20-day devotional 1-10

Day 1 Exercise Faith Colossians 4:12-13 "Epaphras is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, and be mature." (Colossians 4:12) Wrestling is an ancient sport. In the first century, wrestlers struggled for their lives, not for TV

ratings. In the language of the day, the wrestling ring was called the agone, and the wrestlers were

called antagonists.

Such is this word-image that Paul uses to describe the work of prayer from a spiritual leader of the

Colossian church, Epaphras. Paul tells the church that Epaphras wrestles in prayer for them. We

would catch Paul's wordplay if we say that Epaphras agonizes in prayer for them. What a powerful

image - and a biblical image too - like Jacob wrestling with the angel all night for a blessing (Genesis

32:24-31) - and like Jesus praying so fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane that his sweat became

like drops of blood (Luke 22:41-44).

What is so important that Epaphras would pray so fervently? That the Colossian church would

grow in their knowledge of God's will and in their maturity of faith.

This capital campaign is a call to prayer for you and for your congregation. You and your

congregation will be encouraged to reflect on a simple question -- What would You do through me

Lord to make Your will happen in this church? Genuinely reflecting on that question will mean

prayerfully wrestling with God's will in your life and with God's will in your church. This challenge

is a time to exercise your faith. The struggle to respond faithfully will not be - nor should it be -

easy. As Paul would later say of Epaphras, "I vouch for him that he is working hard for you." The

process of making a decision will not be - nor should it be - short-lived. Like Jacob, you may spend

more than one restless night wrestling for an answer and a blessing.

Your church needs an Epaphras or two just now. Your church needs people who will pray earnestly

to seek God's will. Would you be willing to pray, to wrestle hard, for the future of this church?

Prayer: Lord, lead me in prayer to wrestle hard with Your will. I will hold fast to You until I find

Your blessing.

Action Item: Decide now to make a prayerful decision about your participation in this campaign.

Set aside specific time (at least 15 minutes) every day for the next three weeks to spend in prayer

and reflection using this devotional guide. Make an appointment with yourself (and with God) right

now. Write down when and where you will spend your prayer time each day for the next three

weeks. Day 2 Explore Promise Luke 11:9-11 "And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you." (Luke 11:9) Most of us are good at the first baby step of prayer. It is easy to ask God to do something!

Unfortunately, after the asking, we think that we are finished; we think that since we have already

asked, we are expected to do nothing more.

The first step in any journey is critical. We do need to ask in order to receive. But asking is just the

first step. It takes many more steps to continue a real journey of prayer.

Jesus offers his disciples a model for such a prayer journey. Ask - yes, of course! But then seek.

And finally, knock on the doors that you find.

Seeking God's will is much more work than simply asking; seeking takes time, attention, listening,

looking, searching. That journey of prayer will lead us far past asking, deep into new paths of

seeking God's way for our lives. Along those paths we will discover doorways - places where choices

and decisions must be made. Do we have the courage and commitment to knock on those doors?

And when those new doorways are opened, will we step into a new way of life?

Simply asking demands little of us. Seeking means searching for God's will in our lives; and such

seeking will undoubtedly change us -- redirecting us in God's way. Knocking on the doors that God

would open to us may well lead us down paths that we never imagined! We do not know what God

has in store for us when we begin such a journey, but one thing is certain - such a journey of prayer

will change our lives. After all, changing us has always been the real power of prayer.

Prayer: Lord, I seek Your will and Your way in my life. Lead me down Your paths for Your name's

sake. Open new doors that I might find a new way of life!

Action Item: Capture this journey of prayer that you are committing yourself to by journaling your

adventure. During your prayer time over the next several weeks, write down what you are asking

and what you are given, what you are seeking and what you are finding, what doors you knock upon

and what is opened to you.

Day 3 EXperience Purpose Matthew 28:16-20 "Go therefore and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19) When a church has a capital campaign, everyone seems to have the same kind of

question - Are we building? What does the building look like? What color will the carpet be? Or

perhaps, what debt are we eliminating? What am I going to get out of this? What is my part to

play? Fundamentally, all of those "what" questions are far and away the least important questions

to ask. The most important question in a capital campaign challenge is not what, but WHY.

Why are you building? Why are you expanding ministries? Why are you eliminating debt so the

church can invest itself better in ministry programs? Why is your church here? Why are you here?

No church builds a structure just to have a nice building. No church expands ministries just to be a

bigger church. No person makes a sacrificial financial commitment just to get some kind of service

or program benefit. People - and churches - do not give their lives or their resources or their selves

to a building or to a program or to being bigger. What people will give their lives to is a God-given

purpose, a higher calling. So the most important question to answer in any capital campaign is not

what are you doing, but WHY are you are doing it.

