“…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16

Can prayer really make a difference?  Can my prayers actually change things?  Is it possible for the will of God to be thwarted because I don’t pray?  These are legitimate questions.  The answers you give them reflect the very foundation of your relationship with the Lord.  On one hand, if God is Sovereign, He’s going to do everything the way He wants, so why pray?  On the other hand, if He is waiting on my prayers to execute His will, then I had better get serious about praying really quick.  How does His Sovereignty and my prayers go together?

God uses prayer to make the impossible, possible and the ordinary, extraordinary.  Prayers make our efforts effective and help us to define God’s will more clearly.  C.H. Spurgeon said, “Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets His people to pray.”  Faithful praying releases the Holy Spirit to act.

Someone once said, “God does things when we pray that He does not do when we do not pray.”  May today’s devotional be an inspiration for you to seek the Lord in prayer. 

Prayer Focus: Thank God for hearing all the prayers that have been lifted up on our church’s behalf.  Thank Him in advance for answering them.  Pray God’s people at Impact will pray more than ever before and that everything we do as a church will be labored over in prayer.  And may that start with you!  Make sure you have been and continue to connect with Him through prayer.  What is He leading you to do now for Him and His ministry?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

There are two ways people live their lives as they pass through this world – either remembering God or forgetting Him.  They either acknowledge His presence and live their lives in dependence on Him, or they pay no attention to His claims on them and live a life on the basis of their own understanding and abilities.  The worst tragedy and cruelest deception is the man who says feebly with his lips, “I trust God,” but an examination of his calendar and checkbook shows no difference between him and the man who does not make that claim.  The question we must ask ourselves today is, “Do we trust God?”

The very nature of this question produces two possible meanings:  First – “Can you ‘trust’ God?”  That is, is He trustworthy?  Can He handle the decisions and the problems in your life?  Secondly – “Can ‘you’ trust God?”  That is, do you have the ability to trust Him?

These verses reveal some important things about trusting God:

• The matter of trust is an all or nothing thing.  Notice how many times the word “all” is used.
• The command to trust precedes the promise.  Blessing comes after trust is expressed.
• The promise is conditional.  Unlike many of the unconditional promises in the Bible, this promise of direction is given only to those who exercise trust in God.

Prayer Focus: Pray your faith and trust in God will grow.  Pray you will allow God to be in control and you will utterly depend on Him and .desire His will be done.  Pray the fruits of our deepened trust in Him will result in guidance from Him.  Ask God to identify an area of your life where you need to yield to Him.  Then give it to Him and look for His provision.  Hey – we say we trust God.  We want to trust God.  And now it’s time to actually take that to the next level

“He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had.’”
Genesis 37:6

In 1989, a movie called “Field of Dreams” was released.  Kevin Costner played Ray Kincella, a 37 year-old man who had never done a crazy thing in his life until he heard a voice one day that said, “Build it and he will come.”  You see, Ray had had a stormy relationship with his dad.  As a rebellious child of the 60’s, he scorned his dad who loved baseball, refusing even to play catch with him.  His father died before he could make things right.  When Ray plowed his cornfield over and made a baseball field, everyone said he was crazy for following his dream, but through the magic of the movie he could be reunited with his father as a young man.  The theology is certainly not correct, and the plot is nowhere near reality, but that is what makes the movies fun to watch.

One thing is for certain; people will come to a place where their dreams can be fulfilled.  God’s field of dreams is not in Iowa, but rather in the hearts of His people.  How do we know what a dream looks like?  This list below gives us a good description of what a God-given dream looks like:

• A God-given dream will stir your passion.
• A God-given dream will be humanly impossible to accomplish.
• A God-given dream will make an impression on you for a lifetime.
• A God-given dream will cause you to exercise strong faith.
• A God-given dream can be very scary.
• The enemy of our soul will attack a God-given dream.

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact will be a true “field of dreams” where people can find and fulfill their dreams.  Pray the whole congregation will be united in our dream to see more changed lives.  Pray we can be one so the world can be won.  Pray for church leaders to have discernment for decisions that affect this dream.  Ask God to protect our dream from the enemy.

“Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.’ "
2 Chronicles 20:20

William Tyndale is perhaps the most important person in the illustrious history of the English Bible.  He was, in fact, the father of the modern English Bible.  His translation, first published in 1525, and used subsequently in virtually every other major translation for hundreds of years to follow, was the new standard for English expression.  By quoting the Bible, Shakespeare quotes Tyndale more than 5,000 times!

