Prayer and Fasting Devotions

Scripture: Joel 2:12–13 
That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

Devotion: Repentance, in Scripture, is more than feeling sorry for sin. It is a turning—a decisive reorientation of the heart toward God. Joel exposes the temptation toward shallow repentance: torn garments without torn hearts, outward religious activity without inward surrender. God is not impressed by performance; He desires honesty. To “make straight the paths” of our hearts means allowing God to confront the crooked places we often ignore: hidden pride, unresolved bitterness, quiet disobedience, and self-reliance masked as strength. 

This kind of repentance is not meant to crush us but to free us. Joel continues by grounding the call to return in the very character of God: “for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” We repent not to earn God’s mercy, but because mercy already defines Him. The same God who calls us to return is the God who runs to meet us.

Making straight the paths of the heart requires humility. Crooked paths form slowly—through small compromises, neglected prayer, and distracted loves. Advent invites us to slow down and ask hard questions: Where have my desires bent away from God? What voices have shaped my direction more than His Word? What must be surrendered for Christ to reign more fully in me?

John’s message prepared people to receive Jesus rightly. Likewise, repentance prepares space in us for Christ’s coming. Without it, we may celebrate Christmas without ever truly welcoming the King. Repentance clears the debris so grace can flow freely again.

The good news is that God does not ask us to straighten the path alone. Returning to the Lord with all our heart means trusting Him to do the transforming work we cannot. As we confess, He forgives. As we return, He restores. As we humble ourselves, He draws near.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father - Before joy, before peace, before love— let your Holy Spirit lead us to repentance. Help us to return to you. Make straight the paths of our hearts, and prepare room for the work of the Savior who has mercy in His hands. 

Scripture: Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Devotion:  As I have gotten older, I have developed a great appreciation for those with the ability to repair and restore the broken and discarded things in life and bring them back to their original condition or to find a new purpose for them.

Twenty years ago, I inherited a 1964 International Harvester Scout. It was the same make and model of my first car in high school. It had sat neglected in a series of fields and driveways for over ten years slowly decaying away. I decided I was going to bring it back its original glory.

For months every spare moment was spent tearing that collection of rusted bolts and dented body panels apart. Every piece of trim or chrome removed and countless hours stripping and sanding all the body down to bare metal, exposing all the hidden damage done to it over its lifetime. Rust was sanded, dents were beaten back straight and on and on it went. Finally, the day came when it was ready for painting, and it finally received a brand new coat of bright shiny yellow paint. New wheels and tires were added and all the trim shined and replaced. It looked NEW again!

That is what David is writing in today’s verse, Lord remove the rust, dents and corrosion hidden in my life. Expose them, bring them to light, so they can be repaired and I can be. Don’t ignore them or just paint over them but bring me back to my intended condition.

Renew, revive and resuscitate us.

During this season of prayer and fasting, let’s start by asking the Lord to cleanse our hearts and renew our minds to a right condition.

Let's Pray: Lord, we confess the dents, dings, rust and corrosion in our lives that prevent us from being what you intended for us to be. We pray that you remove those things in our lives and restore and right spirit in us. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:5a
The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level.

Devotion: In Luke chapter 3, we see John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord’s coming. This fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 40, which says, “He is a voice, shouting in the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord‘s coming, clear the road for him. The valleys will be filled, and the mountains, and hills will be made level. The curves will be straightened and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.”

There’s a lot to unpack here, but let's focus on preparing our hearts by allowing the valleys in our lives to be filled. Valleys in our spiritual walks can look like doubt, or discouragement, both of which can hinder what the Lord wants to do in our minds and our hearts.

In my life, when I begin to feel discouragement or begin to feel that doubt creeping in, I run away from spending time with the Lord. I avoid opening my Bible and close myself off from hearing from him. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says “My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.” The Lord’s grace is sufficient to help us through any discouragement and doubt in our lives instead of running from his presence, let’s take our struggles and uncertainty to the Lord so that he can raise them up by reminding us of who he is.

Let's Pray: Lord, thank you for being a gracious God and for the work you want to do in our hearts and our minds. Please give us the desire and strength to bring our “valleys” to you. We trust that by doing so we are preparing our hearts to hear directly from you. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:5b
The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.

Devotion: In Luke chapter three John the Baptist is preaching around the Jordan river to crowds. The chapter quotes Isaiah to show how John was fulfilling a prophecy as the man who was to prepare a way for Jesus. In verse five it says this was what John would preach, “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth”

Today it's our fourth day of prayer and fasting, and you may be starting to feel withdrawal from your missed meal or activity. This is perfectly normal and the entire point of fasting, to weaken ourselves to become more reliant on God and to remind ourselves of our need for Him. In our daily lives, especially when we aren’t fasting, it's easy to forget how much we actually need him.

