Day 1
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”
-Philippians 1:9
At the time the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the believers of Philippians. The Greeks loved knowledge, the Romans loved power, and the Hebrews loved the law. With that in mind read those words from Philippians 1:9 again… “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” Notice what Paul is praying for. He is not praying that the believers would be filled with knowledge to educate the community around them. He is not praying that the believers would be blessed with positions of power in society. Paul was praying that their love would deepen, more and more. Paul was praying that the believers would be made aware of the love of God for all mankind, each of them included. And how much they are supposed to love one another in the church. Paul’s love for God and other believers is obvious. His love was sincere, it couldn’t be hidden or denied. He was suffering on their behalf, his chains were proof of his love for God and others. May your love for God, and your love for others continue to grow more and more today.
Father, thank You for loving me. Help me to realize today, that the most important thing in my life to continue to improve on is loving You and loving others. Help me not to focus on what I don’t have in my life, but be thankful for what I do have. Help me to not worry about my weaknesses but to focus on my strength that is found in you. Lord, I trust You. I love You, and I love others. It is my desire to love more and more. In Jesus name I pray… Amen.
-Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver
Day 2
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” -Philippians 1:10 (NKJV)
As Christians, we must persevere in growing in love, spiritual knowledge, and discernment. It's maturing in these key areas that will help us in discovering and distinguishing between what is good, what is evil, what’s acceptable to God, and what isn't acceptable to Him. This will help us to avoid sin and unrighteousness. By living our lives in such a manner, we can be found clean and blameless at the second coming of Christ. Sin separates us from God. God has a zero tolerance policy in regard to sin. If we fail to be persistent in growing in love, knowledge, and discernment then we’ll experience difficulty in growing closer in our relationship with God. God wants nothing to stand in our way of Him. In what areas do you need to ask for God's forgiveness? Repent and ask God for forgiveness. Take inventory of your life and ask the question, “What things in my life are hindering my relationship with Jesus?” Jesus said, if something is causing us to sin then we must cut it off. We must continually pursue righteousness and seek the face of God for enlightenment.
Lord, please help me to do what's good and pleasing in your eyes and avoid what is evil. Aid me in walking in righteousness for your name’s sake. May the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit continue to change me to be more and more like Jesus. Cleanse me Lord so I can be found without spot or blemish when Jesus Christ returns.
-Pastor Josh Evans
Day 3
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
What is praise? The definition of praise is the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something. Praise is something that we must give to God, praise is something that God desires and deserves. There are 334 verses about praise throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. Praise is something that God demands from us. Praise is important because God demands praise from us, He expects praise from His people. Throughout the Bible God’s people have praised the Lord with their words of adoration and thankfulness. Are you praising God enough? Have you praised Him for who He is? Or do you just ask for more things? Praise is an act of obedience; God requires praise from His children and the Lord should be praised for all the good things that He has given us. When it comes to praise, we must be intentional about giving our praise to the Lord, we must give thanks to our provider. Praise is a privilege that we get to give back to the Lord. How are you praising the Lord? Are you intentional about giving praise?
Lord, I could never praise You enough! You are worthy of all my praise. Please forgive me for failing to give praise back to You. You are an awesome God that deserves my praise. Lord help me to be intentional with my praise to You and convict me when I forget to give you praise. In Jesus’ name I pray.
-Angela Copenhaver
Day 4
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”
-Philippians 1:9 (NKJV)
The Bible is clear in many passages of scripture that wisdom comes from God! He longs for His children to be knowledgeable, continually pursuing truth. Yet, this passage goes a little further in that Paul is also urging discernment. We desperately need the Lord to give us discernment in our wisdom so we may know that our speech, actions, and efforts bring honor and glory to the Kingdom of God.