Why is your church doing these things? In other words, what does God call this church to be and to

do? What is the purpose God calls you and your church to? And how does this capital campaign

provide tools for your congregation to respond to that calling?

The last commandment Jesus spoke for every Christian was, "Go … make disciples of all nations …

teach them all that I have commanded you." Every church and every Christian has a God-given

purpose. Why are we building? To be and to do what God calls us to be and to do. This campaign

is not simply about buildings or finances. This campaign is about reaching and teaching and

changing the lives of people with the good news of Jesus Christ. The resources raised provide the

necessary tools to help us better reach, better teach, more effectively change the lives of those

people.

You needed Christ. Your life has been reached, taught, changed by the witness and ministries of

this church. Would you like for other people to have a story of faith to tell and a purpose for their

lives? Their stories depend now on your faithfulness.

Prayer: Lord, grow my passion for Your purposes in my life and in my church. You have brought

me here for a reason. Show me what You would do through me.

Action Item: Make a list of WHY these projects are important. How many people will they help

your church reach? How many people will they help your church teach? Can you put a value on

what changing those people's lives may be worth? When you focus on the WHY question, how

important do these projects become for you?

Day 4 EXperience Calling 1 Samuel 3:1-11 "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10) In the time of Samuel, the bible says, "the word of the Lord was rare in those days, and visions were

not widespread." It is easy for people to feel the same way today. Who has heard God call their

name? Who has heard God speak a word to them? And what great, Godly vision drives your life?

Most people seem to want to think that the word of the Lord is rare, that the word of the Lord only

comes to people like the pastors who are somehow "specially" called. Most people seem to want to

think that God has no word, no calling, no vision for them.

Maybe, like the boy Samuel, we simply are not listening well. We hear something calling our name

and tugging at our heart, and assume that something is just Pastor Eli making a fuss again. Perhaps

we need to learn to listen better for a word from God. Perhaps it is not a word from God that is rare,

but faithful listening from those who would serve God that is so rare.

Every Christian has a calling. In fact, every Christian has several callings -- as well as the God-given

gifts, graces, and blessings to respond to those callings.

Every Christian is called to be a faithful steward of the talents and time and resources God has

blessed them with. Being a faithful steward is a personal calling - a word from the Lord. It is a

calling that comes with your name attached to it. It is a calling that only you can make a decision

about. You can ignore that calling completely. You can brush off that calling by responding only in

minimal ways. Or, recognizing God's claim over your life, you can wake up and listen for God's own

voice. There is a word from the Lord for you in this campaign. There is a God-given vision for your

church in this campaign. "Speak to me Lord. I am your servant. I am listening to hear from You."

Prayer: Lord, teach me not only to say Samuel's prayer, "Speak, for your servant is listening," but to

actually listen for Your word, Lord, and to do Your word.

Action Item: Are you listening for God's word? List where you hear God's word (in scripture, in

worship, in prayer, in other faithful people, etc). In your daily prayer time and your journaling,

make note of the ways that God is speaking to you.

Day 5 Expect a Miracle Matthew 14:13-21 and John 6:1-11 "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:16) "There is a boy here with five loaves and two fish, but what are they among so many people?" (John 6:9) Jesus had been with the crowds all day, ministering to people's needs. It was getting

late - past suppertime. And, frankly, the disciples were tired of dealing with all these people. "Send

the crowds away," the disciples told Jesus. Let them go home and take care of themselves for a

while. Surely you do not expect us to be responsible for all of their needs.

When a church is challenged with growing needs, it would be easy to say "just send the crowds

away" - surely it is not our responsibility to minister to all of these needs. It would be easy saying

that to your fellow disciples who are also ready to go home for supper, but don't try saying that to

Jesus. Jesus' response was, and still is, clear. "They do not need to go away. You give them

something to eat."

A crowd of more than 5,000. How can we meet that kind of need? It is overwhelming! As Philip

says in John's version, "Six months wages would not buy enough bread for each of them even to get

a little!"

Then, seeing the need and determined to do what he could about it, a boy in the crowd gave five

loaves and two fish. It must have taken all the composure the disciples had to receive the boy's gift

with gratefulness and seriousness without laughing in his face. What are these gifts among so many

people?

Jesus took the gift, blessed it - and the crowd of more than 5,000 were fed.

Every miracle begins with a person - with a person making a gift of the best they can offer and

asking Jesus to bless and to use that gift. Expect a miracle. The need may seem overwhelming.

Your gift may appear to be inadequate to cover all of the need. But all Jesus asks is the best that you

can offer. When you give the best that you can to Jesus, then expect a miracle. Expect God's grace

to work in and through you - and in and through other people - to accomplish more than you ever

imagined.

