Work Entry

 

Pastor Rachel Long

This devotional is brought to you by Rachel Long. Rachel is the Executive Pastor of Families and Multisites at Emmanuel Church. 

   Why Is Fasting an Act of Faith? - Monday

DAY 1

Esther 4:12-17

So Hathach gave Esther’s message to Mordecai. 

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. 

“Go ahead, Baby Girl! Jump!”

I was standing at the end of the dock, my tiny, little, tanned knobby knees quaking. I was squeezed into a 1970’s mildew-laced, bright orange life jacket, and my little heart was beating a mile a minute. I looked out over the vast “sea.” (Okay, it was Lake Wawasee in Indiana, but I was 4, and it looked ginormous.) Water was all I could see. I could swim. I knew I could swim. I had been able to swim a pool length since I was 18 months old. But this was different. This was not see-to-the-bottom water. This water was deep and dark. This water was unknown.

“Baby Girl? You gonna jump? I’m right here.”

My gaze broke from the overwhelming “sea,” and my focus shifted to who was in front of me. My daddy, with his giant, safe hands, wry smile, and piercing hazel eyes, was standing in water only to his chest. All the trust a kid could have for a parent flooded me. I tossed my body into the air and soared, splashing into the cold water and his open arms. A leap of faith, if you will. My dad had been faithful to me before, and he was faithful to me still.

Fasting can seem so overwhelming. It can feel awkward and new and completely unmanageable. Even starting a fast can, in and of itself, feel like a huge leap of faith. In many ways it is! The beauty is that we are strengthening our faith as we begin to fast. Every time we feel hungry, every time we want to check our social media stories, every time we crave the item from which we are fasting, it is an opportunity to draw nearer to our Heavenly Father, calling out to Him in our struggle. He is faithful to hear the cries of His children (1 Peter 3:12 and 1 John 5:15).

Throughout the Bible, we see that the Lord responds to faith built during fasting. He responds to issues of infertility, family strife, breakthroughs, blessings, and even social injustice through His people’s faith-filled fasting. We see this in the life of Esther. Here's a little context about our passage. At this point in her story, she has been obedient to everything that was put in front of her. Now, however, a genocide is looming over the Jewish people—her people. King Xerxes’ right-hand man Haman had plotted to kill all Jews, and Esther’s cousin Mordecai implored her to go to King Xerxes and plead for her people to be spared. For Esther to approach the king uninvited was risky and could result in her death. Esther realized the gravity of the situation, and this is where we pick up the narrative.  

With this context in mind, reread Esther 4:12–17 and answer the following questions:

Reflection:

1. What do you have in your life that you want to invite God into during your fast?

2. For Esther to take the leap of faith to go before King Xerxes, she had to prepare. How did she prepare? Why do you think she didn’t just fast alone? Who are you fasting with?

3. Seeing God move through your fasting builds spiritual confidence. As you fast for the next 21 days, keep track of the times you turn to Him and how He demonstrates His faithfulness.

 

Pastor Jim Gearries

This devotional is brought to you by Jim Gearries. Jim is the Online Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

What is Faith? - Tuesday

DAY 2

James 2:19-22

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

If demons believe in Jesus, why don’t we find any of them in heaven? Saying we believe in Jesus doesn’t mean we have faith in Him. Faith is trusting Jesus, believing His ways are the best way to live, and confidently living our daily lives according to His will.

James says faith is more than just intellectual knowledge. It's something we do. It’s active, not passive. Real faith involves making a decision to trust Jesus. Our belief in and commitment to Jesus is reflected in what we do. The good deeds James references are evidence that we possess real faith.

If we’re struggling to understand why our relationship with Jesus isn’t working, we should try putting our faith into practice. Real faith shows up in how we live our lives, and our faith should affect how we spend our days. Through faith, God transforms us so that our attitudes and actions become evidence of our trust in Him.

