No Limit

Jesus is fully God and fully man. Jesus chose to fore go the powers of God that was in Him to demonstrate to us the way to rely fully on God for everything we do and need. Jesus healed people not by His powers as God, but by the powers of God the Father. Jesus was not limited, but he did limit him self.


19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
(John 5:19-23, ESV)

By Jesus' example we learn what it is to truely submit to the will of God. We go before God through Jesus, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Any breach in the chain of command limits the blessing God has in store, whether it be healing, financal blessing, marriage restoration, reunion, or a number of things. We must be willing to listen when the Spirit speaks.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  (John 16:13, ESV)

Just remember, God is with you today and talks to you. He walks with you through all the joy and struggles of your life. All you need to do is ask Him and he will reveal the truth. It may not be when you want it and it may not be what you want, but he will answer.

Wide Awake

Wide Awake - Easter 2011
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church - Shepherdstown, WV

Note 1
===============
You see, we can't force enough happy thoughts to overcome hopelessness.

Bible Reference 1
===============
Luke 24:13-17 (NIV84)
---------------
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast.

Note 2
===============
At our place of greatest pain, the story of God intersects our stories with the Corss and Resurrection of Jesus.

Note 3
===============
Jesus demonstrated through his death, burial and resurrection that he has the power to go anywhere, through any darkness and pain you may go through and be there for you and me.

Bible Reference 2
===============
Luke 24:18-24 (NIV84)
---------------
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

Bible Reference 3
===============
Luke 24:25-32 (NIV84)
---------------
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Note 4
===============
A person can go from downcast, confused, foolish and a shaky faith to a place where eyes are opened wide and a heart burns within them, full of life and hope

Note 5
===============
Are your eyes open? Are you wide awake? Has Jesus met you in your deepest despair or are you going through it all alone and without hope?

20*10*1 - Day 20 A New Wineskin

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins,

spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins.

—Luke 5:37–38, NLT

Two things that do not mix are new wine and old wineskins. The reason is simple: old wineskins cannot grow and stretch to hold the new wine.

The new wine God wants to fill you with is a picture of God’s Spirit, and this wine is expansive. A container that is dead, dry, stiff, and shrinking cannot be trusted as a storehouse for God’s valued treasure. Our vessels must be prepared for the fresh, dynamic, living presence of God, because everything we do will flow from that.

God’s new wine always changes us by expanding our faith, enlarging our purpose,

and bringing renewed vision.

This preparation comes through prayer and fasting, during which we produce a container that is ready for the new thing God wants to do. God’s new wine always changes us by expanding our faith, enlarging our purpose, and bringing renewed vision.

God is not into old wineskins; it is up to us to shed them. As we seek Him in this season, let’s shed the old wineskin and ask God to fully prepare our hearts for what’s to come.

God became man to turn creatures into sons; not simply to produce

better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man. —C. S. Lewis

Bible Reading Plan: John 20: 1-31


You can finish the book of John tomorrow with John 21: 1-25 and start a new reading plan.
We will be looking at 1 Corinthians after Easter/Resurrection Sunday if you want to join us.


Prayer Focus: What has caused you to shrink back in your expectation of what God wants to do in your life? Are you ready to be expanded beyond recognition? That’s what God’s new wine will do in and through you. Pray that the Lord will expand your life to glorify Him, giving you boldness to step out and be used by Him.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 19 Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out

through all the surrounding region. —Luke 4:14

After praying and fasting for forty days, Jesus returned to Galilee empowered to do all the Father had called Him to do. Jesus was so powerful in public because He was so prayerful in private.

To accomplish the assignments God has for our lives, we also need the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us. God does not expect us to go through the challenges of life without this power.

Prayer and fasting bring us to the place where we can power up. Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is living with a comprehension of the God-given strength and authority in our lives to walk out His will.

Jesus was so powerful in public because He was so prayerful in private.

Through prayer and fasting, God can prepare us for what lies ahead. We might not know what obstacles we’re going to face, but we can know that God will be faithful to us. He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and He will empower us to meet whatever challenges life may bring.

Every movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure. —D. L. Moody

Bible Reading Plan: John 19: 1-42


Prayer Focus: Today as you worship God in prayer, let Him know that you refuse to go into the future without His power and that you want all the spiritual resources He has for you.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 18 Pray Instead

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness,

everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.—Philippians 4:6–7, MSG

Worry seems inescapable in modern life. No doubt there is plenty to worry about: our kids, the economy, global warming, war, disease… Sometimes it might seem that worry has even replaced Jesus as the focal point of our lives. Jesus Himself admonished us several times not to worry. And the apostle Paul told us that there is an antidote to worry…prayer.