It is very easy to try to seek wisdom for selfish reasons, to make others feel less, to make ourselves seem knowledgeable. However, if we pursue knowledge and wisdom without seeking discernment, we opt out of the will that God has for us in our lives. Discernment gives us the divine appointments that we need to accomplish our goal to make Christ-like disciples in all the nations. When the Lord calls upon us (and He will) in this new year let us be found continually pursuing Godly wisdom asking for the strength needed for the road ahead, being good stewards of the wisdom, the Lord has blessed us with. Proverbs 3:5 says… “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Lord, I thank You for all Your many blessings. I know that wisdom is a gift from You, to be used in Godly pursuits. Help me now and always to put myself in a position to hear Your voice and respond accordingly. Give me discernment as I long to be Your hands and feet in this world. Amen. May the Grace and peace of our Lord rest on you all, have a blessed year!
-Pastor Terry Passmore
Day 5
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, and that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,” -Philippians 1:10 (NKJV)
Picture the scene in Finding Nemo when Nemo's dad Marlin realizes that Dory can read, as she says “escapay! … hey, that’s like escape.” We will revisit that word. In Phil 1:9, Paul had described God-given wisdom, and that leads us right into character and purity. Wise choices lead to holy living. The phrase “without offense” means blameless. We know that only Jesus was totally blameless, but as The Body of believers, we are called to be like Him. God is holy, and He wants His Bride to be holy. Integrity is tied to purity, because as believers, we do not want to be hypocritical. Those who are considering faith in Jesus, are watching us carefully, and The Spirit wants to help us run from temptation so that we can represent Jesus well. One step toward being pure and blameless is in Phil 2:14, where Paul challenges us, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” In Phil 4:8, Paul wraps things up saying, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Coming back to Dory’s word “escape,” whether or not you pronounce it like it’s Spanish, we must recognize the “way out” which God faithfully provides. For today’s prayer, let’s make 1 Cor 10:13 our personal prayer, replacing “you” with “I”/“me”, and inserting “You” for God, because He is surely listening!
God, You are awesome and faithful. You are the source of my strength. As You powerfully remind me in 1 Cor 10:13, ‘No temptation has overtaken me, but such as is common to man; and You are faithful Who will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able, but with the temptation, will provide the way of escape also, so that I will be able to endure it!’ In The Name of Jesus, Amen.
-Jeff Wilkin
Day 6
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
When we are filled with righteousness through Jesus, we begin to outwardly reflect the changes taking place in our hearts. The glory of God can be seen in the fruits of our actions. God’s glory is something that can be seen all around us, but as believers, it is also something that should be seen IN us. When we are filled with Him, we begin to emanate goodness, kindness, love – all to His glory. What is the “why” behind our actions – is it to impress those around us or to bring glory to God? How can I glorify God in my actions today? How can I show others God’s glory?
Lord, help me to be an example of your goodness and glory. Let my actions glorify you and speak of who you are – I pray they are an example to those around me. I pray that I am a light to those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
-Emily Phillips
Day 7
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”
-Philippians 1:9 (NKJV)
Is it snowing today where you are? If you’re in Ohio, especially in North Central Ohio, there’s a good chance that it is. Don’t worry, we know by March… April… Well sometime, I promise all the snow will melt away in the bright spring sunshine. Like the seasons that change so suddenly, there’s a lot of things in our lives that we do that will fade away. We spend a lot of time, energy and effort on our careers so that we can make more money, so we can get more stuff, that we’ll eventually get bored with, and have to get bigger and newer stuff. We spend our time, energy and effort on trying to gain the approval of people who will soon forget we ever existed. We spend a lot of time, energy and effort on trying to make our life good, safe, and comfortable, so often we spin our tires to chase things that won’t last. God’s Word makes it clear that love is more important than faith, hope, and everything else. Love will last. What if we spent more time, energy, and effort on loving God and loving others? I can promise you at the end of our lives we will leave our families something far greater than stuff. We will live a life full of love. Make an investment in loving God and loving others today.
Father, thank You for Your love towards me. God, it is my desire to love you with all my heart, mind, and soul. May I spend more time, energy, and effort on loving You and loving those around me. Love never fails. I know that I will have opportunities today to love You more than I did yesterday. May I not overlook them. I know that I will have opportunities today to love others more than I did yesterday, it’s my prayer that my love will abound more and more. In Jesus name I pray… Amen.
-Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver
Day 8
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” -Philippians 1:10 (NKJV)
The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” In this verse it is clear that The Lord will give us strength. During uncomfortable circumstances God can help us rise up. God’s strength is greater than any adversity we face. This should be a powerful reminder to us all to never, ever give up. This scripture reinforces us that God always looks out for those that lean on Him during difficult times. What a great reminder for us all, that every single one of us will need to call on God during some point in our lives, and He will hear us. What we need to do is drop immediately to our knees and pray. We need to pray without stopping, showing The Lord that we’re calling on Him to deliver us from any situations that we deal with. There’s no need to be anxious but know that the battle is already won with God on our side.
Dear Lord Jesus, may You guide me during this difficult season of my life. May You be with me to have trust and faith in You. Heavenly Father, I pray that You give me the strength I need that’s through You to endure life’s struggles and situations. In Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.
-Nick Gaglione
Day 9
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
You may be reading this verse found in Philippians and wonder, “What are fruits of righteousness?”
Fruits of Righteousness is the outgrowth of righteousness in the heart. There are many different actions and attitudes that a truly righteous person will display. A few examples are honesty, kindness, meekness, goodness, and love. All these things come from God, and we are to follow in obedience to Him.
All fruit comes from seed, the seed of grace implanted in us through Salvation in Jesus Christ. Which should produce the fruits of righteousness. Jesus makes these things very clear in John 15:1-6. Jesus says that He is the true vine, and that we must be obedient to Him to bear righteous fruits. We must follow His teaching and listen for the still small voice of God. God doesn’t yell, He whispers. Will you join us in being obedient to God’s call? We can only have righteous fruits by following the teachings of Jesus. God will bless us with more fruit than we ever thought possible. Let’s join together and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, Lord I come before You today and I ask that You would prune me Lord. I ask that You would remove any dead branches that may be in the way of producing righteous fruit. Lord, help me to love without borders and share the Good News of Your Son Jesus Christ with everyone I meet. I love You and give You all the glory for the fruits that you give me. I pray this all in Jesus name… Amen.
-Kyall Kiko
Day 10
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”
-Philippians 1:9 (NKJV)
In order for a beautiful flower to fully bloom, there must first be a seed planted followed by a bud sprouted. Our love and affection for Christ should experience continual growth. The more we love Jesus the more we should love others. With a continual growth in love for God should come a deeper desire for divine knowledge and understanding. There is no way to experience the fullness of God without growth in spiritual knowledge and understanding. The vessel through which we grow in both of these areas is love. Love is the mark of a genuine Christian. Love fosters much growth. Be intentional about loving God and loving others. Be prayerful about areas in which you can show greater love. Make it a priority to set aside quiet time to study God’s word. Ask God to help you grow spiritually through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, thank you for showing me the true meaning of love through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ. Please help me to demonstrate a greater love not only towards you but also towards others. Open up the doors of my heart, soul, and mind to experience your fullness. Never let me think I’ve grown beyond the knowledge of your word. Amen.
-Pastor Josh Evans
Day 11
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” -Philippians 1:10 (NKJV)
Have you ever said these words? “Nobody is perfect.” I bet you have. It is a true statement, but it should never be an excuse to fall into the traps of temptation, and sin. God knows we will get it wrong… A lot. He knows we will fail, He knows we will mess up, and He knew it long before He sent His son Jesus to die for all our sins, failures, and mess ups. Jesus knew nobody was perfect, and that’s exactly why He came to this Earth, because the love of God forgives and looks ahead. Love leaves past failures in the past, love doesn’t keep score.
In Psalm 103:12, God says, “Our sins are as far as the east is from the west.” Can you measure the distance between the east and the west? Who can swim to the bottom of the sea of forgetfulness? Our shame has a way of bringing them back up. We think because of our past we are disqualified from His grace, unworthy of His mercy, but Christ has broken the chains that were keeping us from becoming who He desires us to be. What do you need to let go of? What baggage from your past do you need to leave behind? Let it go, move on to things that are excellent, and stay faithful until Christ returns.
