize that your life. no matter your feeling or emotions as you pray, your words are being 2. “Fear not” is what Daniel heard from the angel in Daniel 10:12. In the heard by the God of the universe. Life a prayer of praise for God’s midst of his trembling and fear, Daniel was reassured that God had willingness to listen and respond to our prayers. heard him. Take a moment to pray about any fears or anxieties as you 6. For 21 days, a spiritual battle unfolded as Daniel prayed. Ask God for enter into this 21 days of prayer and fasting. Ask God to remove that strength to persevere in prayer over the next three weeks. Commit to fear and replace it with the reassurance of His peace. seek Him no matter the opposition in this time. 3. We are told that when Daniel started to pray at the beginning of those 7. When the angel appeared to Daniel following his 21 days of prayer 21 days that he set his heart to understand and humbled himself and fasting, it was to deliver a vision. Ask that God would use this 21 before the Lord. Express your desire to understand more about God days to bring you a fresh vision for your life, whether that is in your as you seek Him in these 21 days. relationship with God, your circumstances, or your future impact. 4. Now humble yourself before the Lord. Confess any sin that may create distraction in this season. Trust in God’s forgiveness through

Father, thank you for hearing my prayers. We’re committing this 21 days to you in prayer and fasting. Like Daniel, we know we are engaging in spiritual battle, but we acknowledge your victory today. Give us the strength to persevere that we may know you more and the vision that you have for our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thanks for participating today in 21 days of Prayer and Fasting. Look for a new prayer guide available at 6:00am tomorrow morning. For more prayer and fasting resources, please visit fbca.com. DAY TWO 1.7.20

Becoming People Of Prayer Hey everyone, this is Pastor Myles and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 2. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture The word of the Lord came to Devotional Thought Reading Jeremiah a second time, while he When the Lord comes to the vehicle that brings us to our Jeremiah 33:1-3 was still shut up in the court of the guard: ”Thus says the Lord Jeremiah, he gives him simple destination, but rather, what if it who made the earth, the Lord instructions: “Call to me and is the destination? who formed it to establish it—the I will answer you and will tell Lord is his name: Call to me and I you great and hidden things that Paul said in 1 Thessalonians will answer you, and will tell you you have not known.” These are 5:16–18, “Rejoice always, pray great and hidden things that you have not known. such powerful words; a promise continually, give thanks in all from God. Our heavenly father circumstances; for this is God’s desires to know us and to walk will for you in Christ Jesus.” in daily communion with us. Here, Paul gives clear instruction Many of us have experienced the to the church at Thessalonica: power of prayer in our own lives pray continually. We are to pray and we’ve heard stories of lives without stopping. An ongoing changed through prayer. So, how conversation with the One who can we live a lifestyle of ongoing laid the foundation of the earth. conversation with our Heavenly Father; the one who formed us, Prayer is essential in our pursuit knows us, and in spite of our to live a Jesus-centered life. failures… He loves us. Whatever has gone on in the past, you can decide today All too often we reserve prayer that you’re going to become for times of need. We need a person who prays. I believe provision, so we pray. We need that when we fully embrace a anointing, we pray. We need lifestyle of prayer, we will begin healing, or deliverance, or to experience the breakthrough cleansing, we pray. But what if power of the holy spirit in we talked to God not out of need, our lives, in our families, but out of relationship? What in our churches and in our if we viewed prayer as not just communities. Prayer Time

1. In Jeremiah 33:3, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to call out to Him. Let’s 4. We know that our Heavenly Father has a purpose for our lives. Let’s ask begin our time of prayer by asking the Lord to meet us here in this the Lord to begin to reveal His purpose and plan for us in the coming moment. days. 2. In this season of prayer and fasting, we want to remove anything that 5. God’s plans in our lives require action on our part. As the Lord reveals might create a distraction. Take a moment and confess to the Lord areas plans He has for you and leads you in His calling, ask Him to reveal of sin in your life and humbly seek His forgiveness. your steps. 3. As we see demonstrated in Jeremiah’s journey, there is hope in the 6. As we close our time of prayer today let’s ask God to create a hunger Lord’s blessings. Let’s take a moment and thank God for the blessings within us to spend time with Him each day, not just praying out of need in your life. but out of a desire for a closer walk with Him.

Father, thank You for hearing my prayers. We’re committing this season to You in prayer and fasting. May we be faithful to pursue a relationship with You through prayer. Give us the strength to persevere that we may know You more and the vision that You have for our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Nothing Can Separate Us! Hey everyone, this is Pastor Jim and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 3. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture What then shall we say to these Devotional Thought Reading things? If God is for us, who can Romans 8:31-38 be against us? He who did not spare As we read this passage from actions. For I do not do what his own Son but gave him up for us all, God’s Word, we hear many I want, but I do the very thing how will he not also with him graciously promises and truths that I hate.” “Wretched man that I give us all things? Who shall bring any God wants us to understand, am! Who will deliver me?” charge against God’s elect? It is God who believe, and cling to as we justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than persevere through each day. But, just like Paul, we do not that, who was raised—who is at the right These are powerful truths need to leave that question hand of God, who indeed is interceding that gave Paul the courage he unanswered. The answer is for us. Who shall separate us from the needed to press on in living a Jesus. Jesus will deliver you. love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or “Jesus-centered” life; even to distress, or persecution, or famine, or the point of giving his own life Our prayer today is that you nakedness, or danger, or sword? for the sake of the gospel. believe these truths for yourself As it is written, and experience a breakthrough “For your sake we are being killed all the It may be easier to identify with God; ushering in a life day long; with Paul’s words in chapter of faith, hope, love, freedom, we are regarded as sheep to be 7 of Romans where he said “I power, and confidence in your slaughtered.” do not understand my own life.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Prayer Time

1. In Romans 8:31, is says “If God is for us, who can be against us”. that you are experiencing in these 21 days of prayer and fasting. Pray Those wonderful words are true for you as well. You can live today a prayer of thanksgiving that none of your trials can separate you from without fear of whatever comes against you because God is greater than the love of Christ. your most fierce adversary. Lift a prayer of adoration to God who is the 4. The next verse says that we are “more than conquerors through him creator of the universe and is sovereign over all creation. who loved us”. Pray that you will experience the power of Jesus Christ 2. Now humble yourself before the Lord. Confess any sin that you are demonstrated through you today so that others may see Him in you. entangled with and may be weighing you down in this season. Claim 5. Finally, pray that you will have confidence like Paul in verse 38 where the truth found in verse 1 for yourself that “There is no condemnation he says “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor for those who are in Christ Jesus”. things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, 3. In verse 35 we see the question “Who shall separate us from the love nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” nakedness, or danger, or sword?” Take a moment to pray about trials

Father, thank you for hearing my prayers. We’re committing these 21 days to you in prayer and fasting. Like Paul, we know we are engaging in spiritual battle, but we acknowledge your victory today. Give us the strength to persevere that we may know you more and the vision that you have for our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Breakthrough with God Hey everyone, this is Pastor Cass and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 4. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… so let’s jump in!guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Now Moses was keeping the flock of his Devotional Thought Reading father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, You have probably heard I am slow to speech and of Matthew 9:35-38 and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain this story so many times. tongue.” of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared Moses finds himself Now, I am not sure what to him in a flame of fire out of the midst watching his flock and then Moses thought he was of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush face to face with a bush that going to be when he grew was burning, yet it was not consumed. And is on fire, but is not burning up. My thought is, it wasn’t Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When up. And, out of that bush to be the man who would the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God comes the voice of God lead Israel. He was a man called to him out of the bush, “Moses, who calls Moses to lead watching over the flocks. Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he the nation of Israel out of He was a simple man. A said, “Do not come near; take your sandals slavery from the Egyptians. working man. But, not a off your feet, for the place on which you are leader…at least in his own standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Now, if you read the rest of eyes. Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of chapter 3 and into verse 4, Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was we don’t find a man who So, Moses was ready with afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I is very excited about this every excuse he could have surely seen the affliction of my people request from God. In fact, come up with as to why who are in Egypt and have heard their cry multiple times, Moses tells he shouldn’t be the one because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver God that he is not the right to complete the task. And them out of the hand of the Egyptians one for the job. In verse 11, he let God hear it…”who and to bring them up out of that land to Moses claims, “who am I am I”…”they won’t listen a good and broad land, a land flowing with that I should go…”, chapter to me”… “I am slow to milk and honey… Come, I will send you to 4 verse 1, Moses replies to speech”. God was calling Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the God, “they will not believe Moses to something big, children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to me or listen to my voice.”, but also something way Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of and then in 4:10, Moses out of his comfort zone. Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and again explains to God, I God was calling him into this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent am not eloquent, either in something that would you: when you have brought the people out of the past or since you have stretch him…both mentally Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” spoken to your servant, but and spiritually. Maybe that is you. God is calling you into something or zone? He might not be calling you to change careers or maybe out of something, and you have given God every move to another country, although that might be true, but excuse as to why you shouldn’t. There is a saying that God there might be something that He is speaking to you today doesn’t always call the equipped, but He will equip those that requires your obedience and faith, not your excuses. that are called. God is speaking to you. Calling you by name. You simply Today, what is God calling you to do that might stretch need to respond, “Here I am.” you, that might cause you to step out of your little comfort