Our timeless God owns the future. He knows exactly what is

going to happen, and He promises to be with us every step of the journey.

When we worry about something, we are spending energy on it, wondering what might happen, rehearsing the “if onlys” and “what ifs” in our mind. Why not take that same energy and refocus it on prayer instead? When we worry, we are simply talking to ourselves about our fears, but when we pray, we are taking those fears to God. We can’t control the future, but as Anne Graham Lotz said throughout her book Fear Not Tomorrow, God Is Already There, our timeless God owns the future. He knows exactly what is going to happen, and He promises to be with us every step of the journey.

As we are nearing a close to this season of prayer and fasting, let’s heed Paul’s words to “let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.” Then the peace of God will guard your heart.

Growing an unshakeable trust in God as you face your tomorrow is not

about self-improvement or mastering your circumstances, but about

God—who He is, what He does, and how we can trust Him. —Anne Graham Lotz

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. —Oswald Chambers

Bible Reading Plan: John 18: 1-40


Prayer Focus: What consistently causes you to worry? Today, recapture each worried thought and send it to God as a prayer. See how dramatically your outlook improves when the peace of God is activated through prayer!

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 17 Humility

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him

and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he

often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but

they could not cure him.” —Matthew 17:14–16

What a great example of humility: this man approached Jesus and knelt before Him in the midst of a crowd. As the father approached, he believed that Jesus would bring his son relief. But even in his belief, his approach was humble and submitted to what Christ would choose to do.

Looking further into the story, we find the father was also persistent and resisted taking offense. Though the disciples were not able to help him, he set aside his temporary disappointment in their failure and continued to seek after Jesus—the solution to his circumstance, the source of relief through his trial.

God is never late and His solution is always perfect!

Being humble before God is realizing our need of Him, submitting to His will, pursuing Him, and being confident the outcome will occur in God’s perfect timing.

Be encouraged that approaching God with a heart of humility will always position you to find relief in Jesus. Don’t be ashamed to humble yourself before God, even in the presence of others. Though offenses and disappointments may come, continue in your pursuit of Jesus. You may not get relief right away but know this: God is never late and His solution is always perfect!

The higher a man is in grace, the lower he will be in his own esteem.

—Charles H. Spurgeon

Bible Reading Plan: John 17: 1-26


Prayer Focus: Prayer is a posture of humility. Humble yourself before the Lord each day and bring your cares to Him. He wants to meet you where you are and answer your every need. Pray, too, that God will help you with the disappointment and discouragement that we all face along the way. Is there discouragement in your heart today? Write it down and release it to our perfect God.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 16 Taking Off the Grave Clothes

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” —John 11:44, NIV

When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life change. The story of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates how it was the power of Jesus’ prayer and spoken word that resurrected Lazarus from the dead, but the disciples played a role in this miracle too.

When it comes to the transforming power of God working in

someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life-change.

Lazarus was bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face had been wrapped with a cloth during his time in the tomb. When he arose from his death and came out of the tomb, Jesus called on the disciples to help in the transformation process. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” The disciples needed to help Lazarus. Likewise, we all have a part to play in the lives of those around us.

God has done some incredible things around us during this fast. Could it be that someone around you is still walking around in grave clothes? What do you need to help them let go of?

Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.

—E. M. Bounds

True prayer is measured by weight—not by length. A single groan

before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration

of great length. —Charles H. Spurgeon

Bible Reading Plan: John 16: 1-33


Prayer Focus: Who in your world is still walking around in grave clothes? Think about friends and family or those you know who may not know God. What part has God called you to play in the life change He wants to bring them?

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 15 The Spoken Word

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:43, NIV

The story of Lazarus’s death and resurrection reflects the power of Jesus’ spoken word. Jesus was so in tune with the will of His Father that He already knew in His heart the miracle that was about to take place, but His words spoke the miracle into existence.

While prayer is our declaration of our dependence on God, our spoken words can be the manifestation of what’s happening in our hearts. There is power in our spoken words, whether they are used to build up or tear down. It is important to keep our heart filled with the truth from God’s Word so that our words will produce good fruit.

