Prayer and Fasting Journal

Transcription

1 8646 Jennings Station Road St. Louis, Missouri Suffragan Bishop Illona W. Dickson ~Founding Pastor~ Prayer and Fasting Journal January Consecration 2014 This Consecration Journal Belongs To:

2 PREPARATION First, we re thrilled that you ve decided to join with our church body to fast during these 21 days. Secondly, the list of food we ve provided is merely the first step to get you thinking about making better food choices. Remember, this fast is about growing your relationship with God, and pulling down strongholds This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting! He s just as concerned about what is in your heart as He is about what is in your stomach. Remember, food often covers emotional disturbances. When you fast, you may experience a brief time of anger, depression or stubbornness etc. DON T BE DISTRACTED FROM THE FAST! Daniels decision not to eat the King s food was an outward symbol of an inward commitment he had made to God. Let your choices over the next three weeks reflect the hunger you have for God s presence in your life. Since there is no definitive list of food for the Daniel Diet, it is truly the spirit of Daniel s decision that we are imitating over the next 21 days. If there is something that is not specifically listed that you think still qualifies as a food of the King, then ask God to reveal to you whether it should be part of your diet over the next few weeks. The details of the fast are between you and God-use this time to focus on Him. God is certain to bless your life in new and exciting ways during the fast. We encourage you to write down your prayers and the many ways God reveals Himself to you. We can t wait to see what God is going to do in your life and in the life of our church. Remember: We are praying against strongholds. God delivered Job when he prayed for his friends!!! FOCUS: The fast, as explained in our Sunday service, is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. As a church, we are fasting in order to deepen our relationship with God, to walk in step with His plan and purpose, and to pull down strongholds. The best way to do this is to redirect our food source. This is accomplished through substituting our regular food intake with Bible reading, praying, and journaling. The overall goal is to experience a genuine hunger for spending time with God, and to remove all emotional hindrances from hearing His voice speak directly to you! MENU The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, which means that we will eliminate some common things from our daily diet, but will have generous options available. We will focus on eating grains, fruits and vegetables that are pure and simple. ONLY IF YOU ARE DIABETIC OR WANT TO BE DIABETIC or have any condition which would prohibit you from being a part of the Full Daniel Fast, add fish to one meal a day. Then choose one thing from your daily routine (i.e. specific foods or television, other technology, shopping etc.) and deny yourself that one thing for the next 21 days. 1 P a g e

3 Remember, the spirit in which you participate is all important! If you have any known medical conditions or suspect such conditions consult your doctor before beginning the fast. KEYS TO SUCCESS: 1. Partner with someone for prayer and encouragement! 2. Prepare food in advance so they are ready to meet your hunger requirements! 3. Pray for obedience, and to pull down strongholds FOODS TO EAT WHOLE GRAINS: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley, Nuts, Pasta, White Rice (very limited amounts) Breads: whole grain-all Cereals Watch your sodium intake on canned foods! LEGUMES: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas CHEESE: Limited amounts EGGS: Limited amounts SOUPS: Homemade is better, canned is acceptable. FRUITS: Apples, Apricots, Bananas Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew, Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon. VEGETABLES: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger Root, Greens, Kale, Leeks, Lettuces, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Nuts, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Seeds, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini. LIQUIDS: Water (as much as possible) Milk, Herbal (caffeine free) Tea Natural fruits Juices (no sugar added) Extra Virgin Olive Oil (small quantities), and Honey. Sufffragan Bishop Illona W. Dickson Founding Pastor Radiant Life In Christ Apostolic Church 2 P a g e

4 I AM MORE THAT AN OVERCOMER! Journal Commitment My Twenty-One-Day Fast Begins Today! I commit to fast from Thursday, January 2, Wednesday, January 22, Consecration is the entire month January 1-31, 2014 so I will continue to read my Journal and seek my God in prayer and meditation. The reason I am fasting: What am I fasting from? The results of my fast: Your commitment is onto the Lord! (Your Name) 3 P a g e

5 FASTING AND PRAYING KEYS TO REMEMBER Pray and stay in God s Word. Drink lots of water. Don t be surprise if you get a headache, hunger pangs and cravings for food, sugar, caffeine at the beginning of the fast. Play praise and worship music as much as possible. Be sure to stop, quiet yourself and listen to God as you pray and mediate Write down what God says to you in your journal, tape player etc. THOUGHTS FOR YOUR JOURNAL: What are your own personal reasons for fasting? Do you desire sensitivity to the things of God? 4 P a g e

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7 Daniel 10:3 - I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled 6 P a g e

8 January 2, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 1 INTERCESSION FOR OUR PASTOR IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN in our churches if our pastors were covered in prayer by their congregations. Pastors are the target of much criticism, the subject of gossip, the bull s eye for harsh words. What if, instead, the pastor became the subject of passionate prayer? Would you commit yourself to pray daily for your pastor? Would you rally others to the same commitment? Would you be willing to see what God could do through a church whose pastor is covered head-to-toe in heaven s power released through the prayers of the church? The prayers of the church is the most powerful prayer force in the cosmos. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:10-12). When the church, in any of her gathered forms, prays, we are announcing to the heavenly realms the manifold wisdom of God. Power and authority are exercised through the church s united prayers. Use that force to undergird your pastor and see what happens. If you are going to commit to praying for your pastor, then you will also have to make some other commitments. Refuse to gossip or join in complaining. Turn every critical or judgmental thought into prayer instead. Invite anyone who seeks to criticize or complain to you to join you in your prayer initiative instead. Don t start this venture thinking that maybe prayer will make your pastor into the person you think your pastor should be. From the beginning, recognize that prayer will release all the power and provision of God in your pastor s life and will accomplish His purposes, not your purposes. Pray first that God will give you a heart of love, compassion, and gentleness toward your pastor. Ask the Lord to change any wrong attitudes in you toward your pastor. Ask God to make you a person who builds your pastor up and encourages your pastor s heart. Do not start out with an agenda of your own. Sign onto God s agenda and let Him do the work in His way, at His time. Be open during this whole experience for the Holy Spirit to convict and correct you about wrong attitudes. If you are willing to step out in this grand adventure, then you might want to use this guide as a starting place. Use the suggested prayer as just that; a suggestion. Pray as the Spirit leads you, covering our pastor in prayer and in the authority given by God. Pastors and church leaders spend a great deal of time praying for and ministering to others. Many pastors live their lives in service and devotion to others, almost to their own detriment. While pastors are busy praying for their members and their community, the question arises, Who is praying for the pastors? Even doctors get sick and need a prescription from time to time. Likewise, pastors must be prescribed daily prayer on their behalf from the people they so diligently serve. 7 P a g e

