DAY 33: Be Encouraged!

Read: Acts 23:11-35

Think: Acts 23: 11 says, “That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, ‘Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.’” Other versions of this verse interchange the phrase, “Be encouraged” with “Take courage,” “Don’t lose your courage,” and “Be strong.” The most striking part of this passage to me is that the Lord came to Paul and spoke. The Lord knew the trouble that was ahead of Paul and therefore He Himself came to embolden and strengthen him. 

Act: I have not heard an audible voice of the Lord, but numerous times—in fact, more times than I can count—I have felt the Lord speak to me while I was reading my Bible. For example, on the day my father died, the daily Bible reading in Luke was the account of Jesus dying on the cross next to two men. The last words in the New Testament reading that day were, “And today, you will be with me in paradise.” On the day my father died, Jesus’ words gave me courage; they encouraged, comforted and strengthened me (and my entire family) through the planning my father’s funeral and “homecoming” service. I have never, ever forgotten how encouraged I felt when I read those words almost 15 years ago. I didn’t audibly hear God’s voice, but I knew He was speaking right into my heart! Let God encourage you daily as you read His Word. He will comfort and strengthen you in very specific ways. Highlight, underline and date the very verses in the Bible that “speak” to your situation each day.

Pray: Dear Lord, I open my heart and mind to hear Your voice Lord through my Bible reading. I will listen for Your words of encouragement today and everyday. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 32: The Power of God at Work

Read: Acts 22:17-23:10

Think: As Paul continues his testimony to the crowds, he identifies himself as someone who—before his dramatic conversion to Christ—had persecuted Christians, even standing by at the stoning of Stephen! Paul’s complete reversal from Christian persecutor to Christian preacher “rocked” everyone who heard it. His personal story of how God changed his life was so powerful that, very often, the moment people heard it, they gave their lives to Jesus! Paul, in the first chapter of Romans, writes: For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Act: Not everyone experiences a Damascus Road conversion. Not everyone has a dramatic turnaround to Christ. Many people—young and old—come to Christ because they heard the Gospel from a teacher at Vacation Bible School or had a bold coach who guided them to walk with God during their teenage years. Others give their hearts to Christ because their parents introduced Jesus to them in their early childhood—and they believed and never stopped believing. Never underestimate how God wants to use your “God story” to bring someone to a saving faith. Today, share with someone—even a stranger—how the powerful Gospel has impacted your life. Then send me an email at becky@viewpointchurch.org telling me how God worked through you. 

Pray: Dear Lord, give me an opportunity today to share the Gospel with a stranger. Prompt me to talk to someone lonely or hurting or afraid. So many people are lost without You, Lord. Give me the words, the courage, and the confidence to share Your love story today with someone who has been looking for You, wondering where You are, calling to You for help! I await your instructions, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 31: Get up and GO!

Read: Acts 21:37-22:16

Think: Beginning in Acts 22, Paul shares—in his own words—his encounter with Jesus when he was blinded by a bright light on the road to Damascus. In his account, he explains how he hears the Lord Jesus call out to him asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” It is only a brief exchange before Saul (also called Paul) is convinced that it is Jesus Himself speaking to him. He immediately asks, “What should I do, Lord?” Luke records Paul’s words, “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you be told everything to do.’” As Paul continues his story to the crowd, he describes how a man, Ananias, has been sent by God to where Paul is staying to deliver the following message: “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.

Act: Some of my favorite passages in the book of Acts include, “Get up and go!” They prompt, challenge, encourage, excite, impart, implore and nudge us to get unstuck. Much of the role of a coach, pastor, mentor and parent is to encourage those who are stuck, lagging, overwhelmed, or even lazy to GET UP and GO! In other words, don’t just “get up,” but “go!” Where do you begin? Get up and go DO the one thing, the first thing, God asks you to do. Sometimes you have to stop doing something. Other times you have to start doing something. Many times we have to continue doing something. What is God asking you to do today? ______________________________ Now, get up and go!

Pray: Dear Lord, I hear You! I know You are speaking to me about: _____________________________________________. I need courage to get up and go do this. I confess my laziness. I ask you to forgive me for procrastinating. I ask You for help to follow through! Today, I will _________________________________________. I need you, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 30: A Detailed Account

Read: Acts 21:18-36

Think: Luke records in Acts 21:19-20, “…Paul gave a detailed account of the things God has accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry. After hearing this, they praised God…” One of the best ways to see how your faith is being put into action is to keep a detailed account of ALL that God is doing in and through your life. For over thirty years I have kept a daily, written record of my prayer requests and God’s answers. I have also written a “thank you” note to God every day, acknowledging one or more things that He did in my life that day. Additionally, I’ve read a Psalm each day and paraphrased it, making it my personal “praise” prayer—telling God how GREAT He is (which is different than thanking Him for what He has done.) Keeping a detailed account of the things God is accomplishing will not only fire you up, but cause others to praise God, too!

