THE 21-DAY
PRAYER DEVOTIONAL
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
DAY 1 - NEW DAY
DAY 4 - SAN FRANCISCO
DAY 7 - EAST BAY
DAY 10 - GENERATION Z
DAY 13 - CHURCHES
DAY 16 - ADDICTION
DAY 19 - REVIVAL
DAY 2 - CONSECRATION
DAY 5 - PENNENSULA
DAY 8 - SOUTH BAY
DAY 11 - SCHOOLS
DAY 14 - HOMES
DAY 17 - RACISCM
DAY 20 - RENEWAL
DAY 3 - OPEN HEARTS
DAY 6 - NORTH BAY
DAY 9 - GENERATIONS
DAY 12 - WORKPLACES
DAY 15 - MENTAL HEALTH
DAY 18 - LGBTQIA+
DAY 21 - AWAKENING
Previous
21 DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING
WINTER 2022
// THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL //
WRITTEN BY PASTORS AND PRAYER LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE BAY AREA
FOLLOW ALONG WITH US ON
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SUMMER 2021
THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
WRITTEN BY OUR PTB PRAYER WARRIORS
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DAY 1: SURRENDER
SCRIPTURE
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” - Isaiah 6:8 ESV
DEVOTIONAL
We can all identify in some way with a layer of brokenness in our own stories that causes us to dig deeper with God. There is a constant call for surrender as Jesus followers of our own desires, plans and purpose.
APPLICATION
Ask yourself,
“What am I allowing to rule in my heart instead of giving myself completely to God? What is the thing I need to surrender to God?”
Maybe it’s worry, or the idea of comparison or of self-importance. Maybe it isn't as tangible as money or possessions, but it is something that stays hidden in the back of our minds.
How do we surrender those things to God? When we trust in God and confess to Him and others close to us, when we fail or have struggles. Lay your doubts and struggles at the feet of Jesus, and He'll take them from you and release you from those burdens, like the good Abba Father that He is. God wants to hear from you.
PRAYER
“Lord, I surrender and completely empty myself of all worldly pleasures at your feet. Thank you that you see all my weaknesses and are still calling me to do Your will. Will you help me open up my eyes to see your grace and strength? Help me break my pride so that I may move closer to who I’m meant to be in You! In a world that has lost its way, help me have the courage to keep saying, ‘Lord. Here I am, send me!’ In Jesus’ name, amen.”
- Mercy Largusa
DAY 2: HEALING
SCRIPTURE
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” - Psalm 147:3
DEVOTIONAL
There is so much sickness in the world today. Many people are living with illness or disease. What about emotional wounds? Sometimes they can be more painful than physical injuries or illnesses. God wants to heal every aspect of our being: heart, soul, body, mind, and spirit. God’s promise to heal the brokenhearted is for all of God’s people, everywhere. The wonderful thing is that God does not heal from a distance (impersonally). He personally involves himself in the healing and helping process.
APPLICATION
If you are brokenhearted, I encourage you to call out to God. Remember that he is not far from you when he heals.
“The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely” - Psalm 145:18
No matter the reason for our brokenness, God is ready to mend us.
PRAYER
“Jehovah-Rapha, you are the God who heals. We cry out to you today in our sickness and broken-heartedness. We thank you that you take such a personal role in binding up our wounds. You are a caring Father as you tend to your children. Lord, we ask for your compassion in our time of need. We are desperate for your presence to surround us as we call on your mighty Name. We wait expectantly for your healing touch. We wait and know that in all things, you are good. Amen.”
- Brandy Kraemer
DAY 3: FREEDOM
SCRIPTURE
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” - Ephesians 2:8
DEVOTIONAL
It was about 11 years ago that I started praying for one of my family members, my brother to come back into a relationship with God. My brother had stopped believing in God after some very difficult experiences and decided to try life on his own. This started a decade long journey of prayer over my brother, that he would come back to his relationship with God. There were a lot of emotional ups and downs during this period as I interceded for my brother, and I would sometimes wonder if my prayers for him would ever come to fruition.