Prayer Time

1. It required a lot of faith and obedience to listen to and follow the calling a lack of faith we have in God. Spend some time talking with God and God had for Moses. What is an area in your life that God is calling for asking for more faith today. more of your obedience? 3. Out of the burning bush God spoke directly to Moses, and his response 2. It can be easy for us sometimes to come up with excuses of why we was simple… “Here I am.” Take some time right now to just listen… can’t do something…time, money, energy, ability, etc. Excuses can show listen for the voice of God…and be ready to respond…”Here I am.”

Father, thank you for listening to me and hearing my prayers. God, help me to hear your voice, listen, and follow you…being ready and obedient to what you want for me. God increase my faith in you today. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

Thanks for listening today and for participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Look for a new prayer guide available at 6:00am tomorrow morning. For more prayer and fasting resources, please visit fbca.com. DAY FIVE 1.10.20

God is Good. Now, What? Hey everyone, this is Pastor Larry Dean and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 5. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Today our Scripture reading is from Psalm In other words, “God has been good to me. Reading 116. Here the psalmist is praising God for Now what do I do?” What does living for the Psalm 116 answered prayer. He cried out for help and LORD look like? the Lord delivered him. He realized that he owed his very life to the One who rescued Here is how the Holy Spirit guided him to him. Immediately, he dedicated himself to answer that question. Psalm 116:13-19. live for the LORD as long as he had breath. “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD In verse 9, he wrote: in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight “I will walk before the LORD in the land of the of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, I living.” am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. I will offer This appears to be a breakthrough moment to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the for him and his relationship with God. Not name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD content just know the LORD, now he is in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the committing himself to live for him. house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!” When we come to verse 12, the psalmist asks a very important question. “What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?” Prayer Time

In this solemn personal time of commitment, the psalmist turned his Keeping promises to God is so important that it is repeated word for word affection for God into specific actions. Four times in this section he used in verse 18. In both cases, what was promised was to be fulfilled publicly. the words “I will”. Let’s use these statements as prompts for our own Living for the LORD has never been a private matter. The New Testament prayers today. knows nothing of a lone ranger believer. A vital part of spiritual growth is to be intentionally connected with other believers. When we tell others 1. I will praise God for His deliverance. (v.13) what God has done for us, it inspires them on their spiritual journey as Think back to that time when the LORD saved you and gave you eternal well. life. Stop and relive that breakthrough moment. Then, praise Him right now in prayer for your salvation in Christ. 3. I will pray with a thankful heart. (v.17) Think back to the times when the LORD intervened in your life and The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about rescued you from trouble or an awful situation. Stop and praise Him right anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving now for what He did. let your requests be made known to God.”

2. I will do what I promised. (v.14) When we present those needy requests in prayer, is it is to be with a Often, when God does a work in our lives we make promises to do heart of gratitude for what the LORD has already done for us? Does something or to stop doing something else. Have you kept those thankfulness characterize your prayer today? promises you made? If not, renew those good vows in prayer right now and ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Or, stop and make a fresh Bill Gaither wrote the beautiful song: commitment that you know the LORD wants you to make. Consider the “So many reasons why I love the Lord. So many reasons I can’t count following areas of your life as suggestions. them.” • Purity and holiness in every area of your life Try doing that for a few moments in prayer right now. Count your many • Faithfulness to the LORD and to others blessings. See what God has done. • Contentment with what God has provided That question, “What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to • Involvement in what God has called you to do me?” is one of the most life-changing questions in the entire Bible. It is a question that should motivate every one of us throughout every day. It should cause us to check our own list of “I wills”.

Heavenly Father, you have given us another day to serve you. And, we are overcome by how good you have been to each one of us. Out of your grace you have forgiven our sin. You have assured us of eternal life. You have answered innumerable prayers for us in the past. And, so we come today with grateful hearts knowing that you see our needs and that you will help us today. In Jesus mighty and powerful name, Amen.

A Life that Marks History Hey everyone, this is Pastor Kraig Kelsey and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day Six. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like Reading against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up Acts 9 asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul proving that Jesus is the Messiah. got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The basket through an opening in the wall. Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely on your name.” in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and Devotional Thought

Breakthrough is what we see in this encounter, no doubt. had a regular job as a tent builder and waited for the next What would be more of a breakthrough than being blinded big mission in his calling. by God and then regaining sight? Paul’s conversion story As you pray today, reflect on the circumstances in your life is certainly inspiring. But that’s not the breakthrough we’ll right now that persist year after year without a clear answer pray about through and reflect on today. It’s the aftermath from God on the right next step. It can feel frustrating, we want to focus in on. hopeless, or confusing when we live with a fire and passion Paul’s conversion was a miracle and it changed the to fully live in the big dreams God places in our hearts, and trajectory of his life and the influence he had in his yet they remain in limbo. The gap between the waiting and community. God knew that. Paul knew that. But very few the dream can feel godless. But as we know in Paul’s case, others saw Paul’s new life for all it would become. He was the four years of waiting and working and waiting some called crazy. He was rejected as a disciple by the disciples more ended. Those years gave way traveling thousands who were following Jesus in Jerusalem. And his life was of miles to preach the gospel and contributing so much plotted against in more than one city! wisdom to the Bible we’re studying today.

Not the start he expected to be sure. But he spoke boldly. The aftermath of a breakthrough with God may not look He was fearless. like much, but in time, in waiting, in believing and acting And still, as the story goes on, Paul ends up back in Tarsus every day to trust that the power of the thing God put in where he grew up and then spends four long years waiting. your heart will be complete, that leads to life that marks Can you imagine? He went back home to square one, he history.

Prayer Time

Let’s take a moment right now as you are listening to stop and pray. This will be a guided prayer time, so I’ll give you specific prompts on what to pray from God’s ord.W If at any point you need some additional time to pray, simply press pause and resume whenever you are ready.

1. Take a moment now to remember your own conversion story. Bring the 4. Think for a moment now on who God is to you. What words describe images, experience and emotions that came with it to mind. Thank God who he is? Contemplate those descriptors. Thank God for being who he for the gift of knowing him and finding you in the way he did. is to you. And ask him to show you more of who he is. 2. In verses 20-29 we see that Paul’s life and words – though they were 5. Verse 28 says, 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in full of the message and power of the Spirit – were questioned and Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Ask God now what rejected. Now take a moment to tell God what today you’re waiting for, he wants you to do today while you wait or while you meet hostility where you feel resistance and rejection in the things he’s called you to and resistance in your journey. do. 6. Now, ask God if there are any words or pictures he will give you now to 3. Consider the resistance you’ve had against doing what God has re-inspire the mission you feel called to. prompted in you – what actions or inaction, words, doubts, have you 7. Let’s thank God for these picture and words of reassurance. wrestled with? Take them to God now and ask him to forgive your resistance.