While prayer is our declaration of our dependence on God, our spoken words can be the

manifestation of what’s happening in our hearts.

As you seek God in prayer ask Him for discernment to know a need and the words to help someone today. Pray that your words would be encouraging, edifying, and aligned with the truth of God’s Word. Building others up around us with our words allows us to be God’s instrument to accomplish His good work.

The key to praying with power is to become the kind of persons who

do not use God for our ends but are utterly devoted to being used

for His ends. —John Piper

I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ

and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master. —John Newton

Bible Reading Plan: John 15: 1-27


Prayer Focus: As God continues to fill you through this season of prayer and fasting, He wants to take what is now in your heart and share it with others. How can you use the power of your spoken words to speak God’s truth in the lives of others?

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

Jesus is Coming to Town

Palm Sunday 2011
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church Shepherdstown, WV


Bible Reference 1
===============
Luke 19:28-30 (NIV84)
---------------
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.


Insight
===============
This wasn’t a coincidence that Jesus became tired or lazy at the exact moment he was going to be entering Jerusalem so he rode on a donkey colt. The king was coming into town and preparations were being made.


Bible Reference 2
===============
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV84)
---------------
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.


Insight
===============
It was a sign of a king coming in triumph after a victory.


Biblical Research
===============
Alfred Edersheim, a Christian Jew himself, studied ancient Rabbinical writings, and said that Zechariah 9:9 was often interpreted as being about a Messiah. He wrote that so firm was the belief in this prophesy, that, according to the Talmud, 'if anyone saw a donkey in his dreams, he will see salvation'."


Note 1
===============
when Jesus decided to ride a donkey colt into Jerusalem, he knew exactly what he was doing and what it said about who he was: King of Salvation.


Bible Reference 3
===============
Luke 19:31-35 (NIV84)
---------------
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.


Note 2
===============
God asks us to take risks in his Kingdom work and may include anything we own.


Question 1
===============
What are the things God needs for us to be willing to ask of others?


Question 2
===============
What are the things we should be willing to give or loan to help Jesus be seen as our king to the world around us?


Bible Reference 4
===============
Luke 19:36 (NIV84)
---------------
As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.


Bible Reference 5
===============
Mark 11:8 (NIV84)
---------------
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.


Bible Reference 6
===============
Luke 19:37-40 (NIV84)
---------------
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”


Note 3
===============
As the King of Salvation goes with us into the towns, work places and homes we live, are we excited for what he can bring?


This is why we celebrate Palm Sunday.
===============

• Jesus knew what he was doing riding the donkey in as king.
• He knew what he was doing teaching the things he taught about His Heavenly Father and the Kingdom of God.
• He knew what he was doing when he predicted his death and didn’t back out when the trial, torture and the cross became reality. And he knew what he was doing when he rose again 3 days later from the dead.

20*10*1 - Day 14 Alignment with Heaven

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. —Matthew 6:10, KJV

We have all heard the phrase, “just like heaven on earth.” When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9– 13, He provided some insight into what “heaven on earth” might look like.

In reality, heaven is a place where God’s will reigns supreme. If we want to have a taste of heaven on earth, then our prayer should be like Jesus’: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.

On a more personal level, we can pray that His will be unhindered in our own life. Rather than imposing His will upon us, God gives us the choice to surrender to it with trust and gladness. As we yield to the Lordship of Christ over every area of our lives, we come into agreement with Him. We experience alignment with heaven and position ourselves to taste a little bit of heaven here on earth.

The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will

would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.

God’s will then becomes what we desire and the thing we most seek after. We enter into the incredible adventure of participating in God’s plan to move His kingdom forward on the earth. This is where we find the most fulfilling and joyous life, but it all starts with one personal “yes, Lord” on our part.

All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer.

Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do

everything, prayer is omnipotent. —R. A. Torrey

Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come.

Like a mighty locomotive, His power is irresistible, but it cannot reach

us without rails. —Watchman Nee

Bible Reading Plan: John 14: 1-31


Prayer Focus: What does God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven” look like in your life? Do the desires of your heart line up with the will of God? As we seek God together, let’s pray as Jesus taught us, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 13 Cultivating Spiritual Hunger

Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.

And He was there in the wilderness forty days,

tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts;

and the angels ministered to Him. Mark 1:12–13

Even Jesus disconnected from the world to fast and pray. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of Jesus going to the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. They also describe other times when Jesus pulled away from the demands of the crowds, His ministry, and even His closest friends to pray.

