2021 PRAYER JOURNAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 2 Fasting 101 2 Why We Fast 2 Fasting Tips 5 Food Prep 6 Foods To Include 6 Foods To Avoid 7

Worship Playlist 8

Daily Devotion Introduction 9 Daily Devotions 11 Final Thoughts 52

1 Introduction

Light can be defined as the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 14, Jesus tells His listeners that we are the light of the world. If light exists to stimulate sight and make things visible, then this would mean that as the light, we are called to do those very things. Matthew 5:14-16 goes on to say,

“A town on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

Have you ever questioned how we are to be light if we ourselves are stumbling in the darkness? Or how we are to keep this light burning? Over the next several days, as we fast and pray, these are two questions we will present to God. We will invite the light of God to expose the “bowls'' we have hidden our lights under. The hope is that this guide can be something like a friend, one of wit and wisdom. Encouraging you on this fast, while also challenging you to go deeper in your relationship with God. At the end of this, it is the hope that your light will shine vividly before others so that your Father in heaven may be glorified.

Fasting 101

1 Scripture is filled with mentions of fasting. In the book of Matthew ​ Jesus fasts before 2 ​ beginning His earthly ministry. In the Psalms ​ David fasted as a means to humble himself. Some ​ 3 of the most notable mentions of fasting in Scripture are found in the book of Daniel .​ From each ​ of these instances we can deduce that we fast for the purpose of humbling ourselves, depleting ourselves of self-dependence, drawing closer to God, and petitioning. If we are to fast, we should do so well. Here we have provided you with a short break down of the purpose of fasting to help you further prepare your heart and mind.

Why We Fast

To Know God Intimately: It’s easy to diminish fasting to spiritual bartering. We abstain for a number of days in exchange for God to answer a prayer or work a miracle. When this is our motive for fasting, we miss its most notable intent. That being an opportunity to know God more intimately.

1 Matthew 4:2 NIV 2 Psalm 35:13 NIV 3 Daniel 1:8-14, 9:3 NIV

2 Many of us have resigned our relationship with God to survive off the breadcrumbs of scripture and theology we gather from others. Rarely taking the time to enjoy the feast of knowing Him personally for ourselves. During this time of fasting you will have an extended amount of time to be with God. Jeremiah 29:13-14 teaches us that when we seek Him with our whole heart we will find Him. God wants to be found, He wants to be seen, He wants to be heard. 4 Priscilla Shirer ​ posed the question, “Do you think God loved you enough to die for you ​ but not talk to you?”. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us once, and He still desires to dwell among us today. Fasting is an opportunity to invite Him to dwell with us.

Prayer: God, as I fast, I pray that I encounter you for myself. Reveal to me who you are today ​ and in every season.

5 Family Time :​ One of the big reasons we fast is to______? What does Jeremiah 29:13-14 ​ ​ teach us? What are some ways we can get to know God more intimately during our fast?

To Be Transformed: Pro tip, the power of fasting is not found in the diet. Stop, put down the donut and let me finish. While it is important for us to abstain from specific foods, activities, and habits throughout this time of fasting, abstaining is not what changes us. The power of fasting lies in our decision to surrender to the Spirit of God. In the willingness to abstain for the purpose of eliminating distractions in order to hear God more clearly. Author and speaker Lisa Bevere said, “A diet changes how you look, while a fast 6 changes how you see”. T​ he issue with believing that the power lies in the abistnation is that it ​ gives off the false notion that we have the power to transform ourselves. While the power of the 7 Holy Spirit does reside in us, transformation does not come from our might or power .​ ​ We often attempt to change ourselves through the modification of our behaviors. Changing what we do does not result in long lasting change, we must change our hearts. That is only accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. The act of fasting acknowledges that it is only that power in which we can truly depend on. It is from this heart posture of surrender that transformation happens.

Prayer: God, I acknowledge that it is not by my actions that I am changed, but only by your ​ Spirit. Throughout this time of fasting, I pray that this truth would go from being common knowledge to a deep rooted belief. Show me what you desire to transform in me.

4 Discerning The Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer ​ ​ 5 Throughout the fasting guide we have included Family Time prompts. We hope this can be an opportunity for your family to come together during this fast and seek God together. We hope this prompts can be a springboard into deeper family conversations. 6 Revival Ministries, “John & Lisa Bevere 2016-Fasting!”. 7 Zechariah 4:6

3 Family Time: The power of fasting lies in you? True or False. What are some things you have ​ been trying to change about yourself? Do you think if you gave them to God He could change them?

To Love Others Well: As you are transformed, the work that God does in you begins to change the relationship you have with yourself. That relationship in turn changes the way you interact with and relate to others. As our hearts are transformed, we will find we have a greater desire to serve others more selflessly and love others more compassionately.

Prayer: God, as You transform my heart, I ask that You teach me how to love You first, love ​ myself well, and love others better. Convict me if I am living a life in service to myself and not in service to others. Challenge my selfishness and deepen my compassion.

Family Time: How does our relationship with ourselves affect the relationships we have with ​ others? Name one person you believe you can love better.

Petition: While we do not fast with the intent of getting things from God, but instead to get to know God, this does not mean we cannot come to Him with our petitions. God desires for you to come to Him with your needs and wants. The reality is that everything we petition Him for we will not receive. Do not let this 8 discourage you in asking. God withholds no good thing ,​ His no is still your best yes. So as we ​ fast, let's ask Him for our healing, lets seek Him for that answer, lets request He grant that desire. As we do so, let us not forget that His will surpasses our greatest plans. We ask from ​ God what we believe we need, but we submit what we ask to His all wise, all good plan and we 9 10 say like Jesus, “Not my will, but your will be done” .​ Ask, seek, knock. ​ ​

Prayer: Take a moment to write out your requests to God. ​

Family Time: What is something you want to ask God for as we fast? ​

8 Psalm 84:11 NIV 9 “Prayers of Petition”, SheReadsTruth.com 10 Matthew 7:7-11 NIV

4 Fasting Tips

11 In the book of 1 Corinthians ​ Paul instructs us to run to win. His analogy of running a ​ race is used to highlight the discipline and preparation needed to live out our Christian lives well. Fasting is no different. Fasting well depends greatly on commitment, accountability, and preparation.

Commitment While flattering, it would be foolish to choose to fast simply because your church is doing it. If this be the reason you have chosen to abstain from certain delicacies and luxuries, I can assure you that midway through this fast you will be looking for a new church. Your decision to fast is not a commitment to VIVID, it is a commitment to God. It is imperative that you keep your why in mind. At times your why will be the last thing tethering you to your commitment and buffering temptation. In order to fast well you must commit to not quit.

Family Time: When you are tempted, what is something you can do to remind yourself why you ​ are fasting?

Accountability 12 Ecclesiastes 4 ​ tells that two are better than one. We know Solomon’s wisdom ​ preceded the Life Alert, because he goes on to say that if one falls alone, he has no one to help him up. Some journeys are meant to be taken together, fasting is one of those journey’s. Choose 2 to 3 friends to fast alongside. This group will provide accountability, encouragement, as well 13 as covering in prayer. Scripture tells us that faithful are the wounds of friends .​ Your chosen ​ friends should not ever resort to any form of physical violence, if this be the case please inform leadership immediately. The wounds this scripture is referring to are those that come from hearing the hard truth in love. Seek friends who care more about your wholeness and intimacy in Christ than they do your comfort.

Family Time: Choose 2 friends or family members to be your fasting buddies. Reach out to ​ your fasting buddy and ask them what you can do to help them during the fast.

Preparation Fasting is a test of commitment because it strips away convenience. By week 2 that Chipotle veggie bowl will be the bane of your existence. Do not settle for ease, it will invite the greatest temptations. When fasting you do not have to sacrifice your physical health or taste buds. However, you will have to sacrifice convenience.

11 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV 12 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV 13 Proverbs 27:6 NIV

5 Be intentional in setting aside time to prepare your meals. Be intentional in setting aside an increased amount of time with God. Fasting is a discipline. Hebrews 12:11 tells us “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”. Faithfulness now brings freedom later.

Family Time: Write out the times you are going to set aside each day to spend with God. Be ​ sure to add an extra time or two each day.