William Tyndale did not live an easy life.  He was hunted, persecuted, and eventually killed by those who considered his work evil.  Can you imagine?  Putting the Scriptures in a language common people could read?  Preposterous!  Yet he pursued this goal because he was motivated to communicate what he considered the “lost message of the church” — the message of faith.  Tyndale defined faith as “acting on the promises of God.”  It’s doubtful we could come up with a better definition.

Prayer Focus:  As you consider that phrase — acting on the promises of God — how are you exercising faith today?  What promises are you claiming, and how are you living out that reality?  For today, identify one specific promise of God that is especially important and significant.  Sit down right now, for real, and make a phone call or send an email to someone and share that promise.  Then, consider how you can act on that promise… to be a doer of the Word!

"’Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered.”
Mark 11:22

George Mueller hadn’t faced a situation quite like it.  Before him were 120 orphans, expectantly seated at long dinner tables.  But something at this mealtime tested the mettle of Mueller’s heart.  On the dinner plates at that table was...nothing but water.  Eager faces looked toward him, as if to say, “What’s for dinner?”  But he didn’t know; the cupboard was bare and the icebox was empty.  There was no milk, and no money to buy food or drink.

What was George to do?  It didn’t take long for him to decide.  He would do what he had done every other mealtime.  He would instruct the children to bow their heads and join him in thanking God for the meal they were about to eat.  He would praise God for the faithfulness of His provision.  And so he did.  Mueller prayed simply, directly, and with a heart filled with faith.

When the “amen” was pronounced, the plates were still empty.  But as the eyes of those 120 youngsters turned again to the head table, a knock sounded at the door.  One of the boys was sent to answer.  A moment later, he called out, “Mr. Mueller, it’s the vegetable man!  He’s got a lot of stuff for us!”  “Coincidentally,” there were many vegetables that would spoil if he didn’t do something with them.  While the vegetables were being unloaded, another person came to the door — the butcher!  He had run out of ice at the end of a hot day and faced the prospect of awful, rotting meat.  Could the orphanage use it?  No sooner had he spoken the words than another amazing “coincidence” occurred.  The milkman’s wagon pulled up, overloaded with milk and dairy products and needing desperately to do something with them!

Needless to say, it was quite a banquet that night.  And it was the finest lesson in faith those orphans ever received.  Would the same thing have happened had Mueller not prayed, believing God for His provision and thanking him ahead of time for it?  We don’t know, but we do know Jesus said we have not because we ask not.  And we know His will for us is to walk by faith, not by sight.

Prayer Focus: God is calling each attender of Impact to answer a vital question:  “Do you have the faith to trust God for His provision?”  No matter what the circumstances are?  No mater how gloom your reality may seem?  Do you trust God to provide?  Talk to Him about that right now.  Spend at least 10 minutes (minimum) and share your heart about your faith in His provision.  Oh yeah… and be honest!

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6

A personal relationship with God is established by faith and a continuous fellowship with God is maintained by faith.  Paul told the Colossians, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6, NKJV).  We receive Him by faith, and we walk in Him by faith.  Without faith we cannot please God, and we cannot live effectively for Him.  “Without faith,” the Bible says, “it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

Second Kings, chapter 5, records the story of Naaman, a powerful Syrian military leader who was suffering from the most dreaded disease of that era, leprosy.  Someone told him Elisha, the man of God, could possibly heal him, so he sought the prophet’s help.  Elisha instructed Naaman to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River to be healed.  The great soldier became angry at such a ridiculous suggestion.  “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy,” said Naaman to his servants (2 Kings 5:11).  At first he refused, but without any other remedy, Naaman at last went into the river and was healed.  The act made no human sense, but in the divine plan, it was an act of faith.

Prayer Focus: Why do we need faith?  It’s how we relate to God.  In His infinite plan, He has determined “the just shall live by faith.”  On your own or with your family, identify one thing you consider would be an act of faith. 

Determine to do that thing, and keep a record of the evidence of God’s blessing on obedience in that behavior.  Then tell someone about it!

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1

The believer must exercise faith by acting in obedience to God’s Word.  As the Apostle Paul explained to the Romans, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).  Such a response allows you to enter into partnership with God, and gives the assurance of success even though you may not see the end in sight.

When Noah was directed by God to build an ark, he obeyed by starting a project that lasted for 100 years.  Noah had never experienced a flood, nor had he even seen rain, yet he obeyed the Lord with reckless abandon.  Since the command of God came without a specific schedule, Noah had to believe and act accordingly because authentic faith has no time limit.

