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Why Did Jesus Call Himself the Son of Man? In his statement, Jesus’ use of the title “Son of Man” is easily overlooked but adds significant context to his message. Jesus was very careful with his words during his earthly ministry. He didn’t go around shouting, “I’m the Messiah!” because political turmoil with Rome would have derailed his ministry. While Jesus confirmed he was the Messiah in private (Matthew 16:13-16; John 4:25-26), he was less direct in public, so his enemies couldn’t accuse him of threatening Rome. In the book of Ezekiel, the phrase “son of man” is often used as a general term for a human. It’s an inherently humble term in that sense. Yet Jesus calls himself “THE Son of Man,” as though it is a title specific to himself rather than a generic description. One passage in the Old Testament uses “son of man” more as a title: Daniel 7:13-14 New Living Translation. “As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed” . In short, when Jesus called himself the Son of Man, he was saying quietly, subtly, that he was fully human—yet so much more. In this passage, where he tells the disciples to serve others, he is referencing how he, the King of all creation, had become a humble human to serve his subjects better, refer to Philippians 2:1-11 New International Version.

40 Days of Prayer, Serving with Each Other Philippians 2, Week 5, Day 2 Philippians 2 tells us that our attitude as Christians should be like that of Christ Jesus: one marked by humility, where we consider others before we consider ourselves. I am convicted that all too often, I consider the calling of Christ as an exclusively individual calling: “What has Christ called me to do? What does He gifted me to do?” However, Philippians reminds us that Christ’s calling is to serve those around us as He modeled for us. Jesus humbly and faithfully served His “family” of disciples and considered their needs as more important than His own. He spent His life humbly, graciously, and patiently serving them, though He could have easily fulfilled His mission without them. In seeking to live out the call of Jesus on your life, let me encourage you to embody Philippians 2 where you are right now. Who is around you? What do they need? How can you serve them? Jesus says in John 17:21 that the world will believe the gospel when the family of God lives in unity. God has called you to be a gospel witness to the world by simply being filled with the Holy Spirit and living with the attitude of Christ. Serve those around you in humility. In doing so, Christ not only transforms you, but also the family of God and ultimately, the world. REFLECTION PRAYER The following prayer is from John Wesley and communicates a heart transformed by the humility of Jesus well: “I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, place me with whom You will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be put to work for You or set aside for You, praised for You, or criticized for You. Let me be full; let me be empty. Let me have all things; let me have nothing. I freely and fully surrender all things to Your glory and service. And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, You are mine, and I am Yours. So be it. Amen.” by Justin DeBose

"The Journey to the Cross" Service, held at Willow Praise Church in Willowick, Ohio. It emphasizes the collaborative effort to foster connection within Lake County and the mission to spread the Gospel to every individual in their daily lives. The event aims to strengthen bonds of unity and outreach within the community.

FAMILY NOW By GRACE CHEON “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” –1 Corinthians 12:27 Every day, we are tempted by the evil one, and every day, we can find deliverance and victory. Focus of the week: Families are important for growing, celebrating, enjoying, finding love, communication, safety, and a sense of belonging. However, many forces in the world seek to tear families apart. Similarly, there are competing forces that aim to separate the family of God even though we share the same Father. In these troublesome yet encouraging times, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we must now safeguard and strengthen the Body of Christ. Let each one of us continue to grow strong and thereby grow together as the family of God, serving out the purposes of God.