God, I thank you for the overwhelming change you’ve made in my life and Thanks for listening today and for participating in 21 days of prayer and the change that’s still going to happen. I have a beautiful picture of the fasting. Look for a new prayer guide available at 6:00am tomorrow morning. life you want for me and who you are to me. And while I wait for the right For more prayer and fasting resources, please visit fbca.com. next step or I’m challenged to give up my own resistance, I will trust you and the plans you have that are bigger than what I can see. Amen. DAY SEVEN 1.12.20

The Lord’s Prayer Hey everyone, this is Pastor Steve and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 7. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading I wanted to take today’s prayer guide not looking for mindless, disengaged Matthew 6:5-13 and go a little deeper into our Sunday conversations. His desire is morning message. If you are listening meaningful engagement in prayer. And when you pray, you must to this before the message, today we not be like the hypocrites. For are talking about the Lord’s Prayer. The Jesus gives us an outline or they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street This prayer was not meant to be example prayer. The more that I have corners, that they may be seen by repeated mindlessly or even to serve personally had conversation with others. Truly, I say to you, they as some kind of formula for God to God through elements that Jesus have received their reward. But really listen to you. Instead, it was mentions in this prayer, the more when you pray, go into your meant to show the kind of intimacy alive my personal relationship with room and shut the door and that we have with God when we pray. God has become. I’ll be honest… pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who I struggled with prayer for years in sees in secret will reward you. When Jesus talks about prayer, he my relationship with God. Apart “And when you pray, do not expresses it as a relationship between from meals and asking God to move heap up empty phrases as the us and God. This is part of the reason in the minor crises of my life, I Gentiles do, for they think that that he encourages us at the beginning always wrestled with how to have a they will be heard for their many of our passage of scripture to not pray meaningful prayer conversation with words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you like the religious leaders of his day… God. need before you ask him. Pray praying for show on street corners to then like this: “Our Father show how pious and holy they were. Then I began studying the Lord’s in heaven, hallowed be your He encourages us to go into our room, Prayer, not as a formula, but as a road name. Your kingdom come, your shut the door, and have a one-on- map for the kind of significant prayer will be done, on earth as it is one conversation with God. We have conversations I could have with God. in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our closed door conversations with those It was the breakthrough that I needed debts, as we also have forgiven that we are closest to, those who with God. our debtors. And lead us not we trust, our most important and into temptation, but deliver us intimate relationships. This is the So today in our prayer time, I want to from evil. kind of relationship that God wants walk you through the meaning and the with us in prayer. power of Jesus teaching on prayer… The Lords Prayer. It’s also why he encourages us to “not heap up empty phrases.” God is Prayer Time

So, let’s take a moment right now as you are listening to stop and pray. This will be a guided prayer time, so I’ll give you specific prompts on what to pray from God’s Word. If at any point you need some additional time to pray, simply press pause and resume whenever you are ready.

1. Jesus tells us to start our prayer acknowledging our relationship with 4. God is our provider. Jesus tells us to ask Him for our “daily bread”, to God. He is your heavenly Father. You have been adopted into the trust in God’s ability to meet your needs. Spend some time now lifting family of God. Begin by expressing your gratitude for your relationship up the requests and needs in your life. with your Heavenly Father. 5. Confession is part of our daily conversation with God. Jesus put it this 2. “Hallowed or Holy is your name” is the next phrase that Jesus way, “forgive us our debts.” Take a moment to confess ways in which expresses. This is a time to praise God for who is in your life. God’s you have disobeyed God and trust in the forgiveness of those sins name comes in many different forms in scripture. Let’s praise God for through Jesus. some of these right now. 6. Search your heart. Is there anyone that you need to forgive. Jesus • God’s name is Jehovah Jireh – God Who Provides – Praise God for said that part of our prayer for forgiveness is to also forgive those His provision in your life. who have wronged us. Ask God to reveal any unforgiveness or • God’s name is Jehovah Shammah – God Who Is Present – Praise God bitterness in your heart. Ask God to give you strength to forgive that for being present in your life and circumstances. person. • God’s name is Jehovah Tsidkenu – God Our Righteousness – Praise 7. At the conclusion of the prayer, Jesus prompts us to invite the power God for righteousness through the death and resurrection of Jesus. of God in our lives to repent of sin. “Lead us not into temptation, 3. Jesus tells us next to invite the kingdom of God upon the earth and but deliver us from evil.” Ask for God to prevent you from stepping that begins with you and me. Ask for God’s kingdom will come and into sin today. Ask that God would give you wisdom to see the way His will to be done in your life today. Think through your day – your out of temptation and courage to take it. appointments, your tasks. Ask God to lead you in all of it.

Father, thank you for not only hearing our prayers, but teaching us how to pray. As we have these conversations with you, usher us into an ever-growing, ever-deepening relationship with you. We want to live the Jesus-centered life. We know that the breakthrough to get there is in a constant conversation with you. Thank you for always hearing and responding to us prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.

Are You Weak At The Knees? Hey everyone, this is Pastor David and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 8. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading Have you ever felt weak at the knees? 5:12 – 14 the Bible says, “For though by this Hebrews 12:12 – 14 Have you ever had one of those physically time you ought to be teachers, you have need “Therefore, exhausting experiences that left you tired, again for someone to teach you the elementary strengthen the hands weak and exhausted? If you have, you know principles of the oracles of God, and you have that are weak and the necessity of replenishing your physical come to need milk and not solid food. For the knees that are body. everyone who partakes only of milk is not feeble, and make straight paths for Now let me ask you another question. Have accustomed to the word of righteousness, your feet, so that the you every felt spiritually weak? Most of us for he is an infant. But solid food is for the limb which is lame at some time have had that experience. The mature, who because of practice have their may not be put out race we run with Christ can be tiring and senses trained to discern good and evil.” of joint, but rather be exhausting. In fact that is exactly what the So, get in the Word of God and let it encourage healed. Pursue peace God is talking about here in Hebrews 12. and strengthen you. with all men, and the sanctification without In Hebrews 12:1, the Bible tells us to Second, we are to get out of the world that which no one will see “run with endurance the race that is set causes our path to become crooked. The the Lord.” before us”. God is telling us that the picture here in Hebrews 12:13 is of a Christian Christian life is much like running a race. that has fallen to the temptations of the world It takes endurance, focus and faithfulness and got off the straight path. His way has to Christ. Still it can be exhausting and become crooked. His life has become sinful that is exactly the picture we find in and carnal. But the encouragement here is to Hebrew 12: 12 – 14. The runner has put ourselves back on the right path. Perhaps become spiritually exhausted and the today you are covered in sin and shame. Praise Holy Spirit is admonishing those of us in God our salvation is safe and secure. We just those circumstances today to strengthen need to cleanse ourselves before God. ourselves. Third, we are to be right with our fellow There are three challenges for us in these believers and pursue. Did you know that one verses. of the things that can cause great spiritual One, we are to get into the Word of God exhaustion is relational stress? In Hebrews for it to strengthen us. Just as physical 12:14 we are told to pursue peace with all exhaustion requires rest and nourishment, men. I encourage you today to make right any so does spiritual exhaustion. According to relationships that need repair and be right Hebrews 12:12, we are to rest and nourish before God and your brothers and sisters in ourselves from God’s Word. In Hebrews Christ. Prayer Time

As you take some time to pray today let’s pray through the things we have 3. While you are praying, ask God to reveal the names of any broken discussed. relationships that need to be mended. And while you are praying for that. Also ask God to show you how to mend those. 1. Take some time to pray for God to strengthen you in His Word. I 4. Finally, thank God today that you can be right with Him. He is a loving suggest you take Psalm 119 and pray through these verses. Father that welcomes us back from a life of straying to a life of abiding 2. Let’s use this time to bring any unconfessed sin before God. Perhaps with Him. these sins have taken you off the straight and narrow and caused you to wander away. Take some time right now to name you sins to God, agree with Him that they have caused your spiritual life to be weakened.

Father, thank You for your love and forgiveness. You are able to restore and mend all that is lost and broken. Help us get in and strengthen ourselves in Your Word as it contains everything we need to live abundantly in Your service. We are weak and confused on our own. We love You and praise You in Jesus name. Amen.

