Children's Pastor
New Life Church
Huntington, WV

Categories: Children’s Pastor
Denominations: Non- Denominational
Church Size: 800+
Job Type: Full-Time

About New Life:
New Life Church is an established, growing, non-denominational church that is Christ-centered, Bible-believing, Spirit-filled church, reaching the lost and unchurched in a relevant life giving way.

Job Description:
At New Life Church we are dedicated to cultivating an environment where children can grow in their faith, discover God's love, and develop a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. As a cornerstone of our ministry, the Children's Pastor plays a pivotal role in guiding our youngest members on their spiritual journey. This position requires a vibrant, compassionate, and dedicated individual who possesses a deep understanding of children's spiritual, emotional, and social needs. Our ideal candidate will be a dynamic communicator with a passion for teaching, a flair for creativity, and a heart to serve both children and their families. They will oversee our children’s programs, ensuring they are engaging, educational, and spiritually nurturing. Additionally, the Children's Pastor will collaborate with our pastoral team, volunteers, and parents to create a cohesive and supportive community. This role is more than just a job; it is a calling to make a lasting impact on the next generation. We invite you to explore this job description to understand the responsibilities, qualifications, and opportunities that come with this vital ministry position. Together, let us inspire, instruct, and invest in the faith journeys of our children, helping them to shine brightly in their walk with God.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement age-appropriate biblical curriculum                                    
• Lead Sunday classes and children's church services                                
• Organize and oversee special events such as Kids Camp, holiday programs, and family activities                            
• Provide pastoral care and support to children and their families                                    
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteers for the children's ministry                                
• Ensure the safety and security of children during church activities                                    
• Collaborate with other pastoral staff to ensure alignment of children's ministry with overall church vision                                  
• Maintain communication with parents and keep them informed about their children's spiritual progress                          
• Prepare and manage the budget for the children's ministry                                
• Stay updated with the latest resources and best practices in children's ministry
• Fulfill essential pastoral needs, including but not limited to, weekend pastoral duties, event assignments, weddings and funerals, etc.
• While the primary function of this position is the kid’s ministry. This position will have other regular duties necessary to fulfilling the broader vision of New Life Church.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Education, or a related field preferred; equivalent ministry experience will be taken into consideration.                                                                                                                    
• Previous experience working with children in a church or educational setting                                    
• Strong knowledge of biblical teachings and ability to communicate them effectively to children                                    
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills                                    
• Ability to work collaboratively with church staff and volunteers                                    
• Creative and innovative approach to ministry                                    
• Caring and compassionate demeanor                                                                                                  
• Ability to lead, motivate, and inspire children and volunteers                                    
• Knowledge of child development and age-appropriate teaching methods                                    
• Commitment to the mission and vision of New Life Church                                    
• Passion for working with children and helping them grow in their faith                                  
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously

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Download the Easter Mini Study

New Life Church Family,

Thank you for making Super Vision Sunday so wonderful and leaning in as we shared where we believe God is leading us next. The initial feedback has been excellent. I want to follow up with a simple recap so we can move forward together with excitement.

First, we will continue to emphasize spiritual depth. Our discipleship model continues to be Gatherings, Community, and now a new area called Courses. Weekend services inspire us. Community groups connect us. Courses will ground us in biblical foundations and deeper teaching. Courses will officially launch in March, and we’re excited about what that will mean for spiritual growth across our church.

Second, we are launching a new young adult ministry called The Upper Room. This will focus on college students and 20-somethings and will meet on Sunday nights beginning next month. We believe investing intentionally in the next generation is vital for the future of our church and our region.

Third, we are preparing to multiply. In 2027, we will launch our first church campus, heading north into Ohio. This is a big step of faith and an important next step as we continue to grow. Healthy things grow!

To support this growth, we are beginning a three-phase facility plan. Phase 1 will focus on exterior updates. Phase 2 will address parking lot improvements. Phase 3 will include a new two-story addition. We will also invest in updates to our recreation center, including the kitchen and overall facility improvements. These updates position us for the future and help us steward what God has already given us.

Finally, we are close to launching Rosa’s Room during the 9am service. This new sensory space is designed to serve families with children who have special needs. We want every family to feel seen, supported, and welcomed here.

Here’s what you can do right now:
Pray. Ask God where He wants you to engage in this next season.
Promote. This vision becomes reality as each of us says yes to our part.
Participate. Take a next step. Join a Course when they launch. Invite a young adult to The Upper Room. Get connected in Community if you’re not already.

Look Ahead - Take Action - Trust God - Build!

This season is about building depth, reaching the next generation, and preparing for multiplication. Thank you for being part of what God is doing. The best days are ahead, and we move forward together.

