Does Christ Live in Me?

Does Christ Live in Me?

*This prayer devotional was written and submitted by Pedro Martinez*

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

What great words from the Apostle Paul! These words mean that it’s great to know that God’s Spirit lives within us! Once we accept Christ as Lord of our lives, He is in control. He is the Lord of our lives. The old things have passed, all is made new. We follow Him because we are grateful for what He has done for us. However, I find myself asking whether this reality is visible in our lives. Are we the image of Jesus? Do people see Jesus when they look at us? If we grow closer to Him daily, we will start to be more like Him. Meditating on His word and speaking to Him daily is the key to doing so.

MONDAY | Personal

Let us ask God that we shall always desire to seek Him. That we would make time to pray, which is to speak to Him, and read the Bible, in which we will find His will for our lives. Let us look at the world through Jesus, that He would be our lens.

TUESDAY | Finances

Today, we ask God to make us giving people. The money that He gives us is not all for us, it is for helping others. Christ came only to give, not to receive.

WEDNESDAY | Family

We should pray for our families, that they would be able to see Christ within us. Remember that deeds speak louder than words.

THURSDAY | Church

Pray for our Church, our congregation, which is the body of Christ. Let’s be willing to help each other when needed, as this job is not only for the pastor!

FRIDAY | Leaders

Lift up our leaders in prayer, the pastor in particular. Let us pray that Christ may be revealed through them via their lives and their example.

SATURDAY | Coworkers/Classmates

This is a difficult one. Let us pray that our coworkers and or classmates don’t see that we live, but rather that Christ lives in us. It’s easy to behave in a Christian manner in Church, but are we doing so at school/work or are we like everyone else?

SUNDAY | Lost Souls

Finally, let us pray for all who are not saved. The Great Commission is that we must tell all about Jesus. Let us pray that we can show Jesus to others via our actions and not just our words. Let them say “those people are different, I want what they have!”

New Year, New FIRE Prayer Life

New Year, New FIRE Prayer Life

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” – 1 Timothy 2:1-4

God is calling our church to grow deeper in prayer, not just for ourselves but for everyone.  This helps us to not only grow in our intimacy with Him but also assists us in our mission to lead others into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

This year, we want to use this blog to help YOU. We want to encourage your prayer life with God by providing teachings, invitations, prayer request tools and much more.

As we pray together this year, use this model to pray for the salvation of those who don’t yet know their savior.

  • PRAY THAT THE FATHER WOULD DRAW THEM TO JESUS:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” – John 6:44

  • BIND THE SPIRIT THAT BLINDS THEIR MINDS:

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” – 2 Corinthians 4:4

  • LOOSE THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION:

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” – Romans 8:15

  • LOOSE THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION ON THEM:

“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” – Ephesians 1:17

Each week, we will provide different prayer themes with Scriptures selected for each day of the week. Whether you’re praying on your own or with a group, we know these guided prayers will help us all grow closer to Jesus.

  • Monday | Personal life
  • Tuesday | Financial matters
  • Wednesday | Family
  • Thursday | Leaders
  • Friday | Church
  • Saturday | Those we influence at work or school
  • Sunday | Those who need God

This Sunday we will kick off our annual 21-day prayer and fast. This can be as simple as fasting coffee, sweets, or even social media for 21-days and using that time to seek a deeper relationship with God. We’ll be right there with you, providing posts each day of the fast. Here’s to a new year and new fire in our prayer lives.

What is God’s Will For My Life?

What is God’s Will For My Life?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3

What does God want me to do? What is God’s will for my life? These are common questions, especially for a new believer in Christ. Yet, I think about how many decisions I must make daily and I pray: “God, what do you want me to do?” It’s good to pray for direction and guidance when making major decisions in our lives. However, we should pray for everything else because the decisions we make today will affect our futures. The apostle Paul wrote that God’s will is our sanctification. The word essentially means to be “set apart.” We are not driven by worldly values or worldly views. Our standard is Jesus Christ and as followers of him, we are different.

With this in mind, our focus should not be on what we do, but on who we are; our character, which is molded by who we represent. Our focus is not what nor how, but why we do what we do. Jesus was the perfect example: He was beaten, robbed, abused, and He suffered to death. Why? Because he knew who He was and why He was here – He knew His purpose. He had the right motive and was driven by His love for all of us. That’s awesome!

MONDAY | Personal

We will start the week by focusing on our motives. Let’s ask God to give us pure and sincere motives for doing what we do. Regardless of what you do for a living, may your motivation be: “whatever I do, I do it for the glory of God.”

TUESDAY | Finances

Pray that your giving reflects what God places in your heart. Giving should be for the glory of God.

