newhope church 29- Day Devotional

newhope church 29- Day Devotional

Introduction Dear newhope church, Over the past 12 years Amy Lynn and I have been humbled and amazed at what God has done in building newhope church. We pinch ourselves regularly saying, I can t believe we get to do this! There is nothing more exciting than serving Christ and His bride. We are on the edge of entering into one of, if not THE most important seasons in the life of our young church and I couldn t be more excited about the team God has brought together, for such a time as this! (Esther 4:14) It s called, Hope Rising The Best is Yet to Come! We will be embarking on a journey together over the next 29 days. Through the pages of this devotional, you will find powerful, timeless scriptures that, if we let them, will challenge and shape us. My heart s desire is that this season becomes a faith raising experience for us individually, and in our most meaningful relationships with spouse, children, and/or friends! You ll also find life- changing prayer prompts to guide you as you cry out to Him each day and pursue God s best for our church, our staff, and you. These are exciting times and ones we will look back on one day recollecting the miracles God did in us and through us! Hope is rising! Let s go get this, because the best is yet to come! Because of Jesus, And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47b Our culture is busy and demanding; our attention span has been trained to be short and quick. Everything goes against our spending extended time in solitary meditation and prayer. Yet we all yearn to have that kind of relationship with our Lord. Matthew 6:9-14 contains the Lord s Prayer. The disciples had noticed that prayer was a learning experience and was a connection to the powerful ministry of Jesus. The Lord s purpose in teaching us this prayer was not to recite a 13- second prayer, but to demonstrate an effective prayer time. These verses were meant to be demarcations or topics that should be covered in our own personal prayer time. Praise Our Father which art in heaven, allowed be thy name. Yield Control They kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Provision Give us this day our daily bread. Confession and Pardon And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Protection And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Praise For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen

Using the Lord s Prayer as a Guide 2 1. Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. A. Thank God for your relationship with Him and that you can call Him Father through faith in Jesus. B. Praise the name of God for the corresponding needs in your life. Jehovah- Tsidkenu The Lord my righteousness Jehovah- Mekadesh The Lord who makes me holy Jehovah- Shalom The Lord our peace Jehovah- Shammah The Lord who is there Jehovah- Rophe The Lord who heals Jehovah- Jireh The Lord shall provide Jehovah- Nissi The Lord our banner Jehovah- Rohi The Lord my shepherd 2. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. A. Yourself yield control daily B. Your family (spouse, children) C. Your church (pastor, leadership, ministry, harvest) D. Your community 3. Give us this day our daily bread. A. Be in God s will i. Am I in fellowship with Jesus? ii. Am I in fellowship with the church? iii. Am I practicing Biblical, balanced, diligent iv. work habits? Am I obedient in the use of my time, money and abilities? B. Pray for specific needs C. Don t stop praying for these needs until you get an answer. 2. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. A. Confess all known sins and ask God to forgive you. B. Forgive and release others. C. Set your will to forgive those who sin against you. 3. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. A. Put on the whole armor of God (protection for the inside) Ephesians 6:14-17 i. The belt of truth ii. The breastplate of righteousness iii. The feet shod with preparation for the Gospel of Peace iv. The shield of faith v. The helmet of salvation vi. The sword of the spirit B. Pray for a hedge of protection (protection from the outside) 4. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. A. I will be controlled by the will of God (kingdom). B. I will be confident in the power of God (power). C. I will be concerned for the glory of God (glory). Join this 29- day adventure of drawing nearer to God in prayer. Together, let us seek the will of God as we corporately and individually fulfill God s call for Hope Rising The Best is Yet to Come. 3

