Introduction

Thank you for taking part of our 21 Day Fast. We pray and believe that God has big things in store for you and you take time to seek Him and align yourself with His heart.

The goal of fasting is to draw near to God.

It hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out.

As you begin this fast, there are a few things to think about:

REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS: As you begin your fast, your body may start to feel the effects of what you're doing. This can happen physically if you're giving up food or possibly mentally or emotionally as you give up things things like social media, games, and so on. As you go through the fast, remember that you're doing it to bring God's presence into your life and for His hand over the things you're praying for. When it gets tough, remind yourself that you're doing this to humble yourself and get closer to God and seek His will over your life.

FOCUS ON THE GOOD: During a fast, it's easy to focus on what we're giving up and to let our pride and boastfulness overshadow the purpose of the fast. It's also common to start feeling the physical effects of the fast and to let negative thoughts and complaints about those effects slip out of our mouths. Be mindful of this tendency and make an effort to speak positively and give praise to God throughout the entire fast, even when you're feeling fatigued. Remember that the purpose of the fast is to draw closer to God, not to draw attention to ourselves or our struggles.

GIVE GRACE WHERE NEEDED: As you progress through the fast, you may be tempted to "slip up" and give in to your cravings or desires. If this happens, don't let guilt and shame consume you. Instead, pray and ask God for forgiveness, and remember that this experience is an opportunity to see that our flesh is weak but God's grace is strong. Don't let feelings of guilt stop you from seeking God's will during this time of fasting and prayer.

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR BODY: It's normal to experience fatigue and other physical and emotional changes during a fast. However, it's important to listen to your body and not push yourself beyond your limits. If your body is telling you that it needs something, it's okay to give it what it needs. The purpose of the fast is to strengthen your faith, not to cause negative physical harm to yourself. If you have specific dietary needs or concerns, consider taking supplements or vitamins, and consult with a medical professional before starting the fast to ensure that you can safely participate in a way that promotes both spiritual and physical well-being.

COMMON FAST TYPES:

DANIEL FAST: based on the Biblical book of Daniel. It involves a 21 day ad libitum (as much or as often as necessary or desired) food intake period, no animal products and preservatives, and inclusive of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

MODIFIED DANIEL FAST: similar to DANIEL FAST listed above; however may be altered in some way. Examples is doing the DANIEL FAST but also including bread or crackers in your diet. Or perhaps eating meat in one meal per day.

ONE MEAL FAST: consists of completely giving up one meal per day to use time to pray and read God's Word. This is best to be done consistently with same meal each day, but can be modified based on the situation.

POSSESSION/ENTERTAINMENT FAST: giving up a particular possession or technology for 21 days. This includes TV, game console, computer technology, social media, etc. During the time you would normally do these activities, take a moment to pray, worship, or read your bible.

SOCIAL MEDIA: fasting from one or all social media accounts during the 21 day fast. If this fast is chosen, it is recommended that you log out of the accounts or hide the apps to remove temptation. It is also recommended that when you feel the desire to scroll on social media, take a few minutes to pray, listen to a worship song, or read from your bible.

As you fast, we are believing that God is going to do some great things in your life. We know that the best is yet to come and we pray you begin to experience it while you seek His will.

Be blessed.

Daily Devotions

Follow along with our daily devotions, read God's Word, and partner with us in prayer as we seek God during this time.

Scripture:
Psalm 51:10-12: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Daniel 6:10: Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Exodus 33:18-19: Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ 19 And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodnessto pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy
on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’”

It was Daniel’s practice, three times a day, to go to an upstairs room in his apartment, open the windows facing Jerusalem, get down on his knees, and pray to the one true God. No doubt, Daniel prayed at other times also. He probably prayed throughout the day. But there were these special times, set aside times, where it was his priority to meet with God in prayer. In fact, it was such a priority to Daniel that when the king passed a decree that for the next thirty days people could only pray to the king, Daniel was unfazed. “No way.” Daniel may have been an important official in Darius’ kingdom, but when the king’s law (don’t pray) conflicted with God’s Law (pray), the choice was clear. Daniel just kept right on praying.
Read Daniel 6. Daniel was thrown in the lion’s lair, but God protected Daniel, delivered Daniel, honored Daniel, and put it in the Bible for all to see.
Of the many truths in this stunning chapter, one concerns Daniel’s prayer. Three times a day, he set aside a special time to pray. God nowhere commands us that we must do the same, but there is wisdom here. Wisdom would suggest a special time, or several briefer times, set aside each day to meet with God in prayer. A time we prize. A time we protect. A time we prioritize.
Let’s also look at Moses. Moses sought God and prayed that God would show His glory. We see that because Moses sought God and prayed, God answered him. Let’s also note what Moses prayed. “Show me YOUR glory.” Moses’ intentions were pure. He was seeking God’s glory, not his own.