Reflection:

1. How are both faith and works part of a growing Christian’s life?

2. In what ways does your life show you have real faith?

3. How can you serve, support, encourage, and even show others that your faith is changing you today?

 

Pastor Cody Johnson

This devotional is brought to you by Cody Johnson. Cody is the Greenwood Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Living by Faith - Wednesday

DAY 3

Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

In Hebrews 11:1–12, we see five examples of individuals doing incredible things, and every example starts with the same phrase: “It was by faith…” Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah were all able to do things outside of their own power because of their faith in God. They trusted and had confidence in a God Who formed the universe at His command, and that allowed them to step confidently into an uncertain future.

We don’t know what tomorrow will hold, and we don’t know what opportunities may come our way. We will be presented with obstacles at every turn, whether they be physical barriers or internal barriers like anxiety. No matter what life throws at us, we can be sure that our future is secure in God’s hands when we, like Sarah, believe that God will keep His promises. He will never leave us, He will never forsake us, and He will be with us as we step boldly into tomorrow.

Reflection:

1. When has living by faith allowed you to accomplish something difficult?

2. What current challenges could you overcome by living with a faith-centered mindset?

3. What opportunities are you avoiding due to a lack of faith?

 

Pastor Ashley Schneider

This devotional is brought to you by Ashley Schneider. Ashley is the Families Pastor at Emmanuel Church’s Greenwood Campus.

The Power of Faith - Thursday

DAY 4

Matthew 17:19-21.

Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Ever been so certain of something and another person doubted it? Maybe you were so certain that you could do something, but someone doubted you could. We find Jesus and the disciples in a scenario like this in Matthew 17. A man approached Jesus because his son needed healing. The disciples tried, but they could not heal him. The man then went straight to Jesus to request healing for his son. With His power, Jesus healed the boy, and the disciples didn't understand why they couldn’t when they tried.

Reread Matthew 17:19–21.

Why were the disciples unable to heal the boy? They lacked faith. Jesus used the mustard seed as a metaphor to help them see that God can do much—even when faith is little. He can even move a mountain! 

When we're facing mountains that feel too big to move, or we can’t even imagine what life could look like without them in the way, we can know that God promises us a future that is good and full of hope if we trust Him. While our faith might feel too small, we can be encouraged by the fact that Jesus promises He can do mighty things if we believe. There is power in faith.

A mustard seed is small; however, it grows to be a big, beautiful tree. Our faith may start small, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. There are mountains in our lives that God wants to help us overcome, and we have the power of faith to move them through Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

1. What mountain in your life do you need faith to move?

2. Jesus has the power to do anything. Do you believe this? Why or why not?

3. What might you be missing out on because your faith is too small?

 

Pastor Chris Clay

This devotional is brought to you by Chris Clay. Chris is the Garfield Park Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Faith Motivated by Hope - Friday

DAY 5

Mark 2:2–5

Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

Four guys arrived late to one of the most packed events they had ever attended. There were people everywhere and no room to get through the crowd. They were carrying their paralyzed friend on his bed to see someone they thought could change his life forever. When they realized there was no way for them to get him to Jesus, they did what any normal friends would for someone they love—they tore the roof off of the building. 

The number of obstacles they overcame to get their buddy to Jesus displayed the amount of faith they had in Jesus and the amount of love they had for their debilitated friend. They were hoping he would walk home with them. What happened next was a pinnacle moment in all their lives. The man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the crowd of stunned onlookers. “They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before.’” (Mark 2:12)

Hope motivated the crippled man’s friends to act on their faith. They were hoping for a miracle that day for their friend, and they got it. The man’s sins were forgiven, and he walked home, carrying his mat in his hands. His friends were credited with having extraordinary faith. Oh, to have this kind of faith to get our friends to Jesus!