WEDNESDAY | Family

Let’s continue to pray for the spiritual, physical, and financial health of our families. May God continue to bless them!

THURSDAY | Church

Today, we pray for the Church, especially for those involved in the event occurring in December.

FRIDAY | Leaders

Continue praying for our Church leaders, such that God will continue to provide them the wisdom and understanding to be effective leaders.

SATURDAY | Co-workers/Classmates

Another key group to pray for are our coworkers and or classmates. Pray that God will give you opportunities to invest in their lives.

Sunday | Lost Souls

Finally, let’s pray for the people we are inviting to Church on Sunday and for all the people God will add to the Church over the holidays.

Loving Each Other Better

Loving Each Other Better

 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – John 13:34

As we reflect on the “What’s in it for me” series, we read the gospel of John that we are called to love one another as Jesus loved us. Understanding that Jesus’ love was sacrificial and unconditional, then to love one another is quite the opposite of the statement: “what’s in for me,” which, in fact, sounds quite selfish.

What if we could love without expectations? What if we could love in a way that fulfills the expectations of others and not our own? Certainly, this kind of attitude would be Christ-like and truly make a difference. The attitude that says: “I owe this love to my wife or husband and she/he owes me nothing.” You owe me nothing and I owe you everything. This would revolutionize relationships in the home, neighborhood, and in the Church. Imagine if every new person that walks through the doors of the Church would receive this kind of treatment!

MONDAY | Personal

Pray that God shows you ways you can employ the one-week challenge. If you are married, start with your spouse. Show unconditional love to your co-workers, neighbors, and friends.

TUESDAY | Finances

Ask God to instill in you a heart for giving out of love.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

WEDNESDAY | Family

Let’s continue to pray for our families. Pray for God to give us the attitude of “you owe me nothing; I owe you everything” towards our families.

THURSDAY | Church

Choose a specific person or family in the Church and pray for God’s provision in their lives.

FRIDAY | Leaders

We continue praying for our Church leaders, asking that God will use us to help the Pastor and the leaders fulfill the vision God has given them.

SATURDAY | Co-workers/Classmates

Today, let’s pray for opportunities to invest in our coworkers and or classmates.

Sunday | Lost Souls

Finally, let’s pray for the people we are inviting to Church on Sunday. Ask God to open their minds and hearts to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

What’s In It For Me?

What’s In It For Me?

 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:25

As I reflect on my time with God, I ask the question: what’s in it for me? It speaks to me about my selfish motives. Why do I do what I do? What is my motive for doing so? It’s not a bad thing to want to prosper and be a good administrator of things that benefit us. However, based on the Scripture above, if we focus on what’s in it for ourselves, then, in the end, it won’t work. I can live and work for 40-50 years and put money in the bank, but at the end of my life, I can’t take it with me. In other words, we spend our lives working for things to preserve our lives and in the end, we can’t take them with us.

In James chapter four, he basically says: you fight because of the things or persons who are opposed to what you want in order to preserve your life. We say: “I want Jesus to prosper me. I want Jesus to give me a husband or a wife,” because we feel it will benefit us. We struggle with God and with others because we want to preserve our lives, but Jesus basically says, “if you give up your life for me, I will give you eternal life, but if you try to preserve your life you will lose it.” God is making us an offer: “give up your life for me and I will give you everything you need.”

Why don’t you give your life to Christ? What is it that you are trying to preserve? Eventually, you will lose it. When you give your life to Christ, you have everything to gain.

MONDAY | Personal

Take time to pray and meditate on your motive for doing what you do each day. Are they selfish motives for personal gain only? How can you bring glory to God in your life through your personal, daily activities?

TUESDAY | Finances

Why do we give? Do we give because we expect God to give back to us? What should be the true motive for giving? Pray about it and ask God for guidance.

WEDNESDAY | Family

Let’s continue to pray for our families and for the salvation of those who are not saved.

THURSDAY | Church

For what purpose do we attend Church services and groups during the week? What is our true motive? This is a good time to reflect and pray about this.

FRIDAY | Leaders

We continue praying for our pastors, community group leaders and heads of departments. Pray that God’s wisdom is upon them for every Church decision they make.

SATURDAY | Co-workers/Classmates

Pray for the people you know, such that you may be an influence in a positive way. Pray that your testimony will be a catalyst for them to accept Christ.

SUNDAY | Lost Souls

Finally, let’s pray for the persons we are inviting to Church on Sunday. Pray that God will open their minds and hearts to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Peace Beyond All Understanding

Peace Beyond All Understanding

In the first chapter of the book of James, we see that we should consider it joyful when we go through trials (storms in life). It should not surprise us when there are difficulties, tough times, and obstacles in life. There are storms of correction that God can send to get us back on track (like Jonah). These are God-ordained storms, but what about the storms we create? How often do we create storms with our words?

