*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!”

“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.

 ^“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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

According to neuroscientists, our feelings decide for us 95% of the time. You feel before you think, you feel before you act, and that’s how you ultimately make decisions- based on how you feel. When we say “feelings” and “emotions,” we understand from the last couple of weeks that we are talking about the heart, not the physical organ, but rather the soul.

Feelings and emotions can be difficult to stop. We all have feelings and we react differently to events in life. This why change is hard!

Logically, we know what we should do, but our feelings about doing it make our decision for us. Your feelings will make the decision before you even realize what happened.

We know the truth from God’s Word, but doing it becomes difficult.

Essentially, we make excuses or literally talk ourselves out of doing what we know is right. How often do we talk ourselves out of doing what God wants us to do? Even with something as simple as going to Church on Sunday or attending a small group during the week? We make excuses, albeit there are some legitimate excuses- but for the most part we talk ourselves out instead of in.

What is God calling you into with regard to His purpose in your life?

MONDAY

Personal

Ask God to show you the areas in your life where you have been making excuses. God has called you but you may have been avoiding His call because of fear or lack of confidence.

TUESDAY

Finances

God is calling us to give. Let’s pray that we do what is right and we give what belongs to Him.

WEDNESDAY

Family

We continue to pray that God’s purpose for the lives of our family members will be fulfilled.

THURSDAY

Church

Continue to pray for the Church. We pray for that more souls will be saved and that we will all grow in our relationship with God.

FRIDAY

Leaders

Today, we pray for the leaders of our nation, especially the President of the United States. We also continue to pray for the healing and restoration of Venezuela.

SATURDAY

Co-workers/Classmates

One instance where our feelings can align with God’s calling is when we feel compelled to bring salvation to those around us. Therefore, let us pray for the salvation of our co-workers and/or classmates.

SUNDAY

Lost Souls

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

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

Words of wisdom: “guard your heart” -like a soldier guards a gate and does not allow enemies to come in. Like a prison guard that does not allow prisoners to escape. We are to guard our hearts from what goes in and what goes out of it. Jesus said “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” We can learn a lot about ourselves by listening to our words. When I listen to my words, if for the most part they’re not good; I must be mindful of what enters through my ears (what I listen to) and through my eyes (what I see). These are the influences in my life. There are areas I can manage such as: television shows I watch, what I listen to on the radio, and who I spend my time with. This will change what I take in and positively affect what comes out, my words and deeds. The past Sunday, we learned about surrounding ourselves with the right people. Let’s begin to apply that lesson this week.

MONDAY

Personal

Ask God to show you ways to guard your heart. Pray for the initiative to take the steps necessary to become better.
TUESDAY

Finances

Today, we pray to become better stewards of the finances that God has given us.

WEDNESDAY

Family

We continue to pray for the spiritual well-being of our families. Let us pray for unity within each of our families.

THURSDAY

Church

Continue to pray for the Church, especially through this series on the heart. God will use it to teach us to guard our hearts.

FRIDAY

Leaders

Let us pray that our Church leaders will be able to guard their hearts.

SATURDAY

Co-workers/Classmates

Pray that you can be a light in the lives of your coworkers and/or classmates which will help to lead them to Christ.

SUNDAY

Lost Souls

I believe God will help us fill the Church with new souls. Let us pray for those lost souls in Miami as we inch closer to having the new Church building.