Several months ago, all of those prayers were answered. My brother re-ignited his relationship with God and I’m getting to witness a powerful revival in his faith. My brother is now experiencing the freedom and gift that is a relationship with God. It’s not something that’s earned; it’s given freely through grace! I imagine that many of us can relate to this, those of us who have family and friends who are far from God and who we are interceding for. Maybe you’ve been praying for decades. I know how hard that can be.
APPLICATION
I want to encourage you today. Don’t stop praying for freedom for them! You never know when revival will come in their hearts. Here are some practical ways that you apply this to your life and the lives of those you’re praying for:
Pray for that freedom for your friends and family everyday, even if it’s 10 seconds. God loves and honors consistent prayer.
Let your friends and family know that you’re often praying for them.
Share with them what God has been doing in your life and walk with Him. They may shrug your stories off or look at you like you’re a little weird, but they will remember your stories when God starts working on their hearts. You will be the first one they come to with questions about God because you’ve established yourself as a safe person to share with.
PRAYER
“Father, I thank you for my friends and family that you have put in my life. I pray that you will continue to work in their hearts and use me as a witness to them for the freedom that is available in a relationship with You. Help me to continue to intercede on their behalf, especially on days when it gets really hard. Awaken in their hearts, a passion and desire for a relationship with Your Son, Jesus. Amen!”
- John Nolan
DAY 4: UNITY
SCRIPTURE
“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” - Ephesians 4:3 NLT
DEVOTIONAL
There can be so many distractions in life that will pull you away from God and your purpose. Sometimes we don’t even notice that we are doing everything on our own strength, without the help God had for us, until we find ourselves
Weak and alone.
What if we were to stop and slow down and focus on the Holy Spirit. How much change could we make in our lives and in our Communities if we were in Unity. Let us see the importance of having God guide us through every day as it says here in the verse. This is the way to become closer to God and walk out our purpose. It is in unity with our Father. I encourage you to make being in unity with God a priority every morning. How can we be united? Here are some practical steps to take
APPLICATION
Invite God into your day every morning. Invite him to guide you everywhere you go
Journal what God speaks to you throughout the day. & remember He can speak to you in so many different ways.
In your prayers begin to ask God what is on his Heart for your life, for our government, for our leaders, for our community.
PRAYER
“God, we come to you today and ask that you guide us throughout our day. Let us know and hear your voice as we make our decisions. Let us come into unity with your will. God, we pray that we can see and carry out your heart for our life, for our Community, and for anyone who is in need of you. Amen.”
- Michael & Inez Arauz
DAY 4: SALVATION + THE LOST
SCRIPTURE
“And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” - Acts 16:31
DEVOTIONAL
What an immense gift our salvation is! This is the biggest miracle we have received in our lives from Jesus, so today I would love to remind you how important your salvation is and how it is one of the promises we receive when we have been saved by Jesus.
We all love our families and we all know there’s good times and not-so-good times, but we still love each other. One of the greatest promises we have received is that if we believe in the Lord Jesus, we will be saved and our entire household as well. Let me share my real life story with you:
18 years ago, I met and was saved by Jesus. I was the youngest of my family, and first to experience the love of Jesus. I remember when I told my family about it, they laughed at me and said,
“We don’t believe, please you go on with your beliefs and we go on with our beliefs.”
So I started praying for them, and little did I know that it would take so long. But we trust God, who’s timing is perfect. Five years later I received this promise of God; my mom got to experience the love of Jesus.
Then I started to pray for my brother. For 15 years, I prayed and waited to receive the promise that was given to me when I surrendered my life to Jesus. Just recently on a Saturday at 7AM my brother called my husband and said,
“I need to receive Jesus in my life. What do I need to do?”