A lot of times we can put him on a shelf and not pull him down until we get stuck in a rut and ask for his help. Our self-reliance on our own works and pride will always lead to us failing or in prison of our own making. The verse above tells of John's message against going our own ways. His message was that the Lord would come and everything would bow to him. If the mountains and hills, which have been here before us and will be here after, rely and follow God's commands we should certainly strive to do the same. However, instead of physical mountains bowing it should be our own mental mountains like pride and stubbornness that we let run our lives. While we continue our fast lets try and remember to let God take control in our lives during and after the fast.

Let's Pray: Dear heavenly father, thank you for your goodness and glory, I pray that I may lay down my pride and make you the center of my life. I pray that as I follow you I won’t start going down my own path. Amen.

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Devotion: Around this time last year Colton and I decided to get a new dining table and chairs to match for our home. I remember being so excited when they arrived but he wasn't home that day to help put all the elements together to MAKE the table and chairs we just ordered. I remember thinking, this cannot be that hard. I can do this myself. So I, incredibly pregnant at the time, sat on the floor and attempted the chairs one night to “surprise” my husband when he returned home. I don't know if anyone else is like me when it comes to “some assembly required” things but instructions are not at the forefront of my mind, the excitement of making the thing is.

Even though I know what I ordered, I just can't help but be excited to see what it’ll look like in real life! After wrestling the plastic and styrofoam I found all the legs and screws and things to start my project. One side of legs done, other side of legs done, flip the chair right side up and one side is flopping all about before putting it on the ground.. Hmm should I test.. Should I test it? So I slowly and easily sit (as well as that goes for someone who looks like they swallowed a basketball) on the chair and the tiniest *craaack*. Nope, nope okay lets figure this out. Instructions, uh.. where did those go, oh good, in the massive pile of plastic and styrofoam, and probably torn a little. OH there are two sizes of screws! Un-assemble and reassemble this chair (that somehow) I just happened to put the screws backwards in, corrected them and I did the rest of them in the morning because I was way more mad at that project than I should've been.

I definitely feel like sometimes (always) my life is “some assembly required” and more times than not things are more wobbly than what it should be. Or what the picture on the outside seems like it should be anyways. I don't always have the wisdom or experience it takes to “get through” everything life throws. From chairs, to marriage, to people-ing, to diagnosis, to seasons of waiting, how are we supposed to just be okay and know what to do? Because the Lord is good. Turn to Him and trust in Him. Because, Lord knows, I don't understand it all. I don't see the end result. I am only supposed to trust in him and His wisdom.

So when you don't understand, go find your instruction manual in the pile of mess you made (hint: it's probably under some styrofoam), dust it off, and seek Him. Trust in Him through it ALL, not just little bits that are easy to handover, and continue doing so. His path is reliable, correct, challenging at times, but wise and so so worth it.

Let's Pray: Lord, thank you for forgiving us when we take things into our own matters and correcting our paths when we do. Please help us remember you're always there. Not just when we need you but always. Thank you for remaining a constant in our lives even when we’re mad at building our lives the way WE see fit and it doesn't turn out the way it was supposed to. Because you know what's best for us every moment of every day. Help us reflect who you are today as we go out into the world. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:8
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 

Devotion: I grew up in Oregon, a state not in the bible belt. I, however, also grew up in the church, saved at 6, water and Spirit baptized at 12 and 13 and really have done my best to live my life for the Lord. And often get the question “have you noticed any differences between Oregon and Oklahoma”? Aside from the obvious environmental differences, yes even spiritually I have. My story in the Pacific Northwest is not common (although I am grateful). People don't just go to church on Sundays because that’s what you're meant to do; that's what your grandparents did, parents, now you and your children are following the same routine. There aren’t churches on every corner to choose from. I couldn't be more grateful to have grown up in a Jesus loving home, I've seen what my life could have been (as I’m sure most of us can) through friends, family, and peers that have not had the Lord at the center. 

This is such a powerful verse. John is preparing the way for Jesus coming, telling them it doesn't matter who your family is. If YOU don't have your own relationship with the Lord, then you are not saved. Riding on your family’s coattails doesn’t qualify your own faith for the Lord. You need to pursue Him, build your own relationship with Him, have your own arguments with Him, put the time in with the person who saved your life from eternal damnation. If He wanted to start over HE COULD but instead He wants to love us. After all we’ve put Him through, then and now - shocking honestly.

