This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.

This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.

This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.

In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.

JEHOVAH JIREH - The Lord will Provide

God has been in the business of meeting needs since creation. God met the needs of Abraham where the name Jehovah Jireh started when He provided a ram for the sacrifice after Abraham had taken his son Isaac for an offering. Genesis 22:14 says, “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’”

In the desert, God provided for His people with food (Exodus 16) and water from the rock (Exodus 17:1-7).

He provided for the people following Jesus through the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-14). He provides for the birds and the flowers (Matthew 6:26-27). He provided for us because He loves us more than we can imagine (John 3:16).

Though we know He meets our every need, are we content. Though we know He will always provide and His ways are good, is that enough? Is He enough?

We have to pause...let's be honest- Do I truly believed God is enough? Do I truly live my life in a way that reflects that I am content with what God has provided? Do I truly believe that everything could be taken away, and God would be enough for me? Reality is - not always. Let's make this practical...you might catch yourself singing "Jireh, you are enough.." But then…. one part of the song makes an appearance ”and I will be content in every circumstance…” Wait… hold up! EVERY circumstance? In the middle of __________ (insert your situation or circumstance here).

See, when faced with the choice between the blessing (like Isaac was for Abraham) or the One who blesses (God), which will you choose? It can be whatever you constantly choose over God, whatever you make time for over Him, whatever you chase after, other than Him. After all, He is the giver of everything we have. All of us can fall so deeply in love with the blessing that we have or that we yearn for, that God simply becomes a way to get it. The blessing becomes an idol and in turn, the object of our worship, when God alone is to be the object of our desire and reverence: “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) In order to experience overflow, we must first acknowledge and see our biggest need, and the biggest blessing - Jesus.

You may be in a season of joy and abundance, in a season of grief and trial, or somewhere in between. Wherever you are, He readily provides His strength to sustain you. He has promised us that His grace is sufficient for us and His strength is made perfect in our weakness--no matter the season, task, or situation. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He is is enough. Always.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Philippians 4:11-13 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Genesis 22:14 “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.””

Reflect on the prompts below then write down your thoughts.

What is an area you quietly haven't trusted God to provide for you? It doesn't have to be financial, it might even be something that isn't tangible. It might be the peace you need, the healing that you need, it might be the husband or wife you're praying for. Pause and write it down. Remember that God already knows your heart. He's not offended by your holdbacks, but He loves you too much to keep you living in the same place. You can be honest with Him without the shame.

Where have you seen God show up for you? Once you have answered that, take a few minutes to simply write down things you are grateful for.

GUIDED PRAYER:

God, thank you for being my provider. While I choose to live expectant of your goodness, today, I also choose contentment. Help me trust you in every circumstance. Amen

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do these scriptures mean to you?

How have you seen God provide or show up for you?

How can we choose to live in contentment?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Begin a gratitude journal. Take time every day to think of things to be grateful for.

EL SHADDAI: God Almighty

Ever look down at the side of your coffee cup only to notice your name completely butchered. So perhaps annoyed, but unsurprised, you walk out of the coffee shop - it's only a name after all, right?

Is a name ever really just a name?

In Genesis 17:1 we read: "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty..."

When God tells Abram to call him El Shaddai, He isn’t just saying, ‘Hey, I like to be referred to as this’. He is sharing a part of who He is. He is telling Abram to call Him ‘Almighty’ and, in doing so, Abram is not just calling out a characteristic of God, but every time he says it, he is reminding himself that God is in fact, all-powerful.

There is much significance at this moment because not only does God tell Abram a new name to call Him by, but He also gives Abram a new name. Abram shifts from ‘exalted father’ to Abraham, ‘father of a multitude’. This exchange of names for both God and Abraham signifies God reaffirming His promise with Abraham.

Now every time Abraham said his name, he would be reminded of that promise – that he would be a father to a multitude. Equally, every time he called out to El Shaddai, he would be reminded that he was not calling to a powerless God but rather to an all-powerful God who cared very much about what was in a name.

So today, whatever you've been walking through, whatever you've been experiencing- fear, anxiety, grief, stress, disappointment, defeat - you can choose to shift your faith to your God Almighty, He who is more than adequate, more than able. He who is FOR you.

As you learn about this name of God - El Shaddai: God Almighty, and you're reminded of the significance of this name, of His power choose to also be reminded of yours. Just like He gives Abram a new name, He has given you a new name too. He gives us names that call us into a new identity– names with meanings and names that speak to who we will become - Free, Chosen, Seen, Provided for, Overcomer, Forgiven, Purposeful.

New does not mean “instant” or “overnight.” New means “not like we used to be.” New means believing what God says about us and living into this new identity and reality with complete trust in Him. So do what it takes to be new and to stay new. Your old name no longer defines you. Your wrestling has been hard and long, but you have a new identity to show for it. God is more than able to cover all of your inadequacies, you're no longer defined by them. You can rest now. He is more than able. He is God Almighty.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Psalm 91:1-2 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”

Reflect on the prompts below then write down your thoughts.

How does your view of God compare to the description of El Shaddai - God Almighty?

How does your view of what God says about you compare to how you view yourself? Here are just a few to consider:

I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God (Ephesians 1:4)

I am a child of God (John 1:12)

I am accepted (Romans 15:7)

I am made new (2Corinthians 15:7)

I am Free (Galatians 5:1)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)

I am exceedingly loved (Romans 5:8).

GUIDED PRAYER:

God Almighty, as I am reminded of who you are, help me to trust in your mighty name for every area of my life. Thank you for loving me despite of me. I surrender any labels I've taken on. Today I choose to step into who you say I am. In Jesus name, Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do this scripture mean to you?

How does knowing God is Almighty, help you shift your thoughts on the areas of your life you don't have control over?

What is something that God says about you, that you want to own more.