With gratitude,
Pastor Josh & Megan

Praying the Psalms - Guide

1. Choose a Psalm

• Start with ones that are easy to pray:
  • Praise → Psalm 100, 103, 145
  • Lament/Struggle → Psalm 13, 42, 51
  • Trust → Psalm 23, 27, 91
    
    

2. Read Slowly

• Read a verse or two out loud.
• Let the words settle, take your time.

3. Turn the Words into Prayer

• Make the psalmist’s words your own words.
• Example:
  • Psalm 23:1 — “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
  • Prayer: “Lord, thank You for being my shepherd. Provide for me today, and calm my fears about the future.”

4. Insert Your Life Into the Psalm

• If the Psalm speaks of enemies, you might pray about challenges, temptations, or fears.
• If it praises God’s creation, you might thank Him for specific blessings in your life.

5. Pause and Listen

• After praying through a section, take a moment of silence.
• Ask: “God, what are You showing me here?”

6. Close in Worship or Surrender

• End by praising God, asking for strength, or simply resting in His presence.

Example With Psalm 27:1

• Verse: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
• Prayer: “God, You are my light in dark places. Drive out fear in my heart about [specific situation]. Remind me that You are my salvation.”

One Week Prayer Plan with Psalms

Day 1 – God as Shepherd

Psalm 23
•Theme: Trust and provision
•Prayer Prompt: “Lord, thank You for being my Shepherd. Guide me today, calm my fears, and help me rest in Your care.”

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Day 2 – Forgiveness and Renewal

Psalm 51
•Theme: Repentance
•Prayer Prompt: “Search my heart, God. Cleanse me from sin and renew a right spirit within me. Help me walk in holiness.”

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Day 3 – God as Refuge

Psalm 46
•Theme: Strength and safety in chaos
•Prayer Prompt: “You are my refuge and strength, a present help in trouble. Teach me to be still and know You are God.”

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Day 4 – Lament and Hope

Psalm 13
•Theme: Honest prayer in struggle
•Prayer Prompt: “How long, O Lord? I bring You my disappointments and struggles, but I will trust in Your unfailing love.”

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Day 5 – Praise and Majesty

Psalm 100
•Theme: Joyful worship
•Prayer Prompt: “I enter Your gates with thanksgiving. Thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness that never end.”

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Day 6 – God’s Word as Guide

Psalm 119:9–16 (or any section)
•Theme: Loving God’s Word
•Prayer Prompt: “Open my eyes to Your Word today. Help me treasure it in my heart and walk in obedience.”

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Day 7 – Thanksgiving for God’s Blessings

Psalm 103
•Theme: Gratitude
•Prayer Prompt: “Bless the Lord, O my soul. Thank You for forgiving my sins, healing me, and crowning me with steadfast love.”

Be a blessing to a child in Haiti this Christmas. Your gift may be the only gift they receive all year! Our goal is 500 boxes to bless each child in Droulliard, one of the many schools we support through International Missions Outreach in Haiti.

Here's how you can be a blessing:

Suggested Items to Fill Your Box

Required Items:
Soap (mild fragrance in zip-lock bag)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Scissors
Pens / Pencils
Crayons
Glue (In zip-lock bag)

More items to fill your box:
Jump rope, Sunglasses, Jacks, Puzzles, Socks, Lego's, Chalk, Jewelry, Scotch Tape, Ruler, Soccer Balls (deflated), Slinky, Solar Calculators, Hats, Yo-Yo, Marbles, Combs, Paper, Erasers, Trucks, Small Toys, Stickers, Candy (non-melting, no chocolate), Cars, Watercolor Paint Set, Wrist Watch, Dolls, Pump for balls, Sewing Kit, Stuffed Animal, Fabric, Flash Cards, Body Lotion, Deodorant, Body Powder.

No characters or toys with horns, no war toys and no breakable items. Also no Jolly Rancher Candy.

My children have PEACE: "All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:13.

My children will do great exploits: "The people who know their God shall be STRONG, and carry out great exploits." Daniel 11:32.

Prodigals will return: "There is hope in your future, says the LORD that your children shall come back to their own border." Jeremiah 31:17.

My seed are MIGHTY on this earth: "His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed." Psalm 112:2.

My children are BLESSED!: "For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessings on your offspring." Isaiah 44:3.

Wealth and riches are in their house: "Wealth and riches will be in their house, and his righteousness endures forever." Psalm 112:3.

My children will INCREASE more and more: "May the LORD give you increase more and more, you and your children." Psalm 115:14.

No weapon formed against them will prosper: "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall con­demn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me, says the LORD." Isaiah 54:17.

My children will be thankful and joyful: "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." Psalm 95:2.

My children live with purpose and won't be lost: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6.

My children are a blessing, not a curse!: "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

My children are wonderfully made: "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul KNOWS very well." Psalm 139:14.

My children will know right from wrong, and have a long life: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be will with you and you may live long on the
earth." Ephesians 6:1-3.