Hebrews 11:7 says that Noah, “when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”  The fear wasn’t fright, but a deep and abiding respect for the Lord and a confidence in His Word.  Faith was the only reasonable response for Noah, as it is for us today.  As we look to the church’s future we can’t see it perfectly (that’s the “X” in The X Factor), but we can know God will honor our obedience to Him in the commitments we make.

Prayer Focus:  Encourage each member of your family or small group to ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do in this spiritual journey?”  Whatever His leading, respond in faith. 

Would you be willing to ask God right now, “Lord, How are you going to challenge me to participate in The X Factor?”  Don’t settle yet… continue the journey and be open to His leading. 

And when He leads… even if it requires faith above your knowledge… above common sense… respond with obedience!

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

An attitude of gratitude puts everything in the proper perspective.  It enables us to see the big picture and helps us to focus on God and His glory rather than on ourselves and our personal trials or triumphs.  Such an attitude, openly expressed and lived-out, sends a powerful message to our family and friends:  God is in control and I’m glad He is!  Otherwise, we can become self-focused and lose sight of what God is accomplishing in the greater scheme of things.

Baking a cake requires using a number of ingredients, which, if eaten by themselves, are mostly distasteful:  flour, raw eggs, baking powder, etc.  But, if these same ingredients are carefully blended together and baked for the right period of time, you end up with a delicious dessert.  God is at the "mixing bowl" of our lives.  Our "flour and raw eggs" experiences, however distasteful, are the ingredients of a wonderful creation.  We can give thanks in all circumstances because of our faith in God, knowing the end result of all our experiences will be a perfect blend for our good and His glory.

Prayer Focus: Individually and in your family, encourage each member to identify at least one good experience and one bad experience they have had recently.  Take the time to give God thanks for both, remembering that from God’s perspective they are equally beneficial. 

Read Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Do you believe that?  Live it!

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Acts 4:31

Who knows the full extent of what God has in store for our church (The X Factor)?  Only God does!  But He longs to reveal more and more of His plan to us as we act in faith and see He is greater than all.

Acts chapter 4 describes the bold ministry of Peter and John, and the price they paid for proclaiming the Message.  Because they would not keep quiet about their Lord... because they were convinced their silence would carry eternal consequences... because their faith was in the One whose Name is above all others... they didn’t give up or give in.  Even though the authorities demanded they cease to teach about Jesus or even to speak His name, they refused and were seriously persecuted.

When Peter and John were released that day, they returned to their fellow Christians and joined them in praying to the God who is greater.  All the believers recognized the risks they were taking, but in the larger context, the threats didn’t matter.  As a result, their prayer was not filled with expressions of anxiety; instead, it overflowed with the promises of Scripture.  Their emotions and thoughts were anchored in the reality of who God is.  No one pretended the circumstances were pleasant, but everyone confessed two essential truths —God is sovereign and He is forever the Creator.

The same God these first century disciples devoted their lives to, that same Sovereign Lord and Creator, is our God.  And when we pray to Him, we are confessing confidence in the One who is greatest.  In response to our prayer, He can change the hearts of our enemies.  He can create a thirst for Jesus in the hearts of those who once rejected the Gospel.  He can create circumstances to override our prevailing circumstances.  And He can do all this because He is greater than all.

Prayer Focus: We face mountainous challenges at Impact.  How do we respond with the spiritual vision to see He, as the God who is greater, can cast those mountains into the sea or reduce them to a level path?  Pray about a “mountain” you are facing, and pray also about the “mountain” we face in our important The X Factor spiritual journey.  Let’s believe together that God can make a mole hill out of all our mountains… because He can!

It is truly amazing to me how much influence the Buddhist religion has on influencing the rest of the world. The inseperable hold it has on much of the world is fascinating and sad. Families are being disowned, beaten up, and otherwise discarded once they choose to follow Christ. There is NO grace. There is NO openness. There is NO tolerance.

I have to admit - I love their devotion. It's a shame that Christians can't somehow embrace this type of devotion to our Lord. Yes - we should couple it with grace and love and patience. But the inseperable embrace of Jesus seems to be missing in America.

It would appear that if we have much of any type of hindrance, inconvenience or difficulty - our faith is the first to go. People love Jesus when He serves them well. People embrace Jesus when He provides them salvation, peace, joy, hope and prosperity to their otherwise discouraged life. People love Jesus when He's providing something.   

I'd like to see Americans embrace Jesus and Christianity with an inseperable abandonment. The old has gone and the new has come. Embrace the new, people. With Christ - everything won't be alright. Everything will be as it is supposed to be. And that may involve hardship, difficulty, and suffering. So what?