I was in shock, as this is the man that in my mind, was impossible to come to the feet of Jesus, a man that had so many addictions in his life, so many problems, and a hardened heart. But God! Aleluya! He had a plan in his perfect timing to have an encounter with Him. I was amazed by the urgency of him receiving Christ, but I was more amazed at what I heard when we finished praying. He told me sister,
“My soul is happy and is now at peace.”
Let me tell you, those were the most intense words I have ever heard someone say after receiving Christ in their heart. I cried because I waited so long for that moment. As for my sister, I’ve been praying for 18 years, but I know the time is near.
When the days and nights are long, remember the God of your salvation and his promises! Don’t forget that he has promised to be with you at all times and has it all under control. Don’t forget to give love to the God of your salvation; let him be your first love. Let him be your everything, forever.
PRAYER
Thank you God for our salvation. Thank you for dying on the cross for us. Forgive us if we have forgotten your promises. Help us to trust in you, to trust in your timing. Help us to live lives according to your will. Surround us with people that will help us grow our faith in you. We surrender our lives to you and today we ask you to give us the perfect time to be able to share your love and your salvation with our friends and our families. We love you Jesus. You are everything to us. Amen.
- Frank and Giovanna Azanudo
DAY 6: PURPOSE
SCRIPTURE
“When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” - Judges 6:12
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” - Judges 6:15
DEVOTIONAL
Have you ever felt like this:
“God, how can I do anything? I don’t know enough. I’m not strong enough. I don’t have enough education. I’m scared. I’m still dealing with my own stuff. I can’t help you or anyone else.”
There have been many times in my life where I’ve felt like there’s someone better for the job. No way God could really want to use me. But the angel of the Lord reminds Gideon in this moment of how God sees him. The angel of the Lord reminds Gideon that his past doesn’t have to determine his future. The angel of the Lord reminds Gideon that everything he needs is already inside of him, and all he needs is to trust that God can cause him to be victorious. The angel of the Lord reminds Gideon that God has purpose in every single person; no matter how qualified or unqualified they are.
The truth is that God qualifies you. You are qualified through the blood of Jesus that was shed for you and I. It doesn’t matter how you grew up or where you came from. It doesn’t matter what you’ve had to fight through in your life, or how much trouble you’ve been in before. God is calling you higher and calling you to a bigger vision than you have for yourself.
APPLICATION
Every morning, I wake up and remind myself that God is for me. I look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that “it's not by might nor by power, but by the spirit of God” that I am going to conquer today. And then I invite God to lead me as I look at my schedule for the day.
PRAYER
Father, help us. Help us to see the gold that’s inside of us. Help us to remember that you have called us and qualified us for the assignment on our life. Help us to hold on to hope. In Jesus name, amen.
- Austin Largusa
DAY 7: JUSTICE
SCRIPTURE
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” - Psalms 89:14 NRSV
DEVOTIONAL
Did you know that in the Bible’s original languages, righteousness and justice are actually the same word? This is what God’s kingdom is built on. When Jesus taught us to pray, he asked for this kingdom to be present here on earth.
APPLICATION
How we treat ourselves, God, other people, and creation are all opportunities to show the world what God’s kingdom looks like. Justice is about restoring what’s broken and making things right. Ask yourself these questions: What do you see God restoring? How has He called you to come alongside him in that work?
PRAYER
God, we thank you that your justice always prevails, either in this life or the next. Your kingdom is everywhere. Help us be a part of revealing that kingdom. Amen.
- Lucia Nolan
DAY 8: RESTORATION
SCRIPTURE
“As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.” - Zechariah 9:11-12
DEVOTIONAL
In this chapter, the prophet Zechariah described in detail the coming of Jesus, and prophesied about His return and what it would mean for the world. To understand restoration, we first have to acknowledge and understand that we lost something. Most theologians agree that we lost three main things due our sin and the fall of man: paradise, fellowship with God, and eternal life. When Jesus died for our sins, He restored all of these things. We can now speak to God directly and feel his presence through the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, God’s presence was held in the Holy of Holies in the Temple and was only accessible to certain people at certain times. Jesus also restored eternal life by promising that our spirit will live on in a new body after our time on Earth is done. Lastly, Jesus restored paradise to us, though not in this life. Revelation 21 says that God will create a new Heaven and new Earth where we will live out eternity in direct communion with Him.
