Devoted to God

Day 3 of fasting & prayer

Joshua was one of only two people who journeyed from the wilderness and into the promised land. In his final message to the nation of Israel just before he died, Joshua reminded them twice of God’s faithfulness – that He was the one who fought on their behalf, and that He had never failed to bring victory to the Israelites. He commanded them not to associate with the people who lived in the lands or with their gods, but to remain wholly devoted to God alone.

Our devotion to God positions us for a breakthrough. When we are fully devoted to God, our thoughts and actions come into alignment with His. We learn to persist through difficult times because of an unrelenting commitment to His call and His cause. These are the ingredients that precede breakthrough and help us punch above our weight, putting to flight a thousand of the enemy!

 Our devotion will be tested but we must hold on. Joshua told the Israelites to cling tightly to God – he knew that there would be temptation and tests that would try and draw them away from God. The Bible says that in these last days the love of many will grow cold. As you start this new year, decide in your heart that this will be a year where you remain fiercely devoted to God’s purposes for you!

Begin with the small things. Don’t neglect your times of personal devotion, prayer, and the gathering of God’s people. Choose to remain devoted to God!

Miracle in Motion

Day 2 of fasting & prayer.

Someone once said, “Faith sees the invisible; faith hears the inaudible; faith does the impossible.” But, what pathway does faith travel to see the impossible realized?

In 1 Kings 17, the nation of Israel is no longer experiencing the blessing of God in their lives and on their land. The people have followed their king, Ahab, into paganism and idolatry. But in the midst of their national rebellion, God sends a prophet named Elijah to King Ahab. 1 Kings 17:1 says, “Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, ‘As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!’” And for three and a half years, it didn’t rain a drop. Finally, Elijah presents himself to King Ahab and challenges him and his false prophets to a showdown in order to prove that there is one true God. After God demonstrates his power by sending fire from heaven, there is national repentance, and Elijah tells King Ahab that the miracle of no rain is about to become the miracle of rain.

After more than three years of extreme drought, it had to seem totally impossible that rain could begin falling at a moment’s notice. So, what did Elijah do? What path did his faith take him? In 1 Kings 18:42, we read, “So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.” It seems clear that Elijah knows what God’s will is, but he also recognizes the necessity of praying God’s will into existence. And he does that by fasting. Notice that he sends Ahab to eat and drink, but he climbs Mount Carmel to pray. Verse 45 says, “And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”

This story reminds us that simply knowing God’s will is not enough. God’s desire is that we would pray His will into existence in our lives. Whether you are believing for God to do the impossible in your life, your marriage, your family, or your job, fasting and prayer are often the God-ordained pathways that faith travels to put your miracle in motion.

Spiritual Hunger

Day 1 of fasting and prayer

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. As we come before God in the next 3 days of fasting and prayer, God will renew our faith, launch new dreams and release us into our destiny. This in turn will result in a revival that changes the spiritual landscape of our nation!

Our theme for these 3 days and this year  is ‘Position Yourself’. We believe that in this season God wants to take our positions in His kingdom. This results in not just our spiritual growth but also advancing His Kingdom! Staying in position, there’s a greater sense of God’s presence, clarity in hearing His voice, and a release of His favor and power on our lives.

We fix our minds and hearts on Returning to God. We begin our journey with humility and a heart that’s marked with a desperate desire to come back to God. We must decide in our hearts that it’s God or nothing. Let’s lay hold of God and not let Him go until He blesses us. God will reward your spiritual hunger for Him with great satisfaction!

When David wrote Psalm 63, he was running away from someone who wanted to kill him. Anyone would be desperate to get out of those circumstances. But instead of asking God to deliver him from his situation, David cried out in desperation for God Himself! David recognized his need for God, and knew how important it was to search not just for deliverance, but for the One who could deliver him.

Like David, we must seek God earnestly. Put aside other things to make time to read His Word, pray, and be in His presence. Be aggressive about not letting urgent things crowd out what is most important – an encounter with God. God promises that those who seek Him will find Him, so decide today that you will stay the course over the next 3 days and this year to seek His face.

Like David, we must long for God. Ask God to stir up a fresh hunger and thirst for the things of God. Choose to deny your flesh through fasting and ask God to give you a renewed desire for spiritual things.

We believe that this year we will get desperate for God as we position our lives. Let’s straighten up our priorities and make Him our greatest desire and our greatest pursuit this year!

Practicing Thanksgiving

YAY!! It’s Thanksgiving Day, and though we’ve decided to skip straight to Christmas on many fronts, there’s this holiday that we celebrate with friends and families called Thanksgiving. I love the concept of Thanksgiving. It’s a whole day set aside to celebrate God’s blessings and encourage a spirit of thankfulness. But if I’m honest, the most thankfulness I practice on Thanksgiving is the prayer I utter right before I dig into my food. Genuine thankfulness, the kind that exudes gratefulness to God, does not come easily or naturally to me. Still, I want to learn thankfulness, because I want to deeply appreciate the blessings and gifts God graciously provides.

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:2

Practicing thankfulness isn’t easy, but I believe it is so worth it.

I stated earlier that I want to learn to be genuinely thankful toward God. I sometimes think of God as a hardworking, dedicated father who is working to put food on the table for His kids. While I believe God encourages us to ask Him for both needs and wants, I never want to take for granted that He is faithfully providing what I need.

My heart is in a genuine place, but sometimes (most times) I still grumble. I don’t give up, though. Since thankfulness is important to God, He will work to develop it in me. This Thanksgiving let’s celebrate the day by reflecting on our awesome God and thanking Him for the countless ways He cares for us. Remember the Lamb that was sacrificed while your sharp knife cuts through the well cooked Turkey!

What are some ways you have seen God provide for you? What are some things you can thank Him for today?

Blessings,
Pastor Justin Sabu
Zion Church, Dallas