Pray:
Lord, awaken my heart to Your love. Give me an increased hunger to spend more time in prayer, worship, and Your Word. Please give me a greater awareness of Your holiness, a tender conscience, and a heart to please You in every thought, word, and deed. I pray that You will reveal Yourself and Your glory to me as I seek You over the next 21 days. Speak to me as I read the Word. I pray for understanding and faith as I consider the character of my God. I pray that the people of God at the Elevate will be drawn to worship with you. I ask You to show me how I can encourage those around me to seek after You with all their hearts.
Scripture:
Psalm 43:3: Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Ephesians 1:17-18: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and the incomparably great power for us who believe.
Acts 1:8: “‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

Too often we slide slowly into the normalcy of pretending and stay there unaware. With this strange statement, I mean that as Christ Jesus has resurrected our souls by His grace, we know that light and life only come from Him. We are convinced of this emphatic truth. We’ve looked elsewhere for life and have been awakened to its emptiness. But sadly, we often return there slowly and sink into the gray of unintentional motion, conditioned responses, and banal routine.
Lord Jesus, Open our eyes!
James, the leader of the Jerusalem church, reminds us that when we lack wisdom, we should ask it of God who gives generously. In Psalm 43, the Psalmists confesses that God’s light and God’s truth are the only reliable leaders, for they bring us to where He is.
God of Heaven, Lead us with your light and truth!
As we continue our way into this consecrated season of prayer and fasting, we are coming together as a church praying that God would lead us, open our eyes, and give us the moving power of His Spirit in a fresh and awakening way. This prayer is a heart-felt, guttural, straining desire to return to True Reality, God’s light and life. We know that Christ Jesus has resurrected our souls by His grace and that light and life, along with wisdom and revelation, come only from Him.
We also see in Acts 1, we are told that the Holy Spirit will give us power to do things that are beyond ourselves. God, through the Holy Spirit, is ready to give you the power to overcome temptations, fight for the Kingdom, and reach those around you.

Prayer:
Lord, open my eyes to see You more clearly and my ears to hear anything You desire to speak. I pray for a Spirit of wisdom and revelation that I might know Jesus more deeply and have a profound understanding of the hope that is in His heart for me. Furthermore, God, I pray for the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit to be known among us, because without Him, my efforts are useless. I pray for courage and boldness to serve as a witness to the power of the gospel. I pray for an increase in Elevate members going out to the nations. I ask, in this season, to send many from our church to the nations, so that the good news is preached all across the world.
Scripture:
Psalm 111:1: Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Psalm 27:8: My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
John 15:5: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

In You, O God, I find my identity. When I come to seek You, I find that You are already here, seeking me. What gives my worship meaning is so much more than anything that I can do or say - it is You! You are the reason I came to exist, You are the giver of my next breath, and You are the reason for my continued being. You are the reason I worship. I worship You with my whole heart.
I come to worship You because of who You are! You are the one and only true God! I bring You praise because of Your holiness. You are so gracious to me, and You have already done more than enough for me to bring You thanksgiving. I worship You.
May my life bring glory to You, my Lord and my God. I want to worship You with my whole heart. I am not ashamed to declare my love and adoration for You before others. All I am is Yours, and I belong to you. I am Your possession. May You be pleased with my worship.
I long to recapture a spirit of genuine worship, a personal revival of my whole being, heart, soul, and spirit. Heaven and earth declare Your glory, O God, and therefore so do I. All of creation submits to You, and so my life is surrendered to You. I am willing to do Your will. How can I be in Your presence and not be changed? I long to be the kind of worshipper that You have been looking for, fully devoted to You. I worship You with my whole heart.
God, I know you are the Vine of life. Without you, I am nothing, give me the power to be who you would have me to be. Change me to Your likeness, not the likeness I want to be.

