Sharing the victories that take place in our churches isn’t a matter of boasting about our own efforts. When we tell stories of God answering prayers, changing lives, and providing for us in unexpected ways, we’re singing a song of praise. Let’s lift our voices together today and record some of those stories below. Please include your church name and location so we can know where your story takes place.
Also, don’t forget that we are fasting Tuesday for all the churches in our communities.
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One Prayer Daily Devotional
By
Jentezen Franklin, Senior Pastor,
Free Chapel
As we prepare to fast tomorrow for other churches in our communities, let’s take this opportunity to delve deeper into the subject.
Why do we fast?
During the years that Jesus walked this earth, He devoted time to teaching His disciples the principles of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 6, Jesus provided the pattern by which each of us is to live as a child of God. That pattern specifically addresses three duties of a Christian: Giving, Praying and Fasting. Jesus said, “When you give”… “when you pray”… “when you fast.”
He made it clear that fasting, like giving and praying, is a normal part of Christian life. Could we be missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to fast? Remember the thirty, sixty and hundredfold return that Jesus spoke of in Mark 4? Look at it this way: Prayer alone releases a thirtyfold return. When you pray and give, the sixtyfold return is released. When you give, pray and fast, I believe that is when the hundredfold return can be released!
According to the words of Jesus, it is the duty of every disciple to fast. Jesus didn’t expect His disciples to do something He didn’t practice. Jesus fasted, and according to the words of Peter, Jesus is our example in all things (1 Peter 2:21).
God delights in rewards. When you give, pray and fast, He says He will “reward you openly.” Jesus said, Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do … to be noticed by men … they have their reward in full. When you fast, … your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18).
You can learn more about fasting by here.
What have your fasting experiences during One Prayer taught you so far?
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At the heart of the One Prayer series is a spirit of unity amongst churches throughout the world. By expanding our view of the Church to include the entire body of believers across the globe, we realize that we’re partners with churches everywhere…in the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, South Africa, and beyond.
But is it somehow easier to feel unified with churches that aren’t so close to home? As tempting as it can be to see churches in the same town as our competition, we need to continually re-direct our thinking and remember that we complete each other. We do have an enemy, but it’s not the congregation down the block.
We’re going to zoom in on that perspective today and let unity and cooperation be our fasting focus as we pray for the other churches in our city. Lift them up by name and pray for their success. Ask God for opportunities to work together. Pray with anticipation and joy for the great things that God wants to do through each and every church in your community.
Let us know which churches you are fasting and praying for today by commenting below.
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Daily Devotional by Kevin Gerald
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Kevin Gerald, Pastor and Founder, Champions Centre
Really??
James 5:17-18 (NIV)Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Silence. Delayed. Abandoned. Unfair. Sometimes words like these creep into our vocabulary when we are referring to God answering our prayers. Maybe because we forget all the times before that God answered our prayers in His perfect timing or maybe you feel like there is just something different about this time that doesn’t seem right…or fair.
What do you think would happen if we actually wholeheartedly BELIEVED that God would answer our prayers? I’m convinced that when we go to God and ask, expecting to receive, we will get the right answer to our prayers. Perhaps the right answer to God is different than what the right answer would be to you and me. Or maybe our “right timing” is different than God’s because, in reality, he is never too early or too late, but always punctual.
It could be our perspective. We think of a man of God like Elijah and think, ‘well of course God answered his prayers.’ But, just as it says in this passage, Elijah was a man just like us. He asked. He believed. He received. Instead of praying with hesitancy and doubt, I want to encourage you to pray with boldness. Go to God with what you need in your life. He’ll show up right on time.
What bold prayers could you pray today? Please share your thoughts below.
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Big things can happen in small places. When it comes right down to it, your local leaders have some of the best opportunities to make a substantial difference in your daily life, whether they serve in your town, school, or neighborhood. They rarely win glory or fame, but instead work behind the scenes every day to improve our communities. So today, let’s lift them up in prayer. Ask that God would bring them encouragement, strength, and wisdom. Pray for ways to lend them a hand and consider how you can show your appreciation for their hard work.
Who are the local leaders you’re praying for today? Please include your city and state in your comments.
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One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Buddy Cremeans, Pastor, Northway Church.tv
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.
I have a repeated pattern in my life of misplacing simple things. Simple stuff like my keys, cell phone, or sometimes even my wallet! My bride calls it, “Man’s disease.” I call it, “rationalization recollection”…it sounds so much better. What is rationalization recollection? I have defined it as, “the ability to rationalize overlooking the simple so you can focus on the important.”
In this letter to the next leader of the Church, The Apostle Paul enlightens Timothy on the important for God’s Church.
• There is only ONE GOD.