Families are important for growing, celebrating, enjoying, finding love, communication, safety, and a sense of belonging. However, many forces in the world seek to tear families apart. Similarly, there are competing forces that aim to separate the family of God, even though we share the same Father. In these troublesome yet encouraging times, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we must now safeguard and strengthen the Body of Christ. Let each one of us continue to grow strong and thereby grow together as the family of God serving out the purposes of God By Kevin Pies

40 Days of Prayer, Worshiping As A Sacred Rhythm, 2 Peter 3:18, Week 4, Day 7 WORSHIPING AS A SACRED RHYTHM 2 PETER 3:18 I once had a mentor who always said, “Context is king.” So, let’s look at the context of our verse for today, 2 Peter 3:18 New International Version 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. Before we continue, take a moment to read the entire third chapter. In this chapter, we see a dichotomy of warnings about the last, evil days and the beauty of the patient character of God with the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. So, where does worship fit into all of this? My brothers and sisters, as we meditate on worship as a sacred rhythm, I would encourage us to see it as a rhythm we are beginning now that will never end for all eternity. Let us be found as followers of Jesus that praise and give glory in the difficult days here on earth and continue that praise while we get to stand in His glorious presence. Our acts of worship now are but a glimpse of eternity. The rhythms of work and arduous tasks and burdens will pass away, but our rhythms, which include worship to the one, true God, are what we can rest in. Glory and praise to the Lord is what lasts! So, “To Him be the glory both now and forever!” How can you incorporate worship into your daily rhythms this week in ways that you’ve never tried before? REFLECTIVE PRAYER Jesus, help me to pause. Help me to be still before You and worship You from a heart that is content and true. Would You help me see the larger picture of worship? Would my rhythms not be a distraction from Your presence but rather flow from worshiping You. You are worthy of it all. Amen By Olivia Vinson

It’s common that when we hear a word like sacrifice, we immediately think of suffering. Of course, there are many instances where that is true—the sacrifices in the Old Testament, of the Old Covenant, were offerings to the Lord for the atonement of sins (guilt offering, sin offering, burnt offering, peace offering, grain offering) and were an act of worship. Before Jesus humbly and nobly paid the price for our transgressions, those sacrifices were necessary to restore humanity and mend the relationship between God and people. Because of Jesus, we no longer have to offer sacrifices in the same way, but we do need to continuously draw close to Him. Like the Old Testament offerings, we need to restore our relationship with the Lord, worshiping Him through our actions—through our praise and adoration. Sacrifice is deeply important—it draws us away from ourselves, reminding us of who we are in Christ. Our sacrifices mean nothing without the profound sacrifice of Jesus—everything we do, everything we offer, must be through faith and proclamation in and to the Lord. Continuously offering God a sacrifice of praise not only means we are to worship the Lord, but we are to be sacrificial in the manner in which we devote ourselves to Him. Sacrifice and praise are woven together. Praise without sacrifice doesn’t mean much—it costs us nothing. To sacrificially worship means that we lay down ourselves to draw close to Him, bringing forth all we have to offer. REFLECTION PRAYER Jesus, we are so thankful for Your sacrificial love. We know that we often lose sight of worshiping You, especially in context of our own sacrifice. Would You teach us to humbly come before You and praise You exactly as You’re calling us to? Forgive us when we believe we’re praising You without any sort of sacrifice. Draw us closer, by Your Holy Spirit, to live our authentic faith in You to praise You in word and deed. Teach us to love You deeper as we openly profess Your name. Amen. By Hannah Castro

Welcome, everyone, to our Bible study on discipleship as portrayed in the Book of Mark. Today, we embark on a journey to explore what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and how we can live out our faith in the footsteps of the original disciples. Discipleship lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It's not merely about believing in Jesus, but it's about following Him, imitating His life, and participating in His mission. The Book of Mark provides us with a vivid portrayal of Jesus' ministry and the disciples who followed Him. Through their experiences, teachings, and encounters with Jesus, we gain valuable insights into the nature and demands of discipleship. As we delve into the pages of Mark's Gospel, we will encounter various aspects of discipleship, from the initial call to follow Jesus to the commissioning to go and make disciples of all nations. We will explore the challenges, the joys, the sacrifices, and the rewards of being a disciple of Christ. Throughout our study, we will not only examine the lives of the original disciples but also reflect on how their experiences and teachings apply to us today. We will seek to understand what it means to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus in the midst of our modern-day contexts. Our aim is not just to gain knowledge about discipleship but to be transformed by the Word of God as we open our hearts to its truths. We desire to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus and to become more faithful and obedient disciples who bear witness to His love and truth in the world. So, let us approach this study with open hearts and minds, ready to learn, to be challenged, and to be changed by the timeless wisdom of God's Word. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we journey together through the Book of Mark, seeking to become true disciples of Jesus Christ. Let's begin our study with a word of prayer, inviting God's presence and enlightenment upon our time together.

