Prayer + Fasting

Growing up in another Christian denomination, part of the Sunday worship service was to recite I John 1:8-9, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This verse points us to the act of contrition. Contrition is the feeling of remorse and the desire to repent of sin.

Psalm 32:5 says, “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

Psalm 51:17 reminds us that the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

So how do we move through this act of contrition? In humility, we confess our sins, both to the Lord and to those we have sinned against, and we pray as David did in Psalm 51:10-12…

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

These scriptures serve as catalysts to reconnect our hearts with our Heavenly Father, and we experience freedom, joy, and peace because of this restoration.

APPLICATION:

Let’s face it, we are ALL broken people. We fall short (Romans 3:23), but be encouraged! I John 1:8-9 tells us that confession – having a contrite heart – brings forgiveness and restoration. Sometimes it is difficult to admit our sin, whether to God or to those we have sinned against. Today, take a few minutes and ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal places in your life where forgiveness needs to occur. Are there things or relationship issues that need to be resolved? With a contrite heart, bring your concerns before the Lord, and He who is faithful and just will bring forgiveness and freedom.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Invite God to search your heart for areas needing forgiveness or healing.
• Take action to work through any unresolved sins or broken relationships.

Jason Swiggart, Cypress Campus Pastor

A new year brings new paths and decisions, each one needing the guidance of God. Thankfully, His guidance surpasses any GPS, AI, or quick fix. God’s wisdom sees the future while perfectly weaving together the past and present. This week, as we fast from various things, let’s fix our hearts on seeking His divine guidance. As we let go of the superficial, let’s ask for something deeper and eternal. But how do we find and follow God’s guidance?

Let’s reflect on our Christmas Eve message, just two weeks ago - remember the glow of candlelight, the excitement of children, and the story of the wise men. They sought astronomical guidance to find the Messiah wrapped in swaddling cloth. This timeless truth remains: wise men and women still seek God’s guidance. As we step into the new year, let’s carry this lesson forward, leaving the tinsel behind but keeping the heart of the story alive.

1. Wise hearts seek God's guidance; unwise hearts resist it.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” (Matthew 2:1–3, Emphasis mine)

Herod was threatened by God’s plan; his power felt at risk. In contrast, the wise men recognized that true strength comes through humility and worship. Herod resisted God’s guidance, while the wise men followed it with faith and reverence.

This year, let’s choose to be the wise ones—those who bow in surrender rather than “bow up” in defiance. True wisdom is found in seeking God’s direction, even when it challenges us. Humility before Him paves the way for His power to work through us.

2. Guided hearts are joyful hearts.

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him.” (Matthew 2:10–11, Emphasis mine)

There is joy in following God’s guidance. The wise men were filled with overwhelming joy because they trusted the star to lead them to Jesus. Likewise, when we trust God’s leading, we experience deep joy, knowing He has our best in mind.

In 2025, you’ll face decisions big and small that require God’s direction. As you seek Him, joy will overflow—even in the hard moments. Trust that His plan is greater, and let joy be your strength as you walk the path He lights for you.

3. Why wouldn’t we seek His guidance?

Through prayer and fasting, we open our hearts to receive God’s direction. But it’s up to us to choose: Will we rely on His wisdom, or will we insist on our own way? Let’s not resist His leading but instead rejoice that He cares so deeply about every detail of our lives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• What specific area of your life are you seeking God’s guidance for?
• How does seeking God through prayer and fasting bring greater joy and clarity to your heart?

PRAYER:

• God, guide me in all things—when I’m aware and when I’m clueless. Lead me to places where I can honor You more deeply. I love You, and I trust You! This week, I fast not out of duty, but devotion. I long to know You more and follow Your will in 2025. Amen.

Pastor Gregg Matte, Senior Pastor

One day, when Jesus had been praying, one of His disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And Jesus began with, “Father, hallowed be your name” (Luke 11:1-2).

Jesus taught us to pray with intimacy and awe, yet these are a struggle for many of us. There’s something reassuring about discovering that those who walked and talked with Jesus also felt uncertain about how to pray, but Jesus welcomed their questions because He wanted them to know Him better, and He does the same with us today.

Approaching God in intimacy and awe defines the prayer of adoration. It is an expression of love and affection, but equally worship and honor to God for who He is and not just what He does.

Adoration lifts our eyes off of ourselves and the world and sets them on God alone. Our praying is so often driven by our needs and desires, but when our hearts are full of sorrow or our minds with fear, declaring the greatness of God reorients us to what is true: that everything isn’t out of control, but safely in His hands. This knowledge sets us free to worship Him no matter what the circumstances may be, and like David, we can declare, “You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God!” (Ps 86:10)

The Holy Spirit leads us to this place of adoration. Jesus revealed that His Father seeks worshipers who come in spirit and truth (John 4). Our hearts left to themselves cannot worship or love God. We love God because He first loved us (1 John), and His Spirit pours His love into our hearts (Rom 4) and reveals to us who He is.