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Write something that God says about you and share it with someone. Choose to leave a sticky note for someone to see, or exchange among those around you during family time or time in community. Someone might just be in need of a reminder.

YHWH: I AM

How many times have you found your day disrupted or even felt like it has just been detonated by an unexpected event? Your plans collapse in a moment and this new trial consumes you. Perhaps even as you read this your spirit is drained from too many sleepless nights.

Today we find Moses facing unfathomable fears. He’s a fugitive in hiding with a big calling by God ahead, to return to his accusers and demand the release of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land. ‘Who shall I say sends me?‘ asks Moses. Whoever THAT is had better hold some power right? We hear the crippling doubts in Moses’ question. The answer: four letters that form a word so sacred that many would not even say it out loud. YHWH. In later years it would be pronounced Yahweh. Yahweh - a profoundly holy name, but it is also unmistakably personal.

In Exodus 3:14 we see the response: "God said to Moses, “ I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘ I am has sent me to you.’ ” Now this may seem just a bit confusing but here’s why this is powerful.

I AM is what God called himself; He made himself known, giving us bold evidence of His presence. Yahweh: I AM, which means “I exist.” But as a name, it also suggests timelessness, self-sufficiency, changelessness. This exchange between Moses and God was not meant to sit simply as a polite conversation. This experience was meant to rattle the world, to make it known to the nations at the time and to nations yet to come that GOD EXISTS. That He is real, He is present and He lives in us. It is the reminder that He is constant, He is here.

He is there in the moments of happiness, the times of rejoicing. He is there in the times of sorrow, within the tragedies of broken homes and families, He is present in the middle of unknowns, He is present in the middle of a pandemic, and the silence brought upon us by the heavy weight of anger and confusion of grief.

Because when we scream out, “God, who is there for these people!?” He bellows, “I AM.”

When I wrestle with the thoughts in my mind and the anguish in my soul and cry, “But Lord, who is taking care of me; who is loving me?” He whispers, “I AM.”

“Lord, who is big enough, strong enough, loving enough, to give up everything, their only son, to heal, forgive, redeem, sanctify souls so warped, so undeserving as us…as me??”

“I AM.

He is. He always is, for He is Yahweh.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Psalm 31:3 “Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.”

Psalm 25:11 “For the honor of your name, Yahweh, never count my many sins, and forgive them all— lift their burden off of my life!”

When have you felt forgotten by God?

Write down what God has spoke to you today though today's devotional.

Now read today's scriptures. Write down what you feel God tells you through them.

GUIDED PRAYER:

God, I believe You are the one true God who is near and never changes, though I do not understand completely. Your promises will never fail me. Help me to rely on Your presence and to trust in Your constant faithfulness. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do this scripture mean to you?

How do you sense God's presence in your life.

What is something you can do when you feel God is absent?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Write today's scriptures on notecards. Leave them areas you walk by or where they will be seen consistently. The more we are reminded with truth, the more we believe it and the more it becomes engraved on our heart. It's then that there will be less room, or no room, for other thoughts.

ABBA FATHER

Day six. You made it here. We're at the end of week one. Over the next two weeks, we'll be diving into what God wants to do IN us and the promises He has FOR us. Which makes today special and necessary.

“Abba” is the defining term for father in the Aramaic language, spoken by Jesus and Paul as a very personal term to characterize their close relationships with God. It is also a term of reverence.

So why does today matter so much. W live in a fatherless generation. It is important to be aware that it's not just about WHO we are but WHO'S we are. If you grew up with an absent father, a dad that was hard for you to trust, or with feelings of abandonment, it may be hard to see God as Father. Even the best earthly dads have moments when they fail. So, the idea of God as “Father” takes a good bit of imagination—and even more faith. So it helps to remember that God is a perfect Father, a Father unaffected by human weakness of character.

If we live with an underlying feeling of mistrust in the Father, then becoming the Beloved Son or Daughter will be unattainable. Walking with the Father will be impossible, fighting for the kingdom will not go well, and stepping into His promises will sound like a great idea, and often feel like an unattainable dream.

Opening you heart to examine how you really see the Father, and why, and inviting him to show you, might be both a challenge and an upgrade to your beliefs. Your “after” view of Him might still be in the making, but you might find that it is far better than your before—and that your Abba Father is far better than you used to believe.

It is impossible for us to love what we don’t trust.

The nineteenth century Scottish pastor and author George MacDonald once wrote:

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.”

We are loved to the degree that we are known and in human relationships we are known to the degree that we trust. God, of course, knows us completely and loves us unconditionally whether we trust him or not. The question then becomes, will we let him love us? Choosing to trust him is the key. In the words of Jesus:

“Trust in me . . . let me love you.” (John 14:1; 15:9).

The Father is trustworthy! He knows what each and every one of us can become. Satan also knows what you might become—and fears it! Keeping you with a warped idea of the Father will keep you from stepping into all that God created for you. But God. Do the work to know your Abba Father in a new way today. You can trust Him.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Romans 8:15 “And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!””

John 15:9 “I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].”

How do you see the Father? What is your experience growing up that has shaped your belief?

Take a moment to listen to today's worship song. Read today's scriptures, then write down what God is speaking to you.

GUIDED PRAYER:

God, thank you for being a good Father. Help me to trust you. Bring to light the areas where I've been wrong in my view of you and help me replace it with truth. Thank you for loving me, for being proud of me, even in my becoming. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do this scripture mean to you?

How has your view of God as Abba Father shifted today?

What is a takeaway from today's devotional?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Write down what makes God a Good Father.

Close out in prayer together thanking Him for being a good Father.

PURE HEART & MIND

Today, we start week two. This week will feel different. This week we focus on some things that might not feel so comfortable. It's ok, It's you and God. And from what we've learned about God, He is a safe place, a good Father and redeemer of all things.

We started 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting by asking a question: What does it look like to put God first?