Pray:
Humbly and yet confidently, I come into Your presence. I am relying on the promise of Christ, providing me the relationship with You as my Heavenly Father. Bring me fully into Your presence O God. Lead me more fully into Your will so that every day of my life will be worship, offering a living sacrifice to bring You glory. I know You are my vine, the One that gives me life. Make me into the fruit You desire, not the one I desire.
Scripture:
Psalm 27:4: One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Ezra is a great example of how to set our hearts in the right place. He may not be well known, but he was a powerful leader in the Old Testament. He wasn't a military leader or the first to lead exiles back to Jerusalem. He was just a scribe. But once he arrived on the scene, he made an impact. The Bible says that God's hand was on Ezra and he successfully led a large group of people on a long journey. He was also very concerned about holiness and the purity of God's people. He even led them to repentance. The key to Ezra's success was setting his heart on studying, following, and sharing God's word. This is a good guide for how to succeed with God in our own lives.

Pray:
Lord I want You to be the top priority of my life with nothing even close in second place. Help me, Father, to love You more than I ever have before. I want You to fill my heart, all of it, so Your love and grace can flow richly through me to everyone I come in contact with.
Scripture:
Ephesians 1:18–19: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. …”

Life gets busy sometimes, we’re running here, there, and everywhere. In those times, we often fail to see beyond what is right in front of us. But God wants to show us much more. He wants to open the eyes of our heart and reveal what He has called you too. As much as that is a desire of your heart, I promise He wants it more. His desire is for our good and for us to become everything He has called us to. It’s time to stop just living for the moment and look beyond to the future God has called us to as well as the future we are to declare for others.

Pray:
I pray that I would be filled with hope because of the gospel. I ask You to help me see beyond the moment to all that You have in store for me. I pray that You would work in power in my own life, freeing me to live for Your glory. God, make me ready to share the reason for my hope with my neighbors and friends. I pray specifically that people in my circle will come to faith in Jesus this year.
Scripture:
Colossians 1:22–23: But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that through Jesus, we are reconciled to God and made holy and blameless in his sight? It's sometimes hard to think about, but it's true! And the best part is, this reconciliation is not a one-time thing. It's something we have to continue to hold onto and stay faithful to. So let's make sure we are staying strong in our faith and not turning away from the hope of the gospel. And let's share this hope with others, so they can experience the same reconciling love of Jesus that we have.

Pray:
Father, keep me steadfast in faith, holding on to the hope of the gospel. Fill me with confidence, knowing that You who began a good work in me will be faithful to continue Your work in me until the day of Christ. God, give me an opportunity to give witness to the power of the gospel. Use Elevate Church and it’s digital ministry to reach those far from Christ and His Church in our area and around the world. Give growth and fruitfulness in this ministry to those unable to gather with us in person.
Scripture:
Psalm 43:3: Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Ephesians 1:17-18: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and the incomparably great power for us who believe.

Sometimes we fall into the habit of pretending and lose sight of the truth that only Jesus can give us life and light. We've tried looking elsewhere for fulfillment, but it always falls short. As we pray and fast together, let's ask God to open our eyes and guide us with His light and truth. Let's long for a fresh encounter with His spirit and a return to true reality in Jesus. We know that through His grace, our souls have been resurrected and we can find life and wisdom in Him alone. As we reach the end of week 1 of our fast, we are often tired and distracted by what we’ve given up this week, that we fail to remember what God has shown us. Take a moment to reflect and remember what He has revealed to you this week.

