by One Church | Jan 5, 2022 | 21 Days of Prayer - January 2022, Uncategorized
3/21 Days of Prayer
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV – Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
When we try to define love our responses are extremely varied based on the lives we have lived and the love we have been shown. Our personal definitions of love are shaped by our experience over our lifetime. For some of us love has been defined as short-lived, performance-based, manipulative, or self-serving. Others of us might have experienced a 1 Corinthians 13 type of love that is kind, humble, and others-focused. It’s easy to read this passage of the Bible and use it as a checklist for how we should behave in order to please God, but before love becomes a behavior in a Christian’s life, it must be an experience of the Christian. Our encounter with the God of Love is what initially made us Christians. Paul could have encouraged us to be more patient and less envious, instead, he urges us to encounter a love that captures us and empowers us.
Jesus knew that on this earth we have no reference for what perfect love is without Him. Consequently, He has Paul pen the definition of what love is.
LOVE:
Bears all things. The original translation of “bears’’ is that it always covers an offense. Forgiveness is always available, no matter the transgression. No matter how many times someone fails, love forgives again and again.
Believes all things. Paul lets us know that real love is always committed and never disengages, no matter how costly.
Hopes all things. Hope speaks to our future. Every time hope is found throughout the New Testament joy coincides with it. I often think about it in this way – hope looks to our future with joy!
Endures all things. There is nothing that could make love quit on us or walk away. Heaven paid the highest price, Jesus, to have a relationship with you. We consistently place our confidence in Jesus’ sacrifice and know that God will never quit on us.
As you read through the Biblical definition of love, what stands out to you?
Declare: God has forever settled His love towards me.
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by One Church | Jan 4, 2022 | 21 Days of Prayer - January 2022, Uncategorized
2/21 Days of Prayer
Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that __________________, and that He is a __________________ of those who diligently seek Him.
There are two things about God that we learn from this verse. First, we must believe that God is, simply, that He exists. Second, we must know that He is a rewarder. All Christians believe that God exists, but few believe that He is a rewarder. Having the right beliefs about God will benefit every area of your life. When you know who He is, and you understand that He has good intentions towards you, you will be able to trust Him in ways you haven’t ever been able to before.
Ephesians 1:17 NKJV – That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Paul’s prayer was that you would have a deep and personal understanding of the true knowledge of Christ because through that we begin to know God. Knowing God may sound incomprehensible to you, but knowing Him means we observe His character, how He responds to situations, and how He treats people. As we come to know and experience God’s love for ourselves, we receive revelation on how to love others in the same way. More than anything else, God desires to have a relationship with you!
What have you learned about God’s character from observing Jesus’ life?
Declare: God has good intentions towards me!
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by One Church | Jan 3, 2022 | 21 Days of Prayer - January 2022, Uncategorized
1/21 Days of Prayer
Romans 12:2 – How are we transformed?
Proverbs 23:7 – As a man _________________ so is he.
What if I told you that your thoughts are shaping your beliefs, and your beliefs are shaping your life? Would it make you want to be more observant of the thoughts you allow to take residence in your mind?
What we believe is vitally important in determining the kind of life we will experience. It is impossible to live a life of abundance while being consumed with thoughts of lack. If we want to change our lives, we must first change what we believe and what we say.
When we have wrong ideas about our lives we will begin to go in the wrong direction. However, believing what God says about us will result in experiencing His perfect plan and purpose for our lives! Believing is more than wishful thinking. Believing involves committing ourselves to the process of dwelling on the right thoughts, speaking the words God says, and then taking action.
TWO KEYS TO RIGHT THINKING:
1. Set your mind and keep it set
Colossians 3:2 AMPC – And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on earth.
When the weather drastically changes at the beginning of a season we reset the temperature on our AC units. The change in our external environment requires us to change the thermometer to account for the variation. What worked in one season no longer works in the next. A heater is comforting in the winter, but intolerable at the peak of the summer. This concept applies when thinking about our thought lives as well. We must make an intentional choice to daily set our minds ahead of time on the things of God – what we will think, what we will believe, and what we will do.
Think about your life right now. What are God’s thoughts around your situation and what are the world’s thoughts?
2. Renew your mind
Romans 12:2 NKJV – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
An unrenewed mind is one that has remained unchanged since receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. When our mind is unrenewed it is fertile ground for the enemy to operate. Unfortunately, renewing your mind is not as easy as renewing your driver’s license. Renewing your driver’s license is only done every few years, but renewing your mind must be done moment by moment. Changing our thoughts is a continual, ongoing process of intentionally thinking the right thoughts until they become natural and immediate. You know your mind is being renewed when the wrong thoughts make you feel uncomfortable.
According to Romans 12:2, is it possible to accomplish God’s perfect will for your life without renewing your mind?
Write a prayer on how you want God to change your beliefs over the next 21 days.
Declare: I have the mind of Christ and I take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.
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