In this passage, Zechariah called humanity prisoners in a waterless pit…dry, dark, alone, hopeless. While I listed the three main areas affected by sin due to the fall, there are a myriad of other repercussions that have affected our daily lives in every aspect – physical, mental, and spiritual. The sins of humanity have created the ultimate butterfly effect impacting lives since the creation of mankind generation by generation through time.
Thank you Jesus that Zechariah did not need to end on that miserable note!! Instead, due to the power of Jesus’ restoring blood, Zechariah prophesied that we would become prisoners of hope and beneficiaries of God’s grace where He does not just restore, but He restores double, more than we had at the beginning. While we may not always be able to escape the consequences of our sin on this earth, Jesus will always repair, redeem, and restore every circumstance that we bring to Him in prayer.
APPLICATION
- Think about the areas of your life that need restoration. They could be physical or mental health, finances, relationships, or any other areas.
- Write those areas down in a list.
- Then, find a partner to stand in faith with you, and pray for Jesus’ restorative power in each circumstance.
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for your incredible sacrifice and for the immeasurable grace that God has poured out on us. Rather than abandoning us to death as we deserve, you have restored to us all that we ultimately lost due to our selfishness and pride. Thank you that we can worship you and that you have restored your presence to us in this life, that we can feel your heart when we open ours to you. Thank you that you have taken the sting out of death that we will be blessed with the ultimate reward, an eternity in direct and personal relationship with you. We pray that you give us the strength to place you above us in all things and your desires above our own. We pray that you reveal your heart to us and restore all of the things that the enemy and our pride have taken and tried to destroy. In full faith, we stand on your promises and declare your restorative power over every area of our lives. We give you all honor and all glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- Kalen Kramer
DAY 9: SPIRITUAL WARFARE
SCRIPTURE
Our Offense
“For although we live in the natural realm, we don't wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture like prisoners of war every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed one, [JESUS].” - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
DEVOTIONAL
Our Defense
Our spiritual defense is putting on God's armor: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation.
Offensively, winning the battle is knowing WHOSE YOU ARE, (your identity) and walking in your God-given authority. It is speaking God's word over your circumstances, and knowing that the greater One lives in you.
Defensively, winning the battle is putting on the armor of God and meditating on his goodness. He has already won the battle that he has prepared us for. Whether we are in the middle of the battle, or on the other side, we must stay focused on the victory. We prepare by staying prayed up and by meditating on these wonderful, great gifts and the goodness of the Mighty God we serve.
APPLICATION
A daily declaration: “I am not intimidated by the Enemy. I have a sound mind and a spirit of courage and boldness. I am prepared and ready to face every challenge that the day may bring.” (1 Timothy 1:7, Ephesians 3:12)
PRAYER
“Father, we praise and thank you for the gifts you have put in us, and the armor you’ve placed upon us, that we may stand in your word and keep praising you through your word and song. We thank you Jesus. You paid it all and have made us over-comers in your Name. Help us to look to you, knowing where our help and defense comes from, in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.
- Kate McGovern
DAY 10: PRAYER & INTERCESSION
SCRIPTURE
“I will make them joyful in my house of prayer.” - Isaiah 56:7
DEVOTIONAL
Joyful prayer. It's really easy to pray when it makes you smile. Prayer is supposed to be energizing and encouraging. Often we overthink it or make it a task to do instead of a friend to talk with.
Jesus is a man of prayer. He loves to pray. Praying for you is what He is doing right now (Romans 8:34). Jesus invites us to join him in joyful prayer for heaven to become our reality here on earth. He is eager to meet with you in prayer, hear what’s on your heart, and help you however you may need it.