Pray:
God, make Elevate Church a people who grow in the knowledge and worship of God. I pray that we would walk in the fullness of Your knowledge. God, lead me, by Your Spirit, to know You better. Work through the discipleship ministries of Elevate Church to grow men and women, boys and girls in their love and knowledge of You.
Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:11-13: For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I
will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Today’s verses remind us that God has a plan for each of our lives and that plan is one of hope and a future. It's a reminder that even in difficult times, God is still in control and has a purpose for us. It also reminds us that when we seek God with all our heart, we will find Him and He will hear our prayers. Verse 13 lets us know that God’s not hiding from us. He longs for us to seek a relationship with Him. He assures us that if we seek Him out, we will find Him. He’s not trying to get away from us or trick us, He is wanting to show us His plans for us. We just have to seek Him to see it. Let us trust in God's plan for our lives and call upon Him in prayer, knowing that He will hear us and guide us towards the hope and future that He has planned for us.

Pray:
God, thank you for the plan you have for my life. Teach me how to walk into that plan. Reveal to me Your purpose for placing me in the time and place You have put me. I know that you created me uniquely for such a time as this, please reveal to me what You are calling me to do. Remind me to seek after You. Give me a hunger for Your presence. Lord, help me put aside my goals and ambitions and show me Your desires for my life. Remind me that You want so much more for me than I can ever imagine. Help me when the road gets hard and remind me to take time to praise You when you bring victory in my life. I am thankful for Your favor in my life.
Scripture:
Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
1 Corinthians 13:4: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

The fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23 are character traits that are produced in the life of a believer who is filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, such as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Love, joy, and peace are all emotions that flow from a heart that is filled with the Spirit of God. Love is not just an emotion, but an action that is motivated by the love of God. Joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with God. Peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of God in the midst of them. Patience, kindness, and goodness are all attitudes that are developed as we yield to the Spirit's guidance. Patience is not just the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. Kindness is not weakness but the ability to be sensitive to the needs of others. Goodness is not just avoiding evil but actively doing good. Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all actions that are produced by the Spirit's power. Faithfulness is being reliable in our commitments to God and others. Gentleness is not weakness but the ability to be strong in a gentle way. Self-control is not just the ability to say no to oneself but the ability to say yes to God. These traits are not something we can produce on our own, but through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Let us strive to cultivate these fruit in our lives by spending time in prayer, reading the word of God, and yielding to the Holy Spirit.

Pray:
Dear Father, thank you for sending the Comforter to us. Thank you for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the fruit of the Spirit that He provides. Teach me to produce this fruit and make His presence in my life evident by my daily actions. Make my fruit be so unmistakable that my friends and family can’t help but notice. Let the fruit point others back to You. Let it always be about the Love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Let the Spirit dwell not just in my life, but my family’s life. Give them a hunger and desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit and live a life that produces the fruit. I thank you, God.
Scripture:
Psalm 92:1: It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 100:2: Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Joshua 24:15: As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

With the busyness of life, we often find ourselves alone and in solitude. Running from one place to another and never really allowing us to connect with others in a genuine way beyond the normal Facebook comment or occasional like. But, our Christian walk was never meant to be a lonely one. Jesus shared His life with His disciples and He gave them a great example on how they could share it with others. He broke bread with them. He lived life with them. I’m sure they ate birthday cake together, blew out the candles. Maybe Jesus even relit them for a good laugh… but I have no verses to quote that. The point is that we have family and friends that God has blessed us with. Let us follow Jesus’ example and be sure we are teaching our family in the way of the Word and Christ. Let us also not allow life to get so busy that we forget to enjoy our blessing. Celebrate with your family. Comfort them in hard times. Live life with them. Teach your kids how to love Christ. Pray for and with them. Don’t fight with your family, fight for your family. Always be present. Make friends. Be friends. Pray with your friends. Encourage them when no-one else seems to. Be their cheerleader. Worship God with your friends and family and always take time to thank Him for their presence in your life.