Reflection:

1. When was the last time you put your faith into action for someone who needed Jesus?

2. Which of your friends needs a miracle right now?

3. Who will you exhibit faith for this week?

 

Pastor Brent Fox

This devotional is brought to you by Brent Fox. Brent is the Franklin Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Step by Step - Saturday

DAY 6

Matthew 14:25-31

About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

Do you remember when you learned how to ride a bike? I would venture to say it took you more than one try to really get it. You probably fell quite a few times and had some bruises and scrapes to show for it. There might have been times when you just wanted to give up and walk away because you weren't convinced you were going to be able to do it. 

Then your mom or dad or whoever was teaching you probably came alongside you and said things like, “You can do this!” or “Don’t give up!” or “Hang in there. You almost have it!” At the time, you had no idea if you were close to mastering the skill. All you could go by was what you were seeing and feeling at that moment.   

Faith can be like that sometimes. We often start off really excited about our relationship with God. Yet, over time something happens. Maybe something has come into your life that has caused you to doubt and become afraid like Peter. 

Instead of giving up or walking away, what if we would take another step toward God? What if we would take time to listen and hear God say, “Don’t give up!” or “Hang in there!” or “You are doing great—keep growing!”? Months or years from now we may look back in and see how God used all of those moments of doubt, fear, and uncertainty to change us and grow our faith.   

Reflection:

1. Share about a time when God helped grow your faith.  

2. What is one area where you are doubting God right now? 

3. What next step can you take to help you grow in this area?  

 

Pastor Aaron Beasley

This devotional is brought to you by Aaron Beasley. Aaron is the Banta Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Tiny Acts of Faith - Sunday

DAY 7

Luke 17:5-6

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!”

Luke 13:18-19

Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

In this life, we believe the bigger the better. We celebrate grandeur. We applaud celebrities with big personalities and blockbuster hits. We cheer for athletes who win the big games. We prize big pay raises and high statuses. But in the life of faith, Jesus shows us a different path. 

In Luke 13:18–19, Jesus points us to one of the most insignificant seeds found in the Middle East. Though tiny, a single mustard seed could grow into a ten-foot tree in just a few months. Though we like to celebrate what's big and grand, in God’s Kingdom tiny acts of faith truly move mountains and grow into trees in which birds can nest. 

For us, that may mean waking up in the morning and doing a devotion to get close to Jesus. It may mean chopping food for our tiny children and changing their diapers. It may mean inviting someone to church every week. It may mean helping a new neighbor move into their house. It may mean praying for our family member who's struggling with addiction. It may mean thanking God for the sunrise, the rain, and the snow. It may mean giving money to the church every week without anyone knowing. It may mean saying something encouraging to someone who serves us today. 

We need to stop believing God only uses us when we do something big for His Kingdom. We have to start believing in the power of the small, everyday mustard seed acts of faith. God uses these seeds to grow big trees so others can come into His Kingdom and nest in His love. 

Reflection:

1. What tiny mustard seeds of faith have you planted this week?

2. What tiny mustard seeds of faith can you plant this week?

 

Pastor Rachel Long

This devotional is brought to you by Rachel Long. Rachel is the Executive Pastor of Families and Multisites at Emmanuel Church. 

Am I Drowning? - Monday

DAY 8

Isaiah 43:2-7

When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I will gather you and your children from east and west.
I will say to the north and south,
‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel
from the distant corners of the earth.
Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.
It was I who created them.’”

We did it! We finished the first week of our fast! How ya holding up? If your life is anything like mine, as soon as you make progress in your faith walk, some giant “wave of gross” splashes over you. Sometimes it feels like the waves won’t end, right? Sometimes it feels like you have floated so far into your feelings, problems, faults, and sins that you're going to go under. 

We all have times when we feel like we can’t do better, we can’t move forward, when we feel we should have just quit a long time ago. We feel like we're drowning and might not make it. But then God has His say.

We can keep going (Psalm 55:22). We can move forward. We do not need to quit (Philippians 1:6). God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11)! His words give us the comfort to take the next step and the next step—to stand up again, brush ourselves off, rely on His love for us, and walk by faith where He is leading. I'm thankful for how often He reminds us of His faithfulness in the Bible.