WORSHIPING IN GRATITUDE COLOSSIANS 3:16 Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” I want to pause here and note that everything else Paul says in verse 16 is downstream of this. If we get what he says backwards, we run the risk of looking to ourselves to muster up “thankfulness in our hearts to God.” We’ll end up starting with what we must do rather than what’s already been done for us by Christ. Instead, Paul begins with God giving us something to be thankful for, which takes the pressure off of us. We don’t have to generate gratitude on our own. So, what has God given us that makes us thankful to Him? The Word of Christ. Let’s meditate on Christ and what He’s done for us, and the rest of what Paul says to do will follow. Let us bring our worship and praise out of a heart that is set on Jesus. May our hearts overflow His goodness. REFLECTION PRAYER God our Father, from You comes grace and peace to us. Incline our hearts to do what Paul commands, namely, to let the message of Christ, the gospel, dwell in us richly so that we’re able to teach and admonish one another in all wisdom. Father, make the gospel so real to our hearts that we can’t help but sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to You. Jesus, in Your name we pray, amen. By JESSE PFAU

As we focus this week on our lives being worship to God, we look at a common and often overlooked verse from Paul to the church in Corinth. Paul speaks here of the lessons that the Corinthians can learn from their ancestors in Egypt. We often cling to this late verse in the chapter and use it as an encouragement to walk in daily holiness to the Lord. We view this verse as an internal statement, one that keeps us focused on our practices as we weigh the checks and balances of our daily decisions. But I challenge us to examine the passage entirely to see what Paul intends. He begins this sentence with a conjunction. When we see the word “so,” we can expect that whatever follows is the effect of a cause stated previously. Returning to verses 23-30, we see what the “so” references—the past laws of cleanliness and the focus of evangelism at the table. This has been powerful in my home as we have pursued the evangelism of the table. Around meals, we see growth, vulnerability, and laughter. The table is where we are to show others how we truly live for God. Would we open up our lives to intersect with the normality of others? Would we begin to evangelize and worship at the table? Jesus invites us to His very own table, so let’s be a beautiful representation of the gospel as we pray for our lives to be a worshipful witness. REFLECTION PRAYER Lord, continue to bring us closer to You. Would we walk in such a way that pleases You? Would You help us to be Jesus to those around us? Would they know us “as those that have been with Christ?” Thank You for this season of prayer. Allow us to have the courage to walk in the uncomfortable to bring You glory. Help us to be less consumed with the laws of our culture and more concerned about the evangelism of our rhythms. May our worship be pleasing to You. Amen. By Kendall McKee

WORSHIPING THE GOD WHO REIGNS ROMANS 11:36 How can we comprehend fully surrendering our lives to a sovereign God? Paul gives us this simple yet overarching truth in Romans 11:36 of Jehovah Elyon, our God is sovereign. As we follow our God who reigns, our worship, family, home, calling, assignment, life, and our everything is not for us but rather from, through, and for Him. As authentic worshipers, it is simple for us to justify holy places and moments as “for God.” Places like your church auditorium or a chair for prayer in your home. Moments such as when you experi enced a miracle or an anointing on your life. What if we could see the mundane moments and places as from, through, and for God? Could we allow the God of the universe to reign in and set apart everyday things in our lives? What if we view making dinner for friends and family as seeing God as our Provider and witnessing the fruit of kindness? What if we enjoy nature, books, music, film, or artwork that showcases the beauty of God’s creations? That exercise and eating well could be seen as stewarding God’s creation. We can even begin to see a pet that brings us love and joy as being from and for God. Because of this scriptural truth, everything points us back to the Father. When we allow ourselves to see God in everything, the holy and the mundane, our natural response is worship. We experience gratitude, thankfulness, and love towards our Father and cannot help ourselves from giving God the glory and praise. REFLECTION PRAYER God, we pray today that You open our eyes to see Your sovereignty in everything we experience. From simple moments, to the peaks of joy, to the valley of sorrow, may we see You at work in all things. Thank You, Lord, for the blessings in my life that I see and those I may never fully understand or recognize. I ask You to continue to reign in my life as I desire to point my life towards Your greatness. Let me worship You with every moment and breath—to You be the glory forever! Amen. By Josh Sadion