Pursuit Of The Jesus-Centered Life Hey everyone, this is Pastor Myles and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 9. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture If you put these things before Devotional Thought Reading the brothers, you will be a good 1 Timothy 4:6-10 servant of Christ Jesus, being In his book – Outliers – Malcolm As a church family, we are trained in the words of the Gladwell writes that the average committed to pursuing a Jesus- faith and of the good doctrine professional or expert spends centered life. This pursuit requires that you have followed. 7 Have 10,000 hours practicing their investment in our relationship nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train craft before they reached expert with Jesus. Here in this season of yourself for godliness; 8 for level. Simply put, success Breakthrough, we are committing while bodily training is of some takes investment. It’s often an to seek the Lord across these value, godliness is of value in investment of time and training. 21 days that we may better every way, as it holds promise understand his grace, mercy and for the present life and also for In March of 2008 much of the unfailing love for us. the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of college basketball world watched full acceptance. 10 For to this with amazement as a small Paul writes to his young preacher end we toil and strive, because college outside of Charlotte, friend, Timothy and he says– we have our hope set on the North Carolina defeated 3 much “train yourself to be godly. living God, who is the Savior of higher ranked teams to reach the “Physical training is good, but all people, especially of those Elite Eight of the annual NCAA training for godliness is much who believe. tournament. Davidson College better,”. You see, Paul wants was led by an undersized point Timothy to become godly and the guard named Stephen (Steph) implication is that it takes time Curry. For many, Steph Curry was and training to draw closer to God. an overnight sensation, however The fact is, godliness doesn’t just the truth behind his success happen. In order to stay connected lies in his relentless investment to Jesus we play a part. We have in his game. Today, his practice to ask ourselves: How much time regimen is well documented as do I invest in my relationship with he takes as many as 500 shots a my Heavenly Father? Do I have the day. This investment to time and habit of being godly in whatever training has made Steph Curry a I do and wherever I go? I know, 2-time NBA MVP, 3-time World these can be humbling questions, Champion and he is widely but this is what God desires from regarded as the greatest 3-point us. shooter in NBA history. Prayer Time

1. Lord, in what area or areas of my life do you want to me to become 5. Finally as we come to a close, ask God to reveal how godliness in your more like you? life could have an eternal impact. Verse 8 states that godliness holds 2. Now, ask God to search your heart for at least one character trait that promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Further in He would like to more fully develop in your life. I Timothy:4, verse 12 states that we are to demonstrate godliness in 3. Surrender this area of your life to Him and ask Him for guidance and speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Ask the Lord to reveal to you wisdom, confessing any sin or area that needs repentance. those that need your godly example in their lives. 4. Ask the Lord to reveal any areas in your life that might not be sinful in their own right, but might be preventing you from having the time to train for godliness.

Father, thank You for hearing my prayers. We’re committing this season to You in prayer and fasting. Like Timothy, we desire to live a life of godliness in our conduct, love faith and purity. We desire to train ourselves diligently in godliness because of its value in our lives and in eternity. Our hope is set on You, the living God and Savior. In Jesus name, Amen.

Breakthrough in Circumstances Hey everyone, this is Pastor Cass and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 10. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading Genesis 37:18-28 Wow. You only thought your family ultimate roller coaster of life. His They saw him from afar, and before he came had conflict and trouble! Joseph circumstances go from good to bad, near to them they conspired against him to was loved, but only by his father. from great to worst, but the one kill him. They said to one another, “Here His eleven other brothers didn’t constant in Joseph’s life is his trust comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill like the fact that Joseph was the in God. him and throw him into one of the pits. favorite. Joseph was given a robe of Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will many colors, and the brothers were Joseph is sold, made to be thought become of his dreams.” But when Reuben jealous, angry, and probably many as dead, accused of wrong doing heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, other things as well. with the wife of one of the officers, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And thrown in prison, interprets more Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw Joseph had an incredible gift to be dreams, left in prison for several him into this pit here in the wilderness, but able to interpret dreams. And well more years, released from prison, do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him one of his dreams didn’t sit well made to be in charge of all of the to his father. So when Joseph came to his with the brothers. His dream said land, and then faced with his family brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the that he would rule over his brothers again. robe of many colors that he wore. And they and parents and that they would took him and threw him into a pit. The pit bow down to him. I can’t even Joseph’s circumstances weren’t was empty; there was no water in it. Then imagine having this discussion with always great. But his trust in God they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from my siblings at the dinner table and was. Your circumstances might not Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, how that would turn out. always be great…lay-offs at work, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down sickness in the family, bills piling to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, So, the brothers came up with a up, paying for college, marriage “What profit is it if we kill our brother and plan…to kill him. But the oldest issues, parent issues…I am sure conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him brother spoke up quickly and you have a list of your own. Joseph to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our decided that wasn’t the best idea, so knew the One with whom he served. own flesh.” And his brothers listened to they decided to sell him instead, and He knew that he could trust God him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they did just that. no matter what. He knew that even they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of when he was at his lowest, God had the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for I would encourage you to read the not forgotten him and that he could twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to rest of the story today, chapters trust God no matter what. Egypt. 38-45. Joseph experiences the You can do the same. It’s easy to trust God when things The book of Proverbs sums it up like this, “Trust in the are all going well. It takes work to trust Him when Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own things are sliding off the rails and your circumstances are understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he overwhelming to you. But, God has not forgotten you, and will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) you can trust Him.

Prayer Time

1. It would have been easy for Joseph to try and work it all out himself, 3. Joseph’s story is a beautiful one story of forgiveness as well. When his but he put his trust in God first. Spend some time simply asking God brothers return to him Joseph loves them, forgives them, and helps to help you trust him more. provide for them. Is there a relationship that you need to trust God 2. We can all get overwhelmed by our circumstances, but God is there more with today? Spend some time talking with God about it. because He has never forgotten us. What is one specific areas that you need to trust God more in? Name it, write it down, and declare to God that you are giving it to Him today.

Father, thank you for listening to me and hearing my prayers. God, although today might be filled with circumstances that are overwhelming or even unbearable, I will choose to trust You. Help me to put my full trust in You and lean always on You. Thank you for always loving me. Amen.

When Our Plans Do Not Work Hey everyone, this is Pastor Larry Dean and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 11. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading Acts 16:6-10 Paul was right in the center of God’s will, We anticipate and look forward to the doing what God wanted him to be doing. unseen breakthrough that God will This passage tells of the time when But as he continued to serve the Lord, provide. Here is what encourages us, the Apostle Paul traveled west the Holy Spirit stopped him. Traveling gives us hope, and keep us going. When through Asia Minor to preach the west, Paul literally ran out of real estate unexpected changes occur: good news of Jesus and to plant and could go no further. Then, the call churches along the way. His plan was in one direction, but God had came to cross the Aegean Sea and take 1. We are reminded again that God is in other plans. the gospel to Macedonia. Paul’s plan control, not us. was to continue in Asia Minor. God’s 2. Because God is in control, He “And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been plan was to take the gospel into Europe. is worthy of our complete trust, forbidden by the Holy Spirit to Though unforeseen by Paul, this was a especially when we do not speak the word in Asia. And when life-changing, ministry-changing, world- understand our circumstances. That they had come up to Mysia, they changing breakthrough! is the essence of faith. attempted to go into Bithynia, but 3. We do understand that all of God’s the Spirit of Jesus did not allow Life can throw us a curve ball on any plans are to bring glory to Himself. them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision given day. Changes and losses can cause 4. Through each time we experience appeared to Paul in the night: a us to be confused, questioning God, or that God’s plan was far better than man of Macedonia was standing even causing us to want to give up. We ours. there, urging him and saying, thought we were in good health, but ‘Come over and help us.’ And the doctor’s report said differently. We Just think of the churches that were when Paul had seen the vision, thought we were doing good work, planted and later the books that immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God but we lost our job. We treasured a were written to the Philippians, the had called us to preach the gospel relationship, but we lost it. We thought Thessalonians, and the Corinthians. to them.” we had a wonderful financial plan, but These were certainly not in Paul’s things did not work out that way. And, immediate plans, but they were in God’s. you could fill in the blank with your own major unexpected life-change. Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a It is in those times we learn to depend man, but it is the purpose of the on the true anchor of our souls. We who LORD that will stand.” personally know and trust in Jesus have a faith-perspective on life circumstances. Prayer Time