Pray:
God, today I thank you for the people you have placed in my life. Thank you for the blessings they have brought into my life and thank you for the joy they have helped me experience. But I also know you have charged me with always being an example of You in their lives. Let me always be conscious of the calling to be a light and a witness for Christ. Let me always stand boldly and say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Give me courage to pray for a with my family. Remind me to be present. Let me be a great friend to those who you have placed in my life. Let me not be someone who is a taker in other’s lives, but let me always be a giver that is sowing into the lives of others. Remind me that just as Christ always cared for those around Him, I am to do the same.
Scripture:
Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Christians often go around with a chip on their shoulders constantly thinking about what they can’t do as a follower of Christ rather than the life Christ has given them. We pray for what we want but are often left unsatisfied when God doesn’t wave His magic wand and grant us our wishes. But, when we put our trust and delight in the Lord, it becomes less about what we desire and He will align our desires with His will for our lives. When we seek God first, He will guide us and give us the desires of our hearts that align with His plan for us. Because the desires of our heart will often lead us down a path we don’t want to take. Remember, God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He has a much bigger and better plan for us than what we can ever imagine. So, when we pray for something, we must trust in His timing and His ways, and keep delighting in Him. Let us trust in God's plan for our lives, and delight in Him daily, knowing that when we do, He will give us the desires of our hearts that align with His will for us. Let us remember that His ways are always perfect, and when we put our trust in Him, He will always lead us in the right direction.

Pray:
God, help us find our delight and joy in You. Satisfy us and teach us to be content in You, always, no matter the circumstances. I pray my heart would be drawn to You more than anything else. Pray that, at Elevate Church, teach us to be passionate worshipers of You, demonstrating our delight in You by our service to others and our giving to the Kingdom.
Scripture:
1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Have you ever heard a story about your childhood, and remembered something that you had totally forgotten about? It happens more often when it’s something traumatic or something we are not proud of. We don’t like to remember those things. Often in our Christian walk, when we are experiencing the blessings God has for us, we forget where He brought us from. We forget the wrongs we’ve done. We don’t like remembering our past mistakes, pain, and sin. But God chose to bring you out! He chose to deliver you by sending Jesus to take your place. The Bible is clear. You are His special possession. But He desires you declare what He has done for you and praise Him to others so they may also experience His deliverance. The things you may not want to remember may be the very thing that helps bring your coworker into a relationship with Christ. The memory you want to for bury may be the very thing that can bring your brother or sister into a life-giving walk with our God. Scars hurt, but they are often reminders that we survived something. Be a sounding board of the grace of God and declare to others about where He has brought you from and where He has brought you to.

Pray:
Lord, may I always faithfully declare the gospel to all men. God, fill my heart with wonder as I remember how You rescued me. Today, I thank you for rescuing me from darkness and bringing me into Your light. Today, give me an opportunity to share the good news with someone around me. I pray You would give them faith to believe. God, save my neighbors and co-workers, children and college students that I may come into contact with.
Scripture:
Psalm 78:24: He rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.
Habakkuk 2:1: I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me.
Proverbs 29:18: Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

Fasting is a time we seek God for things in our lives, but it’s also a time to listen to what He has for us. Have you ever been in a conversation where you were trying to say something that you felt was important and that you felt the other person needed to hear, but they never stopped talking to give you a chance to speak? Sometimes, we do that to God. Think about how never getting to talk in a conversation makes you feel? Why are you even there? God has something He wants to share with you during this season. Never allow yourself to get too caught up in telling God everything you want to say that you never let Him tell you what He wants to say. Take intentional time to listen to Him. Seek Him and His voice. He will speak. Let Him speak over your life and declare what He has for you. Sometimes it takes a little time. But be patient, it’s worth it.

Pray:
Lord, I pray for times of refreshing as Your Word and Holy Spirit’s presence cleanse and renew me. I pray that I will be spiritually-minded and that I will say yes to Your way and will through me. Remind me to give you time to speak. Thank you for Your faithfulness to me! I pray that my spiritual family will receive a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit!
Scripture:
Romans 12:3-5: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

We all have different gifts and talents given to us by God, and we are all part of one body in Christ. We are to to not think we are better than we actually are and to use our gifts and talents in accordance with the faith God has given us. We are all connected, and we all belong to each other. We should use our gifts and talents to serve one another and help build up the body of Christ. We should focus on serving and helping others, instead of thinking about ourselves. Remember that we all have different gifts and talents given by God, and that we are all part of one body in Christ. Some of us sing well, and some of us sing…. sort of. Some of us, God has blessed with encouragement, and some of us need to work on it. Some of us are creative, and some of us create…. something that only God knows what it is. All that to be said, God has given you a gift. A need that can’t be filled without you. Let's use these gifts and talents to serve and help others, and not think too highly of ourselves. Let's be honest in evaluating ourselves and use our gifts and talents in accordance with the faith God has given us.