In my office, I have Isaiah 43:2 on my wall. It comforts me when I feel my faith waning. As we read Isaiah 43:2–7 today, I pray it encourages us to stay the course on our fast. We are so precious to our heavenly Father, and He is drawing nearer to us in this fast and holding us close. Keep going!

Reflection:

1. What has been the biggest “wave” you have navigated thus far in your fast? How did it go, and whom have you told?

2. This passage speaks of God's love for us and how precious we are to our heavenly Father. It describes His protection of us and of our value to Him. How is it going with whatever you are fasting from in order to see God move? Have you factored God’s protection into the situation?

 

Pastor Jim Gearries

This devotional is brought to you by Jim Gearries. Jim is the Online Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Problems Help Us Grow - Tuesday

DAY 9

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

God uses everything, even the pandemic we’ve been facing, to grow our character. In fact, experiencing problems helps us mature.

We may feel tired and depleted right now because of circumstances affecting our lives and the lives of those we love. During these moments of trouble, it is so important to place our hope in God and trust that He is in control.

God is the God of hope, and His hope will not disappoint. In time we’ll see how God used our problems to make us stronger spiritually.

While on earth, God’s purpose for our lives is to prepare us for eternity. One is preparation for the next. Most of us will only be here less than a hundred years, but the life for which we are preparing will last forever. 

We can’t imagine eternity right now. The Contemporary English Version of today's passage reads, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all of our troubles seem like nothing.” Today’s problems may seem heavy burdens, but in heaven they will be no more.

We must cling to that hope when we feel weary, overwhelmed, or just plain ready to give up. God is preparing us for eternity with Him in heaven!

Reflection:

1. How are the problems you’re experiencing right now shaping your character?

2. How would it help you endure if you could know that your difficulties are preparing you for heaven?

3. What could you say to yourself in the middle of life’s problems that would remind you that God is in control, He has a plan for your problems, and He has your best interest at heart?

 

Pastor Cody Johnson

This devotional is brought to you by Cody Johnson. Cody is the Greenwood Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Don't Be Surprised - Wednesday

DAY 10

1 Peter 4:12-13

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

In this letter to the church in Asia, Peter was writing to believers who were suffering. They were being persecuted for their beliefs, and Peter wanted them to stand strong for Christ. To encourage them, he used language that is helpful today.

“Don’t be surprised.” Problems are going to come our way. As sure as we are reading these words, we’re going to face difficulties: a flat tire, an unexpected bill, a breakup, a failed assignment, a missed meeting. Peter is telling us not to look at these occurrences as strange, but to expect them, plan for them, and face them with a new attitude. In fact, Peter is instructing us to adopt a specific perspective toward them.

“Be very glad.” We may not be joyful about a problem we are facing, but Paul says we should be very glad for the opportunity to choose how to respond. We can’t control our circumstances, but we can control our responses. We can have faith, partner with Christ (think about that!), and share His love with others, even in the midst our problems. 

Reflection:

1. What problems are you facing right now that could be addressed with a new attitude?

2. When a problem comes your way, how do you respond currently?

3. What could allow you to “be very glad” in the midst of your problems?

 

Pastor Ashley Schneider

This devotional is brought to you by Ashley Schneider. Ashley is the Families Pastor at Emmanuel Church’s Greenwood Campus.

Faith When We Don't Understand Why - Thursday

DAY 11

John 9:1-3

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”

If you have ever been around a preschooler, you know one of their favorite questions is “why?” 

“You need to eat your dinner.”
“Why?”
“So you can grow big and strong.”
“Why?”
“So you can be healthy.”
“Why?”

Toddlers live in a world full of discovery and curiosity. Their wonder increases as they understand the way things are in the world.

However, as we get older, circumstances we don't understand cause us to ask God why. In those moments, instead of letting the question increase our wonder toward God, it often separates us from Him and causes us to doubt that He is in control. Confidence and faith are replaced with confusion. “God, why are these things happening?”