9 INTERCESSION FOR OUR PASTOR- CONTINUED Thoughts/Ideas Many pastors are visionary leaders. As such, their minds are constantly bombarded with thoughts and ideas. Pray for clarity as they think and develop ideas for the growth of the church. Pray that they would have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5) and that they would not fall prey to prideful thoughts. A pastor who can think clearly can lead clearly. Pray for focus and clarity of vision so that (he) she can lead effectively. Temptations While your pastor is a tremendous spiritual leader, no one is perfect. He or she may be gifted, but he or she is still human. They carry God s treasure in an earthen vessel (II Corinthians 4:7). This means that your pastor is not above yielding to temptation. Pray that he or she guards against temptation and that they have the proper boundaries and accountability system in their lives to help keep them away from a fall. If you prayed for your pastor every time YOU were tempted, imagine how many prayers your pastor would receive each day! Pray that he or she would not be led into temptation. Marriage/Family Pray for your pastor s marriage and family. Pray that he or she will keep their family as priority even over the church. Pray that he or she is reminded that family is the first ministry. Pray for unity and peace in their home. Pray that they and their spouse will remain on one accord and guard against dissention or divorce. Pray for their children and extended family members. Strength Sunday is generally the busiest and most stressful day of the week for most pastors. While many church members devote an hour or two on Sundays to the church, most pastors (like Jesus) get up early Sunday morning to begin preparing for the day. For most pastors, Sunday is a long and full work day, especially for those who preach or lead multiple services each week. This is not to mention the spiritual attacks they face when standing to deliver the message. Pray that your pastor s strength doesn t fail. Pray that when they are weak, God will be strong for them. When you pray for Pastor Dickson every day you empower her to more effectively do what God has called her to do. Your prayers are more powerful than you can imagine! There is no better investment of your time and energy for the overall health and growth of your church than the time you take to pray for pastor. Remember, the effective and fervent prayers of the righteous avail much (James 5:16). Pray for your pastor every day. 8 P a g e

10 January 3, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 2 WE DECLARE HEALING As men and women of God we must stand on God s word and God s power to divinely heal us. There are many areas of healing that are needed in the body of Christ. In the name of Jesus, we pray for healing to take place in the Church for total wholeness and well-being...spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. "...and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Let us pray in unity that God s people be totally healed and delivered. Below are some examples of scriptures and prayers for healing. Ask God to lead you as you pray not only for yourselves but for your brothers and sister in Christ. Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials. Smith Wigglesworth 1. Isaiah 53:4-5 Scripture Scriptural Prayer Jesus carried my sicknesses and pains. But He was pierced for my rebellion and crushed for my sins. Jesus was beaten so that I could be whole and whipped so that I could be healed. I accept what He has done for me and I accept the healing in my body as a result of His sacrifice. 2. Jeremiah 1:12 Scripture Scriptural Prayer I will continually speak God s word concerning my healing and I expect His word to be carried out in my life. 3. Matthew 21:21-22 Scripture Scriptural Prayer Today, I speak to this disease in my body. In Jesus name, (name of the disease) I command you to die at the root, move from my body and be cast into the sea in Jesus name. I believe that what I have commanded will be done in my body. In Jesus name! 4. Romans 4:17 Scripture Scriptural Prayer As a descendant of Abraham, I receive the blessings and promises that were given to Abraham which includes healing of diseases. As a child of God who has been told to imitate God, I call those things which do not exist as though they do and I command my healing to manifest in my body now. Today, I will not waiver at God s promise for healing, but I stand strong and fully assured that God s Word will heal my body. As I walk through this process in my life, I will walk by faith and not by sight and continually give God glory for His goodness and faithfulness. 9 P a g e

11 WE DECLARE HEALING- CONTINUED 5. Romans 8:11 Scripture Scriptural Prayer Today, I declare that the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in me. I expect life from the Holy Spirit who lives in me to flow in the areas of my body that have been attacked by disease. Body, be whole because the life-giving Spirit of God lives in me. 6. Romans 8:12-14 Scripture Scriptural Prayer I am a child of God, therefore, the Holy Spirit leads my life and I will allow Him to lead me. I choose to live and be healed because I choose to let the Holy Spirit help me to put to death the deeds of my sinful nature. Holy Spirit, I trust you to let me know when I am about to act or react to situations that are caused by flesh. Thank you Holy Spirit for helping me to follow after You. 7. Romans 8:15-17 Scripture Scriptural Prayer In Christ, I have not received a spirit that makes me a fearful slave, but I have God s Spirit and He is my Father. As one of His children, I am one of His heirs. As a matter of fact, because of my Brother, Jesus Christ, who lives in me, I am an heir of God s glory. His glory includes my healing and I boldly receive it now. As a recipient of God s glory I will be a witness of Jesus Christ and spread the Gospel to my family, co-workers, friends, and people that I come in contact with. As I share in God s glory I understand that I will share in his suffering and I will trust the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and protect me when I encounter his suffering. My Prayer List Christ as I read and confess God s word over my life. Today, I declare that my mind will receive the healing power of God s word and I will come to know God, not only as a healer, but as a Father, Brother, and Comforter. Father, teach me everything about You. Deuteronomy 7:15, Mark 16:17, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 34:19, Jeremiah 30:17, Isaiah 53:4-5, Jeremiah 33:6, Matthew 18:19, Isaiah 58:8 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 103:2-3, 3 John 2, Jeremiah 17:14, James 5:14-15, 1 John 5:14, I Peter 2:24, Hebrews 11:11-12, Hebrews 10:35-39, Philippians 2:13, Galatians 3:13-14 Scripture 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Scripture 10 P a g e