Prayer is joyful because Jesus is there (Presence) and He answers our prayers. I’ve learned He’s pretty witty in how and when He answers. He knows how to speak our language and get through to us. When answers don’t come quickly we can still enjoy prayer because Jesus sits with us, listens to us, waits with us, and develops our trust. Normally, the answer comes when we are ready for it and that takes some time for God to prepare us to steward well the answers that come. I’m still waiting on dozens of big answers that I am slowly being formed to live out and share with others .
APPLICATION
Let's be smiling saints that meet Jesus in prayer and partner with Him to see the lost become found, the broken made whole, and the hurting receive healing.
PRAYER
Jesus, give us a Spirit of Prayer like the church has never seen before. Grow our hunger and desire to be close to you and to do your will on the earth. Fill us with a contagious joy that nothing in the world can water down or take away. Make us confident sons and daughters that receive and steward your answers well. Strengthen us to smile in the waiting and pray like our closest friend is listening.
- Mark McGovern
DAY 11: FAITH
SCRIPTURE
“In spite of Abraham being nearly one hundred years old when the promise of having a son was made, his faith was so strong that it could not be undermined by the fact that he and Sarah were incapable of conceiving a child. He never stopped believing God’s promise, for he was made strong in his faith to father a child. And because he was mighty in faith and convinced that God had all the power needed to fulfill his promises, Abraham’s trust glorified God and his faith was credited to his account as righteousness before God.” - Romans 4.19-22
DEVOTIONAL
What impossibility are you facing? Is there a promise, a hope or a desire of yours that is being undermined by resistance, doubt, weariness or circumstances beyond your control? Are you feeling disappointed, questioning if it will ever come to pass?
The Bible never glosses over our harsh circumstances and often difficult realities of life, yet gives us the ways to face them, endure them, trust God through them and finally overcome them. This is what we call, “faith it -till you make it!”
Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will!
The promise of God depends on “faith” so that it can be experienced as a God’s gift of grace to you. Remember that against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it. He took God at his word, and as a result, he became the father of many nations.
APPLICATION
No matter how barren and unfruitful a situation you may be in…
Don’t give up: “For what is impossible with mankind, is possible with God. For with God all things are possible.” Luke 18:27, Matt 19:26
Speak up: Keep speaking out the promises of God! His Word in your mouth is a creative force. You operate, faith by believing and speaking, The Bible tells us “Let the weak say, I am strong.” The promise of God depends on your faith being activated by believing His Word and declaring His Word from out of your mouth. “Sing o barren, you who have not borne, break forth into singing, and cry aloud you who have not labored with child. For the children of the desolate will be more than those of the fertile.” Isaiah 54.1
Rise up: God knows and is totally sympathetic to your situation or your setback. If you ask, He will give you faith today to get up from it, get over it, get on with it in order to gain it!
PRAYER
Mighty God, thank you for your great and precious promises. I ask for the kind of faith that can never be undermined by circumstances or doubt. Help me to be mighty in faith, convinced in my heart and in my thoughts that you have all the power to fulfill your promises in my life so that you may be glorified through my life. Thank you for all you have done for me. I love you and trust in you.
- Mark Smallcombe
DAY 12: WONDER
SCRIPTURE
“To worship God in wonder and awe opens a fountain of life within you, empowering you to escape death’s domain.” - Proverbs 14:27 TPT
DEVOTIONAL
In Scripture, the feeling of wonder is chiefly drawn out by the marvelous displays of Christ's power, wisdom, and miracles. Wonder causes astonishment, amazement, and admiration.
Wonder Always Leads to Worship.
The very activity of worship is identifying Him as a wondrous God. Worship must begin with wonder. When we choose to be mindfully amazed about who God is and what He has done, we can only respond in awe-filled worship. The longer we journey with God, the more filled with wonder we become.