Father, I rejoice in The Lord My Savior. I praise You for Your grace that I have found favor in Your sight. That you have taken my sins and removed them as far as the east is from the west, that you have cast them into the sea of forgetfulness. You know that I will get it wrong sometimes, but because of Your great love you forgive and look ahead to my future. Reveal to me things I need to let go of in my life, I lay them at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. Thank You, for the plans You have for me in my life. In Jesus name I pray… Amen.
-Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver
Day 12
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
This letter to the church at Philippi touches on many things that we as Christians must make a paramount part of our lives. Big things like LOVE, WISDOM, and PERSEVERANCE are immediately seen. However, also in this verse Paul is urging us to be “filled with the fruits of Righteousness!” The question we must ask ourselves today is…How is your fruit?
We are all always bearing fruit, we “labor” constantly. The question then arises is our fruit serving God or ourselves. I know first hand how easy it can be to labor for all the wrong reasons…if I could just get that car, if I just had a little more. Instead, Paul is urging that our fruit be that of righteousness that only comes from Jesus Christ. The persons in this world, in our sphere of influence already see the fruit you are bearing, let's make certain it is of God. How do we accomplish this, how do we know for certain that our fruit is Godly?
The Bible says in Colossians 3:17 “…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” A fruit tree that produces the sweetest most nourishing fruit must have sun, water, care, and cultivation for it to succeed. Honestly, we don’t read the Bible, pray, or gather in the Lord’s house and we wonder why the fruit of our labor seems to be in vain. In this new year are you ready for the pruning that God needs to do in your life? If the answer is yes, I can say for certain that the fruit of your labor will not be in vain!
Lord, God Almighty, I praise You and thank You for all your many blessings. I come before You Lord ready for the Master’s pruning in my life. Cut away all things that poison my testimony in this world and let the fruit that I produce in my life daily bring honor and glory to Your name. I pray all these things in the name of Your son Jesus Christ, Amen. May the Grace and peace of our Lord rest on you all, have a blessed year!
-Pastor Terry Passmore
Day 13
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” -Philippians 1:9 (NKJV)
In this passage, the Apostle Paul is expressing the importance of loving without borders or boundaries. And the same thing goes for us, we need to love without boundaries, we need to love our neighbors as ourselves. We need to show our world the love of Jesus Christ. This verse is so important in our everyday lives. You may ask why is love so important? The answer is simple; God is Love. In 1 John we are told we must love to know God. “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love,” 1 John 4:8. God has shown His love for His creation over and over. We see this in the sacrifice of His one and only Son Jesus Christ. We see this throughout the scriptures, but most famously in the Gospel of John. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 So, how do we love like God? We must take the ever so famous slogan from NIKE. JUST DO IT! We must love, care and show compassion for our fellow neighbors. We must first love within the church before we can love others outside the church. Whether it is listening to someone’s concerns, lending them a hand, or possibly meeting a need financially. It is all part of love.
Heavenly Father, I come before you today and ask that you would fill me with love. We ask that it’s not a superficial love but a deep love for You and Your church. I ask that You give me the strength to love like You love. Help me to love others. I ask that You would bring a revival of love to our church, communities and let it begin with me. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
-Kyall Kiko
Day 14
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” -Philippians 1:10 (NKJV)
I have met some people who have told me that we need to make Christianity more challenging, it’s all just too easy, all too simple. I have also met people who have told me that Christianity is far too difficult for anyone to achieve. So which is it? Jesus was never confusing, we may be confused, we may be confusing, but Jesus was not confused or confusing. He knew exactly what He was saying, He never misspoke, and He never had a hidden agenda, or selfish motives. The things He asked His followers to do, and the things He asks us to do are simple, but they are very seldom easy. When He says, “Drop your plans and follow Me,” it can be a challenge. When He says, “Let go of the control,” it can be a challenge. When He says, “Don’t be afraid,” it can be a challenge. Easy? No. Impossible? No, because with God all things are possible. He taught us that Heaven’s economy was built on things like love, caring, sharing, and unity. If you think about it, maybe the most challenging of all starts with how we will respond to His first statement to us all, “Follow Me.” Follow Jesus today. You don’t have to have all the answers to Christianity to follow Jesus. You don’t need a seminary degree in Biblical Studies to follow Jesus. You don’t even need any money in your checking account to follow Him. You just need to do what my favorite Hymn says written back in 1887 by John H. Sammis, “Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Trusting God and being obedient is the way to live sincere, and excellent lives.