As you just read in John 9:1–3, there is a story in the Bible that brings clarity to this question.

Why would God allow this man to be blind, to miss out on seeing the beauty of the world? It doesn’t make sense until we let Jesus speak into the situation. Jesus declared the man's visual impairment to be an opportunity for Him to show people who He was and what He could do. God's power was on display through the man's personal trial.

No matter what might cause us to ask why, every situation in life is an opportunity to see God at work in a way we may have never seen before. Let's allow God to use our trials to demonstrate His goodness and love to us in ways we wouldn’t be able to experience otherwise. God’s power at work in our lives grows our faith. Let's give Him the opportunity to let others to see His power at work and grow their faith too. 

Reflection:  

1. Where is there doubt in your life that might be an opportunity for your faith to grow?

2. How can you look for God’s power at work in your life?

3. Who in your life might be encouraged by what God is doing in your life?

 

Pastor Chris Clay

This devotional is brought to you by Chris Clay. Chris is the Garfield Park Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Problem-Solving Opportunity - Friday

DAY 12

James 1:2-4

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Life can seem like an endless series of problem-solving opportunities. Problems can discourage us or deepen our faith. It really all depends how we respond to them.

Unfortunately, most of us fail to see that God wants to bring us great joy in these circumstances. Often we only see our problems as annoying inconveniences. We resent them rather than reflecting on what God might want to do through them.

What does God want us to see in the problems and troubles that never seem to go away? What if we chose to slow down and breathe so we could hear what God might be trying to say? Why don’t we try that right now? As you inhale, take your biggest problem to God. As you exhale, slowly release it to Him.

God wants to mature us in our faith as we deal with life’s troubles. If we allow God to do His work, James says we will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. God is at work in our lives, even when we don’t recognize it or understand it. It just makes life so much easier when we press into Him during these moments!

Reflection:

1. What major problem have you had to deal with recently?

2. How did you respond to that problem?

3. What is God trying to teach you through your current problem?

 

Pastor Brent Fox

This devotional is brought to you by Brent Fox. Brent is the Franklin Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

God Is For Us  - Saturday

DAY 13

Romans 5:3-8

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

What do you wonder about? Do you ever wonder why the leaves change colors in the fall? Do you wonder why it is so difficult to make wise choices, even though you’re concerned about your health? Do you wonder why bad things happen to good people? Do you wonder what heaven is going to be like?  

In addition to producing joy, wondering can also lead to fear, doubt, or worry as we question life's circumstances. What we experience really depends on the lens we choose. Our lens is often shaped by our experiences or how we have been taught.    

To some, faith is some formula or divine algorithm they must figure out. They think that if they pray hard enough or attend church enough times or do enough good deeds, somehow God might do something for them He wasn’t planning to do.  

But God sent His Son Jesus to serve as our lens for faith. There are many things we don’t know or can’t understand, but we can always be sure that God is for us and loves us. No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in and no matter the experiences we face, God sent Jesus so we could rest in the knowledge of where we stand with Him. As our minds swirl with wonder, our souls can rest in joy and peace. 

Reflection:

1. What have you been taught or what have you experienced that has shaped your view of God?

2. What is one promise God has kept that has helped your faith grow?

3. How does knowing God loves you and is for you ground your faith?  

 

Pastor Aaron Beasley

This devotional is brought to you by Aaron Beasley. Aaron is the Banta Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Circumstance or Change? - Sunday

DAY 14

Philippians 3:12-14

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 4:11–13

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

In our society it’s so easy to change what we don’t like. In a world where we can photoshop, delete, and unfriend, we believe we should be able to change anything we don’t like. 

If we don’t like a restaurant or their services, we go to another. 
If we don’t like our physical appearance, we have surgery.  
If we don’t like a relationship we are in, we use apps to find new ones. 
If we don’t like something about a church or the pastor, we go somewhere else.
If we don’t like a circumstance, we buy, charm, manipulate, run, or fight our way out of it. 