“I need to worship because without it I can forget that I have a big God beside me and live in fear. I need to worship because without it I can forget his calling and begin to live in a spirit of self-preoccupation. I need to worship because without it I lose a sense of wonder and gratitude and plod through life with blinders on. I need worship because my natural tendency is toward self-reliance and stubborn independence.”—John Ortberg
Wonder and Worship Transform Us.
“You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship.“ — N.T. Wright
APPLICATION
Who and what are we spending our time gazing at? Are we consumed with social media and giving our admiration to influencers? Are we mindlessly creating idols by devoting our attention to temporal things instead of our Eternal Father? If we long to be a people transformed, then we must become enthralled with the wondrousness of God.
PRAYER
“Jesus, I’m choosing today to gaze with awe and wonder upon You. I’m laying aside the objects of my distracted affections and confessing them as idols in my life. I give my time, my heart, and my attention to You right now. Reveal to me more of Yourself, and I will respond in wonder-filled worship. Teach me to walk in wonder each and every day. Amen.”
- Joy & Kim Saquing
DAY 13: BOLDNESS
SCRIPTURE
“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” - Acts 4:31
DEVOTIONAL
I love this verse and what it says about the power of what happens when we God’s children gather together in His presence! When we come together and worship, pray, sing, dance and just call upon His name, the place will be shaken.
APPLICATION
Let’s be bold when we speak upon God's word. All of God's children that are sleeping and scared to speak up, let’s pray that they will wake up and be bold! No matter how many people are in a room, if the name of Jesus is proclaimed with boldness, the place will be shaken. So let’s be bold, let’s be courageous because He’s the God that can move mountains, God that can walk on waters, God that can perform miracles! Let’s be bold in Him and His word!
PRAYER
“Our dear Heavenly Father, I pray that we as your children would be bold when speaking about You. I pray that we wouldn’t be afraid and that we would rather trust in You and Your word. I pray that we as a church would gather in Your name and the whole place would shake. Father let Your presence come down on Earth and let Your will be done as it’s done in Heaven. All of God’s children awaken and be bold in the name of Jesus!”
- Abby Shibu
DAY 14: FAMILY
SCRIPTURE
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10 NLT
DEVOTIONAL
What does family look like to you? “Family” is such a big word that looks different to every person. This word can bring up so many feelings. God created the family unit and in God’s fullness, it is such a beautiful thing.
We not only have a natural family, but we can also have a spiritual family. God desires that we have community and family in every part of our lives. He desires our life to be full of brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers to help us become all we are called to be.
God values family…natural and spiritual. Maybe you find it hard to trust others. Or maybe your past “family” experiences have caused you to doubt that a family can bring joy and fullness. During these 21 days of prayer let us ask God to show us how to show genuine love and honor each other in deeds and actions. Let us ask God how we can be a godly family to each other.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:34-35
APPLICATION
- Close your eyes and ask God to show you what His family looks like.
- Take a moment and ask God to help you forgive those that have hurt you or broken family trust.
- Ask God to help you show love and honor to the people in your life.
PRAYER
God, help us to be the family of God that you created. Help us to show this in our personal families and in our church families. Help us to love each other well. God, we know that you showed us what a perfect father looks like. We watch you love your sons and daughters so well. Help us to be the family the world needs. Let our love for one another show the world that we are your family. Amen
- Krista Kramer
DAY 15: FORGIVENESS
SCRIPTURE
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” - Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV
DEVOTIONAL
You are Forgiven!
Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. Might I add, a powerful thing. To know that our Lord and savior, Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for all our sin is well… to me, beyond understanding. In short, Jesus basically took all our sin that we will ever do and said, “Hey I’ll take that. You're forgiven!” Because of his forgiveness, we are able to be in right standing with God. Maybe this is what makes forgiveness beautiful and powerful all together! Do you need to be forgiven or need to forgive someone? I want to encourage you today with this verse. It’s a simple way to start our journey towards forgiveness.
APPLICATION
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
- Be Kind: Find someone to bless today. Show an act of love, maybe it’s a word of encouragement.