Psalm 27:4 New International Version 4 One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

The Psalms are an amazing example of finding ways to praise God through any circumstance and what it looks like to keep your focus on Him even when things seem completely out of control. Often, we allow our emotions to dictate what we believe about God and who He is. It can be a struggle to fully trust in His sovereignty, especially in difficult circumstances. It is a discipline to choose to focus on the truth of who He is and to shift our hearts to praise even through suffering and trials. We long for Him to give explanations for things we do not understand—things like incomprehensible tragedies, suffering, and deaths. Our need for control often trumps our willingness to hope and rest in who God is. For if we stopped to meditate on who He really is and stood in awe of all creation, perhaps it would help us not to be so focused on needing to know our “whys,” but instead be drawn to praise and worship He who is due all the glory and praise. Some things are not yet for us to understand, and faith is being OK with that and trusting that Yah weh, in His love, will reveal what needs to be revealed in its own time. For He alone in His sovereignty knows what is best for us. Let us praise Him in the light and praise Him in our darkest trials. Let all of us with breath praise the Lord! REFLECTION PRAYER Lord, we thank You for Your incomprehensible love for us. We thank You and praise You for the gift of life and creation. While we struggle at times to believe You are still good, we will strive to anchor our hope in You and remember that You are sovereign. Help us to seek Your face and focus on praising You through all our circumstances. And we ask that You grow our character and reveal more of who You are in it and through it. We love You and praise You with every breath that is in us! Amen By LORIE HUNEYCUTT

Have you noticed that during a season in the wilderness—dry and parched seasons—we end up seeking God, thirsting for Him, and longing for Him? When we’ve reached the end of our rope, we draw our eyes to Him. Even if it’s desperation and emptiness that lifts our gaze, that is still worship. It’s in the wilderness that we have the space to recognize what’s been true all along. If it’s not Him, it’s emptiness. He is the only living water. We want to experience Him more. As we long for Him, He reminds us of His sovereignty—how He came through in moments of desperation and emergency, moments of great blessings. He recalls to our mind in each moment how He showed up, how He was there. And so, we are reminded of how good our Father is. We are reminded of how wide, how long, how deep His love is for us. We are reminded that if we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, all these things will be added. We worship a good and faithful God. So, we praise Him. Whatever our wilderness looks like, with true and genuine hearts for God, we turn to worship, praise, and prayer. He is our Father, our Creator. He knows our past, present, and future. Why would we not worship in reverence to Him? REFLECTION PRAYER Lord, we praise You that You are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. No matter our season, You are sovereign over every detail. You are the manna in our lives providing at just the right moment. Thank You for loving us enough to let us come to the end of our own resources so that we see our situation for what it really is—a reminder that we need to utterly depend on You. In this place, You invite us to worship You with our whole heart. This is where we meet You as You’re walking with us. We are grateful that You call us Your children. Amen. By Pang Thao