But what if we are called to live in whatever circumstance God has us? What if the problems we have or the situations we find ourselves in are exactly what God wants to use to grow us?

Already in this new year, many of us have, are, or will be trying to change our circumstances. Whether they be financial, familial, or societal (think mask wearing), we don’t like problems. We avoid them as much as possible. Though God isn’t calling us to look for problems, He calls us to live in situations that at times are outside our control and uses them to make us more like Him. 

How Paul could say, “I have learned the secret of living in every situation…”? He learned that his problems and circumstances didn’t define his life—Christ did (Philippians 4:13). Although Paul was in prison when he wrote today's passage, he didn't whine or complain about his problems there. He used them to press on and show people his love for God. God wants to do the same thing in our lives. He wants to use our circumstances and problems to bring glory to Himself.

Reflection:

1. What are some things in your life that you changed because you didn’t like them?

2. What are some problems/circumstances you can’t change that you need to give to Jesus? How can you show the love of God to others through them?

3. How can the way you react to your problems and circumstances show God’s glory?

 

Pastor Rachel Long

This devotional is brought to you by Rachel Long. Rachel is the Executive Pastor of Families and Multisites at Emmanuel Church. 

Setting Our Hearts and Minds - Monday

DAY 15

Colossians 3:1-8

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

“If you don’t take the dog out, I’m gonna knock your teeth down your throat.”

I said it. I could feel the red-hot rage of a person pushed too far, turning from emotion to aggression. I had been pushed too far at work that day, been asked too much of by a friend that day, disappointed too many family members that day. I had had it, and now this precious, 12-year-old boy with headphones on (which, by the way, had kept him from hearing his mama’s first two requests) was standing eye to eye with a rage-infused mommy monster. I saw the fear. I felt his disappointment in himself and in me. I had completely lost the focus of my parenting, which is to lead my children into a deep affection with Jesus. I had given others the seat of importance that only Christ should have in my life, and now my son was reaping what I had sown. 

Ever happen to you?

As Christ followers, we are challenged to set our minds and hearts on things above. I was 100 percent focused that day on the things of this world. That rage was not what the offense warranted and not how Jesus would have treated my son. 

As we enter the home stretch of our fast this week, let’s cling to today's passage. Let’s remember that God is sovereign over our minds, bodies, attitudes, and actions. Every area of our lives—from public actions to the unseen secret thoughts of our minds—is under His Lordship.

Just for the record: I apologized to my son, and he forgave me.

Reflection:

1. You have been fasting for two weeks now. How have you become more like Christ in your thoughts, attitudes, and emotions?

2. I have been fasting for a breakthrough in my anger (ahem...maybe even rage). What have you been fasting to be rid of (vs. 8)?

3. Here is a prayer for you this last week of our fast: Lord, I pray for the reader, that they are fixing their eyes firmly on You and on things above. I pray that they are setting their mind and heart on things above. As You are growing their faith through this fast, please allow them the victory they seek, for Your glory alone. We love You so much. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Pastor Jim Gearries

This devotional is brought to you by Jim Gearries. Jim is the Online Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Focus on What Will Last Forever - Tuesday

DAY 16

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Human beings can handle enormous amounts of frustration, delay, and pain as long as they have hope. But when hope is gone, people give up. Jesus offers the only hope that is eternal, that will never disappoint. But we need the right perspective to understand the hope found in Jesus.

We can’t just look at what’s going on right now. Instead of focusing on the temporary, we must focus on the eternal. For instance, we need to pay more attention to God’s Word than the news. The difficulties of this world won’t last forever, but hope in God does.

In one of Abraham Lincoln’s famous speeches, he referenced this idea: “It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words, ‘And this, too, shall pass away.’”