Prayer: Lord, with your blessing and Your grace, multiply my gifts to make more difference than I

ever imagined.

Action Item: Begin now to think about your part, your gift, in this campaign. No one can do your

part for you. No one can make up for your part. You have a part in this miracle that only you can

provide. Start the conversation that asks, "Lord, what would You do through me?"

Day 6 Extra Effort Matthew 6:19-21 and Luke 19:1-9 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth … but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) Love the Lord your God with all your heart. (Matthew 22:37) We tend to grow uncomfortable when the church talks about money. Why? Are decisions about how

we live and how we use those resources unimportant? Is our faith supposed to be separate from our

finances? Are not believing, and praying, and loving more important to our faith?

Look at a revealing count of New Testament words:

Believe, Believing - 275 times

Pray, Praying - 371 times

Love, loves, loving - 714 times

Giving or give - 2,162 times

Jesus knew that our treasures and our hearts are inseparably linked. For Him, talking about

treasure was to reach more completely for the full allegiance of people's hearts. Jesus knew that

dealing with our treasures is one of those critical places where the rubber meets the road … where

the practicality of our faith is tested … where what we believe becomes tangible and real.

Remember the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19? We have no idea what happened between Jesus and

Zacchaeus other than they had dinner together. But we do know that Jesus reached and

dramatically changed that person's heart. How do we know that? Follow the money! Look at what

happened with Zacchaeus' treasure. Half of what he possessed he gave immediately. Every wrong

he set himself to make right. Seeing where the treasure went, Jesus exclaims, "Today salvation has

come to this house!"

Maybe we are uncomfortable with talk about money because that conversation is getting awfully

close to the heart of our faith. Maybe we are uncomfortable with talk about our treasures because

we are afraid for something as powerful as salvation to come very near our house today.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to love You with all my heart - and with all my life. Let salvation come to

this house! Action Item: Sketch out a simple budget of where your treasures are (of where your financial

resources go). Now write down your current giving to the ministries of the church. How does your

giving to God's work through the church compare to your investment in your other treasures? Does

that level of giving represent what you believe in? What does that level of giving say about where

your heart is? Where would you rather your heart be?

Day 7 Extra Effort Mark 12:41-44 "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned." (Mark 12:43) "Love the Lord your God … with all your strength" (Matthew 22:37) After a long morning of teaching in the temple courtyard, Jesus took a break with his disciples.

Sitting right across from the treasury, their gazes drifted over to observing many people who were

making their offerings.

Never one to miss a teachable moment, Jesus asked his disciples about what they had seen. "Who

put in more?" is the implied question. The answer is obvious to anyone reading or watching -- those

who gave the greatest sums put in more!

Jesus turns the tables on the obvious, teaching his disciples an important principle of giving. Giving

is not measured by dollar amounts; giving is measured by how much we truly give of ourselves.

Some who gave large sums offered out of their surplus gifts that they would never even miss. But

what this widow offered meant the world to her, although it was just a penny. Her gift affected her

life. Her seemingly small gift is the one Jesus singles out for praise. She put in more of herself than

all of the others.

Commitments are not about equal gifts, but about an equal sense of sacrifice. Not everyone has the

ability (the resources) to make a multi-million dollar gift; but every person does have the ability and

the opportunity to meaningfully invest themselves in what God is doing in their church. In terms of

the commitment, rather than the amount, would God be honored if every person in this church

made a sacrifice equal to my own?

Prayer: Lord, each and every gift makes a difference to my church. Teach me to give in ways that

actually make a difference in my life.

Action Item: Whether you imagine your financial gift to be "large" or "small," stop … right now …

trying to measure your pledge (in dollar terms) with what other people are able to do. Put that kind

of "measuring" away! Every gift from every person is immeasurably significant if that gift represents

a meaningful commitment within the context of their blessings. Continue to ask yourself this

question: in terms of the level of commitment (not the dollar amount), would God be honored if

every person in this church made a sacrifice equal to my own?

Day 8 Extra Effort Romans 12:1-2 "Offer yourselves as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is." (Romans 12:1) "Love the Lord your God … with all of your mind." (Matthew 22:37) What motto is on your T-shirt? What values do you conform to? Where do you re-shape yourself in

order to "fit in." What do you give yourself to as a kind of living sacrifice? Anything advertising to

make us the greatest, the most successful, the most famous, can capture us and conform us to its

own set of values.

A magazine ran a series of articles asking people "How has your mind changed?" Some people

answered by telling how a relationship changed their racial prejudices, or by sharing how some

tragedy or suffering made them more aware of and compassionate toward others.