Food Prep When fasting, it’s easy to get caught up in labels and what we should or shouldn’t eat. Let’s be clear, we DO want to give our best effort in adhering to the fasting guidelines. However, we do not want to become like the Pharisees, caught up in appearance and the law while missing the heart of Jesus. So take a moment, inhale and exhale deeply, and pray,

“Holy Spirit, please do not allow me to get caught up in the small things. Give me wisdom, discernment, and guidance as I shop and prepare meals. I invite you into my food prep and shopping”.

Below we have provided a list of various foods to include and avoid during this time of fasting. Allow this to be a guideline as you shop and plan your meals. This would be an amazing time to pull on your accountability to swap recipes and meal ideas.

Family Time: Research some Daniel Fast recipes as a family. Have your kids help you get rid ​ of any foods you feel may be temptation during the fast. Invite your kids to create a list of foods they would like to try from the foods to include below.

Foods To Include All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited ​ to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon.

All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are ​ not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers (an option if you are not allergic to soy).

All whole grains. Including, but not limited to, whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, ​ barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes, and popcorn.

6

All nuts and seeds. Including, but not limited to, sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. ​ Also, nut butters, e.g. peanut butter and almond butter.

All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried ​ beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.

All quality oils. Including, but not limited to, olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame. ​

Beverages: Spring water, distilled water, or other pure waters. Coffee is permitted. ​ ​

Other: Tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs, and spices ​

Foods To Avoid All meat and animal products. Including, but not limited to, beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish. ​

All dairy products. Including, but not limited to, milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs. ​

All sweeteners. Including, but not limited to, sugar, raw sugar, syrups, molasses, and cane ​ juice. Agave and honey are permitted. ​

All leavened bread. Including the vast majority of baked goods. Ezekiel Bread is permitted. ​ ​

All refined and processed food products. Including, but not limited to, artificial flavorings, ​ food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep fried foods. Including, but not limited to, potato chips, French fries, corn chips. ​

All solid fats. Including shortening, margarine, lard, and foods high in fat. ​

Many beverages. Including carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol. ​

7 Worship Playlist To worship God is one of our greatest privileges as His daughters and sons. In the book 14 of Revelation ,​ John records angels, elders, and creatures, surrounding God’s throne face ​ down in worship. To worship is to acknowledge God in the fullness of His glory. While worship is not just singing and the lifting of our hands, but a lifestyle, this portion of our guide focuses on worship in the latter sense. Here we have provided a list of various artists and songs for you to incorporate into your daily playlist. Consider playing these songs outside of your quiet time. Allow them to play as you go about your daily tasks. As you do so, you will recognize how readily your mind stays on Him, and how deeply your affection for Him grows.

Family Time: Create a family playlist, then create a special playlist for each family member. ​

Maverick City Music Leeland Steffany Gretzinger Yes & Amen Way Maker Confident Man of Your Word No One Ever Cared for Me Like Promises Gateway Worship Jesus Thank You Give Me Your Peace Out of Hiding Have My Heart No Fear in Love You Keep Getting Better Housefires Yes and Amen Tasha Cobbs Cory Asbury Build My Life You Know My Name Reckless Love I’ll Give Thanks Gracefully Broken Canyons This is a Move Sparrows Hillsong United For Your Glory Dear God Highlands (Song of Ascent) Break Every Chain Unraveling Another in The Fire So Will I (100 Billion X) Tauren Wells Elevation Worship Famous For The Blessing feat. Kari Jobe & Cody Hillsong Worship Hills and Valleys Carnes King of Kings Known Graves Into Gardens What A Beautiful Name Never Lost feat. Tauren Wells Who You Say I Am Jesus Culture See A Victory Seasons Defender Won’t Stop Now Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) Freedom Rattle This I Believe (The Creed) In The River God of The Promise Power Bryan & Katie Torwalt Travis Greene Echo Remember Good & Loved Hallelujah Here Below God With Us Steffany’s Prayer Respond Jonathan Traylor Todd Dulaney Be Still You Get The Glory Victory Belongs to Jesus You Waited I Trust You Your Great Name Daddy’s Home Taste & See Ellie Holcomb Mack Brock Constellations I Am Loved + Do It Again

14 Revelation 7:11

8 Daily Devotion Introduction

And so the fasting begins. Friends, we have prepared our hearts, minds, and hopefully, our pantries, for what has the potential to be a significant moment in your relationship with God. A time where you look back and recognize that God did something specific in your life that will bear fruit for years to come. The actualization of that potential depends on your participation. In the counseling world you hear the statement, “Counseling only works if you work it.” Meaning, your intentional effort is needed in order to see results and change. Please do not misunderstand this to mean you must strive. God has not called us to strive, He has called us to participate. To help you engage with God during this time of fasting, we have written a series of original devotions. Imagine this guide is a pack of seeds. We have provided you with the means to produce fruit, and now it is up to you and God to plant, water, and harvest. Remember, participate. The format of these devotions was created intentionally. Here we have provided you with a breakdown of the daily format.

Day: Title

“Quote: Every day begins with a quote that speaks to the day’s topic. This quote is intended to prime your mind and heart, preparing it for what God may say through the reading.”

Devotion: We have provided 21 devotions. Even if you only intend to fast for 10 days, ​ we encourage you to finish the entire devotion. We truly believe God has so much in store for you.

Main Point: The main point summarizes the day's message. Pro-tip, do not just read ​ the main point. It would be like taking the last sip, not enough to quench your thirst.

Main Verse: No matter how well anything is written, it doesn’t hold the same power that ​ is found in God’s word. Every day’s devotion is backed up with scripture for you to refer to and dig deeper in.

Question: Following every devotion is a question. The question is written in a way to ​ help facilitate self-reflection and honest conversation with God. Remember, you it only works if you work it. Take these moments to go deep with God, you will not regret the

9 fruit that comes from doing so. Write out your responses, thoughts, and nuggets from God.

Next Step: Knowledge without action is useless. As scripture encourages us, we do not ​ want to simply be hearers of the word but doers of the word. Each day we have provided you with a next step. Something to lead you into deeper intimacy with God.

Family Time: God’s heart is for the family, and at Vivid Church, we share His ​ sentiment. This year we have provided family time prompts. These prompts will allow you to facilitate conversation with your children through questions or short activities. Our hope is that family’s grow together in God.

15 Footnotes: Throughout the devotional you will find footnotes .​ These footnotes provide ​ ​ references for content and scripture that are quoted in the text.

15 This is a footnote.

10 Day 1: Light The Lamp

“There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights”. Bram Stoker

There’s a children’s hymn that says, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”. The entire premise of the hymn is to make the child aware that they have something precious to share with the world, a light that should never be hidden. We too carry that same light. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A town on a hill cannot be hidden”. You, yes you, are the light of the world. While we are the light, our ability to shine is not based on our own efforts. Like the moon, we merely reflect a greater source of light. While the moon reflects the sun, we reflect the Son. 16 In the book of Exodus the​ writer recounts the countenance of Moses each time ​ he left the presence of God.

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” Exodus 29:30

When leaving the presence of God, the prophet Moses radiated. This passage points us to where we are to find the light we have been called to carry; in the presence of God. The presence of God is the only place we can find the light we are called to reflect.

Main Point: Our light is lit in the presence of God. ​

Main Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Psalm 27:8, Isaiah 60:1, Acts ​ 17:27

Question: God, does my time with you produce light in me or has it merely become an ​ item on my to-do list?

Next Step: Ask God what it would look like for you to leave His presence radiating. ​

16 Exodus 34:29-30 NIV

11 Family Time: Ask each child how they feel after they have spent time with God. After ​ everyone has shared, ask everyone how else they would like to feel after spending time with God? Start a list of ideas on what they can do to experience that.

12 Day 2: Keep It Burning

“I’m sorry, when I’ve just gone through the motions. I’m sorry, when I just sang another song. Take me back to where we started, I open up my heart to you.” Cody Carnes

Relationships are work. The work of the relationship varies by season. In the beginning the greatest challenges usually stem from the conflict of varying perspectives entering the arena of intimacy. Later, the greater challenges seem to revolve around the practices of sacrifice and submission. One of the most common, and potentially most lethal, relationship challenges faced is complacency. There is a certain level of danger that comes when we reach a place of no longer putting forth intentionality and effort into a relationship. In Leviticus 6:8-13, the Lord instructs Aaron and the priests to keep the fire on the Temple’s altar burning.