This phrase reminds us that no matter how terrible the circumstances we go through are, they are only temporary. No problem comes to stay in our lives. It will pass. Even if it is a lifelong chronic problem, we won’t take it into eternity. Because of this fact, we should focus on those things that will last forever.

There are things in God’s universe we can’t see that will last forever. Faith, hope, and love will last forever (1 Corinthians 13:13). If we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever in eternity. Hope in Christ will become a hope fulfilled.

Reflection:

1. What uncertainty are you facing, and how does hope in Christ support you?

2. What examples of eternal matters can we focus on when faced with trials?

3. What could you be doing to help others maintain hope in Christ?

 

Pastor Cody Johnson

This devotional is brought to you by Cody Johnson. Cody is the Greenwood Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Our Top Priority - Wednesday

DAY 17

2 Peter 1:3-4

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Our top priority is to love God with every fiber of our being. We are also called to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30¬–31), and this is to be second only to our love for God. These commands call us to shift our mindset to an eternal perspective.

If we are to share God’s divine nature, we must escape the world’s corruption and leave behind human desires. Materialism, success, money, power, and fame all sound great and provide momentary pleasure. But they don’t last.

What lasts is what we cannot see in the present. Sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ so that those we are relentlessly pursuing can spend eternity with God is our primary mission. At the end of the day, sharing this precious promise from God is all that matters.

Reflection:

1. What human desires are distracting you from your top priority?

2. How could you share God’s divine nature?

3. Who in your life requires relentless pursuing?

 

Pastor Ashley Schneider

This devotional is brought to you by Ashley Schneider. Ashley is the Families Pastor at Emmanuel Church’s Greenwood Campus..

Faith for What Is Promised - Thursday

DAY 18

Genesis 15:5-6

Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Have you ever experienced a promise fulfilled? It leaves us feeling important, cherished, and loved because the person did what they told us they were going to do. We can count on them in the future because they have proven they are a person of their word.

This is how we can look at God and the promises He gives us. When we look at the Bible, we see He is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. God follows through on every promise we see there. 

In today's passage, we see an example of God fulfilling His promise. God promised Abram that He would have children—generations and generations of them. This might not seem like a big deal, but when God made this promise Abram was 75 years old and had no children. Sounds too good to be true, right? Even his wife laughed because she was past the age of having a baby. 

Abram didn’t get it right all the time, but he believed God’s promise that he would have a son, and he did! He had to wait 25 years for the promise to come true, but it happened just as God said it would and at the time God had planned. 

God may have a specific promise for you. It might be a future job, schooling, a spouse, or a child. It may be freedom from an addiction or an open door to something that is currently closed. Whatever God has promised you, have faith that He will keep that promise. The song “Do It Again” has a line in it that sums this up so well: 

“Your promise still stands. Great is Your faithfulness. I’m still in Your hands. This is my confidence. You’ve never failed me yet.”

Reflection:

1. What promise from God do you need to hold on to today?

2. If you don’t see a promise from God in your life, how can you use the last couple of days of the fast to seek out a promise from Him so you can experience His faithfulness?

3. What can you do in the waiting to continue to believe what God has promised you?

 

Pastor Chris Clay

This devotional is brought to you by Chris Clay. Chris is the Garfield Park Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Faith Beyond Sight - Friday

DAY 19

Daniel 3:24-25

But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace? ” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

In 587 BC, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were seized by the Babylonians. Among those captured were three young men we know by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Although they lived and worked in an ungodly society, their hearts remained turned toward God. Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, demanded everyone worship a giant golden statue he had erected of himself. If they refused, they would be thrown into a large incinerator and burned to death.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship this figure, and in doing so boldly defied the king’s orders. The faith they exhibited by not bowing to the statue meant they faced certain death. But to them, worshipping another god meant they were not being true to God. 

The king was so angry at their insolence that he demanded the incinerator be heated seven times its normal temperature before the defiant young men were thrown into it. The furnace was so hot that it killed the soldiers who threw the guys in. But, astonishingly, when the king looked in, they were all alive! And, even more remarkable, there was a fourth man, a divine being, with them in the fire. Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the flames and commanded no one speak a word against their God.

