Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Galatians 5:24
And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. Matthew 6:16
Have you ever noticed how loud your flesh gets the moment you tell it “no”? Whether it’s a craving, a habit, or a comfort, the moment you choose discipline is the moment your flesh starts protesting. Fasting puts this battle on full display, but it also reveals something powerful: God strengthens us when we surrender.
Paul wrote Galatians to remind believers that true freedom is found in walking by the Spirit, not the flesh. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples how to fast, assuming they will, because fasting was intended to be a regular part of spiritual life. Fasting is not about depriving ourselves; it’s about training ourselves. When we crucify the flesh through fasting, we grow in discipline, break the grip of unhealthy desires, and learn to trust God in deeper ways. Paul says that those who belong to Christ have “crucified the flesh” meaning we
intentionally put to death the appetites and impulses that pull us away from God. Fasting is one of the most practical tools God gives us to do this. It exposes what normally controls us, food, comfort, social media, routines and invites us to rely on the Holy Spirit instead. Jesus’ words “when you fast” show that fasting was never optional. It’s a rhythm that aligns our hearts with heaven. As we deny our flesh, we create space to hear God's voice more clearly. We discover that spiritual strength doesn’t come from striving but from surrender. Fasting brings clarity, humility, and discipline. Every hunger pang is a reminder that we are not ruled by our stomach, emotions, or impulses, we are led by the Spirit.
When we fast:
• Our discipline grows because we learn to tell ourselves “no.”
• Our trust in the Lord grows because we depend on Him for strength.
• Our faith grows because we physically feel our need for God.
For the next 13 days, choose one area to fast. It could be food, sugar, social media, or entertainment. Let the discomfort push you toward prayer. Let hunger remind you where true strength comes from.
1. What desire or habit seems to control me more than it should?
2. How might God want to use fasting to strengthen my discipline?
3. What is the Lord asking me to trust Him with during this season?
Prayer: Lord, teach me to crucify my flesh and walk by Your Spirit. As I fast, strengthen my discipline and deepen my trust in You. Help me choose surrender over comfort and let my hunger draw me closer to Your heart. Amen.
-Pastor Jessica
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
In a culture that tells us to define ourselves, God tells us we are already designed.
Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are not accidents, projects in progress, or spiritual leftovers. The word workmanship comes from the Greek poiēma
– where we get the word poem. You are God’s intentional, creative work. He didn’t rush you. He didn’t copy-paste you. He formed you with purpose.
Notice the order: We are created in Christ before we are called to do good works. We don’t work for our identity - we work from it.
And those good works? God prepared them in advance. That means your calling isn’t random. Your obedience today may be the very thing God planned years ago to bless someone else tomorrow.
This is deeply counter-cultural. The world says: Prove your worth. Jesus says: Live from the worth I already gave you.
So today, don’t strive to become someone God already made you to be. Walk confidently into the good works He’s placed in front of you - knowing you were created on purpose, for a purpose, with a purpose.
Prayer: “God, thank You that my life has meaning because You designed it. Help me walk in the good works You’ve already prepared for me today. Amen”
-Pastor Daniel
“The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.” Genesis 39:32
Joseph was in prison for a crime he did not even commit. He was falsely accused, yet he did not find time to complain and be depressed. He went about his business of being a prisoner and doing whatever he was told. His attitude and excellence won him the favor of the keeper of the prison. Whatever he put his hands to do prospered and was successful. The tasks were successfully completed and prospered not only Joseph but those around him.
There is a grace on us, family of God, to do everything successfully. We have the power to prosper in all we do. This grace to succeed is not only for our own benefit but to benefit others as well.
So, acknowledge today, you are graced for success, for yourself and for others that are in your circle of influence, e.g. Your family.
Prayer: “Father, I embrace this grace for good success on my life today. Whatever I put my hands to do will prosper and be successful in the name Jesus. Amen.”
-Pastor Adrian
“Long ago the LORD said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself” Jeremiah 31:3
Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, wrote this verse. His burden was for the people of Judah, calling them back to obedience to the Lord. Instead, Judah was steeped in idolatry and rebellion and many of Jeremiah’s warnings went unheeded.
The book of Jeremiah is the story of Judah before the invasion of the Babylonians, and God is pleading through Jeremiah for his people to return to him. It most certainly is the story of each of us today.