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the ​ priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning in the altar continuously; it must not go out”. Leviticus 6:12-13

The fire on that altar was to continuously stay ablaze. These instructions were not a matter of survival. The Lord was not requiring this of them to keep them warm, or so they could get a barbeque started at any moment. The fire needed to continuously burn so the presence of God could remain. Our relationship with God requires work just like any other. And just like Aaron and the priests, we must work to keep our light shining continuously. Yesterday we said our light is lit in the presence of God. Just as His presence ignites us, it also keeps us shining. Sadly, many of us relegate intimate moments with God to Sunday mornings or daily quiet times. While we do meet Him in those moments, we are not limited to meeting Him there. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”. Intimacy with others is built over small, collected moments, intimacy with God is the same. And it is that intimacy that keeps our light shining.

Main Point: Consistent intimacy with God keeps our light shining. ​

Main Scripture: Leviticus 6:12-13, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 73:28, ​

13 Question: God, would you describe our relationship as intimate or acquainted? ​

Next Step: Ask God to reveal what in your life may be hindering deeper intimacy with ​ Him. Family Time: Ask each child what being close to Jesus looks like. Give each child a few ​ moments to write out things they would like to do in order to get closer to Jesus during the fast. Allow everyone to share what they have come up with.

14 Day 3: You ARE The Light

“Do you want to believe the one who wants you because He loves you unconditionally, or the one who wants you just to spite the other? You are nothing more than a tally mark to the devil, but you are a child to God." Marley Magno

In my childhood there was a formative experience resulting in my becoming aware of how others identified me. It was a Sunday afternoon, church service had ended and congregants mingled in the lobby. As I stood amongst the various after church conversations, I heard someone say, “There are the Pizza’s!” in reference to my family. I turned to my mom in confusion and asked, “Mom, why did they call us the Pizza’s?”. I soon learned that they in fact did not call us the pizza’s, they called us the Priester’s (pronounced pre-stir), which is my family’s last name. In that moment, not only did I learn that I was not named after a delightful cuisine (total bummer for a younger me), I also learned my last name. I’m not sure why, but up until that moment I was either unaware of my last name or simply did not personally identify with it. I believe many of us have our own “why did they call us the Pizza’s” moment”. 17 Especially as we read what scripture says about us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ​ says “if ​ ANYONE is in Christ, he is a new creation”. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that “We are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. If someone walked by and said in reference to you, “Hey, that’s God’s workmanship!”, I’ve got a feeling that your response wouldn’t be far from that of seven-year-old me. Many of us would approach our inner-selves with skepticism asking, “Why did they call me God’s workmanship?”. While initially I was unaware of my last name, once I learned I was a Priester, I never questioned it. It became part of my identity and something I grew to take pride in. At some point I learned that my last name was a result of who my father was. The only thing that could change that would be my making a lifetime covenant in marriage to another man. In the same way, everything scripture refers to you as is a result of who your heavenly father is. God will always refer to you as the light of the world. It is who you are. Being light isn’t a job, it’s an identity. You do not have to try to be the light. Our light is often obscured because we simply do not define ourselves as God does. We’re still standing in the church lobby, looking up at God asking, “Why did they

17 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

15 call me Pizza?”. In order to be the light we are called to be, we must recognize we are light because He is light and as His children that’s who He says we are.

Main Point: Being light isn’t a job, it’s an identity. ​

Main Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 & 6:18, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 2:9, Romans ​ 8:14-17

Question: God, does how I identify myself align with how you defined me? ​

Next Step: Honestly reflect on how you define yourself and create a list. ​

Family Time: Ask your children to imagine they have a name tag that says, “Hello, I ​ Am…”. Go around and ask each child to fill in the blank with a word they describe themselves as often. Do this multiple times. After everyone has shared one or two words, have them share why they chose those words to define themselves.

16 Day 4: Take Back The Light

“Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are..” Jean Anthelem Brillat-Savarin

The human body relies on the consumption of four specific macromolecules in order to properly function: Nucleic Acids, Lipids, Proteins, and Carbohydrates. While each serves a different purpose, they are all of equal importance. Each is gained through our regular diet. So the saying, “you are what you eat”, is technically true. The proper balance of these macromolecules determines how well your body functions. In fact, the University of Oxford Department of Plant Science conducted a study which revealed that one's diet has the potential to directly impact the DNA sequence of one's genes. Our Souls are no different. Like our bodies survive off the nutrients gained in our diet, our Soul thrives off what it is fed. Earlier this week we spoke about keeping our lights burning by remaining in the presence of God. Just as it is important to remain in His presence, it is of equal importance to take note of who else’s presence we reside in. In Luke 11, Jesus teaches us to see to it that the light residing in us is not 18 darkness .​ ​

“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” Luke 11:34-36

In this verse Jesus is explaining how what we allow in affects our soul and ultimately our light. Unknowingly, many of us have built up a tolerance to darkness. We can hear certain lyrics and be unphased, watch certain things and find no issue with the content, completely unaware of how comfortable we have become with darkness. Imagine how much brighter our lights would shine if we found ourselves that comfortable in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us not to be deceived, for bad company ruins good morals. The company we keep goes beyond who we associate with relationally. It includes what we listen to, read, watch, and learn from.

18 Luke 11:33-36 NIV

17 It is important for us to recognize that the Holy Spirit is not the only spirit in existence. There are spirits of darkness. Those spirits are seeking access to your soul (your mind, will, emotions, and conscience) just as the Holy Spirit is. While each of these spirits are in pursuit of the same goal, access to your soul, 19 their purposes vary drastically. John 10:10 ​ tells us that the enemy seeks to steal, kill, ​ and destroy, while Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly. Your soul is of immeasurable value, your light is significantly influential. All of heaven and hell are warring over each. The enemy would love for us to continue oblivious to the darkness we associate with, dimming our light in the slightest increments. Let’s take back the light as we examine what we feed our souls.

Main Point: What we allow into our souls affects our light. ​

Main Scripture: Luke 11:34-36, 1 Corinthians 5:12 and 15:33, Matthew 5:29, Psalm ​ 101:2-4, Proverbs 4:23

Question: God, is there anything that I watch, listen to, or read that dishonors you? ​

Next Step: Ask God to reveal whether you have built up a tolerance for darkness? If so, ​ ask Him how you got there and how to renew your heart and mind.

Family Time: Have each child to compile a list of some of their favorite songs, books, ​ or tv shows. As each child shares their list, have them consider if they copy or get ideas on how to behave from any of those things. Using the main scripture from today’s reading, teach them the importance of being careful of the things we listen to, watch, and read. Because we are what we eat and our goal is to look most like Jesus.

19 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV

18 Day 5: Who Told You That You Were Naked?

“We cannot become a light until the light first exposes us.” Pastor Robby Ratcliffe

Hearts pounding with anxiety as foreign feelings of shame and regret wash over each of them, frantic to cover up every part that now felt exposed, Adam and Eve grabbed for the nearest thing they could find; fig leaves. In haste, they fashioned the leaves over parts of themselves they were once comfortable with having uncovered. Suddenly, their awareness of evil, hell’s perspective, opened a tirade of thoughts and emotions they never encountered in the presence of God. For the first time they saw themselves naked and correlated that to a vulnerability they didn’t want anyone to see. Not even God. Not even one another. How strange of them to hide these parts of themselves from those who had already seen them. The Garden’s whereabouts may be unknown, and hundreds of thousands of years may separate us from that moment, however our responses to hell’s tirade are not far removed from theirs. As Pastor Robby has preached, “It is our tendency to hide 20 in darkness” .​ ​ Upon discovering Adam and Eve’s new wardrobe, God went about asking a series of questions. Truthfully, because He is all knowing, His questioning was not for the purpose of His gaining knowledge. In fact, it was more so for Adam and Eve to gain awareness, and an opportunity to trust God’s love for them. The question most notably referenced from this passage is found in verse 11 of 21 Genesis 3, “Who told you that you were naked?” .​ Over the last few days we have ​ begun reflecting on who God says we are, and how the way in which we define ourselves doesn’t always correlate with His definition. As we uncover the truth of how we see ourselves, it is important to recognize that someone or something defined us in that way before it ever crossed our mind and became an identity. Before you defined yourself as inadequate, the enemy used someone to pass on that identity. Before you were______someone or something told you that you were. Like Adam and Eve, I believe God also asks us, “Who told you that you were naked?”. Who told you that you were inadequate? Who told you that you were a failure? You told you that you were not beautiful? In order to take on our God given identity as light, we must challenge every way we define ourselves that does not align with what God says. We must ask ourselves, “Who told me I was______?”, and remind ourselves of who God says we are.