Before we step into His promises and position ourselves for Overflow, we must take some time relinquishing what might be holding us back from the "more" God has for us.

Today our focus is a Pure Heart & Mind. This is a characteristic that will overflow in us as we spend time with Him and put Him first. See, when we put Him first, He will be our filter for our thoughts, our heart posture, our actions, decision making...really, every single part of our life. Putting Him first creates transformation in us, through Him. This occurs as our hearts and motives are purified!

Sometimes we can believe the lie that we need to fix all of our issues and perfect our hearts and motives before we come to God. There may have been times where we let shame get in the way of building a relationship with God. The truth is, as we draw near to God, we are able to bring Him all of our brokenness and humanity. We will always fall short of perfection and that is why we need Jesus, to save and renew our lives. It's about progress and not perfection! God blesses who you are, not who you pretend to be. As we've learned through our first week, He desires a relationship with us! As we lean into a relationship with God, He will transform us through His love, leading us to repentance, restoration, and redemption. We repent for times when we missed the mark in the way we think, speak, and love in our lives, accepting forgiveness and correction from the God.

Today, ask yourself, "what areas in my heart and motives can I surrender to the Lord, to purify and make me into His likeness?" Imagine how our lives and the lives of those around us can be changes through this time, as we allow God to have His way in our hearts and minds!

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Proverbs 16:2 “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.”

Psalm 119:9 “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

How is God speaking to you today about your heart posture and motives?

What areas have you tried to fix on your own before submitting them to God?

What would it look like to be transformed during this time of prayer and fasting to be more like Christ?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, I thank you for your grace and mercy. I thank you for your goodness and love that is for me and will never leave me. I pray that you bring to light areas in my heart and motives where I am operating out of alignment with your heart I repent for thoughts and actions that have missed the mark. I pray for your guidance and wisdom. Speak to me today! Renew my heart, restore my motives, and transform me for your glory. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do this scripture mean to you?

How have you seen God work in your life over the last week?

What would it look like to be transformed during this time of prayer + fasting?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Choose a verse or verses from today’s devotional and challenge each other to memorize it. if you're involving children, you can draw pictures or print images for each line you choose to memorize, and give them to your family. Repeat it daily to practice memorizing. You can remove an image daily to see if your family can remember it.

HUMILITY

Today we are deciding to walk in humility.

Humility is defined not as thinking less of yourself but as thinking of yourself less. Humility is taking up your God-given space, nothing more, nothing less. We live in a day and age where it seems counterintuitive to make ourselves smaller. At times, we can become absorbed with our achievements, dreams, desires, and worries. We may feel that we need to promote ourselves to stay relevant, receive credit, or even reach our purpose.

The Bible instructs us as followers of Christ, to remain humble and submitted. We are empowered through the Holy Spirit to become self-aware in our actions, and fight against the temptation to walk in pride.

In Mark 10, James and John feel that greatness would be ‘accomplished’ if they were granted to sit next to Jesus in his glory. This was their primary request from Jesus: ‘Lord, we want to be great like you’. For James and John, greatness and success in their culture meant being in or close to power. On one side this request seems fitting: they know Jesus is God and want to be close to him in the next life. But the other side shows a misunderstanding that Jesus sees through: they wanted to be powerful, like God, because that would be true success and greatness in their eyes.

Times haven’t changed much. Titles, platforms, money and power remain the dominant indicators of greatness and success.

Jesus modeled what it looked like to walk in humility by the way He lived His life and served others in grace AND truth. If anyone had an excuse to be prideful it was Jesus. He was God!

The Bible says in Philippians 2:6, "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to." The next time you feel yourself getting consumed by your needs or desires, boastful about accomplishments, or in the chase for more, remember to remain humble by magnifying God and putting Him in His rightful place. Don't worry, He sees you. In fact, James 4:6 tells us: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Proverbs 29:23 says: "A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor."

It can be easy for our thinking to be molded by the culturally accepted pursuits of greatness and success of our day. We surrender by trusting His ways are higher, in turn, we find peace and freedom in Him, and give Him His rightful place to do what only He can.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Micah 6:8 “…the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Psalm 138:6 “Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.”

What is an area you have a tendency to be prideful in?

How does relinquishing that pride, help you magnify God in your life?

What is one thing you can do today, to submit to God by walking in humility?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, I thank you for reminding me that you are always in control. I thank you, that I can remain open-handed with my worries and my wants, trusting your will for my life. I repent for the ways I have walked in pride. I repent for times when I have been self-centered and missed the mark. I pray that as I humble myself today, you show me grace and favor. I thank you for the relationship I have with you. I pray that as I submit, your presence and power in my life are magnified. Help me to live out less of me and more of you. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do this scripture mean to you?

What is a way we can show humility?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Serve a neighbor in some way today. Dropping off some goodies to remind them they're seen, raking their leaves or prepping dinner for them.

If you want to make this a fun family challenge, have each one write a way they'd like to serve a neighbor, teacher, or a community member. Choose one to do each week.

OVERFLOW IN MY HEART, MIND & MOUTH

Words are powerful. As we begin to think about today's topic, we are reminded of our humanity. We all fall short of the glory of God and all have areas in our lives and language that need to be refined.

Our words have the power to dictate many things in our lives. God spoke the world into existence! Words have the power to demonstrate who we are through our conversations, and shift the atmosphere. Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that when our words are unsubmitted to God, our words can breed death. In James chapter 3, we learn that we move in the direction we speak. In this chapter, we also see that no man alone can tame the tongue. James does not beat around bush when he compares the tongue to ‘a restless evil’.

The pairing of restless and evil makes for a powerful message. ‘Restless’ is defined as ‘offering no physical or emotional rest; involving constant activity’. This is a powerful reminder to us. The stakes are high.