Pray:
God, Let us always see ourselves as belonging to one another. God, show me what my role and function is in the body of Christ. Make your Church and our local Elevate Church be a healthy body, each member humbly doing their part. Father, help each of us at the Elevate to guard our hearts against pride and self-serving attitudes. I pray that each ministry of our church would have an abundance of volunteers that seek you and know it’s all about Jesus.
Scripture:
1 Samuel 16:7b: The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Proverbs 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart. For EVERYTHING you do flows from it.
Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the PURE in heart, for they will see God.

The question of whether a fallen tree makes a noise in the absence of an audience raises the idea of impact and how it relates to our integrity. It is said that integrity is about doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. But does it really matter what we do when no one is watching? The answer is yes, especially when it comes to our relationship with God.

God sees into our hearts, and we cannot hide anything from Him. He knows the core of who we are and is aware of every thought, word, and action we take. Integrity, therefore, comes from the heart. It is about being true to ourselves and to God.

Poor integrity can have negative effects on our hearts, it may lead to destruction and disobey God. On the other hand, good integrity protects, purifies and heals our hearts and ultimately leads to obedience to God. Let us also remember that a falling tree rarely has no impact on other life in the forest. Good integrity can lead others to Christ without you ever saying a word, but bad integrity… well, you know. Consistently poor integrity, which is a form of defiance to God, can create a barrier between us and God, making it harder to hear him.

Good integrity is not about perfection, but about humility, remorse and obedience to God even when no one is watching. It is about being true to ourselves and to God.

Pray:
Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit that is there to guide me, even when no-one else is around. I pray I become a person of integrity. Let Your integrity flow through me. Let my thoughts be your thoughts and my ways be your ways. I know you can see my thoughts and know them completely. I want to be obedient to you. Allow others to see that you change me from the inside out. Furthermore, let that change spill over to those I come into contact with. Let us be not just some people of integrity, but a generation of integrity. Let integrity be contagious and get caught by those around us without us ever even speaking a word.
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:15–16: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Speaking the truth in love is a crucial aspect of the Christian faith. It means being honest and straightforward while also being compassionate and kind. It's about finding the right balance between speaking the truth and showing love and grace. Our verse reminds us that when we speak the truth in love, we grow closer to Christ and become more like Him.

One way to practice speaking the truth in love is by being honest with ourselves and others about our mistakes and shortcomings. We should confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness, and also seek forgiveness from those we have wronged. In doing so, we show humility and a willingness to change, while also being truthful about our actions. We too often package our life like our Facebook feed, clean, exciting, and often perfect. Sometimes, speaking the truth in love means that we are honest and show the cracks in our lives. Life with Christ isn’t a Facebook feed, you aren’t speaking truth to people when you make believe it is.

Another way to speak the truth in love is by offering guidance to others. When we see someone making a mistake or heading down a harmful path, it's important to speak up and offer guidance, but to do so in a way that is gentle and compassionate. It is important to be careful of the time and place. Guidance is often not well received if you do it in front of a bunch of people. It’s also not well received, if you offer guidance about someone when they aren’t even there to hear it, in other words gossip. If someone is not open to the guidance, your job is to love. Your job is to pray. Your job is to show Christ. We should always remember to speak the truth with a loving and kind tone.

As you act this out, be careful to not use it like confetti - throwing it in the air at everyone without care of where it lands. Speaking the truth in love is an important aspect of the Christian faith. It means being honest while also being compassionate and kind. It also means we have to be conscious about how we use this tool. By confessing our sins and offering guidance in a loving way, we grow closer to Christ and become more like Him.