20 Vivid Church, “Light Up The Darkness”. 21 Genesis 3:11 NIV

19 Main Point: What you believe defines who you are. ​

Main Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, John 8:44, Revelation 12:10 ​

Question: God, when did I begin to see myself as anything other than what you defined ​ me as?

Next Step: Counter every definition of yourself that does not align with how God defines ​ you with scripture. Write these scriptures and keep them in visible places as reminders of who God says you are.

Family Time: Have each child share one negative thing they think about themselves. ​ As they share, encourage them to reflect on what brought them to believe that about themselves. Find a verse for each child to refer back to whenever they find themselves forgetting who God says they are.

20 Day 6: I Am Therefore I Do

“Your behaviors are usually a reflection of your identity. What you do is an indication of the type of person you believe that you are-either consciously or nonconsciously. Research has shown that once a person believes in a particular aspect of their identity, they are more likely to act in alignment with that belief”. James Clear

I’m sure some of us are beginning to feel these daily devotions have become more like daily therapy sessions. No one signed up to give up Takis AND dive into the depth of their emotional subconscious. While this depth of self-reflection is often uncomfortable, it is important for our emotional health and the vitality of our relationship with God. We don’t stay in the deep end, but we must visit it often to understand what is truly motivating our actions and directing our lives. 22 Proverbs 23:7 ​ tells us that our thoughts manifest in our behavior. We become ​ who we believe we are. If I believe I am a failure, I will subconsciously find ways to sabotage my success. If I believe I am meant to be alone, I will subconsciously sabotage intimate relationships. The same is true of life giving thoughts. If I believe I am charismatic, I will step into that role without thinking. If I believe I am intelligent, I will step up to any intellectual challenge with confidence. In his book Atomic Habits, author James Clear states, “Many people walk ​ ​ through life in a cognitive slumber, blindly following the norms attached to their identity”. How many times have you caught yourself in the act of doing or saying something without having given it a moment's thought? Almost as if it was a gut reaction. That instinctive behavior is the manifestation of a core belief. Who you believe you are drives what you do. “The more deeply a thought or action is tied to your identity, the more difficult it is to change it. It can feel comfortable to believe what your culture says (group 23 identity), even if it’s wrong ”.​ ​ It’s not enough for us to say we are the light, we must believe we are the light. It is the only way we will truly live it out. Because God is a man of His word, when He called you light, it was so. Remember, it is not what we do, it is who we are. Part of being the light is renouncing all other things we believe about ourselves that are contrary to how God defines us. Listen carefully, there is no false belief that God can’t change if you allow Him. It does not matter how long you’ve believed it, or how deeply ingrained it is in your culture or family. The strength of that belief is no match for the omnipotence of God.

22 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7KJV ​ ​ 23 Atomic Habits by James Clear

21

Main Point: Who you believe you are drives what you do. ​

Main Scripture: Proverbs 23:7, Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8-9, Ephesians 4:17-25 ​ 1 John 4:4, John 8:36

Question: God, in what ways has my definition of myself influenced my motivation and ​ actions?

Next Step: In your prayer time, ask God to give you new words to describe yourself. ​ Write what you feel the Holy Spirit is saying to you.

Family Time: Take the negative thing each child wrote from the previous night’s ​ activity. Have each child read it out loud and say, “...but that’s not who God says I am”. Allow each child to tear up the paper or destroy it in some way, symbolizing that they are allowing God to destroy that lie. Then lead each of them to ask God to give them new words to describe themselves.

22 Day 7: Reflection

“We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” John Dewey

This week we have focused on identity. Finding the beliefs about ourselves that are not in alignment with what God says about us. Take some time to pause and reflect on what God has shared with you over this week. Look back over the questions and next steps. Dig deeper into the scriptures covered. Take a moment to be still and hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you as it comes to what you believe about yourself. Like our bodies, our spirits need time to digest. Let’s take some time to do so.

23 Day 8: Credit Where Credit is Due

“When we look for success it should be for the sole purpose of boasting sincerely in Christ. There’s no other reason for it. Success is only worth it when the more intense it gets for you, the more you find yourself bragging for His glory rather than your own.” Anonymous

Have you ever been so bold as to ask why God needs all the glory? Have you ever wrestled with the thought that maybe God is a little too into Himself? Isn’t it a little arrogant, God, to get all the credit? Don’t worry, I’ve asked these seemingly blasphemous questions and walked away unharmed. In seeking God to better understand His need for, what I felt was, constant affirmation, I came to find that glorifying God is not equivalent to Likes on Facebook. God is not insecure. God does not need a pep talk to remind Himself of His greatness. He is not addicted to approval or fixated on being liked. That is not why scripture tells us to glorify God. We glorify God because He is the answer. Word of mouth advertisement is debatably one of the most effective forms of marketing. In a 2015 article, Forbes cited research stating 64% of marketing executives believed that to be true, while 92% of consumers trusted the recommendation of a friend or loved one over any other form of advertising.24 ​ Think about it, when you go to make a large purchase don’t you usually vet your options based on the opinions of those you trust? At the very least, the reviewers who have already purchased the product. These opinions provide us with a sense of security and confidence. It eases the anxiety of spending a significant amount of money. The reason we glorify God is not so far off from this. Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being”. Going back to God not being a narcissist. Our glorifying God is no different than writing an Amazon review. You do not write the review for yourself, you already own the product. The review is written for those questioning if they want to make the same investment. God needs to be glorified in our finances so others can know He is a provider. God needs to be glorified in our relationships so others can know He is a redeemer. God needs to be glorified in our joy so others can know it only comes from Him. God is not questioning His ability to be God. Our glorifying Him is not for His benefit, but ours. God doesn’t need our glory, we need God to be glorified. Because everything exists because He willed it to. Everything has purpose because He

24 Forbes, Why Word of Mouth Marketing Is The Most Important Social Media. ​

24 appointed it. Everything anyone needs is found in Him. The light the world sees in us, is a spotlight pointing the world to the answer; Jesus. Main Point: We glorify God because He is the only answer. ​

Main Scripture: Revelation 4:11, John 3:30, Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. ​

Question: God, who or what do I most glorify in my life? A boss, family member, job, ​ degree, etc.

Next Step: Have an honest conversation with God about the people and things you ​ glorify in your life. Ask Him to reveal where He ranks.

Family Time: Ask everyone to name who or what they believe is the greatest in each of ​ the following categories: television, music, football, superheroes. Next, ask them what they believe God is the greatest at. As they share, ask them if they brag on God’s greatness as much as they do on the things and people they listed earlier. If they do not, why is that? Lead them to pray and ask God to give them the desire to brag on Him more than anyone or anything.

25 Day 9: Great Weakness

“Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. “ Leonard Cohen

Job interviews are potentially on most everyone’s list of top ten stressful experiences. Until we know whether or not we’ve received the position, we ruminate over every detail. Did I wear the right thing? Did I articulate myself well enough? Should I have told that story? Did I talk enough about myself? Did I talk too much about myself? We invest a significant amount of time, energy, thought, and effort into impressing our potential employer. However, all of the investment is for not if we fail to boast in our strength with equal parts confidence and humility. But could you imagine if instead of boasting in our strength, we boasted in our weakness?

Scene: We enter the scene towards the latter half of the interview. The candidate exudes great confidence, while the interviewer seems incredibly confused.

Interviewer: Ok, let’s move on to your skills. How proficient would you say you are in Microsoft Office?

Candidate: Alright, so I’m gonna be honest here. I’m not great. I don’t excel with excel *visibly amused with self*. HA! See what I did there? Alright, alright, let me get serious. Like I said, I’m not great with it. And if I am being transparent, I really miss the paperclip guy. He offered me a lot of guidance.

Interviewer: *blank stare* Ok...what would you say is one of your greatest weaknesses?

Candidate: *thoughtful pause* I’m sure this is the portion of the interview where I say something along the lines of, my greatest weakness is that I work too hard. Or that I don’t take enough time for self-care. You know, inadvertently speak about what is actually a strength. But I am going to be very candid. *insert pause* I have a TON of weaknesses. For instance, let’s start with my chin.