As a new parent this speaks volumes. I want my daughter to have the best life she can while I'm still here with her. How else to do that then to still be growing in my own relationship with the Lord now? Even though I went through all I did as a kid, saved so young, grew up in church, and pursued Him in my own relationship (after realizing my parents faith isn't my own). Let myself be open to questions and help her later. How often are you sharing your walk with the Lord with your kids? They're in kids church for maybe one hour a week, the rest of the time is up to you! It's a daily choice, but are they seeing that?

Even without kids, living daily with repentance and choosing to follow Him is exactly that, a choice. It’s not always easy, or influenced, or what everyone around you is choosing - but it is right. This decision everyday not only helps you understand who He is, but shows those around you He’s actually your priority in your life and you're not just saying it is by showing up to church on a Sunday morning (still important don't get me wrong). It gives us a filter for our lives to see what He sees in us.

Let's Pray: Lord, thank you for loving us day in and day out. Please help us remember to have daily repentance, because we are not perfect. And because we’re not perfect, help us build a foundation to help our kids see who you are through us. Please help us remember that your relationship between each and every one of us is so important for you and that you haven't forgotten about a single person. That relationships just take time and trust to build. Lord, please be with us as we step out into the world today. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:16
John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Devotion: John the Baptist stood at the edge of the Jordan proclaiming a message that both humbled and awakened his listeners. “I baptize you with water,” he said, “but one who is more powerful than I is coming… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). With these words, John pointed beyond ritual cleansing to a deeper work God longed to do within His people—a baptism of renewal that purifies and empowers the life of faith.

Water baptism symbolized repentance, a turning away from sin. But John makes clear that repentance alone is not the end of the story. The coming Messiah would bring the Holy Spirit, God’s own presence, to dwell within His people. Fire, in Scripture, often represents both purification and power. It burns away what is false and lifeless, and it ignites what is meant to live and shine. This baptism of the Spirit is not just an emotional experience; it is a transforming encounter with the living God.

The invitation of Luke 3:16 is not just historical—it is deeply personal. Many believers desire forgiveness but hesitate to ask for renewal. We want God to cleanse us, but we resist the fire that refines us. Yet the Holy Spirit’s work is always purposeful. He exposes sin not to shame us, but to heal us. He convicts not to condemn, but to conform us more fully to Christ.

J. I. Packer reminds us of the Spirit’s essential role in the Christian life when he writes, “The Holy Spirit’s main ministry is not to give thrills, but to create in us Christlike character.” This truth reorients our expectations. A baptism of renewal is not about heightened feelings or spiritual excitement; it is about a life steadily reshaped by holiness, obedience, and love. The Spirit purifies our desires and empowers our walk so that Christ may be formed in us.

Inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives is an act of surrender. It is a prayer that says, “Search me, cleanse me, and lead me.” Fire can be unsettling because it consumes what cannot remain. Pride, self-sufficiency, and hidden sin cannot survive in the presence of God’s refining work. Yet what emerges from the fire is stronger, purer, and more aligned with God’s purposes.

This baptism of renewal also brings empowerment. The same Spirit who purifies empowers believers to live faithfully in a broken world. He strengthens us to resist temptation, emboldens us to bear witness, and sustains us in obedience when the road is difficult. Renewal is not an escape from daily life but a reorientation within it—walking in step with the Spirit, dependent on His strength rather than our own.

As we reflect on Luke 3:16, we are invited to open ourselves anew to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to cleanse what has grown dull or compromised. Ask Him to ignite fresh devotion, deeper trust, and obedient faith. The baptism Christ offers is not merely about beginning the journey—it is about being continually renewed as we walk with God, refined by His fire, and empowered by His presence.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father - We come before You longing for renewal. Baptize us afresh with Your Holy Spirit and fire. Cleanse our hearts from all that dulls our love for You, and burn away whatever keeps us from walking in obedience. Form in us the character of Christ, not for our glory but for Yours. Empower us to live faithfully, boldly, and humbly in a world that needs Your light. We surrender our lives to Your refining work. Come, Holy Spirit—purify us, renew us, and lead us deeper into Your presence. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:2
Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness.

Devotion: Luke introduces the ministry of John the Baptist with a striking phrase: “the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness” (Luke 3:2). Before crowds gathered and repentance was proclaimed, there was first silence, solitude, and attentiveness. God’s word did not come to John in the centers of power, but in the wilderness—a place stripped of noise, distraction, and self-reliance. Hearing God’s voice has always required space to listen.