Cabrini: A Powerful Tribute to an Inspirational Woman Cabrini, directed by Alejandro Monteverde, is a mesmerizing cinematic journey that brings to life the extraordinary story of Mother Francesca Cabrini. From the very beginning, this film captivates audiences with its stunning visuals, heartfelt performances, and powerful storytelling. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, Cabrini transports viewers to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where we witness the remarkable life of Mother Cabrini unfold. From her humble beginnings in Italy to her journey to the United States, the film chronicles her tireless efforts to serve the marginalized and underserved communities, particularly immigrants. What sets Cabrini apart is its authenticity and attention to detail. Director Alejandro Monteverde skillfully crafts each scene, immersing viewers in the sights, sounds, and emotions of the time period. From the bustling streets of New York City to the serene landscapes of Italy, every frame is meticulously designed to evoke a sense of realism and depth. The performances in Cabrini are nothing short of exceptional. Jessica Chastain delivers a powerhouse performance as Mother Cabrini, capturing her unwavering faith, compassion, and determination with grace and nuance. Supported by a talented ensemble cast, including Oscar Isaac, David Morse, and John Lithgow, Chastain brings depth and humanity to the character, making Mother Cabrini's journey all the more poignant and inspiring. One of the film's greatest strengths is its ability to resonate with audiences on a universal level. While rooted in history, Cabrini tackles themes of immigration, social justice, and the power of faith that are as relevant today as they were a century ago. Through Mother Cabrini's unwavering commitment to helping others, the film reminds us of the profound impact that one person can have on the world. Cabrini is not only a compelling piece of cinema but also a testament to the indomitable spirit of Mother Francesca Cabrini. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, empathy, and resilience in the face of adversity. In conclusion, Cabrini is a must-see film that will leave audiences both moved and inspired. Director Alejandro Monteverde has crafted a masterpiece that honors the legacy of Mother Cabrini while also delivering a timeless message of hope and humanity. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a fan of powerful storytelling, or simply looking for a film that will touch your heart, Cabrini is not to be missed. Come see the true story of a woman who changed the world. In theaters starting March 8. Don't miss your chance to experience this powerful epic on the big screen. Group tickets available. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some language.

Welcome to 40 Days of Prayer, Worship Now John 4:23, Week 4 The Lord desires hearts that authentically worship Him. Whether it be in song, conversation, prayer, or art, worship is an expression of gratitude, thankfulness, and love towards God, our Father. He is seeking people who worship Him with sincerity and authenticity, and in order to do so, our hearts must be surrendered completely to Him. We are called to fear the Lord, serve Him, and hold fast to His promises and truth (Deut. 6:13). Everything we do—really, all we are—should flow out of an abundance of praise and worship to the Lord. Let us surrender together, in humble submission to the Lord Jesus, and worship Him in spirit and in truth. By Hannah Castro

HIS HANDIWORK EPHESIANS 2:10 Some Bible translations use the word handiwork while others use masterpiece for the very same con text. When I think about the word masterpiece, the first thing that comes to my mind is a jewelry store that displays many beautiful items. There are always some masterpieces of jewelry that are not on regular display but kept in a safe and secure glass box and positioned in a place that makes them visible to everyone who comes to the store. What makes these pieces of jewelry so special? Obviously, they are more expensive and beautiful. The reason they look so beautiful is because the goldsmith took so much time and effort to craft them into a beautiful masterpiece. Each one has to go through a vigorous process to get to the place of perfection. Our Heavenly Father sees you and me the same way. He does not see our mess, but the beautiful masterpiece that He can make us through Christ Jesus. In the same way that a metal goes through rigorous process to become a masterpiece, our salvation through Jesus Christ initiates the process of becoming a masterpiece in God’s hand. Our salvation through Jesus cleanses us from all impurities and sins. As we begin to grow in our personal relationship with Jesus, He sanctifies us and empowers us for His service and holy living. He will begin to unfold His plans in our lives so that He can fulfill His purpose through us for His glory. We are His handiwork! REFLECTION PRAYER Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us for Your purpose and glory. Help us to submit to You and walk according to Your direction so that You can lead us into the wonderful plans that You have already created for us. You are the Potter, and we are the clay. Break us, mold us, and shape us to be beautiful and useful vessels in Your hands for Your Kingdom work. Help us to have the confidence and assurance that we are Your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works for Your glory! In Jesus’ name, amen By Isaac Charles