Interviewer: *closes notebook* I think that covers everything. Thank you so much for your time, we’ll be in touch.

26 Candidate: No, thank you. I am honestly grossly unqualified for this position. I’m surprised I got the interview. Can’t wait to hear back. I’m sure it will be soon.

End Scene The open confession of weakness does not get us far by the world’s standards. In fact, those very standards tell us that it is by our strength alone that every want and need we, and those we love, have can be met. So it’s no wonder we struggle to fully understand and live according to what Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 12.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Self-sufficiency is the greatest threat to the light within us. When we walk in the power of our own strength, rejecting the grace of God, we are telling the world that it needs more of us. More of our effort, more of our striving, more of our grit, more of our hard work. Look around at the world, look at what more of us has accomplished. Look at your own life. The world does not need more of us, it needs more of Jesus. Being a light in this world, means boasting more greatly in our weakness than our strength. In a world that says in my strength alone can anything be accomplished, we must be a people who say in Christ’s strength alone can anything be accomplished.

Main Point: God is most glorified in our weakness. ​

Main Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 4:13, Zechariah 4:6, Psalm 27:1, Psalm ​ 18:32, Matthew 19:26

Question: God, when others see my life do they attribute my success to my doing ​ alone, or have I made it known that it is only by your strength and guidance that I have become and accomplished anything?

Next Step: Ask God to reveal to you any areas of your life where you depend more on ​ your strength than His.

Family Time: Ask each child how they feel when they are unable to do something. Do ​ they enjoy asking for help? Why or why not? Using today’s main scripture, teach them

27 that needing and asking for God’s help is nothing they should feel bad about. In fact, asking for His help is the number one way we can show the world how awesome He is.

28 Day 10: Hinged On Grace

“Grace is the face that love wears when it meets imperfection.” Joseph R. Cooke

Imagine being one of the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus. Your hands are still wet with His blood. The residue of words that could wound a soul as deeply as His beaten body still linger on your lips. Arrogance flows through you like a rush of adrenaline. You look up and meet His eyes and where you once saw pain, you now see your reflection. Suddenly His blood feels as if it's stained you, the residue of those words on your lips taste bitter. The electrifying arrogance is now suffocating shame. Then with the blink of His eye, all of that is erased. Now all you see in His eyes are compassion. Without words He tells you that you are forgiven, you are loved, and all the pain you’ve caused Him is covered by grace. Grace may very well be the most overused and misunderstood word in the Christian vocabulary. It’s often misused as a pass to sin or misunderstood as a potential means to exploit God. While most of us understand it to be a gift from God, we often overlook the reality that our ability to have true intimacy with God is entirely hinged on grace. There is usually one of two reasons why we fail to understand grace. We either do not recognize the gravity of our sin or we do not feel we are deserving of it. Many of us compare our hearts to others to gauge where we rank in righteousness. Where we fall is determined by how our sin compares to others. This is silly. Not only does this go against the gospel, for we are saved by grace and grace 25 alone ,​ it is also inaccurate. Sin compared to sin does not equate to righteousness. ​ If righteousness were based on comparison, in order to understand where we rightly stand, we would have to compare ourselves to He who is most righteous; Jesus. And anything compared to perfection is inadequate. When Jesus becomes our standard, grace becomes amazing, because there is nothing outside of His grace that would allow you to be called righteous like He is. Others of us fail to truly understand grace because we reject it due to feelings of undeservedness. If this be the case, we too have missed the point of grace. Like knee pads were created with the knowledge that someone would fall, grace was given with the knowledge that you were undeserving of it. Grace exists for that very reason. It exists because you will fail, because you will cause pain, because you will never be perfect.

25 Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

29 There is nothing more powerful than grace. Pastor Robby once defined grace as 26 giving one what they need when it is underserved .​ To receive grace is to look into the ​ eyes of someone you have caused great pain, and hear them say, I forgive you. To extend grace is to recognize your disappointment and choose to see the circumstance from the other person's perspective. Grace is the lampstand upon which we set the light God has called us to shine. Our light cannot shine brightly without the grace of God. For it is by the grace of God 27 that we are what we are .​ ​

Main Point: The grace of God showcases the light of God within us. ​

Question: God, in what areas of my life do I struggle to accept your grace? ​

Next Step: As God reveals to you the areas of your life where you struggle to accept ​ His grace, ask Him to show you why that is and how to overcome it.

Family Time: Ask each child what they believe grace means. Have them reflect on who ​ they can be more gracious towards in their life and create a plan on how to do so.

26 Word Up Ministries, Trophies of Grace 27 1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV

30 Day 11: A Light In Suffering

“Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.” Henry Ward Beecher

If 2020 showed us anything, it is our aversion to suffering, our inability to process discomfort in a healthy way, and that we as a collective whole greatly lack compassion. What many of us fail to recognize is that our ability to sit with and properly process suffering is directly related to the depth of our compassion. The word compassion is derived from the Latin word pati, meaning to suffer, and ​ ​ the Latin prefix com, which means with. So the literal translation of the word ​ ​ compassion is to suffer with. ​ ​ No one enjoys suffering. Many of us go to great lengths to avoid it. Dr. Brené Brown says, “when we’re suffering, many of us are better at causing pain than feeling it. 28 We spread hurt rather than let it inside” .​ When we look at the world we see incredible ​ pain. Much of that pain is the response to the undealt with pain many of us carry, a pain hindering us from sitting with another in their suffering and walking alongside them in their journey to healing. If there is any establishment best equipped for displaying compassion, it should be the church. Sadly, it seems as though one's grief or suffering are at times seen as a lack of faith. Almost as if mourning what was lost communicates that we have lost hope for what is to come. But how can that be when the very man who would heal Lazarus also shared in the suffering of those who mourned him?

“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?” he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.” John 11:32-35 While it could be said that Mary lacked faith, it was not something Jesus mentioned. Jesus observed the pain of others and before He fixed it, He sat with them in it. There is no greater darkness than suffering, it is when the world is most desperate for light. As we mentioned earlier, the depth of our compassion is directly related to our ability to properly process our own suffering. I wonder if in that moment of compassion, Jesus not only saw those who grieved before Him, but also those who would later grieve for Him. I wonder if as Jesus came to Lazarus’ tomb, He was reminded of His

28 Braving The Wilderness, Dr. Brené Brown

31 29 approaching death .​ If so, Jesus was able to experience their pain personally, which ​ brought Him to respond to it compassionately. As the light of the world, we are to do the same.

Main Point: Our depth of compassion is directly related to our ability to properly ​ process our own suffering.

Main Scripture: John 11:1-44, Colossians 3:12, 1 John 3:17, Matthew 5:43-48, ​ Romans 5:3-5, Matthew 5:3-12

Question: Holy Spirit, is there any pain you desire to heal that is hindering me from ​ experiencing and giving greater love and deeper compassion?

Next Step: Make a commitment not to speak any negative words about or to yourself ​ ​ for the next 10 days. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to speak to yourself with compassion.

Family Time: Ask each child to share a time where they saw someone experiencing a ​ hurt they once experienced. How did it make them feel when they saw it? Did they want to help the person or ignore what was happening? Why?

29 Jesus Wept: The Reasons the Savior Was Weeping, Christina Patterson

32 Day 12: Behind The Curtain

“The fear of facing your fears is harder to overcome than the fear itself.” Anonymous

One of the most iconic movie moments is a scene found in the cinema classic, The Wizard of Oz. As Dorothy challenges the great and powerful Oz’s decision to meet with her and her friends the following day, Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, and The Scarecrow tremble in fear. The Wizard holds nothing back as his anger erupts in smoke and lightning. “You dare challenge the great and powerful Wizard of Oz!”, he says. As the motley group of friends cling to their last bit of courage, their K9 companion, Toto, pulls back the curtain to what we all know to be true of the Wizard. He is simply an illusion. As the reality of his exposure sinks in, he recites the famous line, “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” Have you ever considered that most of the unhealthy habits or sin patterns in your life have one thing in common? They are rooted in fear. At the root of addiction is the fear of pain. At the root of uncertainty is the fear of commitment. At the root of selfishness is the fear of rejection. These correlations are not concrete. There are as many variations as there are life experiences. Yet fear is still the common denominator. While many would argue that the opposite of fear is faith, scripture potentially tells us otherwise.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 What if the antonym of fear was actually love? What if you found that at the root of each of your fears, there was a lack of love? What if your fear was not due to a deficiency in your character, but a lack of your experiencing and receiving patience, kindness, humility, honor, selflessness, self-control, encouragement, security, and commitment? What if the reason we are afraid is because we do not trust God to be who He says He is? Like the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, fear is an illusion. An illusion created by the enemy to convince us that God doesn’t love us like He says He does. The enemy is bent on you not trusting in God’s faithfulness and character. He’s been doing it since the Garden.

