Devotion – Day 21

It’s hard to believe this is our last day of the 21 day fast.  Personally, I know I’m not supposed to focus on food but I am excited about tomorrow’s sweet treat!

But more than the sweet treat of tomorrow, I am excited what God has ahead for each of us in 2011!!! Our minds are clear, our hearts are ready and we are so open for HIS plans and purposes for us as a church and for us personally.  God has put a message on Greg’s heart for tomorrow….DON’T MISS!! Seriously, he came into the kitchen the other day and said God had revealed a word to him and he wanted me to pray that God would help him get it down on paper.  I am excited for the preached Word tomorrow and will go to church with much expectation!  It will be the day the Lord has made!!!

Every fast is different, but for me this fast has brought a clear awareness of God’s awareness and design in my life whether that means I am in an easy season or a challenging one.  He is using everything for my good…it is for my preparation what He has planned ahead.  So knowing that deep within my soul I have experienced this deep peace.  Greg and I have a very busy year ahead but I feel prepared, strengthened and alert to what God wants to do.  I am excited.

I want to close our devotions with a thought from James 1:14.  It says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires.”

This verse is saying that before we walk in sin or act on sin in our lives, there is a drawing away that takes place.  Temptation in our lives actually starts when you are drawn away by your own desires.  This is one of the reasons why it is so important that your passion and your desire for God needs to be above ALL other desires.  Through fasting there is a natural awakening that takes place that revives our passion and desire for God.  When we keep this passion above all else, and number one in our lives, you will choose well when temptation comes your way.  You will want to make right decisions and choices that line up with God’s Word.

I want to encourage you to do those things that keep your desire and passion where it needs to be. There are many opportunities we have each week to sink back into old patterns or to nourish your desire for God….you daily will choose which direction you are headed.  Here are a few…Sunday morning service, Wednesday night services, The Wall (if you have never come…PLEASE come….they are amazing), worship music in the car, a night with the TV off, watching what media we let gunk up our minds, and time in prayer.  You get the message.  The choice is yours!  Let us CONTINUE in the work God has started in our lives….lets continue to pray and believe for breakthroughs, let’s celebrate what God is doing!

We love being your Pastors!

Pastor Greg and Kathy

Devotion – Day 20

Living Sacrifices

Wow, we are on Day 20 of our Fast, amazing!  Great job, keep it up for one more day!!  I know that it has been a sacrifice.   As I reflect on God’s speaking to me during this fasting time, I was daily reminded of some of my favorite scripture.  I wanted to share it with you as I hope that it will bless you as it has me.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

As I pray God’s Word back to Him, and let His words sink in, I truly realize that I cannot do any of this on my own, I need His help.  I am reminded that my strength comes from the Lord.  My physical, mental, emotional and spiritual help comes from the Lord.  And that’s a good thing!  I’ll share a great quote from Pastor Rick Warren “We show our trust in God when we can say to him, “Lord, I have so many things on my plate. They are impossible. I can’t do them all today so help me know what’s important and what’s not important. Help me not to worry about not getting the unimportant things done.  Help me focus on what matters most.  I need your strength today to do what I need to do today. I have some financial, physical and emotional needs and I’m depending on you to help me today. Jesus didn’t say, “Give us this day our monthly bread” or “our weekly bread.” He said “daily bread” because we need to learn to depend on God twenty-four hours at a time.”

I encourage you to realize that your sacrifice and obedience during this fast season will produce a deeper relationship with God and the fruits of your labor will be revealed as we daily are His living sacrifices.

God Bless,

Pastor Tony Wagner

 

Devotion – Day 19

Mark 1:12-13

“Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.  And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.”

Even Jesus disconnected from the world to fast and pray.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of Jesus going to the wilderness for forty days and forty nights.  They also describe other times Jesus pulled away from the demands of the crowds, His ministry, and even His closest friends to pray.

There are times that we, too, need to pull away from the things of the world and focus on God.  “The things of the world” can certainly include more than just food.  In fact, in our world they are more likely television, movies, Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, and the Internet.  None of these things are wrong in and of themselves, but they are avenues for a mental and spiritual crowd to gather around us and drown out the Holy Spirit’s voice.

Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus.  Giving up physical nourishment is the first step in engaging that process.  If you think about it, though, in day-to-day life we nourish our souls as well as our bodies.  We do so through reading, talking, socializing, playing, and entertainment.  When our souls are full of those things, we often don’t hunger for God.