We can also create storms in our minds, with our thoughts that can affect us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In fact, most of the storms we go through can be very well our own creation and stem from our lack of trust in God. How can we have peace amid a storm? Believe God will do as He said He would and will take us to the other side.

MONDAY | Personal

Take time to meditate on how many storms (trials) we can create on our own versus how many are really ordained by God. Ask God to help you identify where they come from and to guide you through them.

TUESDAY | Finances

Let’s continue to pray for our finances. There are financial storms that we create by spending more than we make. Pray for God’s direction in using finances His way. Also, pray for opportunities to give to the kingdom of God.

WEDNESDAY | Family

There are relationship storms we created that we can stop. Ask God for wisdom to bring peace to those family relationships that are dark and turbulent.

THURSDAY | Church

As a Church, we pray for one another, especially for the Churches and families in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Texas, and the Florida Keys. As we organize and collect supplies, let’s pray for opportunities to help our brethren in the Lord.

FRIDAY | Leaders

We continue praying for our pastors, community group leaders and heads of departments. Pray for God’s wisdom to be upon them for every decision they make.

SATURDAY | Co-workers/Classmates

Pray for people you know who were affected by the storms and reach out to help them. Ask God to show you ways that you can help those in need.

SUNDAY | Lost Souls

Finally, pray for the people we are inviting to Church on Sunday. Pray that God will open their mind and hearts to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

After The Storm, Part 3

After The Storm, Part 3

Everyone has experienced storms in their lives at one time or another, and each person can have a different perspective of the same storm. Just knowing that a storm is coming can provoke an array of emotions, fear usually being the most prevalent. Fear cancels our faith. It leads to bad reports as we saw this past week, with the 10 spies who gave a bad report about the land to Moses.

Here are some thoughts we can meditate on and pray about this week:

  1. There is no denying that storms happen in our lives. How we view them, in other words our perspective, will determine our future.
  2. Our perspective must be built on God’s word and His promises for our lives.
  3. Even in the storm, His goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life!

MONDAY

Personal

Take time to pray and meditate on how you perceive storms. What is your perspective and does it line up with God’s perspective?

TUESDAY

Finances

Let’s continue to pray for our finances. Praying God will continue to provide us opportunities to give to His kingdom. Praying for opportunities to give to those in need, more specifically for the families in the countries recently affected by storms.

WEDNESDAY

Family

Continue to pray for the families affected by Hurricane Maria.

THURSDAY

Church

As a Church, we pray for one another, especially the Churches and families in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Texas, and the Florida Keys. As we organize and collect supplies, let us pray for opportunities to help our brethren in the Lord.

FRIDAY

Leaders

We continue praying for the leaders in our city, state, and country so that God will continue to direct them in helping those affected by the storm.

SATURDAY

Co-workers/Classmates

Pray for anyone you know who was affected by the storm and reach out to help them. Ask God to show you ways that you can help those in need.

SUNDAY

Lost Souls

Finally, continue to pray for opportunities to assist those in need after the storm, more specifically as believers reaching out to those who do not know Christ.

After the Storm, Part 2

After the Storm, Part 2

Recently, we’ve experienced physical storms and their corresponding difficulties. These have taken place in Puerto Rico, Texas, the Florida Keys, and Mexico (earthquakes in this case). In the Bible, storms are not met to be a source of destruction but of correction and teaching. Jonah heard the command of God and went in a different direction, but God used a storm and a “Big Fish” to get him back on course. I believe God does the same with us. He allows us to go through very difficult situations to get us back on track. The question should never be: “God why are you allowing this storm in my life?” It should be “God what are you trying to teach me in the midst of this storm?”

Peter and the disciples learned more about Jesus in a storm than what His words could ever teach.

There are four points we can learn from this story, which is found in Matthew 14:

  1. The storms are not an indication of God’s absence; they are an indication that God is actively building our faith.
  2. Mature faith is the result of experiencing the storms of life.
  3. You will never mature in your faith until the price you pay for preserving your life is higher than the price you pay for surrendering your life.
  4. You will never truly worship Jesus until the testing of your faith leads you to recognize who He truly is. 

MONDAY

Personal

Knowing that God works during the storm, we need to pray and heed the words of scripture. The wise man built his house on the rock so that when the storms came, his house would remain. The wise man hears the word of God and puts them into practice. Pray that we can put God’s word into practice.

TUESDAY

Finances

Ask God to help you to get through any financial storm. Are you obeying God regarding finances? Pray for wisdom in this area.