When we accept Jesus into our hearts, the Holy Spirit lives within us and becomes our guiding force. As we walk with God and learn from Him, transformation takes place in our life. We all need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to help us progress in our hearts so that our words are reflective of the love of God. Love, kindness, and self-control are fruits of the Spirit that empower us to walk in wisdom and discernment. If this isn't growing in us, we're not growing in Him.

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) What's in your heart? What fills your heart? The abundance of our hearts reveal our focus and priorities. As you continue to pray and fast on today's topic, ask yourself, “is my speech edifying and bringing glory to God?” Whether it's negativity, gossip, foul language, or careless conversations...take them time to analyze the words you speak, maybe even over yourself or others. Imagine the impact you can have to magnify and honor God. Imagine how you can shift atmospheres. Imagine the direction your life can shift in when your words are now submitted to God, when He becomes your filter. If we want to see God overflow in our life, He must first overflow in our heart.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Micah 6:8 TPT “Here’s my life motto, the truth I live by: I will guard my ways for all my days. I will speak only what is right, guarding what I speak. Like a watchman guards against an attack of the enemy...”

Additional Scripture References:

James 3:6-8

Ephesians 4:29

Proverbs 18:21

What is God speaking to you about taming your tongue?

What does it look like to invite the Holy Spirit into your language and conversations?

How can you magnify God to those around you through your speech?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, I surrender my heart, mind, and mouth to you today. I repent for times when I fell short in the ways I have spoken. I ask and receive your forgiveness and grace to turn away from my sin. I pray that you would increase my awareness of the power in my words. I pray for wisdom to steward my speech in a way that is pleasing to you. I pray that I speak life and encouragement today. I will declare words of love and kindness to encourage and edify myself and those around me. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do this scripture mean to you?

What are ways we can intentionally use our words to encourage or edify others?

In what way can today's topic shift your life?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Think of ways to encourage speech that honors God.

OVERFLOW IN MY MIND

The things that we say and do all start as thoughts in our minds, so it makes sense that a total transformation needs to begin in our minds to change how we act and treat those around us. Let's go a little deeper today. We focused on our words yesterday, let's focus on our mind today.

Our minds are transformed as we surrender our lives to God and mature in our faith. We all experience thoughts, situations, and events throughout our lives that challenge and stretch us. As we walk out our faith, our minds are constantly bombarded by thoughts, lies, and worries that come against the truth of God.

Have you ever gotten a song stuck in your head? Sometimes when we remember a specific verse or chorus of a song, it can get stuck in our minds for an entire day and play on repeat. The things that we think about have a significant impact on us- they get stuck easily. In the book of Philippians, Paul encourages the church by telling them to think about things that are pleasing to God— things that are noble, pure, and admirable. He said that “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” to think about it! When we focus our minds and thoughts on things that are pleasing to God, it is one way of worshiping Him. But when we fill our minds with things that don’t make us better or direct us away from Jesus, our heads get crowded with things that don't align us with God's heart.

The Bible says, we have authority in Christ over our thoughts. 2 Corinthians tells us that "We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"

We have the authority to react, to set our minds, and respond in agreement with the Holy Spirit. We might think that God transforming our minds is only something that we can feel on the inside, but the truth is that we will see external evidence of our internal transformation. When we follow Jesus and grow in our relationship with Him, fruit is produced in our lives. There is a list of these characteristics found in Galatians 5:22-23 known as the “fruit of the Spirit.” (We learned a bit about this yesterday as we discussed that love, kindness and self control are some of them.) These fruits are evidence that Christ is changing us, and He is transforming us from the inside out. As we have transformation inside and allow God to transform our lives, we will treat others differently, our words and actions will be more like Jesus, and we can ultimately point others to Him. As we allow God to transform our minds, not only will we be changed, but we can also show others Jesus and their lives can be changed, too! That is overflow!

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Philippians 4:8 NIV “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Additional Scripture References:

Romans 12:2

Romans 8:6

Galatians 5:22-23

What areas of your mind, thoughts, and emotions require fresh surrender to God?

What is God speaking to you about transforming your mind?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, I thank you that you invite me, daily, to a fresh surrender to you. I praise your name, that your ways are not my ways and that you are higher than all of my thoughts, emotions, and circumstances. I invite you into my heart and mind today. I pray you change me, renew me, and transform my mind. Help me to be the evidence of you. Amen!

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What do this scripture mean to you?

What are ways we can intentionally use our words to encourage or edify others?

In what way can today's topic shift your life?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Choose a scripture from today's scriptures and memorize it.

THE POWER OF LOVE OVERFLOWING

We never stop learning how to receive and extend God's love. You may find that the commandments to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" or "Love your neighbor as yourself" can sound routine to us and no longer create the impact in our hearts when we hear it. We can quote this verse without understanding the gravity and implications of inwardly understanding and outwardly demonstrating this commandment. Because we don't often understand it, or it's become monotonous, we don't grasp the immense power that God's love possesses, and it's ours to have.

When we are in the valley, it’s normal to feel frustrated, anxious or upset. But we can’t let these feelings overtake us. For we are always standing in God’s love. The Bible tells us perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). Even when we don’t understand our situation, we can rest in the fact that God can use all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Ephesians 3:16-19 beautifully tells us how we can grow in God's love, and check this out...as we do, it says "you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." That should make us hungry to draw near, to grow in relationship with our Father, to experience Him fully.

This means that when your heart is focused on love....things that are not of God, must go. Fear, worry, unforgiveness, criticism, bitterness. resentment must go. There's no room for it.

A critical spirit cannot remain when love overflows in your heart. A downcast spirit cannot remain when love overflows from it. An unforgiving heart cant remail when love overflows from it. Now, fill in what you need God to move out of the way as you allow His love to overflow in your life: ____________ cannot remain as love overflows in me.