Short Course on Fasting 4 In over fifty references to fasting in the Old and New Testaments, there is no specific command to fast, with the exception of the Day of Atonement for the Jews. In the New Testament it was assumed that fasting would be a part of the normal devotion time of the believer. When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:16 Jesus answered, How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. Matthew 9:15 If these verses indicate that fasting should be a normal discipline in the church (and the numerous examples of fasting support the idea), then what does it mean to fast? What is the purpose of fasting? And how does one go about fasting? 1. Definition of fasting: going without food and sometimes water voluntarily, generally for religious purposes. There are four types of fasts referred to in the Bible. a. Normal fast No food for up to 40 days (Exodus 34:28; Ezra 8:21, 23; Daniel 6:18; Luke 2:37; Mark 2:18; Matthew 4:2; Acts 13:2-3, 14:23 and others) b. Partial Fast Abstaining from certain foods (Daniel 10:3) c. Absolute fast, going without food or water for no more than three days (Esther 4:16, this is very rare in the Bible) d. Voluntary group fast called for a specific reason for a specific group of people (1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Corinthians 20:3; Jonah 3:5 and others) 5. Purpose of Fasting A. Worship it must be God- centered, God- initiated, and God- ordained B. At times, fasting is an expression of distress, grief, and repentance C. Fasting is a preparation for God to give guidance and renewal (Daniel 9; Exodus 24) D. Fasting reveals the tings that control us and hinder our intimacy with God E. Fasting reminds us that we are sustained by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4) F. Fasting helps keep our balance in life (I Corinthians 9:27; Psalm 35:13 6. Practice of Fasting A. When starting a regular discipline of fasting, begin slowly with a partial 24hr (two meals) fast once a week for several weeks while drinking fruit juices. B. Monitor your inner attitudes and maintain a worshipful attitude. C. Break the fast with a light meal of fruits and vegetables D. After a few weeks, try a normal fast, drinking lots of water only. E. Always be careful not call attention to what you are doing. F. Remember that the major work of scriptural fasting is in the realm of the spirit. G. If skipping meals is not possible, try fasting certain types of foods (like sweets or soft drinks), or you can fast activities (like TV or sports). It s important to convert that time to devotional activities, not just abstain from them. 5

Day 1 September 28, 2014 Day 2 September 29, 2014 Our generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:4-5 Pray that Hope Rising will be a catalyst for newhope church s legacy and impact to continue on for future generations. 6 Why is the house of God neglected? Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts. Nehemiah 13:11b Pray that newhope church will be committed to the Lord throughout Hope Rising. Ask God how He can enable you to restore, rekindle, or resume something for Him that will give him glory. 7

Day 3 September 30, 2014 Day 4 October 1, 2014 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13 Pray that God will give newhope church a spirit of prayer these next few weeks. Pray that He will clearly direct us and protect us from the evil one. Pray that during the Hope Rising campaign, God will reveal to you how you can use your time, talents, and treasures to fulfill His call. _ 8 He said to them, Listen to this dream I had. Genesis 37:6 Pray that newhope church will be a place where people can find and fulfill their dreams. Pray that the whole movement will be united with God s call through Hope Rising to REACH, TEACH and RELEASE in a whole new way and deepen our impact for His glory. 9

Day 5 October 2, 2014 Here comes that dreamer! they said to each other. Come now, let s kill him Then we ll see what comes of his dreams. Genesis 37:19-20 Pray that newhope church will continue to strive forward with Hope Rising these next few years. Pray that God will give us the endurance and stamina needed to face any temporary setbacks. Pray that all involved will experience joy on this journey of faith. 10 Day 6 October 3, 2014 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133 Pray that throughout Hope Rising, newhope church will experience genuine unity resulting from the Holy Spirit s presence among us. Ask God to show you specific ways that you can contribute toward the unity of believers at newhope church. _ 11

Day 7 October 4, 2014 Day 8 October 5, 2014 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 Pray that everyone who attends newhope church will grow in faith and trust in God throughout Hope Rising. Pray that we will allow God to be in control and that we yearn for His will to be done. Ask God to identify an area of your life where you need to yield to Him. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 Pray the scripture today and personalize it for newhope church and yourself as we fulfill God s call on Hope Rising. 12 13

Day 9 October 6, 2014 Day 10 October 7, 2014 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalm 119:133 Thank God for guiding newhope church through scripture and prayer to pursue the vision to REACH- TEACH- RELEASE. Ask the Lord to continue to give Pastor Benji, the Executive Team and staff wisdom and discernment needed to accomplish everything He has placed before us. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3 Pray that you (and your spouse if applicable) continue to pursue unity as you chase down what God has for you in Hope Rising. 14 15

