Welcome! ... Join us in Focus 40
Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Devotions for Adults
Calling the Church to
40 days of Prayer and Fasting for Transformed Lives
The Church of God is being called to unite in a time of prayer and fasting during the forty days leading up to Easter 2012 (February 29–April 8). Imagine the transformative power that could be unleashed if the church united in a time of deliberate prayer and fasting. How many lives could be changed? How many congregations could be healed and empowered for the sharing of the good news of Christ? Imagine what could happen if we Christians humbled ourselves in submission, sacrifice and prayer? Focus 40 is a call for the church to join together for just such a period of worship and obedience. Growing out of the writers’ personal experiences in the Word, prayer, and fasting, the Focus 40 Devotions for Adults have been prepared by Church of God people across the nation. God’s promise is still true, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chron 7:14). NIV
"We are convinced that through the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting, we refresh and connect in our relationship with God and others around us," said Rev. Randy Montgomery, chairman of the Strategic Values Transformation Team Cultivate and Refresh. "As God’s children, we need to pull away from all the voices and noises in our lives and focus and reconnect with our Father." "‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning’" (Joel 2:12).
Imagine if the church came together in the next forty days, in prayer and fasting—praying for God’s awesome outpouring of anointing, blessing, and life-transforming power upon his people. Do you suppose anything memorable could happen? Would God show up in our midst in ways yet not experienced by us? Would any lasting positive change happen in our lives, families, churches, and other relationships? We the Cultivate/Refresh Team believe all of this and more can happen as we come together in this time of prayer and fasting, and we are delighted to offer these Focus 40 Devotionals as helpful resources. We invite you to join us in this life transforming experience and to encourage your family and friends to participate also.
The Transformation Team Connect/Refresh: Dr. Sam Bruce, Editor; and Rev. Randy Montgomery, Chair; Rev. Joseph D. Allison, Co-Chair; Rev. Barb Ferraro; Dr. Steve Birch; Dr. James Johnman; Dr. Andy Stephenson; Dr. Melissa Pratt; Dr. Sam Bruce; Rev. Gary Moore; Rebecca Hodges
Four Things to Focus on in Fasting
As you begin the Focus 40 devotional season, realizing that fasting is something we need to grow into, here are four things we need to remember in the practice of fasting.
1. F—Focus on God
What should be our primary reason for fasting? We fast to focus on God, to cultivate intimacy with him. When we truly seek him, we will find him (Jer 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. NIV). What would prove to be the wrong focus for fasting? When we do it to impress people; this leads to pride. (Matt 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. NIV ) When we do it, not out of love for God, but as a duty to follow a set of rules; this leads to legalism. (Matt 9:14-17 Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." NIV)
2. A—Ask God
Why do we need to ask God? Because he wants us to come to him and ask. He delights when we ask, for it shows humility and God-dependence rather than self-reliance (Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV ). It proves that we have faith in him. We come to him believing that he is greater than our needs and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
3. S—Submit to God
What can we expect when we fast? We can expect to hear him better. God will speak to us and will answer in response to our prayers and queries. And what does God expect when we hear him clearly in a fast? Obey what he says.
4. T—Transformation
What is transformation’s relation to fasting? It should be the end-result of fasting. Fasting is useless without real life-change. Because fasting brings us into deeper intimacy with God, our love for him should also grow, which should enable us to obey what he commands. As we are changed, we must help others change, by witnessing for Christ.
Rev. Randy Montgomery, Chair, Transformation Team Connect/Refresh; Online Instructor, Mid-America Christian University
Reflection: Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
The Transformation Team Cultivate/Refresh is delighted to present these Focus 40 Devotionals for Adults for your reflection as we approach the 2012 Easter season. As we prayed together and privately, and as we discussed our theme for this year, we believed that God was leading us to focus on transforming lives, Christ Followers helping people find their way home to God. As we prayerfully reflected on that idea, we believed God led us to the theme Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives….! As we prayerfully selected the writers for the devotionals, we gave them some specific guidelines for them, in keeping with the theme. We asked for a relevant Scripture passage to anchor their thoughts in the life transforming Word of God. We asked that they share a story that illustrates life transformation in Christ because someone prayed, fasted, loved, served, witnessed to people, and modeled the unconditional, unlimited, unmatched love of God. We wanted them to relate to the Great Commission and/or the Great Commandments. Then, we asked for a prayer that flows through the story, Scripture, or theme. We said that we want the fire and excitement, the thrill and ecstasy of Transforming the Culture by Being the Body of Christ; the joy of new life in Christ; the fruit of prayer, fasting, loving, witnessing, serving, modeling. We have prayed for God’s anointing on the writers and those who read the stories. As you read them, you may find yourself or someone you love in them; when you do, ask God what He wants to do in your life or their lives as a result of the story’s message. Invite others to share the stories with you. Tell them. E-mail them. Mail them. Facebook them. Twitter them. Read them in person to others. Be blessed by them! Enjoy them! Let us know your stories of how God uses these stories in your life or others you share them with. Spread the joy of partnering with God in Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Unpacking the Focus 40 Devotions. . . Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives . . !
When you read the following Focus 40 Daily Devotions and focus on their message to you, you might want to spend a few minutes unpacking them, writing their meaning to you in your journal. Here are some reflection starters for you to consider:
1. What would the implementation of this devotional thought look like in your life? Are you there yet? What are your dreams regarding this concept?
2. What, if anything, keeps this from being real in your life? What changes—in attitudes, actions, motives, desires, and habits—would need to occur for God to accurately reproduce his character in you?
3. Reflecting on the Focus 40 theme, Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives! What covenants with God would you like to make today regarding the message of this devotional?
4. Reflecting on the Christ Follower Principle Pointing People to the Way Home to God, write a prayer about what you want God to do in and through your life, based on this devotional.
Dr. Sam Bruce, Editor (for questions or comments: drsambruce@aol.com or
(601-845-8693)
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