The Bible teaches that God is love and that as followers of Christ, we will be recognized by the way we love one another. We are only able to extend the amount of love that we are able to receive from God. God is the source of love and light in the world. Since God is love, we are called to be with love and to become love. The depths of God’s goodness and love is impossible for us to fully comprehend. God loves us so much that He sent His one, and only Son to die on a cross to grant us freedom and hope.

As we have a relationship with God we experience his love for us. Out of this overflow we are able to share God’s love with others. Imagine the impact we can have on the lives of others by growing in our understanding and ability to receive and extend God’s love.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Ephesians 3:16-18 NLT “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

Additional Scripture References:

1 John 4:7-10

John 13:35

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

John 3:16

Mark 12:30-31

In what ways do you need to recognize God's love for you?

Do you see and treat others through a lens of God’s love?

How can you extend God’s unconditional love to the people around you?

GUIDED PRAYER:

God, I come to you today asking for a fresh understanding of your love. I thank you for your extravagant love which you demonstrated by sending your Son to die for me to forgive my sins. I pray to experience your love in a tangible way, transforming me to become more like you. Show me how I can better love myself and love those around me. I pray to be a vessel, quick to obey, and show your love to the world! Change the way I love, renew the way I love, transform the way I love. Amen!

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

In what way can today's topic shift your life?

What are some immediate next steps you're taking to grow in God's love?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Make loving God and others better, a practice.

Share some ways you can love God better and pick some that you can do together throughout the week or month.

Share some ways you can love others better and pick some out that you can do together throughout the week or month.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT & WISDOM

We live in a time where internet accessibility is at an all-time high. It is easy to rely on the ample amount of information that is seemingly at our fingertips. Knowledge, information, and other experiences can be helpful when it comes to learning, creating our own opinions, and making decisions. However, it can be tempting to rely only on what we can see or hear in the natural and ignore the spiritual aspect.

God teaches us that we are to seek, understand, and rely on God as our source. This allows us to grow in our spiritual discernment to help us understand how God is leading us, whether it's right from wrong, truth from lies, and decisions that affect our lives. Spiritual wisdom is rooted in our knowledge of God (Ephesians 1:17). God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. It is crucial for us to meditate on scripture and spend intentional time to get familiar with His voice.

We can overcomplicate our relationship with God. But think about it like this, you have friends you talk to on the phone regularly. If they called you from any other number that you didn't recognize, you've talked to them enough to know it's your friend. Now, there may be others you don't connect with often or at all, if they called you, you would have no idea who they were by the sound of their voice. Walking with God, growing our relationship with Him, is no different. The more you spend time with Him, the more you know Him, not just know OF Him, you will distinguish His voice when He's prompting you or leading you, and you'll grow in learning about what honors Him.

If we're honest, too often, we rely on our feelings to lead our decisions. We don’t “feel” like______. Or I "feel" like ____. Feelings are terrible catalysts for discernment. We're taking God out of the driver seat and putting our feelings to navigate. In turn, we are led and often controlled by our feelings. Don’t let your feelings control your faith. Proverbs 16:3 tells us to “commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

As you grow in your walk, surround yourself with others who will lead you to truth. A source of discernment is using the gift that we find in people that God has placed around us and the wisdom God has given them. This could include pastors, parents, mentors, friends, and yes, even spouses. If the advice aligns with the Bible, and would be helpful to our lives, then we would be foolish not to take it. We need people who will point us to truth.

Today, as we acknowledge God as the ultimate source of wisdom, truth, and light we pray that spiritual discernment and wisdom would increase and overflow in our lives.

Through intentional time with Him, through prayer and fasting, we partner with God to develop and sharpen our spiritual discernment and wisdom.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Additional Scripture References:

Ephesians 1:18-20

Proverbs 2:6

Ephesians 5:6-10

Psalms 119:105

Luke 12:12

Where do you need an increase of spiritual discernment in your life?

Do you find yourself being led by feelings? How can you bring God in to your circumstances when your feelings want to take over?

How can you sharpen your discernment during this time of prayer and fasting?

Do you have people in your life you can go to that will point you to truth? f you don't, ask God to bring people around you. Maybe there's people God is bringing to your mind right now that He has placed around you in this season. Write their names down and pray for them. A next step might be for you call or text them. Ask them if they will be part of your go-to circle for those who will point you to truth. This is how you can begin to build your circle of spiritual mentors.

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, you are the source of all wisdom and truth. I thank you for your Word which I can stand on as I face the situations that surround me. I thank you that in this time of prayer and fasting, I am drawing near to you to lean not on my own understanding, but relying on your ways and your will. I ask that you sharpen my discernment, that you mature me in my faith and my understanding of the Holy Spirit. I pray that as I rely on you, you transform my heart, thoughts, and the lives of those around me for your glory. Amen!

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

In what way can today's topic shift your life?

Who are some people you can go to for wisdom that will point you to Jesus?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Choose a verse to memorize and challenge each other on various ways to memorize the scripture.

OVEFLOW IN MY LIFE

Today, we enter into the last week of 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting. This week we focus our time with intention on God's promises and pray some very specific prayers over our lives, our families, our pastors and leaders, our city, and our circles of influence. Let's believe big!

Psalm 65:11 says "You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.“

What a beautiful promise for our lives- that our Heavenly father would crown our year with a grand harvest and even in the hard, dry and difficult seasons he causes us to overflow with abundance. The truth is that this “overflowing with abundance” is a God-trait. That is who He is, no doubts about it. The Overflow represents the state in which our life is so filled with God, that others too, begin to experience that blessedness. We will have a peace and joy which is unexplainable yet life changing for others. The overflow is not found at the destination instead it is experienced throughout the journey. Though God is so kind, and we know we can believe BIG because of Him, it’s not being fixated on results such as an increase in wealth or influence but it is an everyday, intentional inclusion of Christ in our lives. The overflow enables us to live abundantly even in the less than ideal situations of our life where hope and purpose feel diluted and less obvious. In turn, when we step into increases and God given blessings, our hearts are already positioned for gratitude, generosity, and in Him, the giver of every good thing.

