Day 21 - Those Far From God

SCRIPTURE
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
Every gospel in the Bible has a form of the Great Commission. One of the last things Jesus says to His disciples was that they are called to make more disciples. The very nature and DNA of Christianity, its mission and focus, is to reach those who are far from God. It is fascinating that the Church is still one of the few organizations that exists for its non-members. Let that sink in. We exist for those who are not yet members of the Church! 

The longer a church exists, the more likely it is to focus on its members, rather than those who are far from God. As Christians, we must resist this urge. We must know and understand our spiritual growth should always lead us to reach those who don’t know Christ. Since we live in a post-modern, post-truth, and post-Christian culture, we must be intentional about presenting the gospel in a way in which our culture understands. 

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I pray for those who are far from You. Give us the courage and the power to reach those who don’t know You. I pray for my family members who have walked away from You. Draw them back to Your love through the power of Your Holy Spirit. God, let there be an awakening in our city, our county, and our country. As the world gets darker, I pray our light shines brighter. In the name of your great and glorious son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 20 - My Specific Needs

SCRIPTURE
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
Have you learned the secret of getting specific with God when you pray? As you grow in your walk with God, He expects you to become bold, courageous, and very precise about the things you request of Him. When you pray, are you finite about what you want God to do? If someone asked you the same thing you have been asking God, would you understand clearly what they were asking? Are you so clear on the subject you could write it on a piece of paper and submit it to God as an official “petition”?

Find scripture for your specific needs. If you need healing, stand on healing scripture and pray until it comes to pass. The same goes for finances, marriages, children, government, etc. Let’s remember, God said you have not because you ask not!

Years ago at Red Hills, when we in our Third Street building, we only had bathrooms on the main floor. All the classes in the basement had to be brought upstairs to use the bathrooms. We kept asking God to fulfill our need; it was a daily prayer for over two years. Then, God made a way for us to have a bathroom and more than what we had asked. God is faithful when we ask him specifically for what we need of Him. 

Let me encourage you today to open your Bible and explore its pages until you find specifically what the will of God is for your situation. If you’re going to be precise in making your requests, you need specific verses to stand on in faith! When you have focused prayers, you give God an opportunity to do something precise for you. Praying like this will give Him the glory, and it will give you a testimony that will change your life! Prayer and praise move God’s heartstrings!

PRAYER
Father God, hear our specific requests. We trust You to move the mountains in our life. I lift up my prayers to You because I know You are listening and are answering what I bring before You. Thank You ahead of time for hearing our precise prayers and answering them in your timing. Amen.

Day 19 - Personal Vision in 2020

SCRIPTURE
We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer. Proverbs 16:1 (NLT)

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
Vision is the ability to think about the future with imagination and wisdom. When it comes to developing a vision for our personal lives, many people are in one of two camps. Some have grand imaginations and big expectations for their life, but they lack the wisdom and knowhow to accomplish the vision and they become stuck. Others do not think big enough and find themselves living in the same routines, afraid to step out in faith—so they too become stuck.

The answer to both of these problems is found in the presence of the Author and the Perfecter of our faith. God is the only one who sees our fullest potential and has the ability to draw it out of us. When we spend time with Him, He not only shows us what our future could look like, He also provides the wisdom to see it fulfilled.

Use your God-given imagination now and picture what your life could begin to look like this year. What could your family look like? Your relationships? Your job? What goals do you have that need the breath or inspiration of God? After considering these questions, take them to the Lord and patiently wait on Him, so that you may discover His will for your life and gain the wisdom to see these things accomplished.

PRAYER
God, show me what You want to do with my life. Lead me to spiritual and physical places I never thought I could go and teach me how to wait on You. I surrender my personal desires to Your will and ask You to show me how to dream like You dream—to see the future through Your eyes. Give me godly vision for this year and help me to take the next step. 2020 belongs to You! Amen.

Day 18 - Personal Generosity

SCRIPTURE
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.  2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:11‬ (NIV)

THOUGHTS
We have all heard the statement, “we are blessed to be a blessing.” It is a nice saying, it looks good on the thousands of Pinterest crafts it appears on, but most importantly, it is a biblical truth. God enriches us so we can participate in intentional generosity. Being intentionally generous means to bring glory to God through the resources He has provided. Being intentional with what God gives us is the primary purpose God blesses us.

If we choose to believe scripture is true and we have been blessed to be a blessing, then we have a responsibility to be intentionally generous.