WORSHIP NOW “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” –John 4:23 Focus of the week: The Lord desires hearts that authentically worship Him. Whether it be in song, conversation, prayer, or art, worship is an expression of gratitude, thankfulness, and love towards God, our Father. He is seeking people who worship Him with sincerity and authenticity, and in order to do so, our hearts must be surrendered completely to Him. We are called to fear the Lord, serve Him, and hold fast to His promises and truth (Deut. 6:13). Everything we do—really, all we are—should flow out of an abundance of praise and worship to the Lord. Let us surrender together, in humble submission to the Lord Jesus, and worship Him in spirit and in truth. Introduction: From our earliest days, we are goal-oriented. An early refrain of children on a trip is, “Are we there yet?” As children age, the question moves to, “Where are we going?” Clearly, the end matters! Those who are called by Jesus claim that the end to where they are heading is worship. Revelation 4 showcases heaven’s throne room as a place of eternal worship. Twenty-four elders “give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever” (Rev. 4:10a, ESV). In a prostrate position, “they lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being’” (Rev. 4:10b–11)

HIS MESSENGERS 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18 God has given each of us the ministry of reconciliation. In this sense, reconciliation has to do with making peace between parties that are at odds with one another. As followers of Jesus, we have the great and sacred responsibility of helping others come to peace with God. Christ made such peace possible through His sacrifice on the Cross. His part is complete, and ours is ongoing. Every person you see is a candidate for reconciliation. We regard no one as unworthy of God’s mercy or from a “worldly point of view” (2 Cor. 5:16). It is easy to view humanity from a worldly perspective, but we must see them from heaven’s point of view. Recently, a family member was telling me about her neighbors. There was a single mom struggling to make a living, a young couple who had taken in the wife’s father, a soon-to-be high school graduate who was excited about his future, and a host of others. As she told me about the circumstances of people’s lives, she had one prevailing burden, and it was that they would know Jesus! We discussed how that burden could translate into something intentional. Most of these people did not attend church and were unlikely to do so anytime soon. I asked, “What if your living room became their church?” We agreed it was a great option for the ministry of reconciliation she had been given. This is the ministry each of us is called to do. Go for it! REFLECTION PRAYER Lord, help us to see others the way You see them. Grant us opportunities to bring Your peace to the hurting and hopeless of the world. Use our efforts to bring real and lasting change in the lives of others. We’re especially mindful of those we love deeply and who are without Christ in the world. Save them, Lord. Holy Spirit, tenderize the hearts of those on the receiving end of our efforts so they may hear Your gospel and respond positively. We ask You to do this wherever we labor for Your glory and the good of others. Amen. By Tom Flanders

Welcome to 40 Days of Prayer, His Sheep John 10:27, Week 3, Day 5 For most of my life, I have been an incredibly self-confident person—not caring what others thought about me or needing anyone’s approval in my life. Then one day, my world was rocked by something that came seemingly out of nowhere. My confidence was shaken, and I found myself wanting assurance from those closest to me that I would be OK. This was new territory for me, and it was uncomfortable to say the least. I began questioning every move I made. In one of the many moments on my knees before Jesus, I cried out, asking for help with the insecurity I was experiencing, and I felt him say, “I am your assurance. Your assurance is in me.” I was reminded that as close and reliant as we feel to those around us, the reality is that all we need is Jesus. Throughout Scripture, we see Jesus calling person after person to stop relying on every earthly thing they have—their job, family, title, money—and to just follow Him. As I got up off my knees that day, I felt a strength and a peace—an assurance—that I knew could only come from Him. And though there have been many times I’ve had to go back to that word and remind myself that my assurance is in God, I’m thankful that He is faithfully there, ready to speak over me again and again. Listen to His voice. He knows you. Follow Him. REFLECTION PRAYER Precious Father, You are our Good Shepherd. You know Your sheep, and Your sheep know Your voice. Thank You for Your faithfulness to love, guide, and protect us. Thank You for speaking to us. Father, help us to recognize and listen to Your voice. Protect us from the temptation to listen to others’ voices that would lead us astray and that might lead us away from what Your will is over our lives. Give us the strength and courage to follow You wherever You lead, even when others don’t approve. Father, You are our assurance and our strength, and we give You praise. Amen By Jenny Karr