You have probably figured out by now that the Christian life is one of incredible blessing while also being one of intense battles. Have you felt that while you had many blessings, your battles were more? Like you were a victim of your circumstances, like nothing good could come out of some situations, like everything was working against you? Maybe you experienced backlash from close friends or even your own family let you down?

Have you wondered how you could ever operate from overflow in the midst of these circumstances?

The life of Joseph in the book of Genesis will give you direction and hope.

He was rejected by his siblings, sold into slavery, abandoned, mistreated, falsely accused and forgotten. How do you get past that? How do you still see the silver lining in a cloud so huge it obliterates the sunshine? Joseph did more than just get past it or find the silver lining to the cloud. Only a life filled to overflowing with God can find hope in a pit, courage in adversity, purpose in suffering and strength in the wait.

Are you ready to live this kind of life ? Are you ready to position yourself for overflow?

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading. Ask God to make this your hearts desire. There’s no need to force it - God is working on your heart.

Psalm 65:11 NLT “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.”

Psalm 5:12 NLT “For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.”

Proverbs 8:35 NLT “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”

What are some battles in your life that you need to rest from so that you can experience God do what only He can do?

Are there some situations you have felt victim to that you might need to change your perspective on?

Are there people in your life that God is trusting you to show them His love? Write down the names that come to your mind and pray for them by name.

GUIDED PRAYER:

God, thank you for your promises. I thank you for being the God of overflow. Today, I pray that as I draw closer to you, my heart would be fixed on you so that others can experience you through me. Help me to live with a heart posture that honors you no matter my circumstances. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

BELOW IS HOW YOU CAN PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE, OUR CITY, AND VENTURE:

PRAYING FOR YOUR CIRCLE: Pray that those around you would encounter God.

PRAYING FOR OUR CITY: Pray that our city would encounter God's life changing love.

PRAYING FOR VENTURE: Pray for our church as we welcome people week after week, that we would steward well the gift that God has given us to lead people to encounter Jesus.

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

What are some things we need to shift in our life so we can live from a state where we are filled with who God is?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Go back to a scripture you challenged to memorize and check in on how it's going.

LIVING EXPECTANT

You might hear it said at Venture "be expectant" or "stay expectant". It's not just buzz phrase or catchy thing to say. It's a heart posture. It's activating our faith. To have a posture of expectancy is to make the decision that, above all else, you are going to believe for something. To have the understanding that despite your flaws, despite your circumstances, and despite your situation, you are expectant that God is going to move.

In Genesis, God spoke to Noah about what was to come. Up until this point in time, rain had not occurred on the Earth. God told Noah that it was going to rain and keep raining until the Earth was completely covered in water. The Lord then instructed Noah to get ready for it and to prepare an ark to save all kinds of species and animals, along with his family.

Noah trusted God. He knew that what God said was going to happen was going to actually happen. His faith expected the word of God to do exactly what he said it would do. Therefore, Noah got ready and prepared for what was coming. Faith gets ready before the promise comes. Faith prepares for what it’s expecting. What are you standing in faith for today? What are you expecting to receive from God‘s promise today? Whatever it is, be expectant. God is never not doing something...in us, through us, around us.

If Noah was simply expectant but didn't prepare - well, the story would have a very different outcome. Expectation without investment is just a wish and lacks faith.

At times we are so expectant of things to come, and that is a great thing! But, let's not grow numb and complaisant- there is a difference between expectancy and wishing. In our spiritual lives, in our business, and even in our marriages we so often expect a change but are simply not willing to invest what is necessary to see a change. You see, any person can say “I want to see breakthrough in my relationship with God” or “I want to have my biggest year financially”. But, very few people dare to say “I am willing to do WHATEVER it takes to see breakthrough in these areas of my life”.

We can live from a place of expectancy because our faith is placed in a very real God who gives us very real victory.

Today, let's pray that God gives us a refreshed heart posture of expectancy, individually and as a house, and that our faith would propel the faith of others.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading.

Let's grow in the Word. As you read, highlight or circle the words that stand out to you. What do you sense God speaking to you through what you're reading?

John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

Matthew 21:22 - "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”"

Genesis 7:5 "So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him."

Additional Scripture References:

Genesis 6 & 7

How has God been faithful in your life?

How can you prepare your heart to be expectant of God?

How can your faith in God impact the life of those around you?

GUIDED PRAYER:

God, thank you for being a faithful God. I thank you that I can look at your trajectory and see that you've always been faithful. I repent for times where I have confined my understanding of your power or ability. I pray that as I grow in my relationship with you, I grow in my faith. I pray that my faith would be the kind of faith that propels the faith of others and as I encounter those around me, I would be able to encourage them through you. In Jesus name. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

BELOW IS HOW YOU CAN PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE, OUR CITY, AND VENTURE:

PRAYING FOR YOUR CIRCLE: Pray that those around you would be encouraged to know God.

PRAYING FOR OUR CITY: Pray that our city would see a move of God.

PRAYING FOR VENTURE: Pray for our church that we would be a people who live expectant, believing for God to move in big ways and with anticipation prepare for kingdom opportunities.

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

How has God been faithful in your life?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Look up God's promises. Write down promises that you can lean on when you need to be reminded of God's faithfulness.

PURPOSE LIVING

Joshua has received a God-sized assignment. Cliff notes: Moses is dead, and now Joshua will lead the people into the Promised Land. The fruit of the land is ripe for the picking, but first he must set aside fear and follow God’s leading. He must not focus on the giants in the land, but on the goodness of His great God.