12 January 4, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 3 DIRECTION, GUIDANCE, DREAMS, AND VISIONS DURING THIS FAST, seek God for direction and guidance in your life. Paul said, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19). Vision comes from God to help you and other people and to establish His kingdom in the earth (not to be confused with ambition, which comes from the flesh and is self-seeking). REMEMBER THE SIX STAGES OF A VISION: I thought it God gives you the vision. I caught it you start to get excited about the vision. I bought it you consider the cost of the vision and pay the price. I sought it nobody can talk you out of it. I got it you actually possess the dream and are glad you paid the price to get it. I taught it you pass it on to the next generation. Never settle for less than God s best for your life! As God instructed Habakkuk: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets... though it tarries, wait for it (Hab. 2:2-3). What vision has God given you? Write it down and focus on it during the fast. 11 P a g e

13 January 5, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 4 CALLING ALL INTERCESSORS YOU ARE A spiritual gatekeeper in your home, your family, and your city. Your intercessory prayers for these areas help maintain a wall of protection against demonic attack. Interceding is intervening, or stepping in on behalf of another. Even people who would never speak to you in person have no defense against your prayers. Your prayers can go into bars. Your prayers can go into crack houses. Your prayers can go anywhere. E. M. Bounds said, Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them. Spend today focusing on your own intercessory prayer life, praying for other intercessors, and praying that God would raise up more intercessors. We need prayers that will outlive our generation! Intercessory targets for my family, my city, and my country: English Standard Version 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. Matthew 18:19-20 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Ephesians 6:18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, James 5:13-16 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 12 P a g e

14 January 6, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 5 WARRING FOR THE FAMILY Dear Jesus, I bow in worship and praise before You. I cover myseif with the blood of Jesus Christ and claim the protection of the Blood for my family, my finances, my home, my spirit and my soul and body. I surrender myself completely in every area of my life to You. I take a stand against all the workings of the Devil that would try and hinder me and my family from completely serving. In the name of Jesus you are the true and living God who has power and control over everything. Satan I command you and all of your demon forces of darkness in the name of Jesus Christ to leave my presence. I bring the blood of Jesus Christ between the Devil and my family, my home, my finances, my spirit, my soul and body. I declare, therefore, that Satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus, I destroy and tear down all strongholds of Satan and smash the plans of Satan that have been formed against me and my family. I tear down the strongholds of the devil against my mind and I surrender my mind to you, Jesus. I affirm, heavenly Father, that you have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. Therefore, I resist the spirit of fear in the name of Jesus, the Son of the living God. I refuse to doubt, refuse to worry, because I have authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt me. I claim complete and absolute victory over the force of darkness in the name of Jesus, and I bind the Devil and command him to loose my peace, joy, prosperity, and every member of my family for the glory of God and by faith I call it done. In the Name of Jesus I break and smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my emotions today and I give my emotions to you, Lord Jesus, realizing that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. Again, I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that the Holy Ghost would bring all the work of the crucifixion, resurrection and all the work of the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into my life today. I surrender my life and possessions to you. I refuse to fear, worry or to be discouraged in the name of Jesus. I will not hate, envy or show any type of bitterness toward my brothers, sisters, or my enemies, but will love them with the love of God in my heart by the Holy Ghost. Open my eyes and show me the areas of my life that do not please you and give me the strength, grace and wisdom to remove any sin or weight that would give the devil a foothold against me. In every way I claim the victory of the cross over all satanic forces in my life. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and I welcome the ministry of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 13 P a g e

15 January 7, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 6 FINANCES AND PROSPERITY God has told us through His Word that when we acknowledge Him in all our ways and lean not our own understanding, He will direct our paths Prov. 3:6. That includes finances. On this sixth day of your fast, ask God to set things aright in your finances. Sow a first fruits offering. If you sow the unusual, you will release an unusual harvest back into your life. Expect financial miracles this year! Seek Him for blessings and prosperity that can be used to advance and expand His Kingdom and bless others. You take care of the little things, and God will handle the big things. Don t worry about the money; just do what God tells you to do. He s the God of provision. He will see to it. He will provide. He will make away. Even if you re looking at something that seems bigger than you, boldly declare it right now: Thank You, Lord for being my Provider in all things. I give you the praise for provision. Thank you, Jesus! Specific financial needs to hold up in prayer today: Deuteronomy 8:18 You shall remember the LORD your God: for it is he that gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto your fathers, as it is this day. What is the Lord saying to you? 14 P a g e

16 January 8, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 7 MARRIAGE Marriage doesn t take two people; it takes three. You cannot have a good marriage if God is not in the center of it. And that applies to those who are single as well. Your courting days should be centered on Christ and purity, establishing a firm foundation for the future. Today, if you are married cover your spouse and your marriage with prayer. Pray for others in your family and circle of friends who are married. Marriage is under attack by the enemy in this country If you are single, pray that God will bring you His utmost choice for your life, and commit to settle for nothing less. Prayer Father, it is written in Your Word that we are to esteem our marriage as precious, worthy of great price and especially dear. We agree with Your Word and act accordingly. By a conscious act of our will, we put away strife by becoming swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. We confess and believe that we neither offend nor take offense with one another. Your Word says You have knit us together in purpose and in power, therefore we commit ourselves and our marriage to be the mighty instrument upon earth that You designed us to be. Our desire is to be an example of Your love to our family and friends. So Father, right now, we make a quality decision to live in harmony. We agree not to give ourselves over to selfish desires that will cause division and distrust. We declare that we honor and value our marriage by keeping our marriage bed undefiled. We declare that our marriage grows stronger every day and is an encouragement to those around us. We will conduct ourselves honorably and becoming---being kind, tenderhearted, compassionate, understanding and loving toward one another. We are always ready to believe the best, and we freely forgive one another. Father, we declare and therefore it is established that we live in a peaceable habitation and quiet resting place. Thank you, Father, for making us heirs together of the grace of life! We begin this commitment before Your throne in the Name of Jesus and by the authority of Your Word. Amen. Scripture References Hebrews 13:4; II Timothy 2:24-26; Colossians 1:10; Philippians 2:2, 4:7; Ephesians 4:32; Isaiah 32:17-18; Jeremiah 1:12; James 1:19, 3:2; I Peter 3:7; Mark 11:23; Matthew 18:19; Philippians 2:3 15 P a g e