Father, I ask that You will help me to trust You and obey You today. May I feel Your power, presence, and peace as I go throughout my day. Help me not to lean on my own understandings of the things that I will face today, or the questions I have about You today. But to simply trust You and be obedient to You today. Lord, I thank You that I don’t have to have it all figured out, I don’t have to have all the answers but by faith I can believe that You are who You said You are, and You are more than able to do what You said You can do. In Jesus name I pray… Amen. -Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver
Day 15
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
I love the verse in Psalm 100:4 that says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” One way we can enter His gates on earth is by joining with others in praise at God’s house. And while praise involves music, it has more to do with expressing our thankfulness to God. Often so much occupies our minds when we enter into praise, but we should ask God to help us lay distractions aside and focus on His goodness for that special time. So much of our fulfillment comes from being thankful. We’ve all seen a child who seems to have everything and is still throwing a fit for more. Yet there are children overseas who can find joy in playing soccer with a flat ball. It’s not about getting the things you don’t have but rather being grateful for what’s already yours. Be exuberant in your praise to the Lord both for who He is and for what He has done. When you do this, it not only touches Him—it changes you.
Lord, help me to praise You in the way You most desire. Let me be thankful always and see You for who You are. And above all, I ask that, through praising You, I become more and more like You every day. In Jesus’ Name!
-Haley Gaglione
Day 16
"That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,”
-Philippians 1:9
May we always remember how generous Our God is! Paul loved the Philippians, especially because they had faithfully supported him in every way. He then naturally prayed for them to be filled with both love and wisdom. Paul was in prison, and he knew that those reading his letter might not quite understand why it was necessary to suffer persecution for their faith. When we ask in faith (James 1:5-6), God will generously give us loving wisdom, even for healthier relationships with those who cause us trouble. To help us understand tough times, He has given us His Word. It is not our own understanding that gets us through, for The LORD says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8). Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 8:1 that “knowledge puffs up while love builds up,” so wisdom must be pursued in love, which is God’s way. We should never use knowledge to tear someone down, but always to encourage and build others up. We need to pray for wisdom all day long, and every day. We must humble ourselves, because it is so natural for us to be filled with pride in what we’ve done or what we know. Rom 12:2-3 has a great reminder to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God,” and then it goes on to say, “not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment.”
God, I don’t want to overestimate my wisdom nor ever underestimate Yours. Help me to see what You see and help me to make decisions with the knowledge that You give. If I need to slow down, give me patience. If I need to listen instead of speaking, seal my lips. I submit myself to Your ways today! In The Name of Jesus, Amen.
-Jeff Wilkin
Day 17
"That you may approve the things that are excellent, and that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,” -Philippians 1:10
In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” I feel that the Bible verse is telling us to renew my mind and to not lust. This verse tells me that we can discern what is from God through our conscience. God wants us to figure out His Will for our lives and not allow lust and impure thoughts get in the way. As Christians, this is so important because we don’t want to fall into temptation. The world is full of lustful desires that can pull us away from The Lord. This verse reminds us that even our impure thoughts can hurt our relationship with God. We need to repent and ask God for forgiveness. We need to focus more on The Lord and less on the world. I pray that the Holy Spirit renews my mind.
Dear Lord Jesus, may You guide me to not have lustful thoughts. May You renew my mind and form thoughts that are inspired by Your Holy Spirit. Lord, please help me live according to Your will and not to be tempted by impurity. In Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.