Has God called you to do great things? Maybe you are wondering if you have what it takes. Take your focus off the “what ifs” and ask God to fill you with His courage and strength. If God has appointed you, He will provide whatever you need to accomplish your assignment.

Our God “knows the way” before us – not one detail escapes His notice. He has paved each step of our lives. He surrounds His children with His tender care and is fully committed to providing for our every need.

As we choose to follow God’s leading, we will find sweet peace as we face our day. God knows all. He sees all. Today, we can trust that our faithful God is watching over our every move, and He will always make a way for us.

No matter your assignment, big or small. God has given it to you and He sees you fit - to be a parent to your kids, an employee at your organization, a business owner in your small business, a friend to those around you, a spouse to your husband/wife, a dream teamer in whatever capacity you serve. You have an assignment. It's a gift, and you are are more than capable, because He is able.

So what do you do when your purpose feels out of reach? First, remember that God’s Spirit lives inside of you and equips you with everything you need to live out God’s purpose for your life. Second, remember that His grace covers our every mistake and shortcoming because of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins (1 John 1:9). Lastly, remember that the key to continuing forward in our God-given purpose is that when we fail or fall short, we get back up, talk to God about it, and keep moving forward in the confidence of the Holy Spirit.

Wherever you find yourself today, that tension in front of you is not too big, you are not too far gone, and your purpose is not lost. Don’t give up because the long way around with God is better than the shortcut without him. He uses the gaps in our life, our weaknesses, the fractured pieces, all to create a beautiful story to be used to display His goodness and His purpose, as you live out yours.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading.

Let's grow in the Word. As you read, highlight or circle the words that stand out to you. What do you sense God speaking to you through what you're reading?

Joshua 1:9 NLT “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

Isaiah 43:2 NLT “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

Where in your life have you felt unqualified?

Knowing what God says about you, what are some thoughts you can begin to replace today?

What has gotten in the way of you stepping fully into the the places God has called you to step into?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Almighty God give me great courage to step forward and do Your will. I don’t want to live from a place of fear or doubt and miss out on the extraordinary work You want to accomplish in me and through me. I want to taste your goodness and step into the promises You have for me. Today, I surrender any thoughts and obstacles that have gotten in the way of me believing what you say about me and trusting that you will see me through. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

BELOW IS HOW YOU CAN PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE, OUR CITY, AND VENTURE:

PRAYING FOR YOUR CIRCLE: Pray that those around you would understand that God has purpose for them, no matter their story.

PRAYING FOR OUR CITY: Pray that our city would see more people rise up to the greatest commission Jesus set before us - to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:16–20)

PRAYING FOR VENTURE: Pray that we would be a people who are eager to do what God calls us to do and go where He calls us to go -that we would make His name known,

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

How can we live out our God purpose?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Look up God's promises. Write down promises that you can lean on when you need to be reminded of who God is FOR you.

SPIRITUAL HUNGER

As we grow in our relationship with God we hunger for more of His presence in our lives. When we think of hunger it is easy to think of food. The truth is we all have desires and necessities in this life. Yes, we have physical hunger but also emotional, intellectual, and spiritual hunger. As Jesus walked the earth, he often described Himself as the "bread of life" telling His people that, "whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty". Jesus meets all of our needs.

As with any relationship, our relationship with Jesus is a choice, and the desire to pursue a relationship is intentional. With the help of prayer and the Holy Spirit, we progress in our relationship with Jesus by finding our satisfaction in Him. We do not grow stagnant in our relationship as there is always more of God to know, to love, and to experience.

When we are content, we are in a dangerous place. It can be tempting when we are satisfied with our relationship with Jesus, to believe the lie that we do not need more of His presence in our lives. As we get ready to wrap up these 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting as a church, it's important we learn how to evaluate our relationship with God. Hebrews 2:1 tells us "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it." When we begin to drift in any area of our lives, it’s subtle. Hardly even noticeable. Barely detectable. It’s not a deliberate step we take. Perhaps as we make small day-to-day choices, or compromises. It isn’t because we aren’t strong or haven’t walked with Christ for very many years. It’s something that just happens, but once it does, if we don’t drop anchor in Jesus once more, it will take us places we never intended or wanted—emotionally, physically, relationally, or spiritually. There is no aspect of our lives that is immune from drifting and no single person that is not prone to drift. Even if we’ve walked with Christ for years and allowed him to do a deep healing work inside of us, we can still find ourselves in a place we never dreamed. A place we never intended to be.

If that’s where you are in any area of your life, there's good news for you. You are not a failure. God loves you. God is for you. You don’t have to perform for his love and acceptance. Best of all, you don’t have to figure out how to get out of the place where you drifted to all by yourself. Our Heavenly Father is eager to help us when we drift spiritually. He’s always watching. Always ready. Always wanting to get us from where we are to where we need to be. No matter how far the currents have taken us.

By continuing to hunger after more of the Lord we build our relationship with Jesus and choose to pursue life with Him day after day.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading.

Let's grow in the Word. As you read, highlight or circle the words that stand out to you. What do you sense God speaking to you through what you're reading?

John 4:14 NLT “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.””

Psalms 42:1-2 NLT “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?”

Additional Scripture References:

Hebrews 2:1-3

Romans 3:24-26

Jeremiah 29:11

What is one practical step you can take to increase your spiritual hunger for the Lord?

How can walking in a Godly community help cultivate and grow your spiritual hunger?

Write examples of how God’s presence should affect your everyday life.

Here are some self evaluation questions to consider where we are in our relationship with God:

Have I stopped pursuing God and started deprioritizing my time with Him?

Have I stopped consuming God’s Word and started living off Sundays message?

Have I stopped caring and started growing callous about former convictions?

Have I stopped praying and started obsessing?

