There are great resources available to believers today: from books to movies, websites to YouTube, iTunes to cassettes (are those still around =D). Quality resources can encourage our faith, increase our understanding and inspire us to pursue the Lord with greater focus and passion. In this post I want to do two things: 1. Share a few gems I’ve come across recently. 2. Hear from you about what has encouraged you. Here it goes…
The Bible Project – YouTube Channel
A series of great quality videos covering major themes of the Bible and introductions to it’s various books. Helpful for the visual among us to gain a broader understanding of what we are reading in the Scriptures.
My current top album is Invitation, Vol 1 by a group called 10000 Fathers. This well written and soul stirring collection of songs is perfect for times of personal worship and devotion. The heart behind this group is leading the church to true worship while avoiding the celebrity of the contemporary christian music industry.
Now it’s your turn. Share your top picks for great resources and why you like them in the comment section below. I’ll just might highlight yours in a future post.
In my devotions yesterday I read a simple verse that gives us a lot of practical direction about prayer. Luke 5:16 tells us that “Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.” Jesus the Son of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, God in the flesh needed to pray. As we begin this year let’s take advantage of a source of strength, direction and fellowship that can be ours as we give ourselves to prayer.
-Pastor Matt
Prayer Points:
More salvations through the ministries of Gateway this year
More disciples to grow in their walk with the Lord
An increased understanding of the love of God for each person that calls Gateway home.
This week we head into a time of prayer and fasting. Here are a few tips that can help you as you prayerfully consider how you can participate.
Fasting is simply choosing do deny ourselves of good things for a specific period of time in favor of better things –namely time seeking the Lord in prayer. We don’t fast to impress the Lord or to earn His love or acceptance (we already have that). During times of fasting we remind ourselves of our total dependence on Jesus and willingly let go of other things so that we can focus more totally on Him. Here are just a few thoughts to help you participate this week:
Decide what and how long you will fast
Total Fast –With or without water.
Partial Fast –Abstaining from certain types of foods and/or limiting quantity of food. Like Daniel’s fast in Daniel 10:3 where he fasted delicacies, meat and wine. For example, you may choose to fast certain meals like lunch or to just drink fruit and vegetable juices.
Special Fast –Fasting things other than food like TV, Internet or Facebook.
Fast Safely
Especially if you are choosing to fast significant amounts of food, ensure you are healthy and consider consulting a physician if you are unsure.
Pregnant women, diabetics and those with poor health or eating disorders should not fast.
Fasting can be a healthy practice that is beneficial to your body. Limiting physical activity and ensuring adequate rest is important.
Slowly reintroduce foods after fasting.
Take time to Pray
Fasting is more than doing without. It is a season of reallocating priorities to focus on prayer and seeking the Lord
Take part in prayer meetings and schedule specific times to pray.
Avoid Religious Displays and Beliefs
In Matthew 6 Jesus encourages fasting as a practice done before the Lord not for appearing more holy before people.
Fast as a confident child of God not a fearful slave trying to gain something from God.
Grace
Fasting is difficult. Rely on the strength the Lord graciously gives to those who ask.
If you slip up, take it to the Lord in prayer and continue with the rest of your fast.
Expect Results
This time of focused attention on prayer will accomplish much in your life and church.
This January we will continue our twice annual tradition of setting aside the week of January 3-9 for a time of prayer and fasting at Gateway. Stay tuned for details about prayer meetings, keep an eye here on the blog for a daily prayer guide and most importantly mark your calendar and plan to participate.
At the same time, the global Foursquare family is setting aside 21 days to fast and prayer for our world. Follow this link to read an article by the US Foursquare president and to sign up for daily email prayer reminders.
2016 is just around the corner. Let’s start the year in strength as we seek the Lord first.