- Forgive: Maybe today is the day to step towards accepting his forgiveness or forgiving someone who may have hurt you. Let’s start with prayer.
PRAYER
“Jesus, I want to thank you for laying down your life for me. Your word says you took all my sin and forgave me. I don’t quite understand it but I want to accept your forgiveness. Help me get closer to you and help me to forgive the way you forgave. I ask that my heart would be more like yours in everything I do. Thank you again Lord for your forgiveness. Teach me daily how to accept your forgiveness and how to forgive.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”
- George & Kristelle Arauz
DAY 16: GRATITUDE
SCRIPTURE
“Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
DEVOTIONAL
God is good. He is always good. Though we walk through different seasons in life, God remains the same. He never changes. When we change our focus from me to God, that is when we get a chance to see goodness in the midst of struggles and pain. Even in times when things are going great, I often forget to express my gratitude. God becomes the second priority so easily in life, but what if we show our gratitude continuously through prayer?
When I was at my lowest point in life, I prayed a simple prayer and it changed the way I viewed my circumstances and my life, and I began to shift my focus to things that matter: to be God’s child. If this is a season of struggles and pain for you, I challenge you to pray this prayer. “Thank you, Jesus, for…” (fill in the blank with your gratitude)
If this is an amazing season with the Lord and He is blessing you, I encourage you to list the things that God has provided and prayers that have been answered. Let’s bring the fruits that God has given to us back to His Kingdom to glorify Jesus.
Let us rejoice everyday in gratitude.
PRAYER
Father, we thank you for being our steadfast Lord, who never changes. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Every good and perfect gift comes from you. You also allow us to be challenged and grow even deeper with you through tough seasons, and we are thankful for those opportunities for us to become who we are born to be. We want to lift all the blessings back to your Kingdom and glorify your name. We want to be a family that knows how to rejoice in every season. We are grateful to be your children. Thank you and we love you. Amen.
- Liz Gee
DAY 17: YOUTH / YOUNG ADULTS
SCRIPTURE
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” - 1 Timothy 4:12
DEVOTIONAL
In our worldly culture, we often correlate our value, with our age. We hear things like “you’re
too young to understand” and start to believe that our worth comes from the number of years we’ve lived.
This couldn’t be further from God’s truth. He values us at every age, even the young. God is calling the young forward, to be a part of what He is doing here and now on the earth. He sees their worth as his sons and daughters. God is making room for the next generation to speak of His goodness, love, and hope: all that he is.
APPLICATION
- Pray for and with our youth.
- Create a safe place for our youth to have real conversations, to share what God is doing in their life, and to ask whatever questions they might have.
- Encourage them to learn what gifts God has given them, and use these gifts to lead.
PRAYER
God, we thank you for this rising generation, and for all you are growing within their hearts, minds, and spirits. We lift up our youth to you and ask that you lead them in new ways, that you would give them your courage to share all you are. Set their hearts on fire for you! God, help us to guide our young people, to learn from them, and to honor them the way you do. We can’t wait to see how you use our youth and young adults in the here and now.
- Melissa Smith
DAY 19: MISSION
SCRIPTURE
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. - Luke 10:1 ESV
DEVOTIONAL
In this passage, Jesus invites 72 new disciples into his ministry on earth. He invites them to make His mission their mission and bring the good news to places He was about to go. Where or to whom have you have been waiting for Jesus to go? What might it look like to be sent ahead of Him?
Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.” - Luke 10:5-7 (ESV)
Jesus continues giving the disciples some ground rules as they enter town and instructs them not to go from house to house, but to remain in the same house, eating and drinking with them. When I read this, I hear Jesus instructing us to be intentional with one or two people and build relationships. Who are one or two people Jesus wants you to remain with and pray for?
APPLICATION
Pause and think of the people you see every week. Who stands out?
Write their name down —pray for them by name. Ask the Holy Spirit how you can encourage them.
PRAYER
“Jesus, we look to your example of breaking bread with others. Guide us as we love those you have placed at our table.”