What can change your mind? That is an interesting question. Changing one's mind is a difficult and

rare thing - especially if the transformation means changing our directions, our opinions, our goals,

and our plans. Yet such change is exactly what Paul calls every Christian to. He calls us to be

completely transformed by the renewing of our mind. And he calls us to give ourselves as a living

and holy sacrifice.

Would anyone notice that your life is molded by the mind of Christ? Could anyone see your

transformation? How has your life in faith changed your mind? How have your priorities changed?

How has your life changed? Are you still conformed to this world, or are you being transformed?

Could anyone notice the difference in you as you offer yourself more fully to God?

Prayer: Lord, lead me to see things differently, to think differently, to live differently. Reset my

priorities. Transform my mind … and my life!

Action Item: Get in touch with the "mind-set" that you have entered this campaign with. What have

you pre-determined? What are you stubborn about? What have you already decided? Be honest

here - write those things down. Then make a commitment with yourself to be open-minded. Listen,

look, reflect - and see what you learn. You may be surprised to find yourself transformed before this

prayer journey is finished.

Day 9 No Excuses Luke 14: 15-24 "Come, for everything is ready now. But they all alike began to make excuses." (Luke 14:17-18) How many reasons are there for not participating in a capital campaign? The possibilities are

endless! There are more than enough reasons to justify anyone.

A modern parable might begin like this:

The kingdom of God is like a capital campaign. God gave His people a vision. "Come!" said God,

"Take your place prepared for you. Take up your part in My work. Everything is ready now. All of

you are invited to make a difference. When you take your place and take up your part, all will be

blessed to break bread in My kingdom." But they all alike began to make excuses ….

The most important piece of a jigsaw puzzle is the piece that is missing. Every part is important to

making the whole picture work. Synergy is a word best understood when divided. Ergo, is Greek for

work, while the prefix syn means together. When merged, the words mean "working together."

However, there is more. Synergy is better defined to mean that the result accomplished is greater

than the individual parts. Sports teams demonstrate the meaning of synergy. Playing together

makes them better than playing as individuals. However, even one team member failing to do his or

her part can make everyone lose. Just like one musician not in concert with the orchestra can ruin

the music. A fighter jet was damaged and barely made a safe landing. The same plane was needed for a critical

mission the next morning. A maintenance crew worked all night to make repairs. At dawn the pilot

asked the mechanic if the plane was good to go. "Sir," he replied, "if this plane does not complete its

mission it will not be because of me."

Your participation in the mission of this church is unquestionably significant. No one can play your

part but you. No one can give your part but you. Others can only do their part. No one can make up

for your part if your gift is excused.

Prayer: Lord, when Your call challenges me, it is easy for me to excuse myself. Reach me! Compel

me to respond to Your call in whatever ways I can.

Action Item: If you have already made up your list of excuses, then take that list and offer it up as a

burnt sacrifice. Go back to the list you made on day two - reasons why these projects are important.

Looking over that list, can you now find reasons to give?

Day 10 Examine Commitment 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 "They gave themselves first to the Lord, and, by the will of God, then to us." (2 Corinthians 8:5) Have you ever watched a tee-ball game where the children are just beginning to learn baseball?

Have you ever seen a child, so excited to hit the ball off the tee, that the youngster runs directly to

third base and then races back to home plate to score?

Too often we think of giving to the church as a financial decision rather than as a stewardship

decision. We shortcut the ground-rules, like the child running directly to third. We rush to start off

in the wrong direction. We hurry the process. As a result, we may make a donation to the church,

but we do not make a stewardship commitment.

To make a stewardship decision, we have to go all the way around and touch all of the bases.

Reaching first means making a faith decision before we even consider the financial aspect of our

giving. Reaching first means calling to account our lives of faith before doing any financial

accounting.

In 2 Corinthians 8:5, Paul says of the Macedonian church, "they gave of themselves first to Lord,

and then to us in keeping with God's will." Getting to first means determining your commitment

level before deciding your financial position. Making a stewardship decision means responding to a

deeper calling of faith, not reacting to a quick accounting. A stewardship decision is first and

foremost a faith commitment, not a financial calculation.

First things first. They gave themselves first to the Lord. That is the place to begin a conversation

about a stewardship decision.

Prayer: Lord, first let me give myself more fully to You. Then let my decisions grow out of what I

believe … and out of what You call me to be and to do.

Action Item: First things first. Instead of rushing to the calculator or the budget, answer these

questions first. What does God call me to be? What does God call me to do? What is God doing in

my church now? How is God working in my life now? What could God do through me? How can I

give myself more fully to God?

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20-Day Devotional

No Excuses

Exercise Faith Explore Promise Experience Purpose Experience Calliing Expect a Miracle Extra Effort Examine Commitment

Go to Days 11 - 20 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Extra Effort Extra Effort Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

Day 4

Day 5