1. Would you take a few moments to worship the Lord for who He is? 3. Often a believer may experience difficulties due to selfish decisions • He is the Creator of all things and/or personal sin. Take some time to confess these to the Lord and • He is the Owner of all things come clean with Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to take control of your life • He is the Controller of all things and produce His fruit in you. As you pray for these apply them to your • He is the one and only Savior own circumstances today. This is the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s 2. Though the Apostle Paul was in the center of God’s will, he experienced control of our lives. As you pray, is something missing? physical suffering, confusing changes, and great losses. Still, he wrote • love that we are to “pray with thanksgiving”. Thank Him for what He has • joy already done and can do for you today. • peace • He has given us His peace above and beyond our circumstances. • patience • He has given us His presence. We are never alone. • kindness • He has given us His protection when we feel so vulnerable. • goodness • He has given us His provision when we feel so needy. • faithfulness • He has given us His power when we feel so helpless. • gentleness • He has given us His perspective when we feel confused. • self control

Lord Jesus, thank you that you hear us when we pray. We confess that many times we do not understand all that happens to us, but we do know that you love us. By faith, we believe that you are at work for our good. Our desire is to live above our circumstances and bring glory to Your name today by our thoughts, words and actions. And, we pray this in Your name, Amen.

Seen, Heard & Delivered Hey everyone, this is Pastor Kraig Kelsey and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 12. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Reading Devotional Thought Psalm 34:4-7 In this passage we find deep comfort God and being known by him has – “he answered me” “he delivered little to do with our troubles, shame I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. me” “never covered with shame.” and fears miraculously disappearing. Those who look to him are radiant; Think on those phrases for a We’re not promised this relief their faces are never covered with shame. moment” “answered,” “delivered,” or special privilege. But we are This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; “never covered with shame.” What promised that we will be answered, he saved him out of all his troubles. a remarkable healer God is. He delivered, saved, surrounded by him The angel of the Lord encamps around those restores so much in us and for us in and his angels in the battle. who fear him, and he delivers them. ways we could never do on our own or even hope to do. It’s a beautiful We will be afraid. We will feel thing in our relationship with God shame. We will want to cry out that we not only get to know him for help. We will have bad days, intimately, but he knows us and bad weeks or bad years. But the responds to the humanness – the encouragement here is to know, as fear, shame, troubles. He sees it. He one of His, he is encamped around doesn’t run. He moves toward us. us. He is for us and comes for us. As we pray and reflect on today’s The unstated thought I want to passage, I want to say to those of share with you based on this passage you who have had the thought that of scripture, is the assumption that’s God does not hear or see you, or made that trouble, shame and fear that you’re too tangled in the battle already exist for the man in this to be rescued, that you’re wrong. Psalm and it’s not that it was self- There’s nothing true in that distance inflicted or trouble that was caused you feel or that silence you hear. outside of a relationship with God. He is encamped around you. He is Trouble exists for everyone – near or waiting for you to look to his face far from God. The solace in knowing and see his radiance. Prayer Time

1. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my 4. “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he fears.” delivers them.’ • Right now, give God your fears. Tell him what haunts you and • Imagine what this looks like around you right now. Is there an army worries you. Then, as him to come into them and show you what Is of soldiers surrounding you? Is there a barrier built to shield you true. from the battle? Are there arms around you, covering you from 2. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with harm? Ask God to show you how he’s encamped his angels around shame.” you. And ask him to deliver you from the overwhelming enemy you • God sees us and loves us despite the shame we feel about who and face. what we think we are. Tell God the shame you carry. Tell him what 5. Now, ask God to forgive your doubts and disbeliefs about who he is and you believe about who you are and what you are saying to yourself how he cares for you and thank him for his rescue. that is against the perfect person God sees in you. Tell him about that 6. Fear and shame have a way of creeping in constantly, don’t they? shame and then pray that he changes the picture. Ask him to help Commit to God that you will seize any thought that feeds the fear and you see yourself and your circumstances as he sees them. shame you have immediately and replace it with the thoughts that God 3. “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all gives you about who you are and how he sees you. his troubles.’ • Talk to God about what’s troubling you. Tell him the thoughts you run through over and over that don’t seem to ever get resolved. Tell him where you feel “poor” or lacking and ask him to fill that space in you. Ask him to make you whole and overflowing in the places you are empty.

God, you are so big and powerful! You come to our rescue. You see our fear and shame and you run toward us! Thank you, God, thank you for finding us when we are buried in our circumstances. We ask that you help us to remember to take captive those thoughts that feed our fear and shame. We ask that you deliver us from them and change the story. We trust you to cover us and fight for us. Help our belief to know you are doing it.

No Worries Hey everyone, this is Pastor Jim and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 13. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Do not be anxious about anything, but Devotional Thought Reading in everything by prayer and Philippians 4:6-13 supplication with thanksgiving let As we read this passage to Him in an attitude of your requests be made known to from God’s Word, we are thankfulness; no matter the God. And the peace of God, which immediately met with a circumstances. We truly surpasses all understanding, will guard truth that we often find have much to be thankful your hearts and your minds in Christ hard to live out; to not be for. If we come to Him in Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, anxious about anything; to that way, then He gives us whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, not worry about anything. a wonderful promise. He whatever is commendable, if there is any It is easy to find ourselves says that he will give us excellence, if there is anything worthy of trapped in worry, fear, and a peace that surpasses all praise, think about these things. What doubt as we face each day. understanding that will you have learned and received and heard God gives us a prescription guard our hearts and minds. and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. in these verses that can cure O how he wants us to have I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the disease of worry and that peace! length you have revived your concern for enable us to live a “Jesus- me. You were indeed concerned for me, centered” life filled with He also tells us to redirect but you had no opportunity. Not that I His peace even in the most our thoughts towards things am speaking of being in need, for I have challenging circumstances. that are true and good learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought versus the things that bring low, and I know how to abound. In any He first issues an invitation worry, doubt, and fear. and every circumstance, I have learned for us to pray and to bring the secret of facing plenty and hunger, our requests to Him. He Our prayer today is that abundance and need. I can do all wants you to come into His you believe these truths things through him who strengthens me. presence in prayer today. for yourself and experience Bring Him your worries, a breakthrough over cares, and concerns and circumstances so that you lay them at His feet. He can experience His perfect also wants us to come peace. Prayer Time

1. Let’s follow God’s prescription for finding a peace that surpasses all 4. Turn your prayer and meditation on things that God has placed in your understanding today. Let’s start by lifting a prayer of adoration to God. life that are true, just, pure, or lovely. Praise Him for who He is and what He has done in your life. 5. God is worthy of our praise! Pray a prayer of praise to God for His 2. Now share your anxieties, fears, and concerns with the Lord. Place holiness, majesty, power, and unconditional love. them at His feet and entrust them to Him and let go of your grip on 6. Finally, pray that you will have the faith to trust God as Paul did in all them. circumstances. Pray that prayer of faith by saying “I can do all things 3. Spend a few moments thinking about the things that you are thankful through Christ who strengthens me”. for. Remember things such as salvation, provision, blessings, and His promises for your hope and future. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for the specific things you are thankful for.