Welcome to 40 Days of Prayer, His Special Possession, Deuteronomy 14:2, Week 3 Day 4 As an introvert, there are many times I am content to observe and not stand out. I’m happy with serving in the background and blending in. It can be mindless in the chaos; it can be comfortable when everything else seems so drastically changing and radical. It’s sometimes even easier that way, especially in this present world when it seems like any opinion or stance you take is both criticized and up for ridicule. But right now, the truth about God is so blurred. We have a desperate need for people to be different, to stand out. And although the idea of standing out is often not one of the attributes we love as Christians, especially for introverts, the world is rapidly pushing and trying to tell us to stay in its boundaries, to stay to the side. This competitive, power-hungry world can make you feel like you’ve been set aside, rejected, and unwanted. But God has way better plans for each of us than that. He calls us to be set apart, which means to be given an assignment or special task, to be a special possession—His special possession. And there is something wonderfully comforting and powerful in the realization that He has personally chosen each one of us to represent Him here on the earth. So, may we stand bold in this truth and feel compelled to stand up and out for Christ, to show His love and mercy to all the world.

HIS HOLY NATION DEUTERONOMY 26:19 Have you ever been the last one picked? Teams are being chosen, and one by one the people next to you get put on their respective sides. With each passing selection, the knot in your stomach expands. Will I ever get chosen? On the other hand, have you ever had the privilege of being the first one picked? When you hear your name called out before all the others, your chest swells with pride at the honor you are receiving. Israel was God’s pick. Out of all the nations on earth, God said, You are the one I am going to use to be on my side and reveal to the world who I am and what I am about. What an honor! What a privilege! As we fast-forward to the New Testament, in Jesus Christ we find out that we, as the Church, become the ones who are picked by God. We are now the consecrated people who God has chosen to reveal who He is to the world. What is unique to being picked by God as part of His holy nation is that we are built not to hold on to our position as God’s chosen with pride in our own status but to serve and bless every other person and people on earth. Like Israel, we are blessed so that we can be a blessing. Being part of this holy nation comes with the responsibility to bless others and serve out of self-sacrificial love. REFLECTION PRAYER God, we thank You that in Jesus, You have picked us and we are on Your team, a holy nation and a royal priesthood. Thank You for inviting us into loving relationship with You. We are so grateful. Help us not to be prideful in our position as Your people, but instead, with hearts full of gratitude, help us bless those around us who do not yet know You. Give us the strength to sacrifice out of the richness of Your blessings in our lives to serve those who are still far from You. Amen.

HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE JOHN 15:16 Frodo: “I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf: “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides that of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.” —J. R. R. Tolkien This work of fiction by Tolkien illustrates the reality that Jesus explains in John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” We were meant to be His people. We are appointed to bear fruit. He is the One we belong to, and He is orchestrating the sequence and events of our lives so that our lives produce eternal results (fruit that lasts). You are His, and He has given you the time you have to impact eternity. That is an encouraging thought.

Welcome to 40 Days of Prayer, His Now, John 15:16, Week 3 HIS NOW John 15:16 God created us to be His possession and for His glory. However, sin separated us from the holy God, and all of us fall short of His glory. But through God’s grace, we have been justified freely through the redemption that came through Jesus Christ. Because of what Jesus did on the Cross, we are now reconciled with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. As joint heirs with Christ, we share the “glory of Christ,” which God the Father gave to Jesus. Hence, we are now His! We are His chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, special possessions, sheep, messengers, and masterpieces. By Isaac Charles