Welcome to day fourteen of our 14 Days of Prayer and Fasting devotional series!
We are so grateful to you for joining us over the past two weeks seeking after the heart of our God and allowing Him to lay a foundation in us for what He wants to do in us and lead us through in this next year!
As we have everyday of this series, we will be diving into a Spirit-led word from one of our amazing Angelus Temple and Dream Center Ministry Leaders and Directors, and we encourage you to prayerfully join us as we humbly examine where our God is leading us in this new season, as well as the new thing He has already begun in our midst.
Today, we will be hearing a final encouraging word from Pastor Brad Reed about moving forward, and how by daily pressing forward "towards the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus", the Lord will equip us abundantly with what we need for the journey ahead.
We are so grateful to you for joining us over the past two weeks seeking after the heart of our God and allowing Him to lay a foundation in us for what He wants to do in us and lead us through in this next year!
As we have everyday of this series, we will be diving into a Spirit-led word from one of our amazing Angelus Temple and Dream Center Ministry Leaders and Directors, and we encourage you to prayerfully join us as we humbly examine where our God is leading us in this new season, as well as the new thing He has already begun in our midst.
Today, we will be hearing a final encouraging word from Pastor Brad Reed about moving forward, and how by daily pressing forward "towards the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus", the Lord will equip us abundantly with what we need for the journey ahead.
Day 14: Moving Forward
by Brad Reed
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” - Philippians 3:12-16, ESV
As we conclude our 14 days of prayer and fasting, I pray that we all would move forward into this year with great expectancy. Paul had so many accomplishments and miracles to recount; however, it seems that Paul’s custom was to live everyday looking forward to what God had ahead and consistently laying down those things which were behind him.
My family and I have started the year off with prayer and fasting for most of our kids’ lives and every year I could go back and point to new things God was inviting us to step into and also so many things that we simply laid down and never picked them back up. One year early on I decided not to drink soda during a time of fasting and I realized I didn’t need that much sugar in my life because diabetes runs in my family, so I just quit for 21 days. After the 21 days I just never picked that up again. This has also been a time where the Lord has been asking us to pick up some things needed for what lays ahead.
As a staff, we are so proud of each of you for starting your year off right, seeking God for more in 2024! Remember, just because our 14 days are up, we are now better equipped to face all the challenges and blessings a year can bring.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for meeting with each of us during this time of consecration and prayer. We believe that You are moving in our city, church, and families. Empower each of us to see Your Will more clearly and give us the strength to say yes to whatever you lead us into this year.
As we conclude our 14 days of prayer and fasting, I pray that we all would move forward into this year with great expectancy. Paul had so many accomplishments and miracles to recount; however, it seems that Paul’s custom was to live everyday looking forward to what God had ahead and consistently laying down those things which were behind him.
My family and I have started the year off with prayer and fasting for most of our kids’ lives and every year I could go back and point to new things God was inviting us to step into and also so many things that we simply laid down and never picked them back up. One year early on I decided not to drink soda during a time of fasting and I realized I didn’t need that much sugar in my life because diabetes runs in my family, so I just quit for 21 days. After the 21 days I just never picked that up again. This has also been a time where the Lord has been asking us to pick up some things needed for what lays ahead.
As a staff, we are so proud of each of you for starting your year off right, seeking God for more in 2024! Remember, just because our 14 days are up, we are now better equipped to face all the challenges and blessings a year can bring.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for meeting with each of us during this time of consecration and prayer. We believe that You are moving in our city, church, and families. Empower each of us to see Your Will more clearly and give us the strength to say yes to whatever you lead us into this year.