Normal Christian Living Hey everyone, this is Pastor David and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 14. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading As you continue today with day 14 of our Spirit? The idea of filling means to be Ephesians 5:18 fast together, would you consider what the consumed and controlled by God’s Spirit. Bible calls the normal Christ life? That simply means that we have so And do not get Sometimes circumstances in life can surrendered our daily life to Christ that drunk with wine, for distract and discourage us. And it becomes His Spirit controls our thoughts, actions, that is dissipation, so easy to live beneath what God has imaginations, choices and feelings. To be but be filled with the planned for us. And for some reason we filled by God’s Spirit is to be consumed by Spirit convince ourselves that this is the normal God Himself. He is in complete control and Christian life. But it doesn’t have to be that we are living yielded to Christ. way and that is certainly not the normal I don’t know about you, but I know that Christian life. sometimes I find myself overwhelmed by In Ephesians 5:18 we are told to “be filled the circumstances and challenges of life. with the Holy Spirit”!!! Wow, what a And then here is what I do. I try to take privilege. over and take control. I try to manage What is the filling of the Holy Spirit and the circumstances and I try to control how does that look in our lives? outcomes. I become the ultimate control First, let’s be clear. The filling of the Holy freak! Spirit is not the same as the baptism of the But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here is Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit a great blessing I hope you will embrace. occurs at the moment of salvation. The You and I do not have to be “in control” day you trusted Jesus to be your Lord and because we can be sure that regardless Savior, not only were you instantly forgiven of what life may bring our way, God is and forever promised a place in Heaven always in control. The Holy Spirit has never with Jesus, you were also given the Holy abandoned us and will never be out done Spirit to guide you through life. All of that, by life circumstances. and so much more occurred the moment So, I encourage you today to live in total you were saved. surrender to God’s Spirit and live the Spirit So, what then is the filling of the Holy filled life! Prayer Time

1. For the Holy Spirit to take complete control, we must be willing to 3. The filling of the Holy Spirit is not some dramatic, frenzied experience surrender everything before us. Would you take some time right now where God zaps us. It is not some second blessing that comes along and name the things that you are holding onto so tightly and release after we are saved. It is the moment by moment, daily surrender of our them to God for His complete control? will to God. And is the moment by moment receiving of all God has for 2. Second the filling of the Holy Spirit requires us to “pull off the side of us. Take some time right now to pray for God to remove any obstacles the road” so to speak and allow God to use His Word. The filling of the that are keeping you from life of complete surrender. Holy Spirit and the faithful consuming of God’s Word go hand in hand. 4. Finally, praise God for His faithfulness to us! Praise God for His Take some time to memorize this short verse we have studied today in presence through the Holy Spirit in our lives. Ephesians 5:18

Father, we thank You for Your faithfulness and presence. Help us surrender our lives to You completely so that we are clean vessels ready to be filled with Your Holy Spirit. We want to be consumed and controlled by You. Help guide our steps so that we can walk worthy of our calling into the plans and vision that You have for us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Breakthrough in Impact Hey everyone, this is Pastor Steve and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 15. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading Matthew 9:35-38 You have made to week three! I want to were few to meet the demand of so affirm and encourage you for continuing many who needed to know God. At this And Jesus went throughout on in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Even point, you would expect him to unfold all the cities and villages, if you have missed a day here or there, a strategy, to divide and conquer, to teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the you are here today and that is what equip them for new assignments. But gospel of the kingdom and matters. This is less about perfection he doesn’t do any of that. Instead, He healing every disease and and more about pursuit… Specifically, invites His disciples to pray. every affliction. When he pursuing a Jesus Centered life. saw the crowds, he had “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest compassion for them, because In the first two weeks, we talked about to send out laborers into his harvest.” they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without Breakthrough in our relationship These are not laid-back prayer. Jesus tells a shepherd. Then he said to with God and Breakthrough in our the disciple to pray earnestly. The word his disciples, “The harvest is circumstances. Today, we turn to earnestly means “to desire, to long for,” plentiful, but the laborers are Breakthrough in Impact. If we want usually representing the word “need.” It few; therefore pray earnestly to see lives, communities, culture, and us saying, God I need you to move in this to the Lord of the harvest our country turn to Jesus, it all starts in way, I long for you to move in this way. to send out laborers into his harvest.” prayer. When God wants to move in a But what are we praying earnestly for? powerful way, He puts it on the hearts Laborers. of His people to pray. This is certainly demonstrated for us in Matthew 9:35-38. Jesus invites us to pray with passion that Jesus is seeing multitudes of people God would prompt our hearts, the hearts who were harassed and helpless. The of our church, the hearts of believers hopelessness that comes from not having across our community to go as laborers a relationship with God was nearly into the harvest… To go out among overwhelming as He and the disciples those far from God and invite them to continued their ministry throughout the know Jesus. This is the prayer that Jesus cities and villages of Israel. invites us to lift up. So, if we want to experience breakthrough in spiritual Then Jesus pulled together his disciples impact, breakthrough in the lives of and said something interesting to them. others coming to know Jesus, it all starts He told them that the laborers were few in prayer. for such a great harvest… the laborers Prayer Time

1. Matthew 9:36 says that Jesus had compassion for those far from God. 4. Pray earnestly that God would send laborers into the harvest. Ask God Begin your prayer time by asking God to break your heart and give you to burden the hearts of believers all across our community to be willing an overwhelming passion for people far from God. to go to the lost and the broken in our community. Those in need of 2. Those who are far from God described as harassed and helpless, like God. Ask that God would raise up an army of faithful witnesses in our sheep without a shepherd. Pray for a spiritual openness among the lost midst. in our community, that they would be willing to hear about Jesus. 5. Ask God to make you willing to be the answer to your own prayer. Ask 3. Jesus defines reality for his disciples by telling them that the harvest is him to give you an opportunity to share your faith today. Ask Him for plentiful, meaning that there are more than enough people in need of the wisdom to see this opportunity and the courage to take it. a relationship with God. Ask God to give you spiritual eyes to see the 6. Praise God for His faithfulness to send someone to you so that you harvest of those who need to know Jesus all around you. could know Jesus Christ.

Father, we want to see you move in our community, our city, our country, and our world. We know that you choose to work through the witness of your followers, so we pray earnestly that you would raise up laborers to go into the harvest. Make us ready and willing to be those laborers. Keep us from allowing a spirit of fear to keep us from boldly sharing you. Make the hearts of those that we will share with open to your Spirit. Use us today to make an impact. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Breakthrough in Impact Hey everyone, this is Pastor Cass and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 16. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading Daniel was a man who loved what he believed and not give in Daniel 6:3-10 God. He was faithful to God and to what the people around him followed God, even if he wasn’t were wanting him to do or say? Then this Daniel became distinguished supposed to. Some people didn’t The impact, the eternal impact, above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And like that Daniel had been placed that Daniel was able to make was the king planned to set him over the whole in a spot of authority and so they because of his belief in the One kingdom. Then the high officials and the sought out to bring him down. true God. satraps sought to find a ground for complaint Finding no fault in him, they went against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but to the king to get him to make a It must have taken a lot of courage they could find no ground for complaint or decree to only pray and talk to the to do that, especially knowing the any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these king, instead of the One true God. end result…the lions den. It must men said, “We shall not find any ground for have taken courage to hear the complaint against this Daniel unless we find You can read in the rest of chapter decree for the first time, and then it in connection with the law of his God.” 6, where Daniel is found again continue to do what he had always Then these high officials and satraps came by praying to God and thrown into done and that was to go and talk agreement to the king and said to him, “O King the den of lions. But, the result to God. Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, is not what the people or the the counselors and the governors are agreed king would have thought would Maybe you are faced with that the king should establish an ordinance happen. An angel of the Lord something or someone that isn’t and enforce an injunction, that whoever was with Daniel and shut the going to throw you in the lions makes petition to any god or man for thirty lions mouths keeping him safe. It den, but they might be persuading days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into was this experience that caused you in something or asking you the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that the king to change his thinking, to do something that pushes your it cannot be changed, according to the law change the decree, and in verse 26, ethical boundary. You see, Daniel of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot he declared that everyone was to wasn’t willing to let that boundary be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the worship the God of Daniel. get pushed. And the result of his document and injunction. When Daniel knew courage to take a stand made a that the document had been signed, he went to What a change in heart? What an huge impact on those that were his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down impact that Daniel had on not only around him. on his knees three times a day and prayed the king, but so many others in and gave thanks before his God, as he had done that city that we don’t even know. Joshua 1:9 tells us to be strong previously. Daniel was willing to stand up for and courageous and not to fear, because God is with us. God is calling you to make a huge popular way. And you don’t have to fear because God is impact in your work, in your home, in your neighborhoods, right there with you, just as He was with Daniel in the den in your schools, and wherever you go. He wants you of lions. to stand strong to those who are pushing your biblical worldview. He is wanting you to be courageous to speak When you do this, you will make an impact on someone’s against and continue following God even if it isn’t the life that will be everlasting and eternal.