I Peter 2:24 By his stripes I was healed. Isaiah 53:5 By his stripes I am healed. Psalm 103:3 He forgives all my sin and He heals all my disease. Exodus 15:26 He is the Lord my Healer. Psalm 118:17 | will not die, but I will live and declare the works of the Lord. Psalm 107:20 He sent his word and healed me and delivered me... Proverbs 4:22 His word is life and health to all my flesh. Psalm 91:10, 16 No plague comes near my dwelling. With long life, He satisfies me and shows me His salvation. Jeremiah 30:17 He restores my health and heals my wounds. Romans 8:11 The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is quickening my mortal body... I am strong and healthy doing the will of God. I live in divine health. I am the healed of the Lord.

I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. I am separated to the Gospel of God. I am delivered from every evil word and work. I am free to be everything God wants me to be. I am complete in Christ. Christ is living in me, moving through me, and strengthening me daily. I am forgiven for every sin. I am the head and not the tail. I am above only and not beneath. I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. I am chosen. I am holy and blameless. I am predestined to succeed. I am accepted in the beloved. I am redeemed from every curse. I have an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and reserved in heaven for me. I am born of God. I am sealed with the Holy Spirit. I am a citizen of heaven. I am washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of The Lord Jesus. I am a child of God. The greater one indwells me. I am victorious through Christ who strengthens me. Christ lives in me. I am more than a conqueror through Him who died for me. I am a new creation in Christ.

I am blessed and highly favored of the Lord. I am blessed in my body and my mind. I know what to do and how to do it. I have the mind of Christ. I have plenty of money. I have no lack in any area of my life. I have everything I need to do everything God has called me to do. My children are blessed. My church is blessed.  My home is blessed.  My investments are blessed.  All of the works of my hands are blessed. I lend and I do not borrow.

My God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory. I am prospering financially and physically as my soul prospers. God delights in my prosperity, I do not want. I am a giver. I give to every good work. I abound in the grace of giving. I am reaping an abundant harvest. The blessing of the Lord overtakes me and makes me rich. I have an abundant supply. I have all sufficiency in all things and I abound to every good work. I live under an open heaven. God is my provider in every area of my life. I have so much blessing I don't have room to contain it.

My storehouses are blessed. I have so much abundance I am an advertisement for how God treats his children. Blessing overtakes me everywhere I go. Wealth and riches are in my house. The Lord is my help and my shield. The Lord increases me more and more, me and my children. There is much treasure in my house. I am blessed by the Lord the possessor of heaven and earth.

I am increasing daily in my knowledge of the Lord and His blessing is continually overtaking me. Thank God I am blessed of the Lord and I am not cursed. Everything I do prospers.

We have a great opportunity to BE THE CHURCH and help a community that has suffered unimaginable losses do to the recent flooding from Hurricane Helene.

We are accepting donations of the following items:

Water
Sports Drinks
Non-perishable food
Baby Supplies
Hand Sanitizer | Wipes
Trash Bags
Rubber Boots
Work Gloves
Paper Towels
Flashlights
Batteries
Toiletries
Pet Food
Tools and Tool Kids
Large Boxes

Please bring these items to New Life Church by Thursday, October 3. It’s a short notice, so please do what you can.

We are taking these donations to New Covenant Church in Clyde, NC who will help distribute donated items to families in need.

You can also give financially at nlcwv.com/give and all donations will go towards disaster relief and recovery.

Marriage is a beautiful and fulfilling relationship that requires commitment, love, and sacrifice. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a strong marriage, incorporating specific principles and practices can help you create a lasting and healthy relationship. If you are looking to build upon the foundation of your marriage, consider these seven key ways to building a strong and fulfilling relationship:

1. Put God first. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Prioritizing God in your marriage means seeking his wisdom and will in all things. When you take the time to pray together, study the Bible together, and be a part of a church community together, you will grow your partnership with God, with others, and with one another.
   
   
2. Love one another sacrificially. Loving your spouse sacrificially involves putting your partner's needs above your own. As the apostle Paul reminds in 1 Corinthians 16:14, “And do everything with love.” This means being there for your spouse through all of life’s ups and downs, supporting them in every way possible, and showing them that they are loved and valued. By prioritizing their needs and making them feel cherished, you can build a deep, lasting connection that will stand the test of time.
   
   
3. Practice forgiveness. In Colossians 3:13, Paul says, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Forgiveness is essential in any marriage - it means that along the life-long journey, either one will need to forgive and will need to be forgiven. Having a practice of forgiveness will help you release anger, resentment, and bitterness that lingers between you and promote healing, thriving, and remembering what it means to be forgiven by Jesus.
   
   
4. Communicate openly and honestly. Communication is key - no really, it is! As it is written in Ephesians 4:29, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." It’ll maybe be the most important, daily lesson you and your spouse learn and work on - how to communicate with one another, what wise and loving speech is, how to foster honesty and vulnerability in a safe space.
   