Pray:
Lord, thank you for Your Word. We praise you for your reminder to speak the truth in love. I pray that we would actively build each other up in love. Reveal to me how I can encourage and spur others on to love and good works. I pray that we would grow to become the mature body of Christ at Elevate Church. As Your Word tells us, we must be willing to speak the truth in love, teach us all - young and old - to use this wisely. Help us understand how You want us to do this and stir our hearts when we do this in the wrong way. Draw us to you God and let our speech not be our own, but Yours.
Scripture:
1 Peter 4:9-11: Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Today, we want to think about the importance of using our gifts and talents to serve others. As believers, we are called to use whatever gift we have received to serve others, and to do so with a joyful and grateful attitude. When most people read this verse or hear it in a sermon, they automatically think someone is about to walk up behind them with a sign up form. This verse goes far beyond the Sunday morning experience. God’s gifts and talents don’t turn off when you walk out of the door. I am not suggesting you walk down the aisle of your grocery store singing “Amazing Grace”, but God has gifted you in many ways, you have to seek Him so you can open the box. By using our gifts to serve others, we are being faithful stewards of God's grace.

Speak and serve with the strength God provides. Whatever we do, should be done in a way that brings glory to God. How often do you find that some people are willing to serve, but they aren’t happy about it? Today, let us remember that when we serve and speak, we should do so with the words of God, and not our own words.

1 Peter 4:9-11 reminds us that as believers, we are called to use our gifts and talents to serve others, and to do so with a joyful and grateful attitude. The attitude you provide while serving others will either help the act go further and make a large impact, or it will cause others to doubt a relationship with Christ and make a large impact. Let us strive to serve and speak in love, so that in all things, God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

Pray:
God, thank you for the gifts You have provided me. While sometimes I may not understand why I was given the gifts I received, You in Your infinite wisdom know beyond what I could ever imagine. Lead lead us to be faithful stewards of all that You have entrusted to us. Show me how to use the grace and gifts You have given me to advance Your kingdom and bring praise to Jesus - both at church and beyond. Give me strength and joy to serve and love others. I pray that missionaries and church planters around the world would not grow weary in well-doing, but would faithfully serve the body of Christ and their communities.
Scripture:
Psalm 100:3: Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 95:7-8: For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. Today, if only you would hear His voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness.”
1 Timothy 2:8: Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Matthew 13:58: And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Matthew 13:58 can be heartbreaking because it shows the detrimental effect that a lack of faith and a lack or seeking God can have on a church or community. We should desire God’s power to be active and noticeable in our community. So, we gotta pray.

Several times in scripture we see God looking for a person who will stand in the gap for a people, a nation, or the land. He desires to come with blessing, healing, and salvation and is looking for someone, or a group of someones, to agree with Him by paving the way for His coming in prayer.

The Biblical record reveals the Lord descended with His presence on Nineveh, Antioch, Ephesus, and Jerusalem as well as other cities. There are countless other examples in history beyond the Bible that tell of great revivals and encounters with God - some big and some smaller. But they typically have the same start - someone hitting their knees and seeking the God of change and miracles.

We often want God to move. If you asked around, I am confident that most people actually want God to do a great work in their community and church, but most people aren’t willing to but in the work for it. Yes, God is not limited by us. He can do what He wants without us ever getting involved, but the Christian faith is a faith of action. We have to seek God, we have to lift up holy hands. We have to pray for those around us. Not just check a box.

Today, I offer a challenge. Take out a piece of paper. Write down a need or something you want God to do in your community and pray about it everyday for 30 days. Don’t just pray for 30 seconds - actually seek God on your need’s behalf. Then in 30 days, see what He does. Be sure to take time to listen. Sometimes His answer is different than what we expect. Remember that conversations are meant to be two way.

Pray:
Heavenly Father, I lift up my neighbors before You Lord, asking for Your presence to fill the atmosphere so that they will hear You speak and see You work in their lives. I am believing that my community and church are about to see You work in a way we have never seen before. Let me not be the only one who wants to see Your change come. Let us never grow tired of seeking Your face. Let us not just seek You but find You. Let us cast everything else aside and seek You with our whole heart.
Scripture:
Psalm 22:27-28: All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
Habakkuk 2:14: For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In a time of rebellion, immorality and apathy towards God, Moses cried out, "Lord, reveal Your glory to me." God answered his prayer and Moses was blessed with a glimpse of God's glory, and also heard God's voice declaring His nature.

Exodus 34:6-7 tells us that God's glory is defined by His compassionate, merciful, loving and forgiving nature. He is also perfectly just and does not excuse the guilty. When we pray for God's glory to be revealed, we are asking for His nature to overwhelm our own, and for His presence to drive out any influence that opposes Him.

Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation as the one Moses was in. Our nation and the world are increasingly contentious with God, and the name of Jesus is met with resentment. Holiness and morality are in decline, and the Church is facing a battle for its survival.

As we witness 3,500-4,000 churches closing their doors annually, and 2.7 million people leaving the Church each year, we realize that we are in a desperate place. In this hour, we join our hearts in prayer, crying out to God, "Reveal Your glory to us! Overwhelm us with Your fire, revive us with Your presence and show Your glory in the Church and in the world."

"Father God, reveal Your glory to us!"

Pray:
God, I pray that the believers in our community would be a city set on a hill and ‘salt and light’ to the world. I ask that we would influence other nations with righteousness. I pray You give me Your perspective on reaching this world with the Love of Jesus. Lord, instill in me a passion to join You in the mission of pursuing people to know You so that You are glorified among all nations and peoples. Lord, may I hunger and thirst after You and desire that for all people.
Scripture:
Ephesians 6:18–20: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Paul reminds us, in Ephesians, of the importance of prayer. He encourages us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. This means that we should be constantly in communication with God, bringing our needs, concerns, and praises to Him.

Paul also reminds us to be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. This includes praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as those who have yet to come to know Jesus. When we pray for others, we are not only lifting them up in our hearts but also showing our love and concern for them.

Lastly, Paul asks for prayer for himself. He was an ambassador for the gospel. He asked for prayer that he may declare the gospel fearlessly, as he should. We can also pray for those who are sharing the gospel, that they may have the courage and wisdom to do so. We can also look at Paul’s prayer to show how we should reach others. We should fearlessly declare the Gospel of Christ. Let us not worry of the thoughts of others, but instead let us dwell on the desire of God to have a relationship with everyone we come into contact with.

Pray:
God, thank You for giving us Your Word and showing us the importance of prayer and spreading Your gospel. Make us all fearless and faithful in sharing the gospel. Give me the words I need to help others understand the wonder of all You have done. I pray we would see many come to faith in Jesus as they boldly declare the gospel in our community. Give me boldness for Your people all over the world. Call many from the Elevate to go to the nations with the message of Jesus.
Scripture:
Psalm 9:10: Those who know your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.
Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
1 Chronicles 29:13: Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.
Colossians 3:2: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For the last 21 days, we have been chasing after God as we pray and fast. We have deliberately chosen to focus on Him and seek His presence. We have deliberately chosen to take time to read His Word and listen to His voice. For some of us, we can honestly say we didn’t really ‘hear’ from God in a profound way during this time. For others, this has been an amazing time of growth, and we have felt His guidance and direction about something we were seeking. Regardless of what we have learned through this time or if we have ‘cheated’ on something we were going to fast from, these past 21 days have been crucial to us because we have obeyed God’s command to seek His presence. It is always a beautiful thing when we chase after God and we put Him first because we desire to know Him more. And He promises us that when we seek Him, He will be found.

As we conclude our 21 days of prayer and fasting, it is important to ask, “Now what?” How can you remain committed to seeking Him? Very simply, decide to love God and seek Him. That’s right, decide. Look for opportunities to spend time with Him and to learn from Him. Daily. Decide to chase after Him and not the things of this life that quickly distract us from Him. Daily. Give Him your whole heart. Daily. Look for Him in each day, through people, circumstances, the Bible, and creation. Daily. It will take intention, effort, desire, and time. But it will be so worth it as your relationship with Him grows, develops, and you fall more and more in love with Him. Hebrews 11:6 says that God will reward those who earnestly seek Him. Will you continue to earnestly seek after the God of this universe who loves you completely and desires to walk with you daily? The reward will be great because God is great!

Pray:
Father God, thank You for these last 21 days of focusing on You. Thank You for the promise that You will be found when I seek You. Thank you that You don’t hide from me but that You constantly draw me near to You. Please put a hunger and a thirst in my life for You Lord. You are so beautiful. So amazing. So forgiving. So good. And I am deciding to chase after You with all of my heart from this day on. Daily. Lord, may I put You first and seek Your face. Daily. I love you, Lord and I want to love and know You more. Amen.