“He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in ​ ​ the Garden’?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat from the tree that is in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the

33 garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’’ ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” Genesis 3:1-4

Eve knew what God said, but ultimately did not trust Him. Our greatest pitfall is not a lack of knowing God’s word, but a lack of trusting it. That lack of trust leads to disobedience, just as fear desires. Love guards the light within us. It dispels fear. If I truly trust that God is who He says He is and that He will do what His word promises, what do I have to fear? If He is a provider, I have no need to fear lack. If He is a comforter, I have no need to fear pain. If He is a friend, I have no need to fear rejection. If He is ever present, I have no need to fear being alone. We will never have the courage to let our light shine if we do not rest in the unchanging love of Jesus, Christ.

Main Point: Fear is an illusion created by the enemy to convince us that God does not ​ love us like He says He does. In order to shine brightly, we must allow the love of God to guard our light.

Main Scripture: Genesis 3:1-4, 1 John 4:18, Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:31, Isaiah 40:10 & ​ 43:1, Deutoronomy 31:6

Question: God, do I live in love or in fear? ​

Next Step: As God reveals to you the ways you live out of fear, ask Him to give you ​ clear guidance on how to welcome His unconditional love and dispel any fear.

Family Time: Ask each child if your love for them makes them feel safe. Ask them to ​ share specific examples of how. After everyone has shared, using today’s scripture, teach your children that the security they feel in your love is nothing compared to the security they will find in the love of Jesus.

34 Day 13: Overwhelming & Never Ending

“God loves each of us as if there was one of us.” Augustine

Love is vulnerable. Dr. Brené Brown says, “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness, and affection.” Love is exciting until our most vulnerable self is seen. Until the door of our heart is opened and the child within us is revealed. The vulnerability of love is what leaves the love of most unreturned. If anyone has experienced the rejection of unrequited love, it is Jesus Christ.

“But God showed His love for us in that when we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

He forsook His deity, embraced humanity, died for our eternity, and He was still rejected. Imagine gathering the courage to express the depth of your love for someone, depleting every resource you had in order to do so, and with complete disregard, their response to you was, “I think I can find a greater love elsewhere.” No one has sacrificed more to express their love than Jesus. No one has experienced the pain of rejection deeper than Jesus. Yet in the face of rejection, He keeps loving us. Jesus called me friend when I called Him foe. Jesus was faithful when I was 30 faithless .​ He remained when I went astray. What kind of love is that? Truthfully, there ​ is not a vocabulary vast enough to even begin to explain His love towards us. Jesus loves us better than we love ourselves. If you have ever had the privilege of experiencing the steadfast love of a friend or partner, you have not even begun to scratch the surface of His love towards you, but you have begun to. The love of Jesus is the sole reason we let our lights shine. We experience His love even when we reject it. And that is what the world needs. The world needs a love that is patient, kind, generous, humble, honoring, selfless, peaceful, forgiving, jubilant, safe, trustworthy, hopeful, resolute, unfailing, and committed. If you get nothing from these 21 days of devotions, please understand this. All that we do to glorify God is to introduce the world to the love it is desperately seeking but can find nowhere but in Jesus. The evidence of that love can only be found when we are satisfied in it. As theologian John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when

30 2 Timothy 2:13 NIV

35 we are most satisfied in Him.” So let us accept God’s love so that we can point the world to what it truly needs.

Main Point: The love of Jesus is the sole reason we let our lights shine. ​

Main Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, John 3:16 & John 15:13, Romans 8:35-39, 1 ​ John 3:1 & 4:7-21, Ephesians 3:14-21, Psalm 103:8, Jeremiah 31:3

Question: God, in this moment can you remove anything within me that desires to ​ reject your love for me?

Next Step: Take this time to reflect on the love of God. Sit in His presence and invite ​ His love to invade the deepest parts of your heart. Consider playing the following songs: Reckless Love & Do You Know The Way You Move Me by Cory Asbury, No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus & Out of Hiding by Steffany Gretzinger, Closer by Bethel Music, Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) by Hillsong Worship, Daddy’s Home by Travis Greene.

Family Time: Have everyone take a moment to reflect ways they have seen and felt ​ Jesus love them recently. Allow everyone to share.

36 Day 14: Reflection

“Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.” Margaret J. Wheatley

We’ve dug deep. This week you have, hopefully, allowed God into some intimate places in your heart. As we wrap up week two let’s take a moment to reflect. Is there any unfinished business God is encouraging you to get to? Have you allowed yourself room to be still and silent in order to hear God’s voice? However you choose to utilize this time, do so with an open mind, heart, and Spirit. God is always speaking, He’s just waiting for us to stop long enough to listen.

37 Day 15: Together

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” J.K. Rowling

In the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War, earth’s mightiest heroes find ​ ​ themselves facing an opponent they never imagined they would; one another. The film's plot line revolves around a significant disagreement between Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Steve Rodgers (Captain America), over the government's enactment of the Sokovia Accords. The Accords legislate an established UN panel that will oversee and control the team. Tony and the Captains opposing views on the matter fracture the team. Unity is God’s heartbeat. The coming together of an assembly of people moving towards a common goal. Unity is so significant to God. Proof of that is found as Jesus 31 prays in John chapter 17 .​ He tells God that the world will believe in Jesus because of ​ the unity of the church. The greatest evidence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our answering the call to be unified. It’s no wonder the enemy does all he can to destroy it or distort it. If the enemy can’t have disunity, he’ll settle for dysfunctional unity. What’s most disheartening about Tony Stark and Steve Rodgers dispute, is the fact that they were each passionately pursuing the same mission. Defending and protecting the world. What got in the way was who was in control. Who they submitted to. Because of their inability to agree on whose authority they yielded to, they spent energy and power fighting one another while neglecting to protect those they were assigned to defend. Unity does not mean everything is agreed upon, or that all thought patterns, perspectives and opinions are the same. Unity is not duplication or cloning. Unity is an assembly of people who are working for a common cause. Or as we say here at Vivid, it is an assembly of people who are pushing from the same side, at the same time. When we are united our purpose overrules our preference. The purpose we are united under as son’s and daughter’s of God is to love Him and love people. To be the salt and light of the world. And when we come across gray areas we do not consult our thoughts, feelings, facts, or opinions for an answer, we consult God. He is the authority we submit to. We are always brighter together. So let us come together with one mind and one 32 voice so that we may glorify God .​ ​

31 John 17:21-23 NIV 32 Romans 15:6 NIV

38 Main Point: We are always brighter together. ​

Main Scripture: John 17:21-23, Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 1:10 & 12:12, 1 Peter ​ 3:8, Ephesians 4:1-6, Psalm 133:1-3, Colossians 3:13

Question: God, am I yielded to Your authority or my opinions and outside influences? ​

Next Step: Take a moment to evaluate the beliefs and opinions you hold. Ask yourself if ​ these beliefs are founded in scripture and Godly wisdom. If not, reflect on what they are founded in and seek God to transform your heart and mind.

Family Time: Have your family discuss some ways you can be more united. An ​ example could be that you as a family take the time to pray with and for one another every night before bed.