   
5. Serve one another. In Galatians 5:13, Paul says, “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Serving one another is kind intention and intentional thought turned into loving action towards, for, and with one another. What does this look like? Come up with ideas not of “how can my spouse serve me” but “how can I serve my spouse?”
   
   
6. Keep the love alive. In the Song of Solomon, we see the beauty and passion of a loving relationship between a man and a woman. Cultivating love in your marriage reminds you and your spouse of the affection you share. Small gestures like surprise date nights or leaving sweet notes around the house can help keep the spark alive. Be creative, be curious, and find ways to foster enjoyment of one another’s company.
   
   
7. Seek wise counsel. In Proverbs 15:22, Solomon writes, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Marriage in isolation is only so strong. God is always inviting you to find the support that comes with seeking wisdom from him and support from his people. Whether it’s a healthy community group, a marriage mentor, or a trusted Christian counselor, there are so many ways to walk in a wise community not only during challenging times, but in every season.
   
   

Building a strong marriage requires commitment, endures challenge, and experiences joy. While these seven key ways to building a strong marriage are the building blocks to help you stand the test of time, it’s uncovering the uniqueness of your marriage that will help you and your spouse discover what works for you.

What a tremendous vision Sunday at New Life Church! We are excited to REACH IN, REACH OUT and REACH UP in 2024! Below is a recap of the vision for New Life that Pastor Josh shared, which includes the contact information for you to connect.

REACH IN - Beginning in March we will launch Hot Topics Nights. Pastor Josh shared that these nights will cover social, theological and cultural issues and allow us to have open, honest conversations. This will be a registered event that will be announced soon.

We are also launching Family Nights. A family night is an opportunity for fellowship within the church community that will include picnics, game nights, gym nights and movie nights. We will be sharing more about this soon.

The Brotherhood Men's Ministry - is Relaunching in February! We are excited to BUILD, EQUIP and ENCOURAGE men to rise up in Christ! Our first event will be Thursday, February 22. Join The Brotherhood text group by texting keyword "brotherhood" to 833-304-2595.

Made for More Women's Ministry - It was announced that Jill Pate is stepping into the new Pastor of Women's Ministry and leading Made for More. The first Made for More event takes place February 2 and ladies can register here. Join the Made for More text group by texting keyword "MfM" to 833-304-2595.

REACH OUT - Evangelism. We have a renewed passion to witness! This year we will teach an entire series focused on teaching you how to be an effective witness. Community Outreach. We are partnering with local organizations, including the Huntington City Mission, to show the love of God to our local community in greater ways! We will share more details about this partnership soon. Missions. New Life is a strong supporter of missions around the world. We will continue to increase our missions support with a special focus this year on human trafficking.

REACH UP - Growth Track. Beginning in March, Growth Track will be offered both in-person on Sunday as well as online. Registration will open for online Growth Track in February.

Leadership Initiative. If you have completed Growth Track, you are qualified to join the new leaders initiative. The leaders initiative is a new program to help identify, equip, grow and build leadership at New Life Church. It will include a monthly communication that is either in-person or online. Pastor Josh will personally oversee this ministry. If you have completed Growth Track and you're a Covenant Member, and you would like to join this text group, please text keyword "Leader" to 833-304-2595.

In addition to what is shared above, Pastor Josh also introduced "Legacy Elders" which will honor elders who have previously served at New Life Church. A memorial plaque is being designed that will honor Elders who have passed away. We will honor and remember our past as we push forward to the future.

It's an exciting time to be a part of New Life Church! The vision is clear and God is moving!

Over these past 21 days of Prayer and Fasting, we have set aside some things in order to fill our lives with something better. It is not possible to spend time seeking the Lord, asking Him to send revival, and something not happen, because God is faithful, and His Word promises that He responds to the prayers of His people.

The prophet Joel records a promise of what was to come for God’s people:
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth.” Joel 2:28-30a

He goes on to say in verse 32, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The book of Acts records what happened in the upper room as people were fervently calling on God. In Acts 2, Peter addresses a crowd and quotes the prophetic words of Joel declaring its fulfillment as the Spirit was being poured out on people.

This powerful promise from Scripture is available to every believer today. How encouraging to know that the God of the universe want to use us in such a dynamic way! His desire is to speak through us that His presence might be displayed to those around us.

Notice this happens as the Spirit is poured out. One of the most powerful prayers we can pray is for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our lives, in our cities, on our nation, and throughout the world. God’s desire is always to answer that prayer, but it begins with His people crying out for more!

Charles Finney says this about revival:
“A revival may be expected when Christians have a spirit of prayer for a revival. That is, when they pray as if their hearts were set upon it. When Christians have the spirit of prayer for a revival.