There are times that we, too, need to pull away from the things of the world and focus on God. “The things of the world” can certainly include more than just food. In fact, in our world they are more likely television, movies, Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, and the Internet. None of these things are wrong in and of themselves, but they are avenues for a mental and spiritual crowd to gather around us and drown out the Holy Spirit’s voice.

Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus. Giving up physical nourishment is the first step in engaging that process. If you think about it, though, in day-to-day life we nourish our souls as well as our bodies. We do so through reading, talking, socializing, playing, and entertainment. When our souls are full of those things, we often don’t hunger for God.


Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing
to bring God into greater focus.


During this time of fasting, we are sure to feel physical hunger, but let’s be intentional about cultivating spiritual hunger as well. Let’s draw away from the crowd and lay aside for a season the activities we use to nourish our souls. Instead let’s enter a state of spiritual hunger, a craving for righteousness. Jesus said that being spiritually hungry is a blessed state, because there we can be sure of being filled with food that truly satisfies our deepest needs (Matthew 5:6).

Prayer is reaching out and after the unseen; fasting, letting go of all that is seen and temporal.

Fasting helps express, deepens, confirms the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything,

even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God. —Andrew Murray

Bible Reading Plan: John 13: 1-38


Prayer Focus: During this time, you will find that being still before the Lord will set you in a place of increased strength, peace, and hunger for God. Are you disconnected from things that nourish your body and soul? What do you need to deny yourself to make this a powerful time in your life?

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 12 Praying Boldly

And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the

prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known

this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant.” —1 Kings 18:36

The sacrifice referenced above was a declaration that Elijah was a servant of the Most High God. Elijah belonged to God, and he represented God to the people. However, Elijah’s boldness was not a result of who he was; it was the result of knowing God!

As children of God under the New Covenant, we don’t have to be timid or fearful when coming to God in prayer. We can approach Him boldly.


Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (Hebrews 4:16, AMP)


It’s intimidating to think about taking a fearless, confident, bold attitude when coming before God in prayer. Yet this is exactly what we are admonished to do! God has already settled the issue of our access to Him, but we can be assured our access is not because of our own righteousness. It’s because of what Jesus did on the cross.

We can come to the throne in such outrageous boldness because Jesus was outrageously righteous! When we pray, we come to God in the authority of Jesus’ name, and we can be confident that we will find grace, mercy, and perfectly timed help.

Fasting is not an end of itself; it is a means by which we can worship

the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him. We don’t make God

love us any more than He already does if we fast, or if we fast longer.

Fasting involves God in the problem. Then in the strength of God,

victory is possible. —Elmer L. Towns

Bible Reading Plan: John 12: 1-50


Prayer Focus: Do you approach God with timidity or confidence? Seek God boldly today knowing you are fully forgiven and Jesus has made you righteous. When you approach God in prayer, seek a fresh revelation of who He is in your life.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 11 Prayer and the Process

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him,

“I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah

shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you

don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” 1 Kings 18:43–44, NLT

“How do I know God is going to say yes to my prayers?”

This is a common question many people have as they seek a confident prayer life. However, it’s important to recognize that prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer. It is our responsibility to check our motives and believe God hears us.

We see an example of the process of prayer in this story of Elijah (1 Kings 18). Elijah climbed to the top of the mountain to pray for rain to come. As he waited for the rain, he continued to pray, believing God would answer. When he finally saw a small cloud, he told Ahab to get ready because the rain was coming. Elijah knew what to pray for, and God heard him the first time he prayed. But there was preparation that needed to take place in order for Elijah to receive the answer to his prayer.

Prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer.


It is no mistake that God waited until Elijah had prayed seven times before He answered. In the Bible, seven represents completion. In this story, seven represents the completion of God’s process regarding Elijah’s prayer request.

God does not want merely to answer our prayers; He wants to spend time with us to prepare us for the answer that will come. Many times we want to skip over the process involved in engaging God in prayer as we wait for our answer. But it is this very process that works maturity in us and prepares us for the answers our prayers bring (James 1:4).

The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle.
The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees
long before the battle came.… Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees
before temptation comes, and you will always have victory. —R. A. Torrey

Bible Reading Plan: John 11: 1-57

Prayer Focus: What prayers of yours are still awaiting an answer? Throughout this fast, thank God for His process at work in you…and trust Him.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 10 Unwavering Faith

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. James 1:6, KJV

What do you expect when you pray?