The wilderness is not merely a geographic location; it is a spiritual posture. It represents the intentional quieting of the soul before God. In a world saturated with constant information, opinions, and urgency, recognizing the voice of the Lord often means withdrawing from the competing voices that demand our attention. God still speaks, but His voice is often gentle, requiring attentiveness rather than haste.

Scripture consistently affirms that God reveals Himself through His Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hearing God’s voice does not mean chasing mystical impressions detached from Scripture. Rather, it means learning to listen faithfully as God speaks through His written Word, illuminates it by His Spirit, and applies it personally to our lives. J. I. Packer wisely cautions believers against confusion on this point, writing, “The Spirit does not add to the Bible; He illuminates it.” God’s voice will never contradict what He has already spoken in Scripture.

John’s attentiveness to God prepared him for obedience. Hearing always precedes faithful action. Too often, we rush to speak, plan, and act without first listening. We ask God to bless our decisions rather than seeking His direction. Quieting the soul is an act of humility—it acknowledges that God speaks with wisdom and authority, and that our role is to receive before we respond.

The discipline of silence is not empty or passive; it is expectant. When we still our hearts before God, we become more aware of His presence, more sensitive to conviction, and more receptive to guidance. This quieting may involve turning off distractions, slowing our pace, and creating rhythms of prayerful Scripture reading. The wilderness moments of our lives—times of uncertainty, waiting, or solitude—can become sacred spaces where God speaks most clearly.

It is also important to remember that God’s voice often calls us to prepare, not perform. John heard God’s word before he ever proclaimed it. In the same way, God shapes His servants privately before using them publicly. Listening to God forms our character before it directs our calling. The goal is not merely to hear instructions, but to be transformed by the One who speaks.

Luke 3:2 reminds us that God is not silent, but we must be still. As we quiet our souls, submit ourselves to Scripture, and remain open to the Spirit’s illuminating work, we place ourselves in a posture to recognize God’s voice. May we learn to listen well, trusting that the God who spoke in the wilderness still speaks today—guiding, correcting, and drawing His people deeper into faithful communion with Him.

Let's Pray: Heavenly Father, we quiet our hearts before You and ask for listening ears. Still the noise within us that competes with Your voice. Through Your Word and by Your Spirit, speak clearly and shape our hearts to obey what You reveal. Teach us to wait patiently, to listen humbly, and to trust fully. Draw us into the sacred quiet where You form our character and guide our steps. May our lives be marked not by haste, but by attentiveness to You. Help us recognize Your voice and follow You faithfully. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:2
Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness.

Devotion: Luke records the preamble to the opening scene of Jesus’s earthly ministry with the revelation of God’s word to the annunciator John the Baptist.

Amid this chaotic world, God reveals Himself by sending His word to a man who has shut himself out of the distractions of the political and religious worlds and is seeking God apart and alone in the wilderness.

Likewise, today in this loud world of endless distractions contending for our attention. God is still looking to reveal His word to those who are willing to separate themselves and shut out the competing voices and influences of modern society. Those who block out the world and are setting themselves spiritually apart from the culture of turmoil.

Today, we don’t need to physically move to the wilderness or desert but need to consistently find a quiet place away from things that deafen us to the word God is trying to communicate to us. We must not be afraid to walk in the wilderness apart and away from the invasive popular media, social influencers and religious factions. 

Do not be distracted by noise and fury of a world trying to tear itself apart. Set down our phones, turn off the television and talk radio. Discover a quiet place, prepare your heart to listen, and be willing to wait on the Lord. Find yourself daily in a quiet wilderness of serenity and peaceful solitude, seeking only to commune with the Lord. A tranquil place where God’s still, quiet voice and still be heard revealing Himself to you.

Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to shut out the distracting noises, cares and concerns of a fallen world and find a place of quiet solitude and peace. A place where I can hear your voice as You reveal Yourself to me. Amen.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:4–5
4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Devotion: As someone who has battled with anxiety my whole life, I love these verses, but I struggled with knowing how to put them into action. The imagery of demolishing strongholds and making my thoughts obedient to Christ are so powerful, but what does that mean?

When my father died 20 years ago, the anxiety that I had kept at bay as a child fortified its position in my mind and became a debilitating panic disorder. It took me years of failed attempts to find relief before I finally learned how to truly take those thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. Despite all of the anti-anxiety medications, doctors, unnecessary trips to the ER, and a multitude of therapists, I was still utterly crippled by fear. 