When they go about groaning out their hearts desire. When they have real travail of soul.”
Finney says a revival may be expected as we desperately call on God. As we have committed ourselves to prayer and fasting these past 21 days, God has moved and is moving and responding to our prayers, and we can believe with all of our hearts that revival is upon us!

Scriptures
Joel 2:28-30 (ESV)
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.

Joel 2:32 (ESV)
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

A recent study was conducted by a car insurance company revealing that the average person drives over 250 extra miles every year due to being lost. This is primarily the result of being too stubborn to ask for help and instead, attempting to figure out the way ourselves. The reality is when we refuse to ask for help, 10 miles in the wrong direction results in a 20-mile misstep once we backtrack and return to the right route. Not only can we get lost while on a journey physically, but the truth is we can often be unsure where we are to go spiritually. Whether it is navigating problems in life, needing wisdom in a situation, or activating our faith to believe God for more, if we are not careful, we can find ourselves stubbornly depending on our own strength and limited knowledge instead of asking for guidance.

In Mark 9:14-29 we find the disciples in a similar situation. Jesus had sent the disciples with His authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, and preach the message of repentance. The disciples were successful at the outset of their mission but then encounter a demon they are unable to remove from its control on a young boy. They had commanded demons to leave before, so why was this child different?

The disciples did not lack the authority; the object of their dependence had shifted. They began to operate in their own limited power instead of God’s supernatural power. An increase of God’s power, His presence, and His authority in our lives is not a one-and-done event. It is a daily filling. Each day we need to stop and ask for supernatural direction from God and be re-filled with His presence.

One of the primary benefits of fasting and prayer is that it increases our dependence on God. It boosts our faith to believe that anything is possible and gives us the power to activate the authority that God has promised us. Be encouraged that God’s empowering presence is available to you and He is able to overcome any situation when we depend on Him!

Scriptures
Mark 6:6b-13 (NLT)
Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.

“Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.

Mark 9:14-29 (NLT)
When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.

“What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.

One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”

Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”

If you want to learn a specific skill or ability, it is important who you talk to and learn from. If you want to become a better communicator, talk to great communicators and study their habits. If you want to lead more effectively, read the books of leaders you admire and listen to their wisdom. If you want to become a better father or mother, look to others who have parented well for years ahead of you. Who we look to for our example is a critical component to what we can learn and who we become. This is true spiritually. When it comes to walking close to the Lord, Jesus’ life on earth sets the perfect model for us.

Following Jesus’ baptism, something very interesting happens – Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. This leading was not just a gentle suggestion of where He should go next. Mark’s gospel says the Spirit compelled Him to go. The Greek word for compel means to send out with force. What was so urgent that Jesus would need to spend the next forty days praying and fasting in the wilderness? We often flee places that look like the wilderness, but what we see in this story is not only that the wilderness is a part of God’s plan, but a part of His preparation for the season to come.

It was in the wilderness that Jesus was able to escape the distractions and set His attention fully on His Father. It was in the wilderness where He found Himself completely dependent upon God. And although God the Father was with Him, the enemy showed up too. Satan arrived and began testing Jesus, attempting to once again subvert worship from the Father to himself. Jesus responded quickly and strategically with the Scripture that he had hidden in his heart.

After forty days spent in the wilderness praying and fasting, Luke includes a critical piece of information, “Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.”

Prior to entering the wilderness Luke says Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, but now he says Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus left the wilderness different than when He walked in. And, the Spirit’s power would be essential for the ministry Jesus would engage in. Therefore, even when it did not feel like it, the wilderness was a time of blessing as it prepared Jesus for what He would soon come to accomplish.

The beauty found in a wilderness season and times of prayer and fasting is that we leave differently than when we came. We leave with more of the Holy Spirit’s power.

God’s desire for every person is that through this time of fasting we leave with more of His presence and more of His power, not for ourselves, but for the people He wants us to reach in the days ahead.

The power Jesus gained from that wilderness experience led to teaching God’s Word with boldness, healing the sick, setting captives free, giving hope to the hopeless, making the lame walk, restoring the sight of the blind, and so much more. God’s will is that we too would walk in a boldness that comes from being in His presence and that out of this time of prayer and fasting we would be filled with the Holy Spirit’s power!

Scriptures
Luke 4:1-14 (NLT)
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.

Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.
And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.

Mark 1:12 (NLT)
The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness,

It is absolutely stunning to think about all that God has done for us! His goodness, patience, sacrifice, forgiveness, generosity, and promise of heaven are just a few of the things that are a part of His kindness to His children. Yet behind all He has given, there is an underlying reality we must understand first and foremost. We find this truth in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…”  Everything God does is motivated by His love for people.