17 January 9, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 8 FOCUS SALVATION OF SOULS THERE IS NO greater burden for which to seek the Lord than the salvation of souls. If you have unsaved friends and family and we all do they need to hear of God s love for them, but they also need to understand that there is a very real, very dark, very horrific place for those who do not accept Jesus. The Lord spoke more of hell than He did of heaven. So, as you begin this fast, let your focus be the souls of those close to you who need salvation. Do not be discouraged but persistent. Keep praying! Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb. 12:3, NIV). My spiritual hit list Unsaved family members and friends to target in prayer during this fast. MY SPIRITUAL HIT LIST Write their names below. Believe God for souls, souls, and more souls. He saved you and he is able to save and deliver your loved ones too. Walk it out and pray it out! 16 P a g e

18 January 10, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 9 PROTECTION Because of Jesus, you and I can take hold of God s promise to protect us, to provide for all our needs, and to cover us in His love, mercy, and grace. He is our El Shaddai. He shows himself strong on our behalf. He also tenderly takes us unto Himself and shows us kindness. Meditate on these verse of Scripture today, relating to the divine protection of our loving Faith Exodus 19: 4-5 Psalm 61: 3-5 Isaiah 66: 13 Psalms Clean Heart principle. Make sure your heart is clean before God by giving the Holy Spirit time to convict you about any un-confessed sin in your life. Confess that of which He speaks. See: Psalm 66.18; Hosea 5.4; Ps 51:10; Heb 10:22 Ex: Create in me a clean heart O Lord. Check your heart before God and make them clean, ask forgiveness if anything unclean and God will forgive any sin, and make sure your heart is right before God. 2. Acknowledge your dependence on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Ask God to completely control you by His Spirit. See: Eph 5.18, John 14.16,17, John 16.13, Acts Ex: Lead me and guide me Lord, I submit my life and this time into your hands. 3. Put aside your own reasoning and desires, of what you feel what you should pray for first. See: Prov.3.5-6, Isa 55.8 Ex: If you want to hear what God wants to speak to you, you ve got to silence your own pre-conceived ideas. (Listen with a pen and paper in your hand, write down what He says and pray over those things. 4. Deal aggressively with the enemy. Silence his voice. See: James 4.7, 2 Cor. 10.4,5. Ex: (3 voices: The voice of God, our own voice and voice of the enemy). Say to the Devil, You have no authority upon my life, I command you to get lost from me, and I bind everything you say in the name of JESUS CHRIST. 5. Ask God for the fear of the Lord Prov 1.7, Hos Praise Him by faith for the exciting time He is going to give you. God will do something consistent with His character. See: Num 23.19, Ps , Ps. 95.1,2. 7. Wait before God in silent expectancy. Listen for direction. See: Ps.62.5, Ps Ex: Expect that the Lord will be speaking to you, and wait in silent. 8. In faith and obedience, take action on what God brings to your mind, believing He has spoken to you. See: 2 Chron Ex: Sometimes when God speaks to us in our thoughts, the Devil would love to say, That s just your thought, not God s voice 17 P a g e

19 January 11, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 10 GOD S FAVOR When you truly grasp the concept of God s favor, of His capacity, you will never be the same. You see, when you offer God a cup, He not only fills it, as David said, but He also overflows it Ps. 23:5. God s capacity is unlimited and cannot be exhausted. In the second chapter of Acts, the Holy Spirit didn t merely enter the room, He filled the whole house where they were sitting. So whatever you are believing God for during this fast, I encourage you to believe Him for the maximum. Believe Him for His Favor, for His measure of capacity, not your own. Rise up and confront the barriers standing n your way. Do not allow circumstances to dictate your territory limitations-your territory is expanding! II Corinthians 6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God s favor, now is the day of salvation. Psalm 50: Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me. How has God s Favor been in your life? 18 P a g e

20 January 12, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 11 RIGHT RELATIONSHIP & KINGDOM CONNECTIONS People can be used in our lives as blessings of God or as tools of the enemy. You have to be able to discern the difference between the two. There are flesh people who tear you down but there are faith people who build you up and help you unlock your potential. Flesh people feed your fear and cause you to feel like you ve lost your dream The right relationships can begin and instill in you a can-do attitude. You begin to stretch your thinking. Well, maybe I can do that. You can be catapulted by the relationships that God puts in your life. So, as you continue to fast and press into Him today, seek His counsel on the relationships in your life. Which ones are draining? Which ones are supporting you? Which do you represent to others? My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10: 27 What is God saying to you today in prayer? 19 P a g e

21 January 13, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 12 THE BODY OF CHRIST Christians all over the world need prayer. In China, believers meet in secret locations in the underground church. If they are discovered, they risk being beaten, tortured, imprisoned, and worse for their faith. In Ethiopia, believers are brutally attacked and suffer greatly when they refuse to renounce Jesus. In other hostile and close regions, like Cuba and Vietnam, brave believers share the Word of God with others at great personal risk. Even in our Christian nation, the cross of Christ and our beliefs are constantly under attack. So, on this Twelth day of your fast concentrate in prayer on the body of Christ- those who are suffering and persecuted for their faith, those who are struggling to hold on to their faith, and those whom the devil wishes to pick off from our younger generation. Unity and Diversity in One Body I Corinthians 12: For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into [a] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you ; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 20 P a g e

22 January 14, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 13 DISCERNMENT Discernment is the ability to judge rightly. Just as Solomon prayed for wisdom, you and I can ask God to strengthen our discernment of people, situations, and opportunities. It has to do with being sensitive to His Spirit, which increase exponentially when you are fasting. So, as you continue to His journey, make it a point of prayer to ask God to increase your discernment of people, situations and more. And study HIS WORD! As the Hebrew writer reminds us, For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrew 4:12 I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Let Us Pray Father, I pray that You might give me a heart of wisdom. I pray that I will always make wise choices and when two paths seem to be equal, I pray You will help me to trust You even as I make my decision. Give me a heart that is willing to obey You and to respond in faith to the wisdom You have given me. I pray for that they might have a heart of wisdom. Keep them from ungodly counsel that seems good, but which will, in the end, be destructive. Keep them from following the path of least resistance, and from friends who would lead them astray. Teach them, even as You teach me, that the wise path is often the most difficult path, but in the end, is the most rewarding. Direct our paths, O Lord, for we are like sheep who are prone to stray. Make us lovers of wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen. 21 P a g e