If we are not intentional, most of us will struggle with generosity. So the question we should ask ourselves in the beginning of the year is this: “How can I use what God has given me to produce thanksgiving or glory for God in 2020?” As we ask this question, we can set goals to be generous. We can focus on making a difference with what God has given us. Let’s choose to be the most generous people we can be with what God gives us this year! 

PRAYER
God, open up my eyes and help me see just how much You have provided for me. Let me see every dollar, relationship, and opportunity in my life as an enriching gift from You. Reveal to me how I can live the most generous life possible. God, I want every resource I have to be something that brings honor to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Day 17 - Personal Freedom & Deliverance

SCRIPTURE
“He brought me out into a spacious place; he delivered me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
David was discouraged and distressed. For him, it was a day of calamity, running for his life from King Saul. David was facing the military might of Israel; he had every reason to feel overwhelmed. During this difficult time, David confessed he felt surrounded by “the pangs of death” and said his adversaries were “too strong for me.” As he was confronting the “floods of ungodliness,” he became afraid. In his hour of need, David “called upon the LORD.” Then everything changed.

No matter how dark the hour or how desperate the problems David faced, the Lord was his strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, stronghold, and salvation. When he put his trust in the Lord and called upon Him for help, God would save him from his enemies. We may be facing stressful situations, such as being overwhelmed with financial burdens or physical needs. We may have difficulties in our jobs or face spiritual opposition. We may be bound by our own sin. In any situation, like David, we can turn to God in a time of need.

No matter what we face, we do not have to be discouraged, nor give in to doubt or fear. Instead, we can call on God and start declaring His promises in our lives. He is your deliverer. Allow Him to bring you victory. 

PRAYER
Lord of heaven and earth, I need You. I am desperately lost on my own. I acknowledge this truth is good and full of Your blessing; yet, I feel pressed and distressed by the worries of the world, the tactics of the enemy, and the depravity of my own soul. I need Your Spirit to fill me and Your hand to rescue me. I want to walk in freedom and wholeness. I want to be a reflection of You and an example of Your love and grace. I commit all I know of me to all I know of You! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Day 16 - My Next Step in Faith

SCRIPTURE
For I know the thoughts I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil to give you a hope in your final outcome.  Jeremiah 29:11 (AMPC)

THOUGHTS
God says He has a plan for each of us, a plan to give us hope for our futures’. God gives us dreams and visions because He can do more than what we can even imagine. If we are not thinking bigger thoughts or hoping for greater things, then we have limited the mighty God we love and serve. God has given each of us a plan. This plan is uncommon, and it is beyond whatever you could dream, think, or imagine. Faith is stepping out of your comfort zone and believing God can do it for you. Trust and faith go hand in hand. Fear and doubt hold us back. When we lose vision, enthusiasm, and have no one to encourage us to step out, we forget that the Word says faith pleases God. Why would He tell us to walk by faith and not by sight, if He was going to fail us? He never planned for us to live an undefeated life, but a life full of hope and dreams of what will come to pass. Taking a step of faith is an action; it is trusting God to meet us in the unknown.

Faith is not believing God can, it is knowing He will.

PRAYER
Father God, help us to trust You as we step forward into the promises You have for us. Let us not be paralyzed by our fears or circumstances. Remind us that faith pleases You. As we venture into the next step of our faith, thank You for Your promise of peace and plans for our welfare. Let no evil come upon us and we pray for a great final outcome. We trust You, Father God! Amen.

Day 15 - The Vision of Red Hills Church

SCRIPTURE
Where there is no vision, the people perish: But happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV)

THOUGHTS
These words from Solomon ring as true today in the 21st century as they did 3,000 years ago. God created men and women to have a spiritual vision and without vision, we perish. Unfortunately, we live in a world where there is a lot of distraction and our spiritual vision is clouded and blurred. I believe God wants to give us a fresh vision and revelation of His plan for our lives. I believe He wants to open our eyes to the full reality of His promises in Scripture.

If you’ve been following along in our 20/20 vision series, you know God’s vision for our church is for everyone is to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference. This plan is rooted in Exodus 6:6-7, where God gives four promises to Israel. But this vision is not only for Israel; it is also for the church today. God has not changed His plan for humanity. 

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I pray the vision of Red Hills Church would flourish in our church and our community. That people would come to know you, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference. Jesus, would You open up my eyes to see where I am in Your divine plan. Give me vision to see what You have for my life. I give You my life as a living sacrifice for Your kingdom. 

In the name of your great and glorious son, Jesus Christ. Amen.