Adoration does not come easily. Our own lives and the world around us provide a constant stream of distractions, and our Enemy gladly uses these, along with his own devices, to steal any worship of the true God. But intimacy and awe are God’s design for our relationship with Him, so we can come with confidence and boldness to His throne (Heb 4).

As we come to God in adoration, we prepare our hearts by offering Him our:

• Time: set aside time alone (Luke 10:38-42, Mark 1:35, Matt 6:6)
• Silence: be still before Him (Ps 46:10, Ecc 5:2)
• Confession: search your heart and confess unresolved sin (Ps 24:3-4)
• Focus: set your mind and heart on the character and attributes of God (Heb 12:1-2; Col 3:1-2)

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• His Word provides beautiful examples of adoration we can pray (Psalm 86), and a journal and favorite playlist can help us express our love in writing and song.
• However we come, God will meet us there, and we will discover the joy and peace found only in His presence.

PRAYER:

• Lord, As I sit here before you, I'm struck with how great You are and how small I am. You tell me I can come before You with confidence, so I come. Cleanse my heart from sin, that nothing would keep me from worshiping you right now in spirit and in truth. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the glory of God. Give me words to declare your greatness. You are holy and righteous, faithful and true, so, let my life, Lord, reflect Your goodness, that all who see will glorify You. Amen.

Jill Reed, Director of Women's Ministry, Sienna Campus

Philippians 4:6 tells us: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

One of my greatest roles in this world is being the father of 5 children: LaNeah (20), Loryn (19), Leon IV (17), Lizzie, and Langston (15-year-old twins). This season of parenting has afforded my wife and me many opportunities to talk to our kids. I’m not sure why they are the most talkative at night, or why the conversations seem to last so long, but I won’t complain. They want to talk, and I want to listen.

Our Father in Heaven loves us and cares about every detail, every concern, all the highs, and all the lows of our lives. He wants to hear from me. He wants to hear from you. He wants us to bring every concern to Him. He’s never too busy. Day or night, He’s listening.

APPLICATION:

• Is there something specific in your life that is consuming you and you need to give to the Lord? (1 Peter 5:7)
• What is your next step as you follow the Lord and lean on Him for direction? (Proverbs 16:9)
• Think of a person the Lord has put on your heart that may be in need of prayer and lift that person up to Him.

PRAYER:

• Lord, help me to know that You are there for me and that You desire to hear from me. Draw me closer to you as I seek you in prayer today. I also pray for those who may be having a hard time during this season of life. I’m believing that they would sense your presence in a real way. Amen.

Leon Brooks III, Downtown Campus Pastor

Behind every great spiritual awakening, the kind that radically changes people and shakes up communities, there’s an unseen, unstoppable force known as ‘intercessors’. Many of the victories we celebrate in the open were first won in the secret place of prayer by these individuals. The calling to intercessory prayer is a two-fold calling: first, you are ministered to by the power of the Holy Spirit; next, you minister through the power of the Holy Spirit. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, provides a powerful example of what it means to be an intercessor.

Stephen was chosen as one of the seven deacons to serve the early church, ensuring that the physical needs of the community were met so that the apostles could focus on prayer and teaching (Acts 6:1-6). Described as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5), Stephen’s life was marked by courage and humility. Those characteristics were on full display in Acts 7 when his fearless testimony about Jesus stirred fierce opposition. Because of his bold witness, Stephen was falsely accused and dragged before the Sanhedrin. As the mob stoned him, Stephen’s final words were an intercessory prayer: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:59-60). His prayer mirrors Jesus’ own words on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

This resolute stand for God cost him his life, and even in his darkest moment, Stephen gracefully models intercession. This servant of the Lord prays for the forgiveness of those who were killing him. Rather than seeking vengeance, he sought their reconciliation with God. Stephen’s prayer demonstrates that intercession is not limited to those we love or agree with; it extends even to our enemies.

APPLICATION:

Stephen’s example challenges us to embrace intercessory prayer as an indispensable part of our spiritual lives. To blossom as an intercessor, you must:

• Pray with a Christlike Heart: Like Stephen, our prayers should reflect Jesus’ love and forgiveness. This means praying not only for those we care about but also for those who oppose or hurt us.
• Trust in God’s Sovereignty: Intercessory prayer requires faith that God is working, even when we cannot see immediate results. Stephen likely did not live to see the fruit of his prayer, but God’s purposes were fulfilled.
• Stand Firm in Faith: Stephen’s prayer was an outflow of his deep relationship with God. To intercede effectively, we must be rooted in Scripture and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER:

• Lord God, thank You for Stephen and his modeling of intercession. Teach us to pray like him, bringing before You the needs of our friends, family, and even our enemies. Help us to trust in Your plan and to stand firm in our faith, no matter the cost. May our prayers align with Your will and bring glory to Your name. Amen.

Malcolm Marshall, Sienna Campus Pastor