23 January 15, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 14 REVEALING GIFTINGS When you read Paul s letters, you see that he kept around him people of different backgrounds and people with different gifts. In other words, he had some people who were gifted at hospitality. He had some people whose main contribution was prayer. No matter what the gift is, it must be opened. It is to bless you and others around you. God has given you a unique and special divine enablement; gifts, as it were. Are you using them to glorify Him and advance His kingdom? Have you fully discovered what those gifts are? As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. --1 Peter 4:10 There is no magic formula or definitive test that can tell us exactly what our spiritual gifts are. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). A common problem for Christians is the temptation to get so caught up in our spiritual gift that we only seek to serve God in the area in which we feel we have been gifted. That is not how the spiritual gifts work. God calls us to obediently serve Him in all things. He will equip us with whatever gift or gifts we need to accomplish the task He has called us to. Identifying our spiritual giftedness can be accomplished in various ways. Spiritual gift tests or inventories, while not to be fully relied upon, can definitely help us understand where our gifting might be. Confirmation from others also gives light to our spiritual giftedness. Other people who see us serving the Lord can often identify a spiritual gift in use that we might take for granted or not recognize. Prayer is also important. The one person who knows exactly how we are spiritually gifted is the gift-giver Himself the Holy Spirit. We can ask God to show us how we are gifted in order to better use our spiritual gifts for His glory. Yes, God calls some to be teachers and gives them the gift of teaching. God calls some to be servants and blesses them with the gift of helps. However, specifically knowing our spiritual gift does not excuse us from serving God in areas outside our gifting. Is it beneficial to know what spiritual gift(s) God has given us? Of course it is. Is it wrong to focus so much on spiritual gifts that we miss other opportunities to serve God? Yes. If we are dedicated to being used by God He will equip us with the spiritual gifts we need. What gifts has God given you? Are you using them to the glory of God?. 22 P a g e

24 January 16, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 15 PERSONAL MINISTRY God has given you giftings to use for His purposes. It makes me think of Abraham and the five dynamics that brought him into the place of ministry, the place of destiny that God had for him. First, he could hear God. Secondly, Abraham believed what he heard. Thirdly, he came to a place of denouncing the comfort zone he lived in to follow God s leading. Fourthly, Abraham had the courage to follow God s direction for his life. And finally, he had the tenacity to focus on the promise and not the problems that stood in his way. So on this day of the fast, I encourage you to pray and seek God about His purpose and plan for your life, your ministry unto Him. --Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. As you pray today write down what God has said to you concerning your ministry for Him.. 23 P a g e

25 January 17, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 16 MENTOR AND DISCIPLESHIP As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, I will follow You wherever You go (Luke 9:57). It is one thing to say that you will follow Jesus; it is another to see it through, even when the road is narrow, steep, and nearly impossible. We all need fathers and mothers in the faith who have walked the road with Jesus and can gently help us along at times. These mentors are invaluable when they are of the Lord. Pray today that God will bring right relationships into your life fathers and mothers in the faith who can strengthen you and build you up. --Ephesians 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. What is God telling you concerning mentoring and discipleship? 24 P a g e

26 January 18, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 17 BINDING OPPRESSION AND FEAR There may be times in your life when your enemies or circumstances seem to be so large and so powerful that they are all you can see. In Psalm 69, David is crying out, saying he was sinking in deep mire (v.2) and the floods were overtaking him. But his heart turned to worship despite his circumstances. When you worship, you not only magnify God, but you also reduce the size and power of everything else around you. God will hear you when you set your heart to worship Him. When you magnify the Lord, you shrink the supposed power of your enemy, the devil. The greatest thing you can do in the midst of a battle is to magnify the Lord. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving (Ps. 69:30). --Psalms 34:3-4 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 25 P a g e

27 January 19, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 18 REVIVAL Revival is when Earth is attacked by heaven. Revival is an awesome move of God that affects you in powerful ways. Revival is when you get closer to heaven than you are to anything of Earth. We need revival in America. We need heaven to touch Earth with power. So, as you near the end of your fast, pray for revival. Ask God to send the rain of His Spirit on the land to break up the hardened hearts and bring forth a harvest of souls. Cry out for it as a desperate man crying out for water in the desert. Our young people need revival. We need revival. The church needs revival. In the past, the great revivals were always preceded by seasons of fasting and prayer. Do not grow weary, but stand strong in the power of His might. --Habakkuk 3:2 LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. 26 P a g e

28 January 20, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 19 LABORERS INTO THE HARVEST FIELD God said, Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possessions (Ps. 2:8). Jesus told us, Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field (Matt. 9:38). On this nineteenth day of your fast, focus your prayers on these two key instructions from heaven. Cry out for the lost and hurting, the poor, the addicted. Ask Him to send missionaries, ambassadors of His Word, into the earth. The people who sat in the darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who say in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. --Matthew 4:16 we are prepared for harvest. And we are to ask for great things! We are to find our place in this moment. Luke 1:17 And he will [himself] go before Him to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state]. John 14:12 For surely, I tell you, whoever puts his trust in Me can do the things I am doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. Psalm 57:2 I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills [His purpose] for me. Will I risk asking for great things? How strong is my faith? I have been blessed with the preparation of God Almighty for this time in history! I am blessed to fulfill the purpose He has set before me. I expect His provision as I ask for great things! I am in God s timing, not running ahead or lagging behind but knowing God s will and doing His will in the right time, place and way and with the right people. Ask yourself are you a laborer or are you just occupying a spot? Think about it? 27 P a g e

29 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 20 January 21, 2014 SPIRIT OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY GHOST TO FALL By now you are so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that you realize nothing else will satisfy. Nothing else will do in a world gone mad. This world needs the touch of God. It needs the sweeping movement of the Holy Spirit convicting men of sin and drawing them to the cross. But you have to hunger for it. You have to thirst for it. There s a difference between wanting a drink and being thirsty. When you re thirsty, everything in you says, I ve got to have it. And when you get thirsty, He ll pour out His spirit. So, focus your prayers today on a spirit of prayer to be released in you, churches and homes across the land. Pray that God will pour out His Holy Spirit and revive us again! Romans 5:1-4 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 28 P a g e