The turning point in my battle came from a therapist I was seeing (I think she was the fifth one I’d tried). After a few sessions she finally said to me, “I think you have a faith problem.” That night I started doing something I’d never done before - I began reading my Bible, cover to cover. It took me over a year, but slowly but surely I began to see the fear for what it was: lies. 

And the antidote was the Truth of God’s Word. Every time my thoughts would start to spiral, whispering to me that I was sick, broken, helpless, out of control, and that I would never get better, I replaced them with His promises that I was healed, that nothing is impossible with God, that He is my strength, that I can have peace that surpasses all understanding, and that I wasn’t given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. By putting my thoughts in alignment with God’s truth, I was taking them captive and allowing the mind of Christ to take control.

What are the strongholds that are keeping you from living in the freedom of the truth? Has someone planted a seed of doubt that took root in your thinking? Are you believing the lies of the enemy, or even lies you’ve told yourself? Maybe it’s an addiction or a bad habit that you can’t seem to break out of. 

Strongholds are false beliefs or negative patterns that become fortified positions or arguments that oppose the knowledge of God. Demolishing your strongholds isn’t a passive act of resistance; it’s an aggressive attack. 

The first step is to identify the false beliefs, ideologies, or sinful patterns in your mind that resist God's truth. Next, take those wrong thoughts captive by aligning them with God’s will. Dive into the Word and find specific verses that contradict the lies or wrong behavior. The Word of God is the ultimate weapon against the enemy. Write those verses down and put them somewhere where you can be reminded of them and read them out loud. In the ancient world, captives were often paraded as a sign of victory. I recommend keeping a record of all the times in your life that God has come through to claim victory over the enemy and help you stay focused on Christ.

For further reading, Charles Spurgeon has a great essay on taking your thoughts captive and submitting them to Christ.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, it is so easy for our minds to become captured by thoughts and patterns that prevent us from the freedom of living in Your Truth. Help us remain vigilant in defending against the enemy by taking on the mind of Christ and exchanging our insecurity for your power, protection, and peace. Amen.

Scripture: Philippians 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Devotion: 
We have people, apps, books, shows or movies that can either build us up with thoughts on what is true or pure. But all of us all immediately know their are also pieces of media or people that do the opposite. I think that this is the great struggle of my generation and ones to come - in a world screaming for your attention at every waking moment, what will you choose to fix your thoughts on?

 If you are unfamiliar with the origins of Philippians, this was a letter Paul wrote to church based in the colony of Philippi. This was a colony started by retired Roman soldiers and they had chosen to welcome and assist Paul on his journeys. The whole letter is Paul discussing how to endure hardship and giving examples from his own life. We all know Paul was no stranger to hardship. 

 I can only imagine that these soldiers had past experiences, Roman culture and entertainment on top of opposition to the Gospel message in Philippi to be dwelling on. And Paul tells them “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

 My call to you today, is take control of what you are “fixing” your thoughts on. Is this thought pure or honorable? Is this facebook post that I’m about to share admirable? If I turn on this show, will it build me up or tear me down? It is a long road, but Paul says at the end of Philippians “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” If you want peace in your life, I think that fixing your thoughts on what Paul tells the people of the church in Philippi, is a great place to start.

Let’s Pray: Lord, please give me discernment in what I fix my thoughts on today and help me to build up healthy habits in this area of my life. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:4
Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!

Devotion: 
I have always preferred being alone to being in large groups. I think modern society would label me as an “introvert”. I do enjoy going to public events, hanging out with friends but I am always replenished by getting some alone time. 

 With my job, I sometimes unexpectedly find myself with more alone time and there is sometimes an expectation that I put on myself to be as productive as possible. I can use the time to study for my yearly tests, I can work on some projects, read a book to beat Cody in our reading challenge, or finally watch that movie everyone was raving about. 

 But the times I find the most peace is when I take a step back and just take a moment to read a chapter of a book of the Bible and reflect on it. 

 My challenge to you today fi you are looking for revelation, trying putting yourself in the “wilderness” and the actually accept being in the “wilderness.” Maybe you turn off that podcast about fantasy football while you drive to work, maybe you turn off you cell phone a few hours before bedtime, or maybe you actually go spend some time in nature. Anything you can do to unplug from distractions can be helpful. Then maybe you could spend some time listening. Maybe that looks like you reading a few chapter of the Bible alone, maybe spending some time in prayer. Whatever that looks like for you, I encourage you to do that today.