During this time of fasting, we are sure to feel physical hunger, but let’s be intentional about cultivating spiritual hunger as well.  Let’s draw away from the crowd and lay aside for a season the activities we use to nourish our souls.  Instead let’s enter a state of spiritual hunger, a craving for righteousness.  Jesus said that being spiritually hungry is a blessed state, because there we can be sure of being filled with food that truly satisfies our deepest needs (Matthew 5:6)

God Bless,

Pastor Tony Wagner

Devotion – Day 18

Hebrews 4:11-16

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.

Jesus knows what you are going through.  He knows, He understands and He wants to help, because He loves you and He has already been there.  As you fast and pray, as you read the Word of God, remember that He is for you and He is with you.  Nothing is too hard or too big for Him to handle.  Do you believe that?  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!  Just before He did so, he asked Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”  Maybe you are praying like me, Lord, I believe, but help me with my unbelief. Breakthroughs are not commonplace they are miracles delivered only through the power of God.  Are you ready for a Breakthrough?  Then like the scripture says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.

God Bless,

Pastor Tony Wagner

 

Devotion – Day 17

Philippians 4:8

“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.”

It’s Day 17 and only a few days to go!  Keep it up, be strong.  I want to encourage you to persevere, don’t give up or grow faint, keep up the discipline of prayer and fasting.  God has special Breakthroughs just for you!!

As you are fasting, and abstaining from food, what are you replacing that void with?  What is filling your time, your mind, your heart, your body?  As we fast, we must fill these areas with something.  When we empty an area, it will need to again be filled with something.  Let us fill it with “whatever is right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.  Let’s think of such things, let’s dwell on such things, let’s read of such things from His word, and let’s pray for such things.

We can celebrate, for this honors God!  Verse 9 goes on to tell us “whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me, put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you”.

Pastor Greg & Kathy lovingly continue to remind us of God’s promises in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all that we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us.”

I believe.  I know that you do too.  So let’s finish strong and fill that emptiness with His promises that only come from His word, the Bible.

God Bless,

Pastor Tony Wagner

Devotion – Day 14

The following devotion is from Stovall Weems’ book called “Awakening”

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”  The Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!”
1 Kings 18:43-44 NLT

“How do you know God is going to say yes to my prayers?” This is a common question many people have as they seek a confident prayer life. However, it’s important to recognize that prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer.  It is our responsibility to check our motives and believe God hears us.

We see an example of the process of prayer in this story of Elijah (1 Kings 18).  Elijah climbed to the top of the mountain to pray for rain to come. As he waited for the rain, he continued to pray, believing God would answer.  When he finally saw a small cloud, he told Ahab to get ready because the rain was coming. Elijah knew what to pray for, and God heard him the first time he prayed. But there was preparation that needed to take place in order for Elijah to receive the answer to his prayer.

It is no mistake that God waited until Elijah had prayed the seven times before He answered.  In the Bible, seven represents COMPLETION. In this story, seven represents the completion of God’s process regarding Elijah’s prayer request.

God does not want merely to answer our prayers; He wants to spend time with us to prepare us for the answer that will come. Many times we want to skip over the process involved in engaging God in prayer as we wait for our answer. But it is this very process that works maturity in us and prepares us for the answers our prayers bring (James 1:4).

What prayers of yours are still awaiting an answer? Throughout this fast, thank God for His process at work in you … and trust Him.

Devotion – Day 13

I Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety (or cares) on Him because He cares for you.”
 
What causes you to worry?  What makes your heart anxious to the point that it can keep you distracted or up at night?  Is it a struggle with your children?…  salvation of a loved one?…  a health concern?… a financial need?…  a relationship?… a marriage problem?… or an issue at your job?  The list could go on and on, but you know what I mean.  We have all had things happened in life at one time or another that disturbed our peace and caused anxiety in our hearts and minds.
 
It is amazing how we can let fear and insecurity rule our lives.  Many Christians have a very difficult time letting go of their worries, or worse, don’t seem to know how to let them go.  Philippians 4:6 reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.”  We must realize there is more to praying about our worries than simply asking God for a solution.  God wants us to rely on Him fully.  God wants us to surrender everything to Him even in the worst circumstances.
 
There have been many nights in my life where I have been pre-occupied with a concern or anxiety on my heart.  I used to let it overwhelm me, and it resulted in a very bad night’s sleep and left me with no solutions to the problem.  I have learned over the years to go to bed literally praying to God about whatever it may be.  I fall asleep praying to God to take away my anxious heart; and to give me wisdom in the situation; give me eyes to “see” Him in the midst of uncertainty; then I confirm my faith praying that He is able to do more than I can ask or think, and then end by giving Him glory with thanksgiving.  And if I awaken in the middle of the night thinking about it again, I start that prayer process over again.  That is how I “cast” all my anxiety on Him.  It is no “news” to Him, my life is in His hands, He knows the way I think, He is able to meet ALL of my needs, and He works everything FOR my good….so why worry?
 