30 January 22, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 21 THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH! You are, as Gods child to be characterized by joy. You are to be a person of celebration, and happy in the work that God has given you to do. Proverbs 28:12a When the [uncompromisingly] righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration; Psalm 92:4 For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing. Ask yourself does joy overflow all aspects of my life? Say to yourself, that your are blessed with the joy of walking and working with people who are standing shoulder to shoulder with you, serving together in the delight of the Lord, enjoying the favor of the Lord, fulfilling the plan of the Lord over our lives. I am blessed with contagious joy! Scripture Study Notes 29 P a g e

31 January 23, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 22 I GOT THE VICTORY! There are times when you will labor and travail for victory and the harvest will be received to the increase of other tribes you are to be secure in the identity God has given you. Ephesians 1:4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. Psalm 49:16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; I am blessed with an identity in Him that cannot be shaken. I am securely loved as His child and my labor is never in vain. I am blessed with the satisfaction and joy of victory as I search His Word and look to see His glory day after day. Glimpses of His glory are mine today! My Thoughts Today 30 P a g e

32 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 23 January 24, 2014 CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY The uplifting and refreshing presence of God is upon a church where God s people have humbled themselves to pray! When we were born again, we were born into a family our church family (Ephesians 3:15, John 1:12-13). God purposed this inter-relationship for our spiritual good. We need each other in united prayer and prayer warfare. (See Acts 2:42 and James 5:16) Every New Testament local church was exhorted to pray without ceasing. Prayer with fasting is practiced. Consider: *The church at Ephesus was exhorted to pray always (Ephesians 6:18). *The church at Thessalonica was told to Pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). *The church at Rome was admonished to be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12). *The church at Colosse was exhorted to continue in prayer with thanksgiving steadfastly (Colossians 4:2). *The church at Philippi was encouraged not to worry about anything... but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made know to God (Philippians 4:6). *The Hebrews were urged to continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God (Hebrews 13:15). Around A.D. 400, Chrysotom wrote, What we cannot obtain by solitary prayer... we may by cooperative prayer. The uplifting and refreshing presence of God is upon a church where God s people have humbled themselves to pray! By prayer we are talking about more than a few minutes here and there. We speak of focused prayer...groanings... cries from the heart... fasting... seeking God s face (Romans 8:26). We are keenly aware of spiritual forces at work in the congregation and also outside the church. Preaching, teaching, lecturing, discipling without prayer have little impact against these powers (Zechariah 4:6). Every local church must be united in unceasing, intercessory, concentrated, prevailing prayer! There is unusual power in united prayer. Jesus said, My house shall be called the house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). AREAS IN OUR CHURCH TO PRAYER FOR CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR PASTOR AND HER FAMILY Pray that God would anoint your pastor to be the godly leader that our church needs (I John 2:27). Pray that she would be strengthened physically and that her financial needs would be met (Philippians 4:19). 2. SUNDAY SCHOOL, CHILDREN S, AND ADULT MINISTRIES Pray that God would anoint and inspire the teachers to reach and teach at the different levels needed. Pray that the children s hearts would be tender to the Lord and that they would receive the Holy Ghost even in their classrooms (Acts 2:39). Pray that the children would lead their unchurched parents to know Christ. 31 P a g e

33 3. HOME BIBLE STUDIES AND OUTREACH MINISTRIES Pray that teachers and workers would be sensitive to the needs of those they meet. Pray that the hearts of the contacts would be fertile soil for the Word of God to take root and grow. Pray that the entire church would feel the burden to reach the world with the love of Christ and His gospel. 4. YOUTH MINISTRIES Pray that the youth staff the youth pastor, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, and others would have genuine love and concern for the youth of the church and city and the wisdom to deal with the manifold problems that face today s youth. Pray that parents and older saints would be examples of righteousness for the youth to follow. Pray that the youth would learn to put God first in their lives (Matthew 6:33). 5. MUSIC MINISTRIES Pray that those involved in the music ministry would be divinely anointed as they play and sing unto the Lord. Pray that they would be sensitive to the move of the Spirit and complement the ministry of the Word. Pray that they (as more public examples of the church) would walk circumspectly before the Lord (Ephesians 5:15). 6. SINGLE MINISTRIES AND SUPPORT GROUPS Pray that the singles would find the companionship and emotional support they need within the church body. Pray that the other support groups would be understanding and compassionate as they reach out to those in need. Pray that those in material need would be drawn closer to Christ because of their problems. 7. SISTER CHURCHES Pray for the ministers of our sister churches to be anointed and strengthened both spiritually and physically (III John 2). Pray that those attending our sister churches work would pick up the burden both spiritually and financially. Pray that the community surrounding the new work would be receptive to the Word of God (II Thessalonians 3:1). 8. PRAYER MINISTRIES Pray for the leaders of the prayer ministry to be strengthened physically and spiritually intercession is taxing both to the body and spirit. Pray that they would be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and to the needs of the church. Pray that others would have a burden to join the prayer ministry. Matthew 16:18. Your prayers can bring revival, healing, reconciliation, and salvation. Please pray for our church. 32 P a g e

34 January 25, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 24 THE WORD OF GOD Today take the time to read, meditate and write out God s word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Psalm 119:105 Matthew 4:4 Joshua 1:8 Romans 15:4 Hebrews 4:12 33 P a g e