Faith is taking a step in a direction when we may not know the outcome or it may look devastating. But when we operate in our faith beyond what we can see, the possibilities are endless. 

Reflection:

1. What does faith beyond sight look like to you?

2. How can you keep your heart true to God in an ungodly world?

3. How can you learn to trust God for what you cannot see?

 

Pastor Brent Fox

This devotional is brought to you by Brent Fox. Brent is the Franklin Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Overwhelming Faith - Saturday

DAY 20

Romans 8:35-39

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have you ever jumped into the deep end of a pool? Common sense dictates you should either know how to swim or wear a flotation device to prevent drowning. When it comes to our faith, we tend to use that same safe, self-serving thinking. 

“God, I can’t really forgive that person because they hurt me so badly.”
“God, I can’t give you money because then I won’t have enough to do what I want to do.”
“God, I can’t really help someone else because I don’t have the time.”

Do we think God doesn't know our situations? Do we believe God wants the best for us?  

God invites us out of a self-serving faith into a relational, overwhelming faith—a faith that might not make sense to us or even to the world; a faith that leads us to love our enemies or make time to serve someone when it might not benefit us; a faith that overcomes fear when we have no idea how we will make it.  

When we step into this kind of faith, we begin to experience a peace that passes all understanding. Exercising overwhelming faith honors God and frees us to love others. This faith helps us see that nothing can separate us from God’s heart. He is with us and for us.  

Reflection:

1. What is one thing that is separating you from growing in overwhelming faith in God?

2. Are you confident that God knows what He is asking of you and where it might lead if you say yes? Why or why not?

3. What do you need to do to start exercising overwhelming faith?

 

Pastor Aaron Beasley

This devotional is brought to you by Aaron Beasley. Aaron is the Banta Campus Pastor at Emmanuel Church. 

Unseen Blessings - Sunday

DAY 21

John 20:29

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Hebrews 11:1

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 

As we come to the end of our fast, hopefully we have come to the realization that what we see on this earth isn’t all there is. A world of beings we cannot see is fighting against us every day (Ephesians 6:12), and a world of beings we cannot see is fighting for us every day (Hebrews 1:14). We must get past the physical and open our eyes to the unseen. 

It’s so easy to miss the many unseen blessings God gives us every day. Yes, we may have been late to work because one of our kids forgot their homework, but God helped us avoid a wreck because of it. We may have lost a job we thought was the best opportunity for us, only to see God open doors we never thought were possible had we not experienced that loss. We may have lost someone we loved, but their death may lead many to know Jesus that we won’t know about this side of heaven. We may be going through difficult circumstances because we truly are making an impact for the Kingdom, and behind the scenes, the enemy is trying to slow us down.

This is why focusing on the unseen is super important and only becomes clearer the more we decide to walk by faith by placing our trust in Jesus and putting on the armor of God each day (Ephesians 6:13–18). One of the reasons we have fasted is to become more aware of the unseen. 

We stopped eating all food (or certain foods), gave up social media and many other things so that our minds could be free to focus on what is truly important. Because we did this, Jesus says we are blessed. He says we will live the abundant life we always wanted because the physical world isn’t the most important to us, but His unseen Kingdom is. 

After Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to His disciples, specifically Thomas, He said, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29). 

Today, if you are in relationship with Jesus, you are blessed. Today, no matter what circumstances you are going through, you are blessed. Today and for the rest of 2021, our prayer as a church is to see all of us continue to focus more on the unseen than on what we can see. When we do this, God will bless the people around us because we are walking by faith, not by sight. 

Reflection:

1. What has been hard about your fast? How have you been blessed through your fast?

2. How has the fast helped you take your eyes off the seen and place them on the unseen?

3. What is one way this year you will focus on the unseen Kingdom of God?