Let’s Pray: Lord, help me find your voice in the wilderness. Amen.

Scripture: Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”  
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Devotion: Often when I read this scripture I picture a class full of kids as eager as ever to be there. Whether in school, in church, or just one of your family members, we all had a teacher we loved and looked up to as a kid. That one teacher who announced “who can do this for me really quick?” when they needed to run a note to the office or have an errand during class. They always chose a trusted kid who would do exactly the task, but would open it up to the whole class. EVERY kid sticks an arm in the air, grabs their elbow with the other hand overhead and waves it as vigorously in hopes it gets the teacher's attention more than all 25 other students doing the exact same thing. 

 Now I know I'm not the only one who when the Lord asks something of me, I am not always THAT eager. Sometimes it's like, do I really have to talk to that person? You want me to move where? You want me to give away what?? But.. they're scary and stink, but there's nothing to do there, but I was going to make some money and sell that so I can get something fun.. 

 This verse, not only shows that the Lord can and will speak directly to us or through others to us. But, also that it is important for us, if we are to help others walk their walk and see their next steps, that we take ours too. We cannot be strangers to His voice. We need to be in anticipation of it, as eager as a kid who GETS to do a task for our teacher.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank you for guiding us everyday, even when we think we have it covered. Please help us to see what our last next step is if we’ve been ignoring it because it was too scary. Help us see that through you we are safe, and you have it all planned out. Even if the next step is scary or seemingly tragic, what you have in store for our lives is a beautiful thing. Help us take our next step with joy and trust in you, in your name we pray. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:16
For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
  Who knows enough to teach him?”
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Devotion: In first Corinthians chapter two Paul writes a letter to the church in Corinth and talks about the spirit and mind of the Lord. In verse sixteen it says this, “for, Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

It’s day fourteen of our twenty-one days of prayer and fasting, and we are exactly two-thirds of the way through. This week we’ve been focusing on getting our mind straight with God. This is, if you've ever tried, easier said than done. Often we fail or we may start to think we know better than God. The problem with that mindset, intentionally or not, is very simple, we don't know better than God. God’s mind and wisdom is so beyond our understanding that for us to say we know better is arrogance unmatched. Arrogance we all have at some point in our lives. 

So, how can we as christians in this fast and afterwards understand and know the mind of God going forward? Well before verse sixteen Paul explains to know the wisdom of God you must have the spirit of him. This is the hard part because there isn’t a switch that allows you to just to immediately understand his spirit.

When we become christians we may receive his spirit on us but to understand it takes time. Have you ever been around somebody and you begin to know what they are thinking or how they will react? If you spend even more time with that person, you may notice that you begin to talk or think like them as well. It is the same way with our relationship with God. The more time we spend with him in prayer and in his word the more we begin to act and think like him. 

The more we get to know his compassion the more we will show it to others, the more we see his courage the more we begin to feel it. For the last stretch of this fast, challenge yourself in your prayer and readings to quiet yourself and just try and sit in his presence and absorb his word. In that time see if you can notice yourself acting and thinking more like him, continuing even after the fast is up.

Let’s Pray: Dear heavenly father, thank you for your spirit and wisdom that I can come to know. Lord, I pray that I may grow closer to you and understand your compassion and mind better. That I may go and live out the virtues you show and have taught us to be. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:6
And then all people will see
  the salvation sent from God.’”

Devotion: John the Baptist’s ministry was not flashy, comfortable, or popular. He preached in the wilderness, called people to repentance, and pointed relentlessly away from himself toward the coming Messiah. Yet Luke tells us something breathtaking about the outcome of this preparation: “All people will see God’s salvation.”

The good news of Jesus Christ was never meant to be hidden, hoarded, or limited to a select few. From the very beginning, God’s salvation has been global in scope and personal in reach. Luke’s Gospel repeatedly reminds us that the kingdom of God is good news for the outsider, the sinner, the overlooked, and the lost.

And yet, sharing that good news can feel intimidating.

Many of us hesitate not because we lack faith, but because we fear rejection, awkwardness, or saying the wrong thing. During seasons of prayer and fasting, God gently exposes those fears—not to shame us, but to heal us. Fasting strips away our self-reliance and reminds us that the power of the gospel does not rest on our eloquence, but on God’s Spirit.

John’s role was simple: prepare the way and point to Jesus. He did not save anyone himself. He did not convince, manipulate, or coerce. He bore witness. In the same way, we are not called to convert hearts—that is God’s work alone. We are called to faithfully and lovingly point others to Christ.