Day 11 October 8, 2014 Day 12 October 9, 2014 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. Mark 12:42-43 Pray that newhope church will be a giving church. Pray that we will give no matter what our gift is. Pray about your personal giving and how you can become more generous. 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth. Genesis 28:16, 22 Pray that everyone who has been ministered to by newhope church will experience a deeper relationship with Jesus. Ask God how the giving of your time, talents, and treasures can fulfill the call of Hope Rising. 17

Day 13 October 10, 2014 Day 14 October 11, 2014 Drink my lord, she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said I ll draw water for your camels too Genesis 24:18-19 Pray that newhope church possesses a spirit of giving above the ordinary. Ask God to bless you with a giving spirit. Pray for someone you know who struggles in this area. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. Mark 14:3b Pray that the people connected to newhope church will love Jesus so much that they will be extravagant with giving of their time, talents, and treasures. 18 19

Day 15 October 12, 2014 Day 16 October 13, 2014 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47b Pray that we will continually be reminded that Hope Rising is all about people at newhope church, in the Carolinas, in Kenya and at the ends of the Earth. Pray that Hope Rising can help fulfill the Great Commission. _ 20 Then God remembered Rachel; He listened to her and opened her womb. Genesis 30:22 Pray that Hope Rising will become reality in God s perfect timing. Pray that our dreams of saving friends and family through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will come about because of Hope Rising. Ask God to reveal or clarify your role, and His will for you, during Hope Rising. 21

Day 17 October 14, 2014 Day 18 October 15, 2014 Moses answered the people, Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:13-14 Pray that newhope church will not be afraid to move forward with God in fulfilling the call of Hope Rising. Ask God to give you a promise out of His word to claim for newhope church. Pray about an area of your life that needs to move forward. 22 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30 Pray that people who come in contact with newhope church attenders and staff would be blessed and restored. Ask God to renew spiritual health to our staff, church body, and to you as an individual. 23

Day 19 October 16, 2014 Day 20 October 17, 2014 Moses answered the people, Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:13-14 Pray that newhope church would be committed to Hope Rising throughout the next few years so that we can reap a harvest for God when it s done. 24 Then God remembered Rachel; He listened to her and opened her womb. Genesis 30:22 Pray that the faith of every member of newhope church would increase through Hope Rising and be visible to the Carolinas, Kenya, and the world through their deeds. 25

Day 21 October 18, 2014 Day 22 October 19, 2014 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service. I Timothy 1:12 Pray that people at newhope church will recognize and embrace their unique role with Hope Rising. Pray that each one of us will join together to help expand God s Kingdom. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 Pray that the Lord would embolden newhope church with strength, courage, and submission to Him to fulfill the call of Hope Rising. 26 27

Day 23 October 20, 2014 Day 24 October 21, 2014 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 3:3 Pray that we rely on God to fulfill Hope Rising and not rely on our own strength. Pray that we continue to live our lives in the Spirit and not by our own human effort. 28 He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. Mark 6:5 Pray that God will do a mighty work through newhope church, throughout Hope Rising, because we are of strong faith. If there is a roadblock of unbelief in your life, ask God to show you what it is. 29

Day 25 October 22, 2014 Day 26 October 23, 2014 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, We should go up and take possession of the land, fore we can certainly do it. Numbers 13:30 Pray that God will continue to lead the way and that our faith will remain strong as we continue with the vision He has given our church. Pray that people will encourage one another at newhope church to fulfill Hope Rising. _ 30 All is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Pray that this beautiful movement of believers will read and study the Bible daily. Ask God to let its wisdom sink into our hearts and minds and then reflect in our character and actions throughout Hope Rising. 31

Day 27 October 24, 2014 Day 28 October 25, 2014 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? Nehemiah 6:3 Pray that God will enable us to fulfill the call of Hope Rising in such a way as to bring Him glory and expand His Kingdom. Pray that He will thwart any enemies who try to prevent it from happening. Ask the Lord how you can take ownership of this vision using the time, talents, and treasures that He has given you. _ 32 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 Thank God for hearing all the prayers that have been lifted up on newhope church s behalf. Thank Him for answering them. Pray that God s people at newhope church will pray more than ever before and that everything we do as a church will be covered in prayer. 33

Day 29 October 26, 2014 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 Pray in faith and follow God s leading to take the step He is calling you to take in Hope Rising. 34 35