39 Day 16: In To Me You See

“When we let others control us by threats of disapproval and rejection, we give up far too much of ourselves and make it impossible for us to engage in authentic relationships.” George Robinson

Have you ever considered what it was like to have the man Jesus as a close friend? Yes, we are all friends of God. However, outside of the many who walked earth with Him, no one other than His 12 disciples experienced that type of intimacy with Jesus. Jesus hugged them. He washed their feet. Kissed their cheeks. Laughed with them. Cried with them. Slept near them. Their intimacy with Jesus was not just relational, but also proximal. They were close to Jesus in relationship and proximity. The thought seems trivial when we disregard the fact that Jesus was both fully man and fully God. So their intimacy with Jesus was far deeper than any they had experienced in any other relationship. Jesus not only knew them as a friend, but also as their Creator. As the Son of God, Jesus knew Peter before He had even met Peter. There was not a doubt Thomas had, a fear Matthew had, or a motive Judas had that Jesus was unaware of. Can you picture Jesus and the disciples gathered around a fire, resting from a long day of miracles? John sprawled out next to Jesus, Peter relaxing on his forearm as he threw shafts of wheat into the fire. Philip and Nathaneal laughing as Nathaneal recounts the moment he knew Jesus was God. “He told me that He saw me under a tree”, Nathaneal says. “So?”, Peter retorts, “Anyone could say they’d seen you under a tree. Who’s not to say he hadn’t passed your earlier when you were unaware?” With confidence Nathaneal looks over at Peter, “It wasn’t the tree that showed me He was God, it was the specific moment mentioned. The moment He saw me was a moment where I questioned God’s love for us as I looked out on all the oppression in our city. It wasn’t that He saw me, it was that He saw my pain and hopelessness. He saw what no one else did, and that is how I knew He was God.” Authenticity has become a buzz word in the last few years. As it’s circulated the internet it’s become misdefined to mean filterless pictures and posts of confession. That is not to disregard the vulnerability either of those things take. But it is to say that authenticity is deeper than that. Authenticity is allowing another to see me for who I am, and to invite them into the sacred places of my heart despite the fear of criticism or rejection. Authenticity is courageous.

40 Authenticity is also refreshing. When we meet someone free to be themselves, it invites us to do the same. And in a world of highlight reels, we need the restorative power of being seen and known behind the scenes. The love of Jesus carries that power, and we carry that love. Remember, it is that very love that protects our light. At Vivid Church we are honest about life, real about our struggles, open to correction, and empathetic towards each other. Our heart beats for authentic community. Authentic community lights up the world. May we experience it and be it.

Main Point: Authenticity is allowing others to see me for who I am, and to invite them ​ into the sacred places of my heart despite the fear of criticism or rejection.

Main Scripture: James 5:13-16, Proverbs 27:17, Galatians 6:1-2, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, ​ Proverbs 27:9, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Peter 4:8-9, 1 John 1:7-8

Question: God, am I allowing others to see me for me, or who I believe they want to ​ see?

Next Step: Reach out to a trusted friend or loved one and ask them how they are doing. ​ Encourage them to be honest. As this friend shares, take the opportunity to honestly share how you are doing as well. Also, with the help of the Holy Spirit, take the time to reflect on when you feel least compelled to be your authentic self. Have a conversation with God about it and why that is.

Family Prompt: Ask each child who they feel most comfortable being themselves ​ around. Have them identify what about that person makes them feel comfortable. Challenge them to create a safe place for others to feel comfortable being themselves when they are around your child. Remind them that they can be themselves with God no matter what.

41 Day 17: Inside Joy

“Humor breaks down walls so truth can enter.” Knox McCoy

It has been psychologically proven that laughter creates and strengthens emotional bonds. A study facilitated by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, exploring the effectiveness of laughter as a social glue shows laughter is most magnetic 33 when two parties are laughing with one another .​ ​ ​ ​ Social Psychologist Sarah Algoe says, “For people who are laughing together, shared laughter signals that they see the world in the same way, and it momentarily boosts their sense of connection.” A common example of this idea of shared laughter is inside jokes. While the phrase, “I’m used to you”, may bring tears of laughter to you and friends eyes, to others it may seem incredibly rude and off putting. The inside joke signifies and reinforces a bond created in a moment shared between you two. Something no one outside of the experience can share. In the same way, we as brothers and sisters in Christ have a shared experience. However, instead of having an inside joke, we have an inside joy. This joy rests in the promise of eternal life and intimacy with Jesus. Because of this, the church should be a place of abundant joy and laughter. Sadly, in many ways the church at large has become incredibly stiff and dull. We have confused holiness with haughtiness. Living under the false assumption that the less we laugh the more we are like God. In Psalm 51:12 the Psalmist David cries out to the Lord pleading, “Restore to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Maybe this should be our hearts cry today, because if what Paul teaches in Romans 1:20 is true, how can that be so?

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 12:1

Science and Psychology are merely explanations of what God has created and how His creation functions. So if God intentionally created the muscles, sensory motors, and brain chemistry for laughter, then He intended for us to laugh.

33 Jill Suttie, How Laughter Brings Us Together

42 Vivid Church believes that fun people have the greatest impact. Why? Because fun and laughter have the ability to disarm our defenses. Because the vulnerability of joy opens our hearts to the truth of salvation. To live a joyful life and have fun is to trust God. When we choose to have fun instead of overworking ourselves, we are saying, “God, I trust you are ultimately in control while I am not.” When we lean into joy instead of fear, we are saying, “God, I trust you no matter the outcome.” While the world seeks fun as an escape, and oftentimes at the expense of others, we enjoy fun as an act of gratitude and an invitation to intimacy. As the light of the world we have the opportunity to invite others into an inside joy that is only found in experiencing salvation and the love of Jesus.

Main Point: The vulnerability of joy opens our hearts to the truth of salvation. ​

Main Scripture: Psalm Psalm 16:11 & 51:12, Romans 1:20 & 12:1, Nehemiah 8:10, ​ John 15:11, Proverbs 10:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Question: God, what in my life is hindering me from experiencing a deeper joy? ​

Next Step: Over the next 24 hours take notice of any moments where you feel ​ apprehensive to having fun, laughing, or being joyful. As you do so, ask God for the courage to lean into joy and not shrink back in fear.

Family Prompt: Ask each of your children to share their favorite joke or funny story. ​ Take this time to laugh together and enjoy one another’s company.

43 Day 18: For More Than Today

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Pablo Picasso

Imagine a world where we only used our skill and talent to better ourselves. Where the only way to survive mentally, physically, and emotionally, was entirely dependent on what you alone could do for yourself. The world would be fragmented. Every idea and invention is essentially the evolution of an idea or invention that preceded it. As much as we believe we are autonomous and independent beings, we’re not. No one person has the skill set, talent, or ability to survive without the contribution of another. The level of autonomy we possess is far less than we care to admit. You may own your home, but you didn’t physically build it. You didn’t print the money needed to purchase it. You had a job that provided you money. A contractor to build the home. A realtor to negotiate the deal. So on and so forth. The time, talent, and resources of others played an integral role in you owning your home. This is why selfishness opposes the progress of humanity and generosity propels it. In the book of Acts, in his farewell to the Ephesian Elders, the Apostle Paul reminds them of the importance of living beyond themselves.

“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine supplied my own needs and the needs of ​ ​ my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:33-35

This idea of giving more than we receive flies in the face of worldly convention. For most, if not all, of our lives we are inundated with the idea that we must do for ourselves. We are taught that all of our efforts and achievements should be solely for our personal gain and security while generosity is an afterthought. Do not take this to mean that we must neglect ourselves for the sake of generosity. That is unwise and unhealthy. However, it is to say we should think of others to the same degree that we do ourselves. Paul says he supplied his own needs AND the needs of his companions. As I am providing for myself, I should also consider how I can support others.

44 At Vivid we believe we live bigger lives when we give just to give. The issue with the world’s idea of self-preservation is that it is nearsighted. What I do for me dies with 34 me. Jesus highlights this in the parable of the rich fool .​ ​ In the parable a farmer yielded a plentiful harvest. The abundance of his harvest was greater than the room he had to store his crops. Pleased with himself, he tore down his barn and built larger ones to store his surplus grain. After doing so he was content to enjoy the rest of his life for now he had enough grain to last him many years.

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God.” Luke 12:20-21

Here this man had finally reached what he defined as success, and as he gazed upon his accomplishment with pride, ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor, his life ended. The saddest part of this parable is not his death, but the waste of resources and provision that could have fed and nourished so many. His success died with him because he only lived with himself in mind. By now I believe we can see that being the light of the world means we live counter to the world’s culture. While it is important that we care for ourselves, without doing so we cannot love others healthily, we cannot become consumed with ourselves. We should invest in the lives of others just as much as we invest in our own lives. The reality is the world emphasizes selfishly living and consuming because it fails to recognize this doesn’t have to be the end for us. As sons and daughters of God we have the promise of a joyful eternity after this life. With that we understand that our time here on earth is not our end all be all. Living with eternity in mind gives us the freedom to give without regret. Not only because we recognize our life doesn’t end with our final earthly breath, but also because our generosity allows us to invite others to find that same freedom in salvation.