When we pray with earnest expectation, we are exercising our faith. The earnest prayer of righteous people produces powerful results (James 5:16, NLT), and the most earnest prayers come from us when we recognize our need for God.

There can be a natural tendency to shrink back when praying for the seemingly impossible, but we must remember that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). If we know the promises that God has given us, and understand His character and the principles by which He works, we can pray with confidence and trust Him for the answer.


The most earnest prayers come from us when we recognize our need for God.


What has caused you to waver in your expectation with God? James reminds us that faith and wavering are actually contradictory—James says “nothing wavering.” Know that God never wavers in His love for you. You can trust Him completely.


There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so
much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom of
Christ as by prayer. —Jonathan Edwards


When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations
can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education
can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but
when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do. —A. C. Dixon


Bible Reading Plan: John 10


Prayer Focus: What are you trusting God for in this season? How can you line up your expectations with the Word of God when you pray? Find promises in His Word that answer your need and write them down today.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford
Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 9 Clean House

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but

those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is

death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. — Romans 8:5–6

Have you ever looked at the top of your refrigerator or in the deep recesses of your couch cushions and noticed the filth that has built up over time? Even though we might clean on a regular basis, there are times when we need to go…a little deeper. We realize that what appeared to be clean on the surface was in all actuality, quite filthy.

The same thing can happen spiritually. As we go about our daily lives, there are things that can build up over time. Even if we worship, pray, and read our Bible regularly, the different temptations, pressures, and cares of this world can build up quietly and end up consuming our lives. Without even realizing it, we can lose our peace, joy, and passion for the things of God. Our service to God, which used to fill us with life and excitement, becomes a tiresome duty that we must fulfill.

Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our minds off of the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit. Fasting offers an incredibly effective way to get into the nooks and crannies of our souls and bring all those dusty old habits, broken mindsets, and rusty attitudes out into the light of God’s truth.

Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off of the things of this world
and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit.

In fasting and prayer, our service to God returns to something we want to do rather than something we have to do.

One of the reasons for fasting is to know what is in us.… In fasting it
will come out. You will see it. And you will have to deal with it quickly
or smother it again. —John Piper

Bible Reading Plan: John 9

Prayer Focus: As you pray and fast today, ask God to show you any areas where you could use a refreshed spiritual focus. Pray as David did in Psalm 51:10–12 that God will cleanse your heart, renew your spirit, and restore the joy of your salvation. Pray with confidence, knowing that He wants to fill you with His life and peace.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford
Shepherdstown, WV


All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 8 Hear Him

This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”… And when they

looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.  —Matthew 17:5, 8, NLT

On the Mount of Transfiguration three disciples had an experience that showed us the Father’s plan for the New Covenant. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the top of a mountain where He was transfigured into His glorified state. Up until this point, the Jews had related to God through the Law—represented by Moses and the prophets, one being Elijah. Inspired by what he was seeing, Peter eagerly offered to erect three tabernacles—one each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Then a loud voice from heaven was heard: “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.

When the disciples looked up, they saw only Jesus.

You cannot earn God’s pleasure, but you can experience it to a

greater degree as you follow Jesus Christ.

On that mountain God made it clear that we will only discover His pleasure by following Jesus. God’s grace is freely given to those who receive new life in Him. Sometimes, though, there are areas of our lives where we do not fully embrace God’s grace. There may be circumstances or areas where we still try to earn our way to the Father.

You cannot earn God’s pleasure, but you can experience it to a greater degree as you follow Jesus Christ. As you seek God today, ask Him for a greater revelation of Jesus in your heart. Then will you be reminded that you are a beloved child of God. And that He finds pleasure in you.

If heaven were by merit, it would never be heaven to me, for if I were in it I should say,

“I am sure I am here by mistake; I am sure this is not my place; I have no claim to it.”

But if it be of grace and not of works, then we may walk into heaven with boldness.   —  Charles H. Spurgeon

Bible Reading Plan: John 8

Prayer Focus: How does understanding the New Covenant of grace change the focus of your fast? As you pray and seek after God, let His be the loudest voice you hear.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

Life's Healing Choices - Week 8

The Sharing Choice
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church

Bible Reference 1
===============
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV84)
---------------
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Note 1
===============
THE SHARING CHOICE:
I choose to yield myself to God to be used to bring the Good News to others, by both my example and by my words.