35 January 26, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 25 PRAYER OVER YOUR THOUGHTS There is a real battle being waged for the cradle up, to control the human mind. Nearly every waking hour, the devil is bombarding the eye and ear gates, trying to enter and corrupt the thoughts resulting in evil deeds. We must realize we are in a war and keep our defense strong, obeying the commands of our captain Jesus, our Lord. Isa. 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind (thought) is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee. This is war time saints we must not let are guards down. For if you do you can be sure the enemy (The Devil) will be there to attack and try to destroy you! I am reminded of the message that our pastor wrote to us on Sunday, June 10, This is a portion of that message: Your mind is given the job deciding the battle between you and your thoughts. It s up to your mind to control your ideas and imagination and make a decision as to where they ll go next. Here s the danger; After 30 seconds are up, your emotions kick in and develop a relationship with the thought. You become emotionally invested, and that s when it starts getting complicated. The Bible says to take every thought captive. Confine it in your mind, hold it hostage, and make a verdict before it goes anywhere else. Seize the thought and ask yourself, where did this come from? If your answer is that it is not a Godly thought, then you have a decision to make: Get rid of it and move your mind to the next thing, or allow it to live. If you dwell on the thought too long you ll no longer be battling the thought but you will be wrestling your feelings, and emotions are a lot stronger than we believe. They create a cycle, because those feelings hold you there and make you think more thoughts, and then those new thoughts bring more intense feelings. The danger is this: the more you become invested, the greater the desperation comes for you to find that answer. And the greater the anxiety, the greater you look to find a way to numb that feeling. So, now you ve got these overwhelming, over powering feelings and you ve got to dispose of them. But you can t and you become desperate to find a way to numb their effect and so you find yourself doing things you know you never should do and saying things you don t want to say. So many people spend their entire life in this cycle, constantly trying to numb the pain of a feeling that, had they taken that first thought captive and said You don t belong here would never have had a chance to live. Cancel evil and destructive thinking with these words I cancel that thought and forbid it to come to pass in Jesus name! Then forsake it and replace it with a positive thought. One that will edify and not condemn you or the person you are thinking about! Or just change the channel and start to think of something totally different for what you were think about. Bishop Illona W. Dickson 34 P a g e

36 January 27, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 26 SAVED TO SERVE Prayer Today: God, I thank you for your Word today. I know your Word will be the light that guides me to new spiritual heights. My desire is to please you God as I faithfully obey your Word in Jesus name amen. Ephes. 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. We are saved through the unmerited grace of Jesus Christ. We have nothing to boast or brag about. We are the craftsmanship, the actual masterpiece of God Himself. We were created to do good works of service for Him that He has equipped and assigned to us in advance. We are not saved merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up His church. Now that you are saved, God wants to do great things through you. We know works do not save, but since you have been saved how has God been using you to serve Him and others? Are you allowing God to use you to serve others? If not what actions are you taking to change that? 35 P a g e

37 January 28, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 27 PROFILE OF A SERVANT EPHESIANS 6:21-24 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things; Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen Tychicus is a little known character in the Bible. He was a preacher, missionary, and leader of his own ministry. In addition, he was a messenger and traveled with Paul as he ministered. Tychicus possessed several traits that are important as we serve God and His people. Tychicus was: SELFLESS- He was concerned more about the needs of others than himself. A FAITHFUL MINISTER- He was consistently using his gifts to serve God and others. WILLING TO SERVE He viewed service as an opportunity; not a chore. SENSITIVE- to the needs of others- He knew how and when to serve others. From this brief profile, how many of the four traits of a servant do you have? Which ones do you need to develop? Write them down and ask God to help you to develop a heart of a servant. 36 P a g e

38 January 29, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 28 THE MINISTRY OF THE TOWEL St. John 13: 4-5 He riseth for supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water in a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. In Bible times, most people wore sandals and their feet became extremely dirty. A water basin sat at the entrance of most Jewish homes. Upon entering a person s home, the poor would wash their feet. Jesus assumed the role of a servant; a common slave. He took off His garments and wrapped a towel around His waist and washed and dried the disciple s feet. Jesus was demonstrating: The way to royalty is service. The way to greatness is ministry. The way to power is humility. The way to position is serving. The way to ruling is giving. Name an act of service today that would be comparable to washing and drying feet. Could you perform the act of service you just described? If not, why not? Action step for me today: 37 P a g e

39 January 30, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 29 NO MORE EXCUSES! Exodus 3:10-11 Moses was called by God to serve Him as the one who would lead Israel out of bondage. Moses gave God a lot of excuses starting with, Why me? God overcame that excuse with His promise to be with Moses. But Moses followed it up with excuse, after excuse, after excuse and he finally said to God, Send someone else! Eventually, Moses surrendered to the will of God and became a great leader. He brought Israel out of bondage, through the wilderness, and led them to the Promised Land. Have you ever made excuses instead of obeying God? Did you eventually obey anyway? What do you need to do to overcome a reluctant spirit? My plan of Action. 38 P a g e

40 January 31, 2014 PRAYER FOCUS DAY 30 DON T QUIT! Nehemiah 6 (selected scriptures) (2) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. (3) And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? (15-16) So the wall was finished in fifty and two days. (16) And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. Nehemiah and his team are almost finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. When you are serving the Lord, there will always be distractions to keep you from finishing what God has called and equipped you to do. You have to recognize these distractions and keep working. Nehemiah had been attacked with rumors, lies, threats, and criticism, but he and his team kept working. The way you defeat the enemy of distraction is to finish the assignment God gave you! In what areas of your service to God and others has the enemy been trying to distract you? What are you doing to stay focused on the task at hand until you finish it? Radiant life In Christ even after the month of consecration, we must continue on, more determined to do the will of God and to help our pastor carry out the vision for the church. God needs soldiers that are strong in him and in the power of his might. So DON T QUIT! DON T THROW IN THE TOWEL! STAY IN THE FIGHT! 39 P a g e

41 NOTE PAGE. 40 P a g e

42 BLACK BEAN HUMMUS Ingredients Snack, Hummus, Mediterranean, Snacks, Daniel fast, Appetizer Cooks in 5 minutes Serves 8 1 clove garlic 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained (reserve liquid) 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1-2 tablespoons tahini 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Directions 1. Crush garlic clove and place in food processor 2. Add black beans, lemon juice, tahini, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper; process until smooth. 3. Add enough of the reserved liquid (1 tablespoon at a time) from the beans to reach desired consistency, pulsing after each addition. 4. Serve with tortillas, crackers or sliced vegetables. 41 P a g e