One of the most shocking stories of God’s extraordinary love is found in the book of Jonah. God instructs Jonah to go and preach to the large city of Nineveh. The people of this city were far from God and were involved in all kinds of evil practices. The evil had increased greatly, and now God’s judgment was coming. But we soon find out from this story that God’s loving grace always provides a way out, a second chance. After disobeying God’s original direction and heading in the opposite direction of Nineveh, Jonah is thrown overboard into the sea, swallowed and in the belly of a fish for three days, and then spat onto dry ground. It is then that Jonah chooses to obey and travels to Nineveh to proclaim God’s Word to the city.

The response of the people is astounding. Jonah 3:5-9 tells us: The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

This is truly a shocking response – the people of Nineveh, all the way up to the king, listened to Jonah and began praying and fasting for forgiveness. This is true repentance that launched a city into a full revival! And as a result, the Lord honored their response and spared the city.

Never discount how one person’s obedience can lead to God’s power sweeping over an entire city to lead the people to repentance and into revival! It is God’s extraordinary love that drives His desire for all people to be saved. Regardless of how far gone a person, a city, a nation, or the world can seem from God – a revival can spark in a moment when the Lord is in it. He uses our obedience and love for people to proclaim His truth that invades the darkness, that we might see our cities turn to Jesus!

What is God asking you to do today? How does God want to increase your love for the lost around you? Your obedience today will lead to seeing God do more than you can begin to imagine in the days to come.

Scriptures
John 3:16-17 (ESV)
 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 John 4:7-9 (NIV)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Jonah 3:5-9
The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

Have you ever heard something that you thought was absolutely impossible? Maybe it was a story on the news of a heroic rescue from a near tragedy or the unimaginable survival of an individual during a dangerous situation. Through this season of prayer and fasting you have heard testimonies of God moving in supernatural ways and you have thought it sounded impossible, even unbelievable.

In Luke 1, we read about the moment Mary, as an unmarried virgin, receives news from an angel that she would bear and give birth to the Son of God. Talk about hearing something that sounded impossible! Unsurprisingly, her initial reaction would be like ours today, “How can this be?” A legitimate question! And in short response, this messenger of God answers, “…nothing will be impossible with God.”

Mary chose to believe God despite what her mind knew to be possible, and it set the stage for the greatest event in history. The reality is that God wants us to believe Him for the impossible because by working supernaturally in our lives He sets the stage to show His power and glory to a watching world.

God will often speak things to our hearts that our minds cannot yet comprehend. Mary did not know how everything would take place; she simply knew it would work out because nothing is impossible with God. Mary did not feel worthy of such a calling, but God is more interested in using people who are willing than those who feel worthy.

First, we need a willingness to hear God speak. Prayer and fasting is an opportunity for us to hear God more clearly. The question is never “Is God speaking?” but always, “What is He saying?” Secondly, we need a willingness to obey what God says. When God speaks to us about what He wants to do, He rarely, if ever, provides the complete plan, but often only gives us the next step. It is our responsibility to take that step He has provided. This is the path to living a life sensing and seeing God work powerfully.

Let’s pray today for God to speak big things into our lives and for faith to believe and obey whatever it is He calls us to. May our response to what the Lord speaks be the same as Mary’s, despite her lack of understanding, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Scriptures
Luke 1:35-38 (NLT)
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Yesterday, we looked at the story of Caleb in the Old Testament. There is another fascinating story about Caleb found in two separate places in the Bible, both in Joshua 15:13-19 and Judges 1:9-15. In this story we find Caleb at the latter part of his life where he has just received his portion of the Promised Land from Joshua. His daughter, Acsah, has just married one of the mighty warriors of Israel, Othniel – a man of integrity and honor. In this story, Acsah wants Othniel to ask her father for a field. But after they have been given the land, Acsah decides to ask for even more.

Joshua 15:18-19 says, “When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, ‘What’s the matter?’ She said, ‘Give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.’ So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.”

In those days, fields and springs would have been incredibly valuable property which would ensure great wealth for whoever owned it. This was a BIG gift she was asking for!

On the surface, it could look like Acsah is simply asking for more land, but the reality is she understood something very important about her father’s nature. Acsah knew that she had a good father who desired to give her good things. She recognized that she was incredibly blessed, but also knew that her father would be happy to bless her with even more.

When it comes to prayer, this is the same posture we should have with God. God is our perfect heavenly Father who desires to give good gifts to His children. We can have a confidence that as we go to Him in prayer, He is not bothered when we ask for more…He is excited about it!
What is amazing about this story is that Caleb not only gave her the field, but gladly provided her with an upper spring and a lower spring! Acsah got a great husband, a field, AND two springs – double what she asked for!

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

We can approach God with confidence because we know God loves to provide generously for His people. As we continue to seek God during this fast, let’s pray and ask God for more! Let us realign our perspective about God to realize that He is a good God and He desires to pour out His blessing in abundance.

Scriptures
Joshua 15:13-19 (NLT)
The Lord commanded Joshua to assign some of Judah’s territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor. Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak.

From there he went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.