Note 2
===============
People need an example before they’ll listen to an explanation.

Note 3
===============
People don’t relate to perfection, they relate to struggle.

Bible Reference 2
===============
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV84)
---------------
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Note 4
===============
Talk about your experience.

Question
===============
What can you talk about with credibility?

Note 5
===============
Share your fear.

Bible Reference 3
===============
2 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV84)
---------------
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

Note 6
===============
Share your frustration.

Bible Reference 4
===============
Romans 7:18-19 (NIV84)
---------------
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing.

Note 7
===============
Share your failures.

Bible Reference 5
===============
1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV84)
---------------
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.

Note 8
===============
Share your strength.

Note 9
===============
Your strength is in God’s love.

Bible Reference 10
===============
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV84)
---------------
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Note 10
===============
Your strength is in God’s word.

Bible Reference 11
===============
Romans 15:4 (NIV84)
---------------
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Note 11
===============
Your strength is in God’s people.

Bible Reference 12
===============
Philippians 2:22 (NIV84)
---------------
But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Bible Reference 13
===============
Philippians 2:25 (NIV84)
---------------
But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.

Note 12
===============
Your strength is in God’s purpose.

Bible Reference 14
===============
Romans 8:28 (NIV84)
---------------
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Bible Reference 15
===============
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV84)
---------------
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

20*10*1 - Day 7 Fervent Prayer

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. —James 5:16

Fervency speaks to our level of intensity, passion, and persistence. Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether because we lose heart or give up. But God invites us to keep them before Him and trust Him for an answer in His time (Matthew 7:7–11).

The Old Testament prophet Elijah practiced a lifestyle of fervent, intense prayer and witnessed incredible miracles in his lifetime. In the book of Kings, the story is told of a woman whose only son became ill and died (1 Kings 17:17– 24). When Elijah heard the news, he quickly took action and did what he knew best—he fervently cried out to God. Elijah fully believed that God could bring the boy back to life, and he prayed not just once but three times that the boy’s soul would return to him. He prayed fervently and repeatedly and he wasn’t going to give up. This was the result: “Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived” (verse 22).

Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether
because we lose heart or give up. But God invites us to keep them before Him and trust
Him for an answer in His time.

Elijah’s prayer was answered through his persistence and fervency. God hears your prayers as well and will bring an answer in His perfect timing. But don’t be discouraged or disheartened if the answer takes time to arrive or is not exactly what you expected. Commit to praying to God with passion and persistence, trusting the answer will come in God’s perfect way at the perfect time.

We must never forget that the highest kind of prayer is never the making of requests.
Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into God, to a place of such blessed union
as it makes miracles seem tame and remarkable answers to prayer appear something
very far short of wonderful by comparison. — A. W. Tozer

Bible Reading Plan: John 7

Prayer Focus: As you close out this first week, continue to pray fervently for the main areas of concern in your life. Trust God to bring an answer as you journal your thoughts and inspirations through this time.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1 - Day 6 The Spirit Is Willing

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is

right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong,

but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing

wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:18–20, NLT)

There’s an internal war that rages within each of us. Paul described this so well in Romans 7. Though we desire to do the right thing, we don’t have the power to do so in our own efforts and we mess up.

The good news is that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to make right decisions. We don’t have to be dominated by our sinful nature and end up doing the things we don’t want to do. But the only way we can live this kind of life is by yielding to the Holy Spirit and relying on the strength of Jesus Christ, not our own.

When we’re facing struggles, we must rely on God’s power alive within us through the Holy Spirit. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit resides in us and places in us the desire to do what is pleasing to God (Hebrews 10:16). The Holy Spirit always wants to do what is right and to uphold the perfect will of God, pleasing the Father in every way.


When we’re facing struggles, we must rely on God’s power alive within us through the Holy Spirit.


It is our job to lay down our stubborn fleshly will and yield to the will of God. In that moment, the Holy Spirit will be there to help us. Let’s learn to yield to and become totally reliant upon the Holy Spirit.


[Prayer] turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain.
It brings life. It brings God. —Samuel Chadwick


Bible Reading Plan: John 6


Prayer Focus: Are there areas in your life causing an internal struggle? Make a decision today to yield to the Holy Spirit and lean on His strength, not your own, and to overcome obstacles of sin and selfishness in your life. Surrender and release those areas to God, knowing He will help you.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,
WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.