Jesus Calling prayer - February 28

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 27

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 26

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 25

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 24

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Day 7 - February 24 - Lent - Revive Today

Matthew 6:1-4Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

How to Give

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They've got their reward! 

3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

By Grace, today I will fast from wanting more, instead of giving more. Today I will give thankfully, so others can thankfully live. We repent that our clothing, our chocolate, our coffee, and our smart phones depend on slave labor for producing these goods cheaply so we have more money in our wallets regardless of how much life and soul it costs someone else. 

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Day 6 - February 23 - Lent - Revive Today

Isaiah 58:6-10Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

6 6 Isn't the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free,
and to tear off every yoke?
7 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?
8 8 Then your light will appear like the dawn,
and your recovery will come quickly.
Your righteousness will go before you,
and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.
9 9 At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer;
when you cry out, He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you get rid of the yoke among you,
the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,
10 10 and if you offer yourself to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted one,
then your light will shine in the darkness,
and your night will be like noonday.

By Grace, today I will fast from apathy and indifference because we are not here to make an impression but to make a difference. Today I will be the hands and feet of Christ everywhere I can because He’s given me His heart so I can. We repent for not caring for the widow and the orphan, but caring more about looking like we’re keeping up with Jones’s, because You say faith like this is a sham, a fake, a fraud.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 23

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Day 5 - February 22 - Lent - Revive Today -

Matthew 6:16(HCSB)

How to Fast

16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!

By Grace, today I will fast from food because my fullness makes me uncaring to others’ emptiness. Today I will hunger in solidarity with the starving and I will be famished for Jesus as my Living Bread. We repent of our full plates while every 3.6 seconds another person stops breathing because they’re died of hunger, died of an empty plate.

Update: I failed, also.  I had company in the failed department.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 22

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

When the Spirit of truth comes - John 16:13-15

 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 
14 He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. 
15 Everything the Father has is Mine. This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you.

Holy Spirit, You have come to me. Teach me to be a good wife.

God, I want to experience Shalom so that I may bless You and others. You are the Master of my life. Thank You for Your Love and Your Guidance.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Day 4 - February 21 - Lent - Revive Today - Fast: Social Media

Matthew 23:23-26Amplified Bible (AMP)

23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law—right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others (the tenth).

24 You blind guides, filtering out a gnat and gulping down a camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self-indulgence.

26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean also.

The phrase that could reform me: verse 23

*weightier (more important) matters of the Law—right and justice and mercy and fidelity 

*without neglecting the others (the tenth).

This convicts me because they are both important.,, right, justice, mercy and fidelity; and giving back to God what is His. But doing the giving back does not negate the importance of following Christ in righteousness, justice, mercy and fidelity.

If I am careful to abide in Christ (His Word) in righteousness, justice, mercy and fidelity, verses 24 - 26 will fall into place.

By Grace, today I will fast from social media because unplugging tunes me to God. Today I will be more focused on Good News than any other news. We repent of having more time for Facebook than we do for Face in Your Book, for more closely following our social media streams instead of thirsting for Living Water and closely following You. 

[Preparing this blog post on Day 3 so I can do this fast on Day 4, See you on Day 5. OH WOW! This is a Saturday fast! Going to be a great day!!]

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 21

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Day 3 - February 20 - Lent - Revive Today

Matthew 7:1-5Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves.

2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

3 Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.

By Grace, today I will fast from being judgemental and hold fast to Christ’s grace. Today I will not judge people’s hearts that I cannot see, but love people’s hearts so they see Christ in me. We repent of being judgemental because it makes us think we can be God-like—instead of us being like Christ. Make us like Christ’s Cruciform, Cross-formed, Love.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

How Selfishness Affects Marriage by Paul David Tripp

HOW SELFISHNESS AFFECTS MARRIAGE

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 20

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 19

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Day 2 - February 19 - Lent - Revive Today

John 15:1-8Amplified Bible (AMP)

1  I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

2 Any branch in Me (believer; saved; born again) that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away) (fellowship with the Lord ceases); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit (oh, what a wonderful place to be).

3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of THE WORD which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].

4 Dwell in Me [stay in My Word], and I will dwell in you [My Word will stay in you]. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine [staying in The Word], neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me [stay in The Word].

5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me [stays in My Word] and I in him, bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] [away from My Word] you can do nothing.

6 If a person does not dwell in Me [stay in My Word], he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers [without The Word, we are in a coma]; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire [get ready, you're going through the fire, discipline], and they are burned [and it hurts].

7 *****If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] [stay in My Word] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.****

8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

John 1 Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

By Grace, today I will fast fromperfectionism because it’s akin toPharisiasm. Today I will not holdpeople or myself to a standard ofperfection—but let us all be held byJesus’ arms of grace. We repent ofwanting to be seen as perfect insteadof abiding in Your Perfect Love—YourPerfect Cross-Shaped Love.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Day 1 - February 18 - Lent - Revive Today

Acts 3:19Amplified Bible (AMP)

19 So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;

I'm going to look at this backwards, last part first:

It is impossible to be revived and refreshed by the presence of the LORD until my sin is forgiven.  My sin cannot be erased until I repent.

LORD, I repent (as You reveal to me) and thank You for cleansing my slate and for the joy of Your Presence.

By Grace, today I will fast from the arrogance that my repentance was a one time event when I first came to the Cross, when in reality repentance is a continual event for those who never leave the power of the Cross. Today I will have the courage to face my sin and own it, because I look into the face of Christ and He owns me, cleanses me, and remakes me. We repent of ever thinking there would be revival without repentance, of thinking You would heal our land without us getting down on our knees.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 18

Adapted from Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 17

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 16

Click on image to enlarge.  Free to share, Pin, post, etc. God bless!

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 15

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 14

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 13

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 12

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 11

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Jesus Calling prayer - February 10

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Daily Bread

How many times a day do you feed your body?

Are you forcing your spirit to fast?

Your spirit is actually who you are and will live forever.  Shouldn't we take better care of our spirits?

"Give us this daily our daily bread" was not a casual statement made by our Lord Jesus. This instruction applies to both our physical body AND our spirit.

It's for our good.

 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).