43 GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP Serves 6 Ingredients 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups chopped leeks, white part only (from approximately 3 medium leeks) 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic Salt 2 cups carrots, peeled and chopped into rounds (approximately 2 medium) 2 cups peeled and diced potatoes 2 cups fresh green beans, broken or cut into 3/4-inch pieces 2 quarts vegetable broth 4 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes 2 ears corn, kernels removed 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup packed, chopped fresh parsley leaves 1-2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice Directions 1. Heat the olive oil in large, heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the leeks, garlic, and a pinch of salt and sweat until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. 2. Add the carrots, potatoes, and green beans and continue to cook for 4 to 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Add the stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a simmer. 4. Once simmering, add the tomatoes, corn kernels, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the vegetables are fork tender, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. 5. Remove from heat and add the parsley and lemon juice. Season, to taste, with kosher salt. Serve immediately. 42 P a g e

44 RED BEAN SOUP Serves 6 Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 ½ cups chopped yellow onions ¼ cup chopped green bell peppers 1 tablespoon minced garlic 4 bay leaves 2 cups dried red kidney beans, soaked overnight 1 tablespoon Special Seasoning, 2 quarts vegetable stock 1 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 cup diced carrots 1 ½ cups cooked long-grain brown rice, warm 6 tablespoons chopped green onions Directions 1. Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic, and bay leaves, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. 2. Add the beans and cook for 2 minutes. 3. Add the Special Seasoning and stock, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 1 1/2 hours, until beans are tender, stirring occasionally. 4. Add the salt and parsley, cover the pot, and cook for 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Remove 1 cup of beans from the pot and reserve. 5. With a hand-held immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor, puree the red beans. Add the reserved beans, and stir well. 6. To serve, ladle a generous cup of the soup into each of 6 bowls. 7. Top each serving with 1/4 cup of the rice and 1 tablespoon of green onions. 43 P a g e

45 GREEK VEGETABLE STEW Serves 8 Ingredients 2 tablespoons oil 2 onions, chopped 1 pound green string beans, broken in half 1 package frozen or fresh spinach 4 cups water 6 zucchini, chunked 4 yellow squash, chunked 2 cups celery leaves 4 tomatoes, quartered 1 teaspoon salt 8 slices lemon 1 tablespoon dried oregano 3 tablespoons fresh basil 2 cloves chopped garlic 2 tablespoons lemon juice Directions 1. Lightly brown onions in a hot dry skillet in 2 tablespoons oil. 2. Add oregano and garlic, cook 1 minute. 3. Add 4 cups water and tomatoes. Cook 10 minutes. 4. Add remaining ingredients. Cook covered for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. 5. Serve with a lemon slice in each bowl 44 P a g e

46 SOUTHWEST CORN AND BLACK BEAN SALAD Ingredients Serves 4 1 ½ cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen) 1/3 cup pine nuts 1/4 cup lime juice 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 (14.5 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed 2 cups shredded red cabbage 1 large tomato, diced 1/2 cup minced red onion Directions 1. Place pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat and cook, stirring, untilfragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. 2. Whisk lime juice, oil, cilantro, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the corn, pine nuts, beans, cabbage, tomato and onion; toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 3. Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste just before serving 45 P a g e

47 SNACK IDEAS Ingredients Rice cakes, just plain old crunchy patties Rice cakes with peanut butter and raisins Almonds Dried fruit including apricots Apples dipped in nut butter Sliced fruit Veggies with dip Popped popcorn Trail mix with nuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, coconut pieces and dried fruit Fruit kabobs Frozen fruit including grapes, blueberries, strawberries and bananas Whole wheat crackers* with nut butter Hummus with flat bread* 46 P a g e

48 STIR FRY VEGETABLES WITH BROWN RICE Ingredients Serves 4 1 tablespoon sesame oil 3 green onions, finely chopped 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced 4 cups fresh broccoli, chopped ½ pound fresh green beans, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and sliced on diagonal 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 cups greens, chopped (kale, bok choy, spinach, collards, etc) 1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained 3 cups cooked brown rice 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 ½ cups peas (if frozen run under water to thaw) ½ cup toasted sliced almonds Directions 1. Heat a deep skillet or wok over medium heat for about 1 minute. Add oil and heat for 1 minute. 2. Add green onions and ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes. 3. Add broccoli, green beans, carrots, and garlic. Stir fry for 8-10 minutes. 4. Add greens and toss for about 2 minutes or until greens are wilted. 5. Stir in water chestnuts, brown rice, soy sauce, peas and almonds. 6. Serve as complete meal Tip: Serve this dish as a complete main dish along with a side of sliced fruit such as oranges, pineapple or mango. This is also a great recipe to double and then use the leftovers for lunch. Merely heat in the microwave or eat at room temperature. 47 P a g e

49 SPECIAL SEASONING Ingredients 2 ½ tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons sea salt 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano 1 tablespoon dried thyme Directions 1. Place all ingredients into a small bowl. 2. Thoroughly mix with a whisk. 3. Store your Special Seasoning in an airtight jar or container. 48 P a g e

50 BEAN CURRYAND RICE Serves 8 Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large white onion, chopped 1/2 cup dry lentils 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons curry powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 pinch cayenne pepper 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounce) 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed (15 ounce) 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (8 ounce) 1/2 cup raisins 8 cups cooked brown rice salt and pepper to taste Directions 1. Prepare the brown rice according to package directions so you have enough for 8 servings. 2. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, and cook the onion until tender. 3. Mix in the lentils and garlic, and season with curry powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir 2 minutes. 4. Stir in the tomatoes, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and raisins. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Reduce heat to low, and simmer at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. 49 P a g e

51 SPINACH AND MUSHROOM QUICHE Crust- Choice one you like (wheat) make with wheat flour Filling 1 tablespoon butter 1 small onion, chopped (1/3 cup) 1 ½ cups sliced fresh mushrooms (about 4 oz) 4 eggs 1 cup milk 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) ¾ cup coarsely chopped fresh spinach ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper 1cup gluten-free shredded Italian cheese blend (4 oz) Directions 1Heat oven to 425 F. In medium bowl, place Bisquick mix. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary). 2Press pastry in bottom and up side of ungreased 9-inch quiche dish or glass pie plate. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until crust just begins to brown and is set. Reduce oven temperature to 325 F. 3Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion and mushrooms in butter about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and red pepper until well blended. Stir in spinach, bell pepper, mushroom mixture and cheese. Pour into partially baked crust. 4Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. 50 P a g e