• There is only ONE WAY to GOD. JESUS CHRIST.
• GOD’s heart desires for every person to be FREE from sin through CHRIST.
• Leverage your life to share THE IMPORTANT.
The important captures my heart! I want to leverage my life for the important. However, Paul makes clear that the simple is the prerequisite for the important. In other words, if the simple doesn’t happen, the important of God’s Church will never be accomplished. Think about that…what a tragedy!
I believe the Church today suffers from, “rationalization recollection.” The Church has misplaced and overlooked the simple. What is the simple? The simple is …
Prayer.
Nothing fancy about it. However, Paul says prayer is the prerequisite for God’s power. We get it backwards. We work hard for God and then ask Him to bless our work.
Imagine what would happen in the Church universal if you and I would return to focusing on the simple. What steps can you take in your life to shift your focus to the simple…prayer?
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Each Thursday during One Prayer, we’ve dedicated this space to praying for each other. Prayers have been shared from around the world…for healing, guidance, protection, salvation, and an abundance of grace.
Following the conclusion of One Prayer, we hope you’ll continue to pray for others as part of an active body of believers. Seeing the creator of the universe work miracles in the lives of those around us is more exciting than any blockbuster movie or fictional bestseller! And after years of praying for others, you’ll find yourself treasuring an amazing collection of firsthand accounts where you’ve seen God responding to needs in ways you never could have imagined.
Today, let’s take one more opportunity to pray for each other here. Let us know how we can pray for you below and then lift up some of the requests from others who’ve responded.
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Daily Devotional by Tim Lucas
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Tim Lucas, Lead Pastor, Liquid Church
Eyes Wide Shut
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Early in Church World, everyone receives 2 basic instructions about prayer:
1) Close your eyes (no peeking!)
2) Fold your hands (and keep them to yourself!)
It’s what “devoted” prayer looks like, right?
Not so much.
At least not according to the apostle Paul in Colossians 4:2.
In fact, true “devotion” means assuming the opposite posture…
Being ”watchful” …Eyes Wide Open!
And ”thankful” …Hands Extended in Gratitude!
Growing up, I thought prayer was all about concentrating reeeeeeally hard. Now that I’m an adult, I’m realizing “true prayer” is simply spending time with Abba and allowing Him to “open my eyes.”
Most of us walk through life with our eyes wide shut—oblivious to all the ways our Father is moving dynamically in our lives.
But true “prayer” OPENS OUR EYES to His presence—in the middle of a heated marital conflict…a crappy church meeting…a crisis at work—and there we echo the surprise of Jacob: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Genesis 28:16)
Who knew? God was here the whole time!
And when our eyes OPEN to God’s presence, guess what? Our hearts follow, and we become THANKFUL—brimming with gratitude that we’re not alone in this world but have Jesus by our side.
As we come together for One Prayer, are your eyes OPEN or SHUT?
Where have you seen Him recently in your life? Your relationships? Your church?
Even better: Where do you LONG to see Him at work? Please share your thoughts below.
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One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Greg Dumas, Lead Pastor, The Crossing Church
1Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. NIV
I have three children, the youngest of which just turned two and a half. I often find myself asking him, “What’s in your hand”? The question is received with a host of reactions, some of which are really funny, and some not so much. When he is caught trying to put his favorite penny in his mouth, he shrugs his shoulders and hides his hands behind his back, as if to say “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
What he doesn’t yet understand or comprehend is the fact that the question is rhetorical and I often know the answer before I ask. In other words, his hands give way to the intent of his little heart. God often asks us “what is in your hand”, or in other words, “what are you holding on to in your heart?”
Hands that are Holy and lifted up aren’t just hands that are open and on display during prayer meetings. Holy hands are considered holy because the intent of the heart is holy. Jesus used the washing metaphor with his disciples and told them to “wash their hands and feet” describing the condition of their hearts after walking around every day in a pretty dirty world.
When it’s all said and done, the only way to truly get rid of anger and disputing is to admit, by way of the Lord’s fatherly promptings, what is really in our hearts? All of us are included, denominations, churches, leaders, and church members; we are all guilty of shrugging our shoulders and deflecting the look of our Heavenly Father. Once we stop pretending, He can heal us, protect us and unite us all over the world. His goal is our unity, and our unity is for His glory, but our cooperation through humility and prayer is necessary.
Maybe we could start by simply saying, “God we have all been selfish in our ambition and in our desires, we have treated each other with contempt, and have been angry without apology, heal our hearts and knit us together, through our prayers allow us to lift up holy hands everywhere, even to the ends of the earth.”
Have you ever tried to hide your real feelings from God? What happened when you showed Him what you were holding on to in your heart?
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