When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”

She said, “Give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:11 (NLT)
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

James 1:17 (NLT)
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

There are currently right at 8 billion people in the world today – each created by God with their own unique set of DNA which holds the information that makes each person individually unique. Just a single gram of DNA can hold up to 455 exabytes of data! And even more mind blowing, if you were to stretch out all of just one person’s DNA, the length of it would be about twice the diameter of our solar system! God has created each person completely different from another, but all with the same ability to know and respond to their Creator. Although our DNA is responsible for so much of our lives, the reality is we have been given a free will and the ability to respond and pursue God wholeheartedly.

There is a story in the Old Testament about a man named Caleb, who served under Moses’ leadership. Scripture records something very interesting about what God saw in Caleb. After twelve spies were sent into the Promised Land to survey the new land and gather a report for Israel, ten of the twelve spies returned with a negative report. Only Joshua and Caleb believed God could bring them victoriously into the land and spoke with faith to the people. Numbers 14:24 records for us God’s response to Caleb’s wholehearted commitment to him:

“But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”

Caleb had the same amount of DNA as each of the other spies, but what set him apart was a different spirit. That different spirit led to a different response from God. Where most of the spies saw only opposition, Caleb saw opportunity. This kind of spirit is not automatic but is forged in the personal pursuit of the presence of God. The confidence Caleb displayed was the result of His commitment to being with the Lord.

A holy confidence and faith come to those who seek the Lord with all of their heart. This is why Jesus tells us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The result will be an ability to believe God will come through even when others can’t see a way. Prayer and fasting conditions our hearts to both hear from God and then respond with an increased level of faith to believe.

So, when God’s people experience trials, they don’t simply see the challenges in front of them, but they face those challenges differently. They see possibility beyond their problems, opportunity instead of just obstacles. They approach life and its circumstances with a different spirit.

What area of your life do you need to approach with a different spirit? Pray that God would allow you see beyond the physical problem and into the spiritual reality so you can watch Him bring the supernatural outcome He desires.

Scriptures
Numbers 13 (NLT)
The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

So at the Lord’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. These are their names:
from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;
from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;
from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;
from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;
from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;
from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;
from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;
from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;
from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;
from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;
from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.
These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)

When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Numbers 14:24 (ESV)
But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Luke 10:25-28 (NLT)
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

The pages of Scripture are filled with the miraculous. God used men and women to demonstrate His wonder-working power – people like Moses who parted the Red Sea, Joshua who prayed that the sun would stand still, Elijah called down fire from Heaven, Peter’s shadow healed people, and Paul raised the dead! Then there is Jesus, who did more miracles than could ever be recorded according to John 21:25.

All of these stories of miraculous intervention are designed to build our faith; that the same God who has worked in days past, will continue to work powerfully today through His people. In fact, Jesus stated exactly what is possible for those who follow Him. John 14:12-14 says this, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! “

That is an amazing promise! Jesus promises that not only will we do the same works He had done, but ever greater works. Then He points to the critical purpose of Him doing these greater works through us – that we might bring glory to the Father. Miracles taking place around us and through us have everything to do with pointing people to the Father, to bring Him glory.

Jesus then provides another promise, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:15-17

Jesus already gave us the source of power that will result in supernatural miracles – the Holy Spirit who resides in us. He is our advocate. As we ask God to do the miraculous through us, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that makes it a reality.

We stand with faith on what Jesus said. The same God who parted the Red Sea is the same God who desires to work miracles through our lives today. The same God who made the sun stand still, who brought fire from heaven, who made the lame walk, and the dead come back to life lives in us. And not only can God do for us what He did for them, He promised to do more!

As we set ourselves to fast and pray for revival in our world, we can be confident that not only is He going to send us into the world to do miracles like we see on the pages of Scripture, but even greater things!

Scriptures
John 21:25 (NLT)
Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

John 14:12-17 (NLT)
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

We serve a God who always desires to do more. One of the results of prayer and fasting is an awakened desire within us to experience more of God’s love and power, both in our own lives and in the lives of those around us – the people we know personally, but also those in the neighborhoods and cities where we live. This is what we are praying for as a church – revival to sweep across our land. We are asking to see more!

In Ephesians 3:20, the Apostle Paul writes one of the most compelling and inspiring verses to stir our expectation of what God wants to do through us, “Now all glory to God who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

That is a massive statement. Paul calls us to imagine all God could accomplish through us – now multiply that by infinity, and that is the expectation we should live with every single day. It is that kind of faith and expectation that causes us to believe God for big things. We can pray for revival to cover our land because we know that is not only the heart of God, but also because we know He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or even think!

And notice how Paul says God will accomplish this – through His mighty power at work within us. God’s desire is to do amazing things through all of us! Revival begins with us.  Each of us personally desiring and asking for God for more. Then through His power working within us, He uses us to change the world around us.