It’s your story, it’s my story. We were steeped in idolatry and rebellion. But God ... He loved you, he loved me, so much so that he sent his son Jesus to save us. He’s a loving Father calling out to me, to you. He came to set you and me free from indifference, rebellion, complacency, fear, pursuing an unfulfilled life with lots of things, .... (You fill in the blank), so that we can pursue and live a life of love and devotion to Jesus. What is this “everlasting love”? It points to a love that is so deep
...so wide
...so difficult to grasp
...a love that endures through rejection,
...it is kindness that knows no end,
...it keeps drawing you and me into relationship with him
...and it leads us to repentance and to surrender.
...So surrender.
...Start every morning with surrender and gratitude.
Prayer: “I surrender. Embrace me Lord, with your unfailing love. I receive it. You want me, you chose me, you don’t want to be without me. I don’t want to be without you. I’m so grateful for your loving kindness. Draw me deeper into your love today. Amen.”
-Marion
“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children - my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.” Mark 7:24-30
Fasting removes what normally satisfies us on the outside so we can recognize what we are truly hungry for on the inside. Today, as we fast, I want to focus on three things: inward hunger, humble persistence, and closeness to God. In Mark 7, Jesus teaches that what defiles us isn’t what goes into the body, but what comes from the heart. He then travels from Galilee into the region of Tyre, a place outside of God’s chosen people, filled with different cultures. There, He encounters a Syrian Phoenician woman who begs Him to cast a demon out of her daughter - this is where our story begins.
The first thing we see is her inward hunger. Verse 25 says she immediately found where Jesus was. Her hunger wasn’t for outward relief but for true freedom - an encounter with Jesus. Fasting often reveals what we turn to when we’re uncomfortable: control, distraction, comfort, or God. What are you truly hungry for today, and what in your life needs freedom?
Next, we see her humble persistence. She fell at His feet and begged Him. Even when Jesus responded by saying the Jews should be fed first, she persisted. Her desperation crossed cultural, racial, and religious barriers. She wasn’t offended or turned away. She stayed because she needed God to move. What do you need to keep pressing into during this fast? What could one encounter with Jesus change in your life?
Finally, we see Jesus’ response: “Good answer.” Her persistence led to breakthrough for her family. How often do we quit just before God moves? Fasting teaches us to stay when everything in us wants to stop. This woman’s heart was focused, intentional, and humble. As we fast, let’s carry the same heart - focused on experiencing Jesus, persistent in purpose, and humble enough to trust that God is greater than our hunger today.
Prayer: “Jesus, I chose to place my hunger before you. I place you above all these things I am fasting from. God, I want to experience you today. Speak to me, in prayer, scripture and worship. Thank you for letting me get this far. Amen.”
-Pastor Ryker
“... He satisfied their hunger with manna - bread from heaven.” Psalm 105:40
Fasting reveals what we usually try to ignore - our hunger. Not just for food, but for comfort, control, reassurance, and relief. When Israel hungered in the wilderness, God didn’t shame them for it. He met them in it. He satisfied their hunger with bread from heaven.
Manna wasn’t stored or earned- it was received daily. It taught God’s people that true satisfaction doesn’t come from abundance, but from being depended on Him. In the same way, fasting reminds us that what we need most cannot be found in what we consume, but in who sustains us.
Today, as hunger rises, let it point you to God instead of food. Let the emptiness become an invitation. Fill yourself with His word. Let Him satisfy your hunger with his presence in a very real way.
Prayer: “God, I bring You my hunger. I need you right now and I'm fully depending on you. Satisfy me with your word and your love. I trust you with my life. I know that I can do all things through You who gives me strength. Amen.”
-Pastor Jessie
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” Romans 10:9-12
This passage is a great reminder; I often find myself reading and re-reading it multiple times in a week. The further we get in our life going after Christ it's easy to start to forget the simplicity of the gospel, it's easy to forget why any of this matters. And Paul in this passage summarizes salvation into a simple sentence, if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth... you will be saved.
I read this passage so many times a week so I can keep my focus on what matters, leading others (family, friends, strangers at Walmart) into the same action and heart posture that changed my life.
Knowing who and what saves a person is one of the things we as the body of Christ must not over complicate with theologies and doctrines. God simply wants to be reunited with His creation and our job as believers is to lead others into that decision.