Main Point: Generosity is evidence of our perspective of eternity. ​

Main Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, Acts 20:33-35, Luke 6:38 & 21:1-4, Matthew 6:1-4, ​ 6:21 & 10:42, 1 John 3:17, Proverbs 21:13

Question: God, is the success I am seeking egocentric or GodCentric? Earthly minded ​ or Kingdom minded? Me-driven or Spirit-driven? For earthly-gain or eternal gain?

34 Luke 12:13-21

45 Next Step: Evaluate your goals and for each answer the questions: How are my goals ​ moving me toward fulfilling my God-given purpose? How will this goal move me closer to who God wants me to become and what He wants me to do? Invite the Holy Spirit into this moment.

Family Time: Have each child share some of their dreams and aspirations. After each ​ child has shared, encourage them to consider how that dream could help others and invite them to know Jesus.

46 Day 19: Growing Pains

“Growth is often uncomfortable, messy and full of feelings you weren’t expecting. But it’s necessary.” Unknown

Delayed muscle onset syndrome (DOMS) is the experience of muscle soreness 24 to 72 hours following exercise. It is most commonly experienced when the intensity of an exercise increases or a new form of exercise is introduced. The pain is due to your body not being accustomed to that type or level of physical exertion. Dr. Michael Jonesco, sports medicine physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, says, “It isn’t an indication that you’ve done something wrong. It indicates you’ve stretched your body to the point that you’ve caused some muscle changes.”35 ​ The physiological changes we experience during muscular growth are similar to what we experience during any other form of growth. We are usually inspired to grow until we recognize what it may cost us. The first taste of discomfort leaves us apprehensive and questioning if the level of comfort we must sacrifice is worth the growth we will experience. Hebrews 12:11 tells us that “no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Our human nature leads us to desire the later without having to experience the unpleasant and painful. We want health without healthy decisions. Love without sacrifice and selflessness. Success without hard work. Results without input. Because of this we either find ways to shortcut the process of growth or remain complacent. Our God is not a complacent or stagnant God. The Apostle Paul teaches us that “...we are transfigured (transformed) much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become more like 36 Him.” ​ Other translations describe that growth as going from glory to glory. ​ Not only do we not serve a complacent God, we also do not serve a God of shortcuts. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Think about it. God has the power to do anything in an instant. In the blink of an eye He can bring life or destruction. However, that same God took six days to create the

35 Donavyn Coffey, Why Do I Get Sore Days After I’ve Worked Out? 36 2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG

47 heavens and the earth. That same God entered this world as a newborn baby and developed through every stage of life. That same God endured grueling hours on a cross before breathing His final breath and completing His earthly mission. Each of those things He could have done in an instant. If the God of the universe subjected Himself to the pain and inconvenience of the process of growth, why do we believe we are above it? Here at Vivid Church, we believe healthy things grow and that we can always be better. The brightness of our light increases as we surrender to the discomfort and process of growth. In the words of Rachel Adams, “We cannot become what we want by remaining who we are.” We cannot become the light of the world by remaining comfortable. Growth is inescapable when we desire to be the light of the world.

Main Point: Growth is inescapable when we desire to be the light of the world. ​

Main Scripture: Hebrews 12:11, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ecclesiastes 3, Mark 11:12-14, 2 ​ Peter 3:18, Hebrews 6:1, Colossians 1:9-10, Philippians 1:6

Question: God, in what area of my life am I refusing to grow? ​

Next Step: Ask a trusted person to share with you three ways in which they have seen ​ you grown in the last year and one way they believe you can grow now.

Family Time: As a family, share how you have seen each member of the family grow ​ over the last year, as well as share one way they believe they can grow now.

48 Day 20: Honor To Us All

“A culture of honor is celebrating who a person is without stumbling over who they are not.” Bill Johnson

Growing up we learned that girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. While boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dogs’ tails. This nursery rhyme gave us a playful understanding of what all made a boy a boy and a girl a girl. Let’s try applying this to understanding the complex idea of honor. Instead of snails, puppy dog tails, sugar, and spice, honor is made up of grace, humility, and understanding for all who encounter me. In a world overwhelmed with personal opinion and biased perspectives, honor does not thrive. Honor, while noble in most cultures, is sadly seen as weak willed in our own. Like unity, there is the misconception that to honor someone means to agree with them. Honor is not devoting myself to the ideas, beliefs, or perspectives of an individual. It is committing to respect and esteem the individual no matter our differences of opinion. Honor can exist in conflict. Honor says, while I do not see from your perspective I still see you as valuable and worthy of respect. 1 Peter 2:17 teaches us to honor everyone. E-ver-y-one. Not those who agree with us. Not those who share our perspective and experience. Not those who are fighting for the same cause. Not those who ascribe to the same political beliefs. Not those who believe in the same social cause. Everyone. It is clear that honor is scarce in our day and time. Which is why it is that much more important that we as sons and daughters of God put it into daily practice. Honor heals. Honor makes room for everyone at the table. Honor is inviting. Honor is counter culture. Honor is seeing everyone from heaven’s perspective and not through the lens of your personal opinion. Lack of honor signifies misidentity. In week 1 we looked at how the way in which we identify ourselves plays a significant role in how we behave. In the same way, the way in which we identify others plays a significant role in how we respond. While scripture is personal it is not exclusive. You are not the only one God refers to as friend. He also refers to the neighbor who supports the presidential candidate you despise. Just as God calls you a work of wonder, He also does the co-worker you constantly butt heads with. Jesus doesn’t just love you, He loves each and every person who has, does, and will exist. So like we have been challenged to see ourselves as God does, we must also be challenged to see others as He does. Honor is evidence of that perspective.

49 At Vivid we honor God, we honor people, and we honor the process. Which means our response to each of those is rooted in what God says and not in what we feel or think. That is the light our world is desperately in need of.

Main Point: Honor is seeing everyone from heaven’s perspective and not through the ​ lens of our personal opinion.

Main Scripture: 1 Peter 2:17, Romans 12:9-13 & 13:7, Proverbs 15:33, Matthew 7:12, ​ Philippians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 12:32-33, John 13:34-35, Ephesians 6:1-3

Question: God, do I lack honor for others? ​

Next Step: Create a list of ways you can honor those you find it challenging to honor. ​

Family Time: Ask each child to share whether or not there is someone in their life that ​ they do not get along with. Challenge each child to write a list of good things about this person.

50 Day 21: Reflection

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” Peter Drucker

Over the last week we have been challenged to assess our ways of thinking and living. We’ve learned that, in many instances, to be the light of the world means we live counter to the culture of the world. As we wrap up this final week with reflection, let's take a moment to humble ourselves and ask God to reveal in what ways we have conformed to the patterns of the world. Let’s invite Him to uncover any mindsets or habits we may have that reflect the world’s way of thinking. As we do so, let's surrender these patterns and thoughts to Him and allow Him to transform us from the inside out.

51 Final Thoughts

As we conclude our 21 Days of Fasting, we pray that you know that God is pleased with you. He’s not pleased with you because you fasted for 10 or 21 days. Not because you completed 21 days of devotions. His delight in you is simply because you are His child. And He is moved by your devotion to seek and draw near to Him throughout this fast. No matter how long or well you fasted, please know God is smiling down on you today. Despite the tangible evidence, also know that God is moving in your life. Remember, fasting is not an act of bartering. So don’t be discouraged if that prayer has yet to be answered or that pain still lingers. As Lysa TerKeurst says, “Our God is not a do nothing God.”37 ​ Our hope is that this guide helped facilitate moments of revelation and God encounters. We do not simply see ourselves as writers but heaven’s transcribers. We write as heaven speaks. Hopefully heaven spoke to you through our feeble words and human analogies. Do not let the conclusion of this fast slow down your pursuit of God. Maintain this momentum, continue to fan this flame. Apply each next step, continue to ask the hard questions, meditate on each scripture, continue seeking His presence. God isn’t looking for you to do it perfectly, He’s looking for you to keep showing up, to keep listening. As we continue to apply what heaven has revealed to us throughout this fast, we will inevitably see ourselves bearing good fruit. We will grow in intimacy with God, respect for ourselves, and compassion for others. Most importantly, we will live brighter lives.

Vivid Church

37 Lysa TerKeurst, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget

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