Sharing the good news is less about having all the answers and more about living with visible hope. It is about speaking of what we have seen, heard, and experienced. Sometimes it looks like a conversation. Sometimes it looks like an invitation. Sometimes it looks like quiet faithfulness, compassion, and prayerful presence.

This fast is preparing you not just for personal renewal, but for missional obedience. As God clears the road in your own heart, He also positions you as a signpost for others. When repentance softens us and prayer humbles us, our lives begin to reflect the grace we proclaim.

Ask God today for boldness—but also for love. Boldness without love can wound; love without boldness can remain silent. The Holy Spirit delights to give both.

Remember: the same God who desires that all people see His salvation is already at work in the lives of those around you. Your role is not to force the moment, but to be faithful when the moment comes.

Let’s Pray: Lord, fill me with Your compassion for the lost. Remove fear from my heart and replace it with courage rooted in love. Open my eyes to opportunities to share the good news, and give me the grace to speak with humility, clarity, and truth. Let my life point to Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:10-11
10The crowds asked, “What should we do?”11John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

Devotion: Economics is often described as limited resources meeting unlimited needs. The needs always exceed the available resources. It is the art and science of matching the assets to the liabilities.

Luke records John’s explanation of how God’s economy works and the role of the believer. When questioned by the crowd of new believers, tax collectors and soldiers.

John’s response summarizes the evidence of true spiritual fasting as written in Isaiah 58. John as a boy must have heard this passage on true fasting many times taught by his father Zechariah the priest. True fasting frees the bonds of sin, breaks yokes of wickedness, frees the oppressed, shares the bread with the hungry, shelters the homeless and covers the naked.

If we live a daily life of self-denial and serve others with abundant generosity, then the Lord promises our light shall break forth like dawn, our healing will spring up, the Lord will protect us, the Lord will answer us and our light will rise in the darkness.

Let’s Pray: Lord, teach us to fast truly. To seek you daily. To know your ways. To confess our sins. To pursue your righteousness. To delight in drawing near to you. Help us to forgive others generously as you have forgiven us. To feed others as You nourish us. To protect others as You shelter us in your love. Let us become light in the darkness of this world.

Scripture: Luke 3:12-14
12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”
14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers.
John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

Devotion: In Luke 3, John the Baptist is calling people to repentance and baptizing them as a symbol of that repentance. Verse 12 through 14 says, “Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, ‘Teacher what should we do?’ he replied, ‘Collect no more taxes than the government requires.’ ‘What should we do?’ asked some soldiers. John replied, ‘Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.’”

In this scene, John the Baptist is plainly telling the tax collectors and soldiers to have integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and consistently aligning words and actions with our moral values. As a Christ follower our moral values are outlined in the Bible, and by acting accordingly we are not only honoring the Lord but possibly influencing the people around us. It’s easy to go out into the world and to do whatever we need to do to feel like we are getting ahead. 

However it’s important to remember that we are set apart and when we behave in accordance with scripture we may just be laying the ground work for others to know Christ as well.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank you for desiring a relationship with us. Please forgive us for instances where we have lacked integrity and for the situations where we did not mirror you well. Please remind us daily that we are set apart for your glory. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:16
John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Devotion: Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the concept of perfection. For much of my life I’ve striven to achieve the impossible goal of perfection in whatever I do. Although I know I can never achieve this, I try to come as near as possible. I have a confession, though: my motivations are often more selfish than saintly. I chase the specter of perfection in the vain hope that whatever I achieve will overcome my negative feelings about myself – that my actions will make me feel worthy.

The truth, however, is that I will never be perfect in this life, and nothing I accomplish will make me feel worthwhile about myself. In Luke 3:16, John the Baptist states that he is unworthy to untie the straps of Jesus’s sandals, and as Luke 3:4-6 says, the coming of John the Baptist was prophesized by Isaiah in the Old Testament. I’m fairly certain no prophet ever foretold my birth. If John wasn’t worthy to be in the presence of his Lord, how could I ever hope to be?

But that’s the amazing thing about God’s love for us. He looks at us and sees us completely – our flaws, our sins, our imperfections, the secret parts of ourselves that we hide with shame from the world – and yet He loves us enough to bridge the immeasurable gap that lies between us and Him. He wants us to be baptized in His Spirit.