So don’t let life’s worries distract you from your fast or get you down.  Press through especially in those times.  There is a reason one of the most common phrases in the Bible is “fear not”….it is because we are to “fear not” anything that comes our way!

Joyfully Serving Him,
Kathy Fairrington

Devotion – Day 12

James 1:6

“But let him ask in faith, nothing waivering”

 

When you pray, what do you expect?  We are exercising our faith when we pray with earnest and persistent expectation.  “The earnest prayer of righteous people produces powerful results.“  James 5:16.  (….make sure you read yesterday’s devotional!)

 

Sometimes our natural tendency can be to coward or shrink back when praying for the impossible, but we must remember that NOTHING is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).  If we are a student of His Word and know the promises that God has given each of us, and if we understand His character and principles, then we can pray with confidence, boldness and clarity.  We can then trust and believe Him for the answer.

 

I don’t know about you, but Greg and I have some BIG prayers before God during this fast.  They are SO beyond us… BUT NOT BEYOND HIM!!!  And as I read James 1:6, I am reminded to NOT waiver in my faith.  James says “nothing wavering”.

 

So….what are you trusting God for in this season?  How can you line up your expectations with the Word of God when you pray?  I encourage you to find promises in His Word that answer or direct your need and pray the Word of God over your situation.  It is our prayer that you would have “nothing waivering” in your expectation of God.  That you would pray with faith believing boldly and with confidence for what concerns you during this season.  Remember…NOTHING is impossible with God!

 

“When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; BUT, when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.” A.C. Dixon

 

Joyfully Serving Him,

Kathy Fairrington

 

Devotion – Day 11

John 14:16

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.”

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter…”

 

When Jesus was about to depart from this earth He had one last lesson for the disciples.  He knew it was essential for the disciples to learn how to depend on the Spirit of God and to follow His leadership.  This is what John 14:16 is all about.

 

The disciples had been accustomed to Jesus’ physically and visibly leading them, but now they needed to learn to let the Holy Spirit be their leader.  This Leader would be one they could no longer touch, see or audibly hear, yet they were to follow Him JUST like they had followed Jesus.

 

Jesus chose His last words to His disciples carefully as to dispel all their fears and insecurities about following the Holy Spirits leadership in their lives.  The word “another” in John 14:16 is the Greek word, allos.  It means one of the same kind; same character, same everything or nearly a duplicate.

 

Jesus was clearly emphasizing that the Holy Spirit would be just like Jesus in every way.  That following the Holy Spirit in their lives wouldn’t be different than following Him, except for the fact that the Holy Spirit would not be physically visible.  The point Jesus was strongly making to His disciples and to us today is that, we must learn to let the Holy Spirit guide us and lead us.  The Holy Spirit is Christ in us!! (Col 1:27)

 

And just like the early church prayed for miracles, healings, provisions, salvations, and power, we too can pray for and experience those things and greater things….because Christ is with us just the same.

 

Remember, whatever you are praying for that is the will of God; you can pray for with boldness and faith because Jesus is WITH YOU and He rewards those that diligently seek Him.

 

Joyfully Serving Him,

Kathy Fairrington

 

Devotion – Day 10

Amos 3 :3

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”

 

As we fast together, we all desire to have a closer walk with God.  We know that He too, desires to have that with us as well.  One of the keys to drawing closer to God in our spiritual lives is living in agreement with His will for your life.

 

If you read Genesis 5:22 you will discover a man named, Enoch.  His life is marked by consistently walking with God.  The Bible says, “Enoch walked with God for three hundred years.”  That’s a long life lived in a powerful way!  He lived a life pleasing to God and walked in agreement with the will of God for a long, long time.  (Hebrew 11:5)

 

Many of us may “know” what God’s will for our life is, but it’s totally different to live in agreement and obedience to His will.  What is God asking you to do, to say, to act on today?  That is God’s will for you today!  So do it.

 

In order for you to realize and enjoy the rewards and the best life that God has for you … you must realize God doesn’t change, but many times we must.

 

As you fast, and as you go on to live out this year, make a conscious commitment to earnestly seek to know and agree with God’s will.  I truly believe the level to which you walk with God will determine the degree of closeness you will experience in your life.

 

Joyfully Serving Him,

Kathy Fairrington