by One Church | Aug 13, 2019 | 21 Days of Prayer - Aug 2019
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Mark 9:23 (NKJV)
It was almost spring break and we told our kids, “We have a surprise for you!” My daughter screamed, “I know what it is!” Curious I asked, “What is it?’’ She said, “You’re taking me to see my best friend!”
What we had actually planned was a trip to Six Flags, about an hour away from our house. My daughter’s friend on the other hand, lived over 7 hours away, but she was convinced! As we counted down to the big surprise she started telling anybody that would listen that her parents were taking her to see her best friend! Well, guess what we did…We drove her to see her best friend. Never underestimate the power of faith! When you are believing God for something, hold onto it with tenacity! Don’t let anything talk you out of it. Speak to the mountains in your life and believe God to move them!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for giving me faith. Right now I speak to the things that seem impossible and I know that your Word says that anything is possible if I’m willing to believe. God, I believe! (Take a few moments to ask God for whatever you are believing for) In Jesus’ name, Amen
by One Church | Aug 12, 2019 | 21 Days of Prayer - Aug 2019
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT)
Growing up, there was a cartoon that was always on TV, called Tom and Jerry. I remember in several episodes that Tom or Jerry would get into a dilemma and in deciding what to do, they would have a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The angel of course told them to do good and the devil told them to do bad. I think for a lot of people that picture is their reality. They feel pulled to do the right thing but tempted to do the wrong. The truth is: most of the time we do the wrong thing because we want to, not because the devil made us do it. Sometimes we need to stop rebuking the devil and start rebuking our flesh.
Your flesh will always want what it wants, when it wants it. One of the greatest ways you can conquer your flesh and the temptations in your life is by finding someone that you can be vulnerable with. Notice I said “someone” not “everyone”. You have to have someone you trust that won’t talk about your struggles to others. Someone that will love and support you in the process. Never believe the lie that you are the only one that struggles with temptations, it’s not the truth!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to live my life with control over my flesh. Help me to live according to your word and according to my purpose, not according to my flesh. In Jesus’ name, Amen
by One Church | Aug 11, 2019 | 21 Days of Prayer - Aug 2019
Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.
Ephesians 4:26b (NKJV)
My wife and I have had a few arguments in our 18 years of marriage. Everyone has their own way of dealing with conflict. When we were younger she would get in the car and leave. When I was younger I would shut down and give her the silent treatment. We were young and stubborn and sometimes would go days avoiding each other. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that walls are built in that silence. The longer the silence, the bigger the wall; the bigger the wall, the harder it is to tear down. I don’t think the Bible is talking about a physical sunset in this scripture, but what it is saying is get things right quickly. Being right isn’t worth losing the relationship. Be quick to apologize. Be quick to forgive.
Prayer:
Lord, I let go of my pride and my anger and I choose to put on your forgiveness and your grace. Help me to navigate situations and react only in the way you want me to. In Jesus’ name, Amen
by One Church | Aug 10, 2019 | 21 Days of Prayer - Aug 2019
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow…nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)
I don’t even remember what my daughter did but I remember that I had to get onto her for something. Shortly after that day, she stopped coming to me for things. She would instead go to her mother to try and get her to ask me. For some reason she was under the impression that what she had done had changed the way I felt about her. I sat down with her and explained that NOTHING could ever change my love for her.
There are a lot of Christians who live their lives thinking God is mad at them for the wrongs they have done, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible says NOTHING can separate you from God’s love for you. God loves you so much and there’s nothing you have done or could do that would change that.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you so much for your unconditional love for me. Thank you that there is nothing that can separate me from your love.
I receive your grace, your mercy, and your love today. In Jesus’ name, Amen
by One Church | Aug 9, 2019 | 21 Days of Prayer - Aug 2019
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.
John 4:35 (NLT)
I am notoriously bad at finding things. I will search and search for something that my wife will find almost immediately. It’s frustrating to her and to me. That’s the point Jesus is trying to explain in this passage of scripture. What God had put us on this earth to do is right in front of our faces. Every day we encounter people looking for an answer that we have, but we’ll miss it if we aren’t looking. God hasn’t put you on this earth to make a living, but to make a difference! When you become a Christian you automatically become a minister of the gospel. You may have another job but that doesn’t change the fact that you are a minister. That means you are called to share His message of hope with the people around you. Sometimes that looks like an invitation to church, a kind word, a hug, a prayer or note of encouragement. The possibilities are endless if we are willing to keep our heads up and our hearts open to His purpose. Lift your eyes…The harvest is all around you!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to impact the people you bring into my life. Help me to see people through your eyes and give me the courage to do whatever you are asking me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen
by One Church | Aug 7, 2019 | 21 Days of Prayer - Aug 2019
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
Romans 12:17 (NKJV)
There is something in us that craves revenge. The old saying, “revenge is a dish best served cold” has been around for a long time, but the idea of sweet revenge predates that saying. When someone does us wrong or hurts us, we want to get even. Anytime I have taken vengeance for a wrong done to me, it usually makes me feel better for a moment, but regret usually comes quickly after. The word tells us not to repay evil for evil. When we do repay evil for evil it changes us for the worse. When we hold onto the wrong or the hurt that was done to us, it turns us into bitter and angry people. When you choose to forgive it frees you and changes you for the better. What hurt have you been holding onto? What revenge have you been planning? It’s time to let it go and give it to God.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to forgive. Give me strength to let this go and the strength to move on. I surrender this pain and hurt to you and I refuse to pick it up again. In Jesus’ name, Amen