Prayer: “God, I pray that you use me to reach my family, friends, and whoever else you need me to. I pray when given the opportunity I can present the gospel without adding or taking away from it. Jesus use me, guide me closer and closer to you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.”
-Pastor Tako
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2
God wants to remake me as a new person with a greater purpose than I have now. My purpose and power come from my relationship with him. I shouldn’t get my purpose from work; I bring purpose to my workplace. Whether with family or strangers, I carry authority to guide conversations. Here’s how: In this Scripture, Paul urges believers to access this by letting God renew the way we think. This term “the way you think,” (nous in Greek) means our thoughts, our understanding, how we see God, ourselves, and all of life. In order to be who I’m supposed to be, I don't just need new thoughts about God, I need a new experience with him. Here’s just a few examples of Bible heroes doing just that:
• The Disciples were determined to hear Jesus’ words (John 6:68)
• Jesus regularly got away to pray, alone and with others (John 18)
• David meditated on God’s Word to lead his heart (Psalms 119:11,105)
• Asaph spent time seeking God and got renewed hope (Psalms 73)
• Samuel obeyed in little things, so God trusted him with his big plan (1 Samuel 3)
• Timothy received his gifts as believers prayed for him (1 Timothy 1:6)
• Elisha prayed and his servant suddenly got a new perspective (2 Kings 6)
Prayer: "God, renew my mind and transform the way I see You, myself, and the world. Help me live from the truth that my purpose comes from You, not from what I do. Fill me with Your Spirit, Your power, and Your perspective, so I may walk in Your good, pleasing, and perfect will. Amen."
-Pastor Isaiah
“Look, I have given you authority over all power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure You.” Luke 10:19
Victory - Many believers live as though they are fighting for victory, when Jesus says we are meant to fight from victory. There’s a huge difference. When Jesus gave His followers authority, He wasn’t offering a symbolic idea or a motivational slogan. He was giving a legal, spiritual reality — the right to stand firm, resist the enemy, and walk in freedom.
• Yet life often tries to convince us otherwise.
• Patterns repeat.
• Old wounds resurface.
But authority isn’t about how strong you feel — it’s about who Jesus is and what He has already accomplished. Authority becomes real in your life the moment you choose to believe it, speak it, and walk in it.
• You don’t have to tolerate what Jesus died to free you from.
• You don’t have to bow to cycles that have followed your family for generations.
• You don’t have to accept defeat in areas where God has promised victory.
Your authority is not based on your perfection — it’s rooted in His finished work.
Prayer: “Jesus, thank You for the victory You’ve already won. Help me walk in the authority You’ve given, standing firm in faith and freedom. I trust Your finished work, not my feelings. Amen.”
-Larry
“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:11
Have you ever worked so hard to complete a project or reach a goal, only to arrive and feel empty - like something was still missing? Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrestles with the meaning of life and the value of everything he has worked for.
Despite his great wisdom, wealth, and accomplishments, Solomon found himself questioning whether any of it truly satisfied him. He had everything the world could offer, yet he still questioned the worth of it all.
I don’t know about you, but I can relate to that. I went to school for journalism with one clear goal: to become an ESPN sideline reporter. I was determined and so focused on how cool it would be - think of the fame, think of how fun that would be, the money would be great.
While in college, I worked in radio, television, and even wrote for a newspaper. I won awards, received major scholarships, made connections with ESPN folks, and even did sideline reporting for ESPN+ games. At the time, I thought I had it all. By the world’s definition, I was successful. I was on my way.
But as graduation approached and job offers rolled in, something didn’t feel right. I was excited, yet at the same time I felt like I was missing something. I had worked so hard, but the fire and passion I once had were no longer burning. Instead, I felt empty. My achievements were real - but they felt meaningless.
Earthly successes, while not bad, can never fulfill the deeper hunger of our souls. When we define success only by what we accomplish, earn, or achieve, we end up chasing after the wind - with nothing lasting to gain.
But when our goals begin to reflect God’s heart and His Kingdom rather than self- gain, purpose starts to develop. Fulfillment begins to grow.
What goals in your life are currently shaped more by worldly success than by God’s purpose?
Stop chasing the applause of the world, instead step into what God has called you to do. Without God, even our greatest achievements are just that—a chasing after the wind.
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts and talents you’ve given me, I’m sorry that at times, I’ve used them to chase the worldly applause rather than using them to be your hands and feet. I pray that you will help me to recognize when I begin to value the worldly expectations and successes over the purpose you have set out for me. Lord, use me and help me to remember to place you at the center of all I do and all the goals I set. Amen.”