WEDNESDAY

Family

There are storms your family is going through at this very moment. Intercede for them, not just for God to deliver them, but so that God will teach them to find Him in the storm.

THURSDAY

Church 

As a Church, we pray for one another, especially the Churches and families in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Texas, and the Florida Keys. As we organize and collect supplies, let’s pray for opportunities to help our brethren in the Lord.

FRIDAY

Leaders

Pray for the leader of our country and all the countries affected by these devastating storms and earthquakes. Pray that God gives our leaders wisdom to deal with this very difficult situation.

SATURDAY

Co-workers/Classmates

Pray for the people you know who were affected by the storm and reach out to help them. Ask God to show you ways that you can help those in need.

SUNDAY

Lost Souls

We continue to pray for opportunities to assist those in need after the storm. We pray both for the opportunity to help with their physical needs and to help as believers reaching out to those who do not know Christ.

After the Storm, Part 1

After the Storm, Part 1

After the storm, whether external or internal, God has a purpose. In the 4th chapter of the book of Mark, Jesus teaches His disciples four parables. Immediately afterwards, He invites them into a boat, right before a storm, to go to the other side of the lake.

Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side.” The point is that when Jesus declares or commands something, it is going to happen. The storm only increased the difficulty of the situation; however, this did not change what Jesus had said. They were going to get to the other side!

We face all kinds of storms that increase the difficulties in life; it is here where we need to learn to trust God amid the difficulties. The disciples lost their focus; they focused on the storms instead of Jesus and we do this as well. What can we learn from the storms of life? We can learn to re-focus on the one who is in the boat with us. We can recognize our insufficiencies and lack of power in these situations. We can identify the fears that paralyze us and learn to apply the teachings that He has given us.

MONDAY | Personal

What personal (internal) storms are you facing today? Ask God to help you re-focus on Him. Cast your cares upon Him. Take time to re-read the passage from Sunday and meditate on what God said.

TUESDAY | Finances

Ask God to help you to get through any financial storm. Ask Him to give you direction and place your trust completely in Him.

WEDNESDAY | Family

Today, we continue to pray for our families to make it through any storms that they may be going through (example: financial, health-related, relationships, etc.)

THURSDAY | Church

We continue to pray for the Church. Pray for those who were affected by the storm and have needs: financial, material, or spiritual. We are also praying for the “On your marks, get set, go” activity on October 14. Pray for a huge turnout of people willing to get started in service to the Lord.

FRIDAY | Leaders

Let us pray for the leaders in our church that were affected by the storm, such that God would supply for all their needs.

SATURDAY | Co-workers/Classmates

Pray for any of your co-workers and/or classmates affected by the storm and reach out to help them. Ask God to show you ways that you can help those in need.

SUNDAY | Lost Souls

Finally, we continue to pray for opportunities to assist those in need after the storm- more specifically as believers reaching out to those who do not know Christ.

Overcoming Discouragement and Negativity

Overcoming Discouragement and Negativity

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

God had given Joshua the command to be strong and courageous as he led the people into the Promised Land. God also told Joshua how to be strong and courageous. He told him to keep the book of the Law (God’s Word) in his mouth and meditate on it day and night. God knew Joshua would have his moments of fear and discouragement and the remedy was to remember His Word and remember that God was with him.

How often do we get negative and discouraged when things don’t’ go the way we want? There are times we fear not having enough or falling short. If we listen to ourselves long enough, we can become very discouraged and anxious. However, if we speak words of encouragement and the Word of God, we can defeat any fear or discouragement.

MONDAY

Personal

Ask God to show you the areas of fear and discouragement in your life, especially as it pertains to serving the Lord. Make a commitment to study and meditate on His Word. It will bring you success.

TUESDAY

Finances

Let us ask God to help us overcome any fears regarding giving to Him. We have doubts and reservations about giving. We often think we won’t have enough afterward. Giving must be done in faith.

WEDNESDAY

Family

We continue to pray that God’s purpose will be fulfilled in the lives of our families.

THURSDAY

Church

Today, we pray for the Church. We are praying for the “On your marks, get set, go” activity on September 09. Pray for a huge turnout of persons willing to get started in their service to the Lord.

FRIDAY

Leaders

Pray for the President who is dealing with a divided country and for the safety of the people affected by the Hurricane in Texas.

SATURDAY

Co-workers/Classmates

Often, we spend more time with our co-workers and/or classmates than we do with our own families. We should use this time to be a light for them. Pray for the salvation of your co-workers and/or classmates.

SUNDAY

Lost Souls

We continue to believe that God will help us fill the Church with new souls. Let’s pray for the lost souls of the city of Doral as we inch closer to having the new Church building.