Have I stopped seeking more of Him?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, I need you. Help me never forget that all my needs are satisfied by you and you alone. I repent for times when I sought fulfillment outside of you. I pray that today, you stir a new desire and hunger for you. A new hunger for purity, love, patience, generosity, and service. Today, I chose to invest in this relationship to grow with you and to learn more about your goodness and faithfulness. God, I pray to experience more of you. Amen!

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

PRAYING FOR YOUR CIRCLE: Pray for those around you who have drifted that they would have a personal God encounter and be reminded of the hope they have in Jesus.

PRAYING FOR OUR CITY: Pray that our city would see more of the Church working to create impact. Pray for open doors in the city through government, partnerships, schools, and events.

PRAYING FOR VENTURE: Pray that we would be a people who are hungry to grow in our relationships with Jesus. That we would not be stagnant or content but always longing for more.

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

How can we make sure we don't go to a place of being stagnant?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

Memorize one of the promises of God you've written down this week.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Prayer is our First Response, not our last resort. Prayer is our weapon when it comes to fighting very real, but unseen and spiritual battles! We live in a fast-paced world and when we face challenges it can be our tendency to seek practical or non-spiritual solutions to our problems. As prayer becomes your FIRST response, you'll find yourself praying about everything!

At times, our battles are not just practical, mental, or emotional, but spiritually rooted. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." We do not need to fear, as we walk in the victory of Jesus Christ as He already conquered death through His resurrection.

We live knowing we have the ultimate victory in Jesus! We are equipped with the Holy Spirit, prayer, and the Word of God. The Bible is filled with truth and promises of God to fight back and to push forward the will of God through our prayers. Once you clearly know the truth of God or the promise of God in regard to what you're walking, it’s time to move forward in agreement with it. Listen carefully—your feelings can never be the final determining factor for your actions. Feelings change and are subject to external stimuli. Actions done in faith must be anchored in something more solid and fixed. Our God is true and worth following. He is always there—far outranking the enemy in strength—to hear our troubled prayers, reaffirm His fearless promises, and deliver the next bit of lamplight we need for walking steadily in His direction.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading.

Let's grow in the Word. As you read, highlight or circle the words that stand out to you. What do you sense God speaking to you through what you're reading?

Isaiah 54:17 NLT “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

John 10:27 NLT “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Ephesians 6:10 “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Additional Scripture References:

Ephesians 3:14-19

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

How is God asking you to fight spiritually for His will in your life?

How can you intercede and pray against spiritual warfare in the lives of those around you?

How have you experienced victory in Jesus?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, I need you. Help me never forget that all my needs are satisfied by you and you alone. I repent for times when I sought fulfillment outside of you. I pray that today, you stir a new desire and hunger for you. A new hunger for purity, love, patience, generosity, and service. Today, I chose to invest in this relationship to grow with you and to learn more about your goodness and faithfulness. God, I pray to experience more of you. Amen!

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

PRAYING FOR YOUR CIRCLE: Pray for those around you who need to experience Victory through Jesus.

PRAYING FOR OUR CITY: Pray specifically for your neighborhood, your neighbors and any schools in the area,

PRAYING FOR VENTURE: Pray for our Pastors. Pray for a spiritual protection over them and their family.

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

What do you tend to resort to when you feel tension?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

List feelings you have when feelings tensions and list scriptures you can use to combat them with truth.

HERE IS HOLY

As believers, we are called to be holy which means that we are set apart from the ways of the world. Where we stand today is holy ground because the presence of God dwells with us and in us. At times we all question our worth or importance, but as we rest in God's love and redemption we are whole. We are purified through His righteousness and made perfect despite our inequities.

Sin is heavy, friend. Jesus carried the cross to save you and set you free from every stronghold. As we surrender all to the Savior we find full freedom and true rest.

As we pursue His presence, He makes our way plain. We can stop striving and worrying about our next step because we are always moving in His direction, and He is opening doors for us. How will you acknowledge the Lord through your actions today? Ask Him to help you trust Him with every detail of your day.

Philippians 3:20 says that we are citizens of heaven. We carry an eternal perspective when we are on this earth which dictates our actions. When we walk in faith, we stand firm in knowing that we are called to live differently from the world because God has called us to a life of holiness that honors Him. You are not your past, you are not your sin, or your mistakes because of the work that Jesus did on the cross. Jesus is holy and as the Spirit of the living God dwells within us, we are propelled into a life of holiness that declares, "here is holy", regardless of the circumstance.

Read the passages below three times aloud, pausing between each time reading.

Let's grow in the Word. As you read, highlight or circle the words that stand out to you. What do you sense God speaking to you through what you're reading?

Psalms 5:11-12 NLT “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.”

Isaiah 40:31 NLT “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

1 Peter 1:16 NLT “For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

What does it mean to acknowledge God's holiness in you and around you?

How can you live your life set apart for God’s glory?

GUIDED PRAYER:

Lord, I declare, here is holy! I seek to see your presence in all that I do. I pray that you grow my understanding and awareness of what it means to be holy. I pray to live a life that is set apart and marked by your goodness, faithfulness, and for your glory. I pray that you help me be the evidence of who you are to show others what it looks like to walk in obedience to you. I love you and I invite you to do a deep work in me. Thank you, that because you dwell in me, here is holy. Amen.

MY PRAYER (This is where you can take a moment to personalize your prayer):

PRAYING FOR YOUR CIRCLE: Pray for those around you who need are in need of true rest and freedom from any strongholds.

PRAYING FOR OUR CITY: Pray for our city's first responders as they walk in heavy circumstances daily. Pray they experience rest from the day to day.

PRAYING FOR VENTURE: Pray for Venture leaders and dream team. Pray they be encouraged as they serve and lead others.

TALK ABOUT IT: ASK -

What does this scripture mean to you?

What does living "set apart" mean to you for your every day life?

MAKE IT A CHALLENGE:

List Bible promises you have reflected on this week and memorize those you choose.