Prayer Time

1. Spend some time right now asking God for the courage to share your 3. Daniel stood strong in his faith in God and continued to pray to Him? faith with those that are around you. Is there an area in your life right now that you might be bending in to 2. Daniel’s courage allowed him to make an huge impact on the king. become more like the world around you? Take a moment to ask God to Who is someone that you are close to…maybe in your family, your help you stand firm in your faith and not to bend. work, your team, your school, that you need to specifically invest in and share your faith with? Pray now that God would give you the courage to take a stand and make an impact on their life.

Father, thank you for listening to me and hearing my prayers. God, please give me the strength and courage to stand firm in my faith in You. Give me an opportunity today to share the good news of your son Jesus with someone. Thank you for the courage of Daniel. Help me to make a gospel impact on the world around me. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

Abide in Jesus Hey everyone, this is Pastor Jim and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 17. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture I am the vine; you are the branches. Devotional Thought Reading Whoever abides in me and I in John 15:5-13 him, he it is that bears much fruit, As we read this passage stay in Him; to dwell with for apart from me you can do from God’s Word, we are Him is the key to living a nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in met with a very beautiful “Jesus-centered” life! And me, he is thrown away like a branch picture of how to live a He promises that if we and withers; and the branches are “Jesus-centered” life. The abide in Him even in our gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my first thing that we see is weakness, He will use us words abide in you, ask whatever that Jesus is “the vine”. and make us strong enough you wish, and it will be done for He as the vine brings life to bear fruit. What beautiful you. By this my Father is glorified, to the branches that are fruit it is! In Galatians that you bear much fruit and so prove grafted into him. If you are chapter 5 it says the fruit to be my disciples. As the Father a follower of Jesus, then you of the Spirit is love, joy, has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my are grafted into that life- peace, patience, kindness, commandments, you will abide in my giving vine which supplies goodness, faithfulness, love, just as I have kept my Father’s all the nutrients you need gentleness, and self-control. commandments and abide in his to bear fruit in your life. Abiding in Jesus will also love. These things I have spoken to He is not the vine only but give us the strength and you, that my joy may be in you, and supplies all the water and courage to serve others. that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one light that you need; as you Verse 13 sets the standard another as I have loved you. Greater need it. high for us as it says, love has no one than this, that What does it mean to abide? “Greater love has no one someone lay down his life for his The word means “to stay” or than this, that someone lay friends. “dwell”. Do you dwell with down his life for his friend.” Jesus? So many times, we feel we need to “strive after Our prayer today is that you faith” and we get frustrated “abide in Jesus” and look to when we fall short. This Him to supply all you need truth is so freeing because for the day. May this truth it shows us that we do not help you to experience a need to “strive after faith” breakthrough in the impact but all we need is to “rest in that you have on those that the Faithful One, Jesus”. To you are called to serve. Prayer Time

1. God is the creator of all things and has power over all things. All life 4. Pray for God to produce fruit in your life. Pray specifically for help in an flows from Him. All blessings flow from Him. Holy, holy, holy is the area you may be struggling whether with joy, peace, patience, kindness, Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come. Let’s start by faithfulness, or self-control. lifting a prayer of adoration and worship to God. 5. Finally, ask God to place on your heart today the people that He wants 2. Now humble yourself before the Lord. Confess any sin that is keeping you to serve. Ask Him for the words to say, the actions to take, and the you from abiding in Him and thank Him for His forgiveness. strength to show them His love. 3. Ask God for you to fully understand the truth of abiding that He illustrates in this passage. Ask Him to help you to let go of your “striving” and to learn to “rest in Him”.

Father, thank you for hearing my prayers. We’re committing these 21 days to you in prayer and fasting. Help us to truly understand what it means to stop striving and start resting in Jesus. May we bare the fruit that you want to produce in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

A Prayer of Confession Hey everyone, this is Pastor Myles and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 18. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Have mercy on me, O God, according Devotional Thought Reading to your steadfast love; according to Psalm 51:1-12 your abundant mercy blot out my Psalm 51 was written by more money, the list goes transgressions. Wash me thoroughly the psalmist David after the on and on. The picture from my iniquity, and cleanse me from prophet Nathan visited and we see in Psalm 51 is that my sin! For I know my transgressions, confronted him with his David doesn’t ask God to and my sin is ever before me. Against sin of committing adultery fix his situation, he asks you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you with Bathsheba and having Him to create a clean heart may be justified in your words and her husband murdered to within him. David then blameless in your judgment. Behold, I cover up his transgressions. prays; ‘restore to me the joy was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin While David’s decisions of my salvation’. did my mother conceive me. Behold, carried consequences, there you delight in truth in the inward is something so beautiful The good news of Jesus being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and in this passage; a repentant is that he came to make I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be heart before God. You can all things new. He is the whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and almost picture the scene author of new beginnings. gladness; let the bones that you have following David’s encounter Jesus’ once for all sacrifice broken rejoice. Hide your face from with Nathan as he falls to purchased the forgiveness my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. his knees and cries out. of our sins. In spite of his Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me David has known what it’s failures, David is known not away from your presence, and take like to dwell in the presence as a hero of the Old not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore of God and he longs to Testament. His passion and to me the joy of your salvation, and experience that communion commitment to God, led uphold me with a willing spirit. again. him to make a great impact on God’s people. In this All too often we ask God to season of breakthrough, improve our circumstance; let’s fully trust God’s love we want a better job, and mercy in our lives. healthier relationships, Prayer Time

1. Ask the Lord to reveal within you anything that needs to be cleansed. Pause and praise Jesus for His sacrifice. Take a moment to confess and repent before Him. 3. If you are struggling with consequences from past sins, pray for the 2. Hyssop is mentioned several times in the Old Testament as an Lord to restore these areas of your life and ask Him to help you walk in instrument to ceremoniously cleanse people and houses. Then in His ways. Exodus 12:22, God instructs the Israelites to mark their doorposts with 4. Pray and ask God, as the author of new beginnings, to create within you the blood of a lamb so that the angel of death would pass over them. In a clean heart. our passage today, David cries out to God in verse 7 to “Purge me with 5. David is known as being a man after God’s own heart as stated in Acts hyssop, and I shall be clean…” Hyssop also appears when Jesus was 13:22, even after having committed terrible sins. His life is marked crucified just before He declared His work here on earth as finished and by seasons of great success followed by seasons of fear and despair. gave up His Spirit. While hyssop itself does not provide cleansing, God Through it all, he offers praise and thanksgiving to God along with uses it to literally paint a picture through the Bible of how the blood sincere repentance after failure. Pray for God to show you how to live a of Jesus Christ Himself would not just cleanse, but blot out our sins. life that follows David’s example.

Father, thank you for hearing my prayers. We’re committing this season to you in prayer and fasting. May I be faithful to pursue a relationship with you through prayer. Give us the strength to persevere that we may know you more and the vision that you have for our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Take Up Your Sword Hey everyone, this is Lisa Kaus and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 19. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture Devotional Thought Reading Ephesians 6:10-18a Throughout the Bible, God tells Therefore, we must be on our us that there are spiritual forces guard and aware of his schemes. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength at work in heavenly places. We need to PUT ON our armor of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, Often, struggles we face that we daily and recognize each piece as that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle think are due to other people a gift He has given us to use with against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, or circumstances actually have responsibility on our part. against the authorities, against the cosmic spiritual components that can These pieces of armor provide powers over this present darkness, against the only be resolved through prayer. everything we need to resist our spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly On Day 1, Pastor Steve reminded invisible, but very real enemy. places. Therefore take up the whole armor us that Daniel 10 conveys how We stand firm in God’s truth, our of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand prayer can ignite a spiritual battle. hearts guarded in righteousness, firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the our feet prepared to move belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate However serious this battle is, we forward, our actions in faith of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, don’t need to live in fear. When rooted in His promises and our having put on the readiness given by the gospel Christ died to pay our ransom, minds protected by the helmet of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield conquering sin and death once for of salvation. And finally, we are of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the all, Satan’s accusation before God commanded to take up the sword helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, that we are also guilty was taken of the Spirit, which is the Word of which is the word of God, praying at all times in away. Since our future is now God, praying at all times. the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. secure in Christ, our enemy seeks to distract, divide and discourage us, rendering us saved but somewhat ineffective spiritually. In 1 Peter 5:8 and 2 Corinthians 11:14, we learn that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour but that he also disguises himself as an angel of light. Prayer Time

1. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us to have peace. That in this world we will 4. Often we view our problems through the lens of our relationships or have trials but to take heart because He has overcome the world. Take circumstances. Instead of viewing people as the problem, focus on the a few moments to praise Jesus for all that He has done to redeem us real enemy that does seek to rob and destroy. Pray for God to reveal back into right relationship with Him. the true source of whatever struggle it is you might be facing right 2. Often, as human beings we try to rely on our own strength. How now. does the verse “Be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might” 5. Sometimes it is hard in our humanity to know what or how to pray. encourage you? Take a few moments to pray about ways you might be It’s then that I personally turn to my Bible and pray His Words as tempted to take matters into your own hands and surrender these to promises. Think about a struggle you or someone you love is currently God’s sovereignty. facing and pray scripture over them or the situation. In the coming 3. Ask the Lord to show you any distractions or areas you have grown days, pray for God to reveal swords of truth from His Word that you complacent as a result of the enemy’s tactics. Pray for God to can use to take action against the enemy in the spiritual realm. strengthen you for a new season of effectiveness in the spiritual battles you encounter.

Father, thank you for hearing our prayers. We commit to put on the armor you’ve given us every single day to defend ourselves from the attacks of our accuser. We pray to seek the root causes of our struggles in the spiritual realm and claim Your irrevocable victory over the father of all lies and discord. As we show up every day to pray, suit up in the armor you’ve given us and take up Your Words of truth, we claim that no weapons formed against our identity, calling and relationships will prosper. Give us the strength to press on and fulfill Your plans for us. May You be glorified and our will align with yours as a result of this journey. In Jesus name, Amen.

What is Your Address? Hey everyone, this is Pastor David and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 20. Each day we will send you a brand-new audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in!

Scripture “For to me, to live is Devotional Thought Reading Christ and to die in Philippians 1:21 gain” I hope that this time of fasting has is going to live the Jesus Centered refreshed and encouraged your Life! For Paul, he was going to live Philippians 2:21 “For they all seek spirit. I hope that you have found a everyday and every breath of his life after their own sense of renewal and spiritual hope for Christ and, live or die, Paul was interest, not those of as you have drawn closer to Jesus. in a win/win situation. He was going Christ Jesus.” And I pray that this time of spiritual all in for Jesus. That is the truest renewal and focus will continue long picture of the Jesus Centered life! after you break the fast. Live or die, are you all in for Jesus. Now the question is how do I stay But there is a sharp contrast in close and continue this time of Philippians 2:21 where the Bible spiritual refreshment? says, “for they all seek after their It all depends on what street address own interest, not those of Christ you choose to live! Now obviously, Jesus.” Paul is talking about some I am not talking about the street former companions in ministry that address of your house. I am not have left. That doesn’t mean they talking about your physical place of have lost their salvation. But it does residence. I am talking about the mean they have chosen to pursue place you choose to reside at each their own interest rather than those day. I am talking about your spiritual of Jesus. residence. Here is the key for us to live a So, let me ask you the question spiritually refreshed life. We are this way. Will you choose to live to live in such a way that the Jesus at Philippians 1:21 or Philippians Centered life is first and foremost 2:21? The difference is dramatically our passion. Sometimes our own different. interest can get in the way and In Philippians 1:21 the Apostle Paul sometimes we get distracted by our who wrote this book says, “for to me, own self-centered way. to live is Christ and to die is gain”. The life of real spiritual impact in This is a very powerful passage the Jesus centered life. So today, and a tremendous declaration of I encourage you to focus on Jesus Paul’s life focus. He is saying to us totally and live and Philippians 1:21! that regardless of life or death, He Prayer Time

1. As you pray today, confess any sin that is keeping you from the Jesus 3. Finally, thank God for this journey to walk with Him day by day. And Centered life. claim His promise that as you draw near to God, He will draw near to 2. Ask God to reveal any ways that you have been seeking your own you. interest rather than that of Christ Jesus. Then surrender those self interest things to Christ for His way only in your life.

Father, thank You for hearing our prayers. We’ve committed these 21 days to You in prayer and fasting and are near the end of this journey. Give us the strength to press on and finish strong. Help us walk with You so closely that our very lives are hidden within You. We want You at the center of our lives in everything we say and do. In Jesus name, Amen.

Breakthrough in Impact Hey everyone, this is Pastor Steve and I am so glad that you are participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Our aim in this season as a church is to pursue a Jesus-centered life together. You are listening to the Prayer Guide for Day 21... You made it! Each day we have sent you an audio prayer guide with scripture, a short devotional thought, and a guided prayer time… So let’s jump in and finish strong today.

Scripture Therefore, confess your Devotional Thought Reading sins to one another and I hope that God has spoken prayer. One of those things is James 5:16-18 pray for one another, that you may be healed. The powerfully to you over the 21 having the kind of breakthrough prayer of a righteous days of prayer and fasting. As that Elijah experienced in his life. person has great power as you press in on this last day, it is working. Elijah was a finish strong. Remember what I James gives us a really man with a nature like ours, shared with you at the beginning important truth to drive home and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and of this journey… It may take this phenomenon. He tells us for three years and six until day 21 to get all that God in verse 16, “The prayer of a months it did not rain on wants to give you through this righteous person has great power the earth. Then he prayed experience. as it is working.” The power that again, and heaven gave rain, we want to experience with God, and the earth bore its fruit. Today, I really wanted to share in our circumstances, in impact, with you the stunning truth in all of life comes through that is given to us from James PRAYER. But notice that it says, chapter 5. We are told that “as it is working.” Prayer is not a Elijah (the great prophet, the one and done discipline. It is not hero of the faith, the icon of the something that we can dedicate Old Testament prophets) had a 21 days to and expect it to carry nature like ours. That he was a us through the rest of 2020. We normal everyday person like you have to persevere in prayer. and me. But then we are told the truth behind his power… it was While I’m not guaranteeing a prayer. life and ministry like Elijah, I am saying that if we will have the He prayed and it didn’t rain kind of prayer life that He had, for three and a half years. He we can live a life of incredible prayed again and it rained. That breakthrough. So, allow this 21 in prayer, Elijah lived a life of days to not be an end to your extraordinary breakthough. In prayer, but a springboard into worship today, I’ll talk about how a life of prayer that makes a somethings can only happen in massive difference in your world. Prayer Time

1. We are told in James 5:16 to confess our sin and then pray. Take a few 4. Pray a big prayer. God doesn’t guarantee the answer that you might be moments to confess any sin or disbelief in your life. Ask God to purify looking for, but he loves to hear from us in prayer. Ask God to move you and trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection to make you righteous in a big way, a specific way in your life and then trust His answer and before God. provision. 2. Ask God to lead you to persevere in prayer far beyond this 21 days. Ask 5. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Ask God to give you a fervency in prayer like Elijah. God for spiritual eyes to see the power of His working as you pray. 3. Elijah’s prayer stopped the rain from coming for more than 3 years and 6. Think back over the last 21 days. Praise God and show Him gratitude then started it in an instant. Confess that sometimes, you may not pray for the ways that you have seen Him move in your life. big prayers because of disbelief. Ask God to grow your faith as you 7. Commit to an ever-deepening, ever-growing prayer life with God. Ask pray. God to keep you near and keep you communicating with Him.

Father, today we give you praise for all that you have done throughout this 21 days of prayer and fasting. We have seen you move in extraordinary power in the lives within our church. We know that as we have prayed, you have provided the power. Now God, continue to prompt our heart to pray, to live in constant and consistent communication with you. We trust you. We love you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Thanks for listening today and for participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting. For more prayer and fasting resources, please visit fbca.com. “Prayer is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child’s conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs.”

- Billy Graham

For more resources visit FBCA.com/21days