Today, let’s pray big prayers. Pray that God would accomplish infinitely more than we can ask or imagine in our own lives, in our families, and in our church!

Scriptures
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

We live in a fast-food, microwave driven society. We want things easier, quicker, and less expensive. This message pervades today’s marketing efforts through commercials and online advertising. And while there is nothing inherently wrong about wanting things faster and cheaper, if we aren’t careful, we can allow that spirit to leak into our spiritual lives which can have devastating effects. God does not work on the premise of faster and cheaper;  it’s often the opposite – mostly, He works on timetables that don’t line up with our human understanding and He rarely takes the path of least resistance when working out His divine solutions.

In Genesis 25, we read a powerful story that relates directly to this very issue. Eldest son Esau came home famished from hunting. His brother Jacob was conspiring with their mother to take advantage of Esau’s weakened position, knowing he would come in exhausted and desire a quick solution. As you would expect, Esau asked for some of the food and Jacob saw his opportunity. He offered a trade – he would give Esau his stew if Esau gave Jacob his birthright (A birthright was the right to the inheritance and spiritual leadership of the family). This was a major, one-way advantage trade. You would think Esau would never consider such a trade, but exhaustion and short-cut thinking can cause you to make very poor decisions.

Esau accepted the deal. It seems absurd that Esau would sacrifice something so valuable for something so small, but the truth is, it happens to all of us. We can find ourselves settling for less for the sake of satisfying short-term appetites. There is no short-cut to daily living in God’s blessing and promise in our life. Growing in our relationship with Him and experiencing His best never happens in a microwave, it happens through our daily consistent walk and pursuit of knowing Him more.

That is why the writer of Hebrews says, “Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite.” Hebrews 12:16 MSG

God did not take the short-cut in bringing about our salvation. He provided the ultimate sacrifice for our sin – His own Son. God is not interested in the easy way out, but the best way through.

In his book, A Hunger for God, John Piper writes, “God rewards fasting because fasting expresses the cry of the heart that nothing on the earth can satisfy our souls besides God. God must reward this cry because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

You can be sure God will respond to your fasting – because like Piper writes, you are demonstrating your heart’s cry and God loves to reward those who diligently seek him!

Scriptures
Genesis 25:19-34 (ESV)
These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Hebrews 12:16 (MSG)
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Studies consistently demonstrate that some of the happiest people on earth are those who excel in showing gratitude. The more a person is thankful and can show their gratefulness to others, the happier they become! Throughout Scripture, we see this truth as more than a result in a scientific study; it is in the very fabric of who God created and desires us to be. Psalm 100:4 calls us to, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

One of the keys to prayer and fasting is gratitude. Before we ask God for a single thing, we should start by thanking Him for what He has already done! Psalm 143:5 says, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”

Looking back at what God has done in our lives serves as a powerful practice as we remind ourselves of all the ways God has been faithful. What are a few things you need to thank God for today? Ways He has provided, healed, restored, or helped you through a situation when you did not know what would happen. Times when He has protected and sustained you in circumstances that you know you could not get through on your own. Or, simply acknowledging His overwhelming goodness to you, your family, and friends in the simple everyday things that we so often overlook.

When we enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving and gratitude, we bring honor and glory to the Lord while simultaneously building our faith and confidence that if He did it in the past, He will do it again!

Scriptures
Psalm 100:4 (ESV)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 107:1 (ESV)
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 143:5 (ESV)
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.

Psalm 77:11 (NLT)
But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

There is nothing quite like going to a large family gathering or family reunion. You get together and reconnect with cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family members that you may not have seen for years. There is also the occasional moment of not knowing who certain individuals are, but you still know that they are family. No matter who is there, you know that because of relationship or bloodline each person is family – gathered from different locations, with different physical traits, different names – yet all part of the same family.

The same can be said for your spiritual life. Because of relationship through Jesus, each and every believer is grafted into the amazing family of God. Romans 8:14 puts it like this, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

What an amazing reminder! When we surrender our lives to Christ, it’s as if God says, “Welcome to the Family!” and His Spirit comes to live in us and unite us with the body of Christ.
This family we are part of, just like your physical family, is filled with different personalities, perspectives, and giftings, but what we all have in common is the fact that we are all led by the same Spirit. The Spirit who is at work in us and through us to do more through us united than we could ever accomplish on our own.

As you continue in this fast, pray that your hunger to be led by the Holy Spirit outpaces your physical appetite. Be reminded today that many others in your spiritual family – your brothers and sisters in Christ – are right there with you, desiring and pursuing the same. As we are seeking God together, He is going to work powerfully in our lives and in His church to change the world around us!

Take some time today in your fasting and prayer to remember those that are a part of your spiritual family. Let them know that you are praying for them and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in what to pray for them.

Scriptures
Romans 8:14 (ESV)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV)
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

John 1:12 (ESV)
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,