- Ryan & Jenn Lapid
DAY 20: BLESSINGS
SCRIPTURE
“And don’t forget to thank Him.” - Philippians 4:6
DEVOTIONAL
There’s an on old song says:
"Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
It's easy to get caught up in the business of life only to see what we don’t have, or what isn’t going well for us. If we possess this attitude, we can quickly become discouraged and lose perspective. The truth is, we all will face challenges and difficulties in life. But in *every* day there is something good to be found! We will always have some *thing* to be thankful for.
APPLICATION
- I encourage you to take time to list what God has done for you.
Be specific. Think through every area of your life.
- Remembering God’s goodness is a great way to dispel anxiety. Having a cheerful and grateful heart doeth good like medicine. We can trust an unknown future to a known God!
- Don’t lose sight of all you’ve already been blessed with! Take an inventory! Look what the Lord has done!
PRAYER
“Father, help me to slow down and appreciate all the many things that You have blessed me with. Help me to establish a regular discipline of giving thanks. Forgive me for all the times that I have forgotten to acknowledge you. I praise you and worship you this day. I am so grateful for all that you’ve done. In Jesus name, amen.”
- Amanda McGovern
![DAY 21: LOVE + CELEBRATIONSCRIPTURE“The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” - Zephaniah 3:17DEVOTIONALThe most joyous occasion that can bring a tear to many an eye, is the celebration of love during a wedding ceremony. I am especially touched when the groom sheds a tear. It's a testament that men can *feel* love even more deeply than women! There may be tears shed at the ceremony, but afterwards there’s usually dancing and celebration. In our 21 Days of Prayer, we have asked for many things. We’ve pleaded for our hearts or circumstances to change, so now let’s finish with a huge celebration of the love God has for us! He feels deep love for us. This love is expressed through withholding judgment and demonstrating exuberant joy. Let’s give it back to him with our fullest expression of love.APPLICATION- Switch on and turn up your favorite praise or worship song and sing along!- Stand up, dance, and lift your posture toward heaven!- Let out the fullest expression of the love you have for our Lord, God.
PRAYERIf you don’t know where to start, pray this prayer:“Father, you have shown me your deepest love through Jesus’ work on the cross. This sacrifice comes with the commitment that you will never leave or forsake me. In return, I want to shout from the mountaintops that I love you with all my heart, mind, and strength. I give you myself in complete adoration and abandonment. Thank you for rejoicing over me with singing. Amen.” - Gail Smallcombe](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e72ba52644e185374f604aa/1628703700757-30JVSEDUN94YB6ZW187V/Day+21+-+21DoP+-+PTB+SM.png)
DAY 21: LOVE + CELEBRATION
SCRIPTURE
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” - Zephaniah 3:17
DEVOTIONAL
The most joyous occasion that can bring a tear to many an eye, is the celebration of love during a wedding ceremony. I am especially touched when the groom sheds a tear. It's a testament that men can *feel* love even more deeply than women! There may be tears shed at the ceremony, but afterwards there’s usually dancing and celebration.
In our 21 Days of Prayer, we have asked for many things. We’ve pleaded for our hearts or circumstances to change, so now let’s finish with a huge celebration of the love God has for us! He feels deep love for us. This love is expressed through withholding judgment and demonstrating exuberant joy. Let’s give it back to him with our fullest expression of love.
APPLICATION
- Switch on and turn up your favorite praise or worship song and sing along!
- Stand up, dance, and lift your posture toward heaven!
- Let out the fullest expression of the love you have for our Lord, God.
PRAYER
If you don’t know where to start, pray this prayer:
“Father, you have shown me your deepest love through Jesus’ work on the cross. This sacrifice comes with the commitment that you will never leave or forsake me. In return, I want to shout from the mountaintops that I love you with all my heart, mind, and strength. I give you myself in complete adoration and abandonment. Thank you for rejoicing over me with singing. Amen.”
- Gail Smallcombe