I invite you to join me on a 21 day journey of prayer and fasting.  The purpose is to intentionally seek the face of the Lord.  God is always with His children because of His covenant commitment through Jesus to always stand by us, work for us, love us, and cause everything to work for good for His beloved children.  Yet, the Bible tell us repeatedly to seek the presence of God. If God is always with us, why are we told to seek His presence?

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Let me explain.  Even though God is “with us” we must intentionally seek Him.  I can be with my wife, but not necessarily pursuing her.  I can be in her presence, but not actively serving, loving, engaging, or seeking after her.  The same is true of our relationship with God.  In Christ, His presence is with us, but we are called to continually seek after Him.

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There are also seasons when we all become neglectful of God and spend little or no time thinking on and meditating upon His glory, greatness, and beauty. 

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John Piper writes about the believer seeking the presence of God, “His face-the brightness of His personal character-is hidden behind the curtain of our carnal desires.  This condition is always ready to overtake us.  That is why we are told to ‘seek His presence continually.’  God calls us to enjoy continual consciousness of His supreme greatness and beauty and worth.”

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I pray these 21 days will be days of profound spiritual enrichment as we pursue the “face of God.”

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I encourage you to purposefully pray for our country and FBCZ during these 21 days.

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This election has significance beyond what we can imagine. Anti-Christian and anti-Bible agendas rage around us.  Let us pray for God’s great mercy and that  “justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,”  and that Christians will prayerfully utilize their right to vote. 

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Let us pray for Biblical renewal and revival among the people of God called FBCZ.  Pray with me that God would exalt His great name,   He would extend His kingdom in the world,   the gospel would speed ahead and be honored,  that our greatest joy would be in God,  for boldness in proclaiming the gospel,   and our hearts would be satisfied with God and not the world.    May God move in His church for His glory.

 

I encourage you during these three weeks of intentionally seeking the Lord to prayerfully consider fasting for one day per week.  Acts 13:1-3 tells us the 1st century church at Antioch fasted and prayed together.  Fasting is a Biblical discipline that God has given the believer.  For more information on fasting please click on this link.

 

Finally, I am indebted to David McKinley, pastor of Warren Baptist Church in Augusta S.C. and his prayer ministry for allowing us to utilize their devotionals.

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Join me as we seek the face of God,

Pastor Paul

 

 

 

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i Psalm 63:1, Hebrews 11:6, Psalm 42:1-2; ii Amos 5:24; iii Matthew 6:9; iv Matthew 6:10; v 2 Thessalonians 3:1; vi Matthew 13:44, Psalm 16:11; vii Acts 4:29; vii Psalm 90:14