Act: If you have not kept a detailed account of what God has been doing in your life over the first 30 days of the 100 Days of Faith in Action, begin TODAY to write a daily “thank you” note to God for one specific thing He has done. For example, has God given you courage to invite a friend to church and they joined you? Thank God in writing! Has God prompted you to tell your “God story” with a stranger and they were encouraged? Thank God in writing! Has God used you to pray for someone who needed immediate relief and they received it? Thank God in writing! Has God changed your mind about a specific matter in which you were stuck or stubborn? Thank God in writing! Has the Word of God become more “alive” in your daily life in a specific way? Thank God in writing!

Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word that prompts me to boldly share the Gospel, to pray for others who need Your special touch, that convicts me of the areas of my life that need correction. Thank You for always reaching out to me. Show me how my life makes a difference for You. Give me greater courage to live my life for You each day. I  love You, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 29: Kneel and Pray

Read: Acts 21:1-17

Think: “…the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed and said our farewells.” Luke described what Christians for centuries have done together—we have prayed with other believers on our knees.  Prayer is one of the most powerful resources we have as Christians. It is something we can do with believers in others nation and cultures, who live in different time zones, who attend different churches, or who belong to other denominations. Prayer is a universal method of communication that brings the living God more visibly and more audibly into our lives.

Act: When we call on His Name of Jesus and ask for His help together with other believers, we grow in expectancy and hope. When we pray together with and for others, we bring their needs to the One who is all-powerful and all-knowing into every situation. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (martyred pastor during World War II) in his book, Life Together, wrote, “A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.” Wow! How does that describe your personal prayer life or the prominence of prayer in your church? Consider today, attending a weekly prayer meeting at your church or starting a weekly prayer gathering in your neighborhood or workplace. Kneel and pray together with and for other believers and watch God work!

Pray: Dear Lord, give me conviction to pray with and for others. Show me how to reorder my day so that I spend time daily bringing the needs of others to you. Increase my desire to intercede for others alongside of others, to share in their burdens, and bring their requests to You. Help me to pray in expectation! I love you, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 28: Finish the Work!

Read: Acts 20:1-38

Think: Paul’s passion for the Good News is inspiring! In Acts 20:24, he says, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” But Paul also reminds us that telling others the Good News is…work! It requires that we (1) know what we believe, and (2) articulate it clearly so that others will understand that it is based on the love and forgiveness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Act: A.T. Pierson wrote a biography about 19th century pastor, George Muller, titled, George Muller of Bristol: His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God. Muller founded orphanages in Britain in which he fed, housed and clothed 1000’s of orphans. Pierson’s 462 page book is filled with stories of George Muller’s love for sharing the Gospel with people of all ages. One particular story details how a dear friend of Muller’s refused to give his life to Christ for 63 years. Not until Muller’s funeral did his beloved friend surrender his life to Christ! Is there someone in your life who continually resists the Gospel and refuses to give his or her life fully to God? Don’t give up on them. Today, make a decision to finish the work God has given you—to tell them about the wonderful grace of God—no matter how long it takes until they believe!

Pray: Dear Lord, forgive me if I’ve been lazy or impatient or frustrated with those who resist You. Remind me, every day, that You are forgiving and loving and patient. Give me an extra measure of Your Holy Spirit to become more like You. Teach me to pray in expectation for those who do not know You—to never give up and finish the work You’ve assigned to me! I love you, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 27: A Powerful Effect

Read: Acts 19:13-41

Think: Acts 19:20 says, “So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” Almost every chapter in the book of Acts describes a release of God’s power upon citizens  whose changed lives immediately impacted their culture for the Lord Jesus Christ. Since the first century, history describes spiritual revival as having a powerful effect, not just on individuals, but on an entire culture because of the way it turns the masses from immoral, godless, chaotic, and brutal to moral, godly, orderly, and kind. Why and how does such a dramatic change occur? Charles Finney, revivalist and author of Finney’s Lectures on Revival, put it this way: Revival is simply a new beginning of obedience to God.

Act: The stories in the book of Acts tell of amazing turn-arounds, immediate healings, instant release from demonic oppression, changed minds, book-burnings, and the public confession of sin. The Book of Acts is a undeniable record of how citizens and cities were changed when they turned to God. Acts displays how the message of the Gospel is designed to have a powerful effect on a life, a community, and a nation. What would it look like if your community experienced a revival—a new obedience to God? Begin today to pray for a revival to explode, first in you, then in your school, workplace, or city. 

Pray: Dear Lord, begin with me. Show me where I need to obey you. I know that my city and nation needs a true revival—a return to obeying You and Your Word. Help me to become a part of revival—not only praying for it, but allowing Your Holy Spirit to have a powerful effect on every area of my life. I need You, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!