-Nick Gaglione
Day 18
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
Praise is something that we give back to God. It is thanking Him for how good He is to us and how He brings us through different situations in life. God’s people have been praising the Lord for centuries. People praise God with their words and actions. Praising God is something that we strive to do each day. We should reflect God’s goodness back to Him and we can do this in so many ways. We can praise with our words and songs. Praise looks different for every person because we are all different people, and God made us to be that way. My praise may look different from the way you praise, that is okay, praise God anyways. Some people sing praises, some shout praises, some raise their hands in praise, some may cry in praise. All these things are wonderful praises when they are given to the Lord. A simple praise that can be given to the Lord is to just be obedient to what God is calling you to do and being obedient in giving praise. Give praise to the Lord for He is worthy.
Lord, thank you for all the things that I have forgotten to praise you for. I give my praise to You because You alone are worthy. Whatever my personal praise is, Lord it is all for you! Whether I shout it from the rooftops or cry alone my praise is for You. Whether I dance in the streets or stand in awe of Your majesty my praise is all for You.
-Angela Copenhaver
Day 19
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
God’s Word declares that every believer will be filled with the fruits of righteousness. The gifts He has blessed us with through filling us with His Spirit should bring praise to Him. We praise Him for the work He is doing in and through our lives. Our highest purpose is to bring praise to the Lord. He has filled us with His righteousness and is working in and through us. He is our reason to praise. In everything we do, we should be giving praise to God. What blessings can I praise God for today? Am I bringing praise to God through my day to day living? How can I be more intentional in bringing praise to Him through my actions?
Lord, I praise You for who You are and the work You are doing in my life and the lives of those around me. Thank You for walking alongside me; for filling me with joy and comforting me with Your perfect peace. I pray Your name be magnified in all I say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
-Emily Phillips
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
God’s Word declares that every believer will be filled with the fruits of righteousness. The gifts He has blessed us with through filling us with His Spirit should bring praise to Him. We praise Him for the work He is doing in and through our lives. Our highest purpose is to bring praise to the Lord. He has filled us with His righteousness and is working in and through us. He is our reason to praise. In everything we do, we should be giving praise to God. What blessings can I praise God for today? Am I bringing praise to God through my day to day living? How can I be more intentional in bringing praise to Him through my actions?
Lord, I praise You for who You are and the work You are doing in my life and the lives of those around me. Thank You for walking alongside me; for filling me with joy and comforting me with Your perfect peace. I pray Your name be magnified in all I say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
-Emily Phillips
Day 20
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” -Philippians 1:10
We live in a world where it seems being sincere either gets you hated, unfriended, or ostracized. We used to sign personal letters with the word, “Sincerely.” The word sincere, means to be genuine, honest, truthful. You would think these would be honorable characteristics to have in our world but that’s just not the way of the world. The world says, “Do whatever it takes.” If you have to lie to make it to the top, lie. If you have to compromise to make it to the top, compromise. If you have to cheat, steal, or slander others, do it. Yet, God’s way is quite the opposite. He tells us to live a life of excellence, filled with truth, sincerely as to the Lord until our days have ended. When we live a Christian life we produce a life that brings glory to Jesus Christ. When we follow the ways of the world we have a tendency to boast about our achievements, but when we live for Christ no person can get the credit but Christ who lives in us. Live a life of excellence for the glory of God in Christ Jesus today.
Father, help me to live a life of excellence for Your glory. Help me to be sincere in my love for you, my love for others, and my love for Your Church. Help me to stay faithful to You in all areas of my life. Lord, may I live a life that will point people to Jesus, and point people to Your Church. Fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit, that I may live a life worthy of Your name, in Jesus name I pray… Amen.
-Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” -Philippians 1:10
We live in a world where it seems being sincere either gets you hated, unfriended, or ostracized. We used to sign personal letters with the word, “Sincerely.” The word sincere, means to be genuine, honest, truthful. You would think these would be honorable characteristics to have in our world but that’s just not the way of the world. The world says, “Do whatever it takes.” If you have to lie to make it to the top, lie. If you have to compromise to make it to the top, compromise. If you have to cheat, steal, or slander others, do it. Yet, God’s way is quite the opposite. He tells us to live a life of excellence, filled with truth, sincerely as to the Lord until our days have ended. When we live a Christian life we produce a life that brings glory to Jesus Christ. When we follow the ways of the world we have a tendency to boast about our achievements, but when we live for Christ no person can get the credit but Christ who lives in us. Live a life of excellence for the glory of God in Christ Jesus today.
Father, help me to live a life of excellence for Your glory. Help me to be sincere in my love for you, my love for others, and my love for Your Church. Help me to stay faithful to You in all areas of my life. Lord, may I live a life that will point people to Jesus, and point people to Your Church. Fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit, that I may live a life worthy of Your name, in Jesus name I pray… Amen.
-Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver
Day 21
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11 (NKJV)
King David paints a beautiful picture of worship in Psalm 95:6 when he writes, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” While praise is more lighthearted, worship seems to dive deeper. Bowing down is the ultimate sign of surrender which is the purest form of worship. It is not just about acknowledging Him but also about submitting to His divine leadership. God created our spirits with a built in desire to worship. When people don’t worship God, they inevitably find another object to idolize. As wise as we think we are, we are shortsighted and cannot properly direct our lives on our own. We need someone who sees the whole staircase, not just the first step. Every time we worship Him, we see Him more clearly, and our response to His presence calls us to a deeper surrender to Him. Don’t look to celebrities or even spiritual authorities to guide you, if they contradict what God is speaking through His written Word. Come before Him humbly and give Him executive control of your life. Worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Lord, you are worthy of all my worship. Help me live a life of surrender to You, presenting my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name! -Haley Gaglione
Day 22
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:11
I want you to say these words out loud… “Not I, but Christ in me.” Say it again… “Not I, but Christ in me.” And one more time this morning, “Not I, but Christ in me.” Paul writes these exact words in Galatians 2:20, “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” As we are filled with the fruit of righteousness of Jesus Christ, our lives become a basket overflowing with the attributes of Christ Himself. As we surrender daily to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God, feast on His Word, and lay our selfish motives aside we will bloom with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We will begin to see a mass production of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and even self-control in our lives. We will talk differently. We will act differently. We will respond differently. We will treat people differently, because we are being filled with the fruits of righteousness of our Lord.
Father, thank You for reminding me this morning that it’s not about me, but it’s all about you. This day belongs to You. Fill me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Change me from the inside out, because of the fruits of righteousness that have been planted in my heart, mind, and soul through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me where I have overstepped, and tried to take the credit, or fell into the traps of sin. May my life bring You glory and praise. In Jesus name I pray… Amen.
-Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver
Day 23
“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
-Philippians 1:5-8
We have come to the final day of our 23 days of prayer and fasting. I hope and pray it has been a blessing to you. As your Lead Pastor, I want to reiterate the words written by the Apostle Paul in this passage to the believers at Philippi. What God has started in these first 23 days of the New Year in your life, in your homes, and in our church… He WILL complete. He will see it through. He will not fail. We continue to receive testimonies of how God has done great things these past 23 days, and believe He will continue to do so throughout the entire year. Thank you for being a part of Now Church. Thank you for joining us on this 23 day journey. I know without a doubt that God is going to bless you in mighty ways in 2023 because of your faith, dedication, and love for Him.
Lord, I thank you for the person that is reading this. I ask you to bless them today. Let them feel Your power, Your peace, and Your presence in their life right now. God, technology is sometimes such a pain, and we know people use it in all different ways, but I am so thankful that we have it to use for Your glory as well. Thank You Lord, for Now Church. Help us to continue to love You and love others, help us to continue to grow in Your grace, and go into the world and share the good news of Jesus Christ. In Jesus name I pray… Amen.
-Pastor Jim R. Copenhaver