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21 Days of Devotion
FROM GREG:What we do at the beginning of the year has the potential to set the course for the rest of the year. Many have sought to establish New Year Resolutions. Why? Some evaluate the previous year and decide, “I want to do things differently this year.” Some decide that they desire to do something more meaningful or to achieve a greater accomplishment. Some stick with their resolutions and many forget about them. I went to the gym this week and it was packed with new faces! I will be surprised if I continue to see 10% of those new faces in March! I am challenging every person who reads this to engage in the spiritual practices of praying and fasting during this 21-day period in order to achieve victorious spiritual living in this year. To stick with it. To endure beyond March. (By the way—we were already challenged to follow God’s law of giving with the 90-Day Tithing Challenge (October 2011), which ends at the end of this month. It has been amazing to witness God at work in people’s lives when they committed to giving God’s way.) I am excited to see what God can do in people’s lives when they commit to this 21-Days of prayer and fasting. There is tremendous power in the life of the Christian when he or she does life God’s way—and commits the first part of every day in prayer, the first day of every week in worship, the first portion of every dollar, and the first consideration in every decision. And you set the course for the entire year by what you do with those fist days of each New Year.
GIVE. PRAY. FAST.When Jesus preached his famous Sermon on the Mount, he highlighted these three principles that every Christian should regularly practice -- and there is no short cut, no pill -- that can bring you success and accomplishment in these areas. But each requires diligence and commitment.
Matthew 6:1-18 reads:
“So when you give…. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans…. When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do….” Challenge yourself over the next 21 days to follow the principles of giving, praying, and fasting. Be sure to write down your prayers and the answers to them. Don't let even the smallest changes go unnoticed in your life.
The sermon series "Start Strong" addresses both praying and fasting. If you missed these sermons, or just need a refresher, check out our youtube channel to revisit them. Greg will provide a brief devotional thought for you daily during this challenge. Follow the links on the left for the current devotional, or follow us on Facebook. |
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