-Pastor Kelsey
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.” Philippians 2:13-17
The book of Philippians - often described as one of the most joy-filled letters in Scripture - was written by the apostle Paul while he was imprisoned for his faith. Despite his circumstances, Paul’s joy was not rooted in comfort or freedom, but in Christ and in the work, God was doing within the church at Philippi. Throughout this letter, Paul encourages believers to pursue what truly matters for the Kingdom of God, while also calling them to lives marked by obedience, humility, and Christlike character.
In this passage, Paul reminds us that obedience to God does not begin with our own strength. God Himself is at work within us, shaping our desires and empowering our actions so that we may live lives that please Him. As believers, our service, relationships, attitudes, and daily work should flow from a response to God’s calling, not from obligation or personal ambition. When our lives are aligned with God’s purposes, we become living testimonies.
Even from prison, Paul lived with purpose and joy because he knew his life and ministry were poured out for the Lord. His circumstances did not determine the value of his work; his obedience did. Because his life was dedicated to Christ, Paul could rejoice, confident that his efforts were not in vain.
Today may be an opportunity to pause and reflect on how God’s calling is shaping your actions and attitudes. Do you feel discouraged, as though your efforts in work, relationships, or spiritual growth are meaningless? Or are you moving forward with purpose, trusting in the power God has given you? What do I need to surrender or remove from my life to become a better offering to the Lord?
Prayer: “Lord, help me surrender my complaints, my doubts, and my will. Jesus, open my heart, my mind, and my ears to hear your desire for my life, and help me walk in the joy of Your plan. Amen.”
-Pastor Amber
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free” Luke 4:18
In this scripture, Jesus has just returned to Galilee after being baptized. He goes to His hometown, enters the synagogue on the Sabbath, and reads from Isaiah 61. He then declares that this prophecy is fulfilled in Him, announcing His mission: to bring good news to the poor, proclaim freedom, give sight, and set the oppressed free.
This reminds me that Jesus doesn’t wait for people to have it all together before He moves toward them. When He says good news to the poor, freedom for the captives, sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed, He truly spoke to me. Pain, emptiness, addiction, shame, fear, and brokenness. This is not just what Jesus did back then, it is what HE’S DOING NOW! He came to lift burdens, break chains, and breathe hope into places that feel dead or stuck. This passage invites us to stop pretending we’re fine and instead bring our broken places to Him because this is exactly why He came.
This matters because it reminds us that Jesus is not just someone we believe in, He is someone who steps into our lives and meets us in our need. It gently challenges us to stop hiding our broken places and encourages us to believe that God’s heart is still to heal, restore, and free us. This passage whispers hope to anyone who feels stuck, weary, or unseen. JESUS CAME FOR THIS.
A simple step is to slow down and sit with God, asking, “Where do I need YOUR freedom today?” Then, instead of carrying it alone, place it in His hands through prayer. This passage invites a shift from self-reliance to trust from holding on to what hurts to letting Jesus bring His healing and peace into that space.
Prayer: “Jesus, thank You for coming for the broken, the weary, and the hurting. We invite You into the places in our hearts that need freedom, healing, and hope. Help us trust You enough to release what we’ve been holding and receive what only You can give. And we pray for miracles to come to our life and our family. Amen.”
-Pastor Ken
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.” Luke 1:26–32
This year, I lost my mom and my dad. Some of you have experienced loss as well. It can be troubling, and it can be deeply sad. Grief reminds us how fragile life can feel.
But when you hold a child, you’re reminded of new life. This year, we welcomed a new baby, Petra. Before my dad passed away, he was able to hold Petra in his hands. That moment meant everything to me.
The same kind of moment happened when Jesus was born. In Luke 2:25-32, Simeon was led by the Spirit to the temple. He took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. For my eyes have seen Your salvation… a light to reveal God to the nations.”
No matter what we have gone through, the child of Christmas reminds us that Jesus changes everything. Through His life and His death, He made a way for us to have peace and hope - even in death.
Prayer: “Jesus, thank You for being our salvation and our peace. In seasons of loss, remind us that You are still bringing life, hope, and light. Help us trust You with our grief and rest in the hope You have given us. Amen”
-Pastor Dan Sr.