God doesn’t require us to be perfect because Christ’s perfect sacrifice covers our sins and our flaws. No one is beyond Christ’s reach. I worry that we forget that sometimes. If God can take Saul, a man who was gleefully hunting and murdering masses of Christians, and transform him into Paul, the greatest human missionary in history, how can anyone be beyond the perfect salvation of our Lord? We undoubtedly err, and being the imperfect creatures that we are, we continue to sin, but although we may at times pull away from Christ, he never pulls away from us. He remains ready to cover us with His grace.

This grace, however, is not for our benefit alone. We are not to hoard it like dragons sitting upon mounds of gold. We are commanded to go out into the world and share the Gospel with others so that they too may be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul tells us that our salvation is not based on our own works, achievements, or attempts at perfection but on the grace of Almighty God. 

The second chapter of James, though, reminds us that being filled with the Holy Spirit should produce Christ-like action as we express our faith and our gratitude for our own salvation. We are told to care for “the least of these.” We are commanded to comfort and assist the widow, the orphan, the poor, the foreigner living among us. We are intended to take the Spirit of God into every part of the world and show every person the same love we have been afforded.

As we go through our devotionals during this period, let us reconnect with God and repent of the ways that we have failed Him, show gratitude for the Spirit of salvation in which He has baptized us, and strive to demonstrate God’s mercy to a world awash in pain, confusion, and uncertainty.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the love and salvation you bestow upon us despite our imperfections and sins. Thank you for bringing us into Your loving arms, and for desiring a relationship with us even when we fail You. I ask that you forgive us when we let the flame of your Spirit within us grow cold, and that You reignite it so that it shines brightly, that we may have the strength and wisdom to carry our Your commands and to demonstrate Your mercy to those around us. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 3:21-22
21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.

Devotion: In the last few days of our prayer and fasting it may feel like a homestretch. However, before we get distracted and focused on the end, let's take a second to really think not just how we see God but how he sees us and speaks to us. In the verses above, Jesus gets baptised by John the Baptist when God spoke saying how proud he was of his son. 

When we become christians, we are “adopted by God”, making us his sons and daughters. This means that that same pride shown to Jesus can be shown to us by God. We are his children and like any parent may tell you, a parent feels pride and love for their child and wishes to talk with them. It is amazing to think that the creator of the universe wants to be around you. Sometimes prayer can be thought of as a routine, but prayer is how God converses with us and speaks life to us. Just as he loves and speaks to you, he loves and speaks to your neighbor. We should follow his example and speak to them with kindness and compassion. 

Instead of judging and isolating someone who makes a mistake or gossip about them, pick them back up and help them in their struggles, sit with them when they are sad, and be joyful for them when they succeed. No parent likes when their children fight and squabble, so we should try and work together for the glory of God. These last few days challenge yourself to understand that God feels pride and love for you, and that he still speaks to you. Challenge yourself to speak to your fellow children in Christ with joy and intention by speaking life into them. To help them in their walk with God so you both may show his glory.

Let’s Pray: Dear heavenly father, thank you for your love and how you still speak to us and show us your love. Lord, I ask for you to help me do the same for those around me so they may see the glory of you. Amen.

Scripture:  John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Devotion: It is our second to last day of the fast and as we come to the end it's important to not forget why we do these fasts. Not only to remind ourselves that we are weak without him but to also remember that he forgave us of our sins and because of that gift we joyfully fast to remind ourselves. Without the act of sacrificial love of Jesus dying on the cross, we would still be dead and chained to our sins. This amazing act of mercy and gift of grace was so important that even before Jesus went to the cross many prophets and followers told of it happening. 

John the Baptist was the one who came right before Jesus and told of it. Not just metaphorically but literally as well. He was standing in the Jordan river when Jesus finally made one of his first public appearances to be baptised in verse twenty-nine. These prophets were like trailers for an amazing movie telling you to wait and see. When you see the movie, you immediately tell everyone that they should go and watch it as well so they can experience it. 

The prophets told of an amazing gift coming, and now that we have seen the gift we should go and tell others to

see it as well. Jesus died so that we may be washed of our sins, and when he rose he gave us the great commission to tell others that their sins may be forgiven as well. These past twenty days are coming to an end, and as they do, challenge yourself to go and let others know of this incredible gift. It may feel awkward and maybe even childish, but as Jesus said heaven belongs to those like children. 

Let's challenge ourselves not only to grow closer to him but let others know of him and his glory as well.

Let’s Pray: Dear heavenly father, thank you for mercy and sacrifice, I pray you forgive me for what I have done and give me the courage to show others your sacrifice and mercy. In your name I pray that I will go out in your name and bring glory to you lord. Amen.

Coming soon!