20*10*1 - Day 5 When Grace Comes Down

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. - John 1:17

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a personal visit with God? What would He say about the state of humanity? about religion? about our propensity toward sin?

There is no need to wonder about what God is like or would say, because to know Him, we have only to look at Jesus. In Jesus we have received grace, but there is even something more we have received: truth.

The kind of truth John spoke of in today’s scripture is not a list of laws and rules such as were given to Moses. Make no mistake—the revelation of God through the word of the Law was glorious. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the ten commandments, his face shone so brightly with the glory of God that he had to wear a veil (Exodus 34:33-35). But the word of the Law cannot compare with the word of life that has been revealed through Jesus Christ!

In John 1:18 we learn that no one, not even Moses, has ever seen God. But Jesus has not only seen God—He is God. The truth that John was speaking about is a clear and unveiled vision of the true nature of God.

It is from a state of grace, not legalism, that we will find real and lasting transformation.

Looking at God through the lens of legalism and religion is like looking at Him through a veil. Only when we see Him though Jesus Christ can we truly get a glimpse into His heart. It is from a state of grace, not legalism, that we will find real and lasting transformation (2 Corinthians 3:7–18).

I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am. —John Newton

Bible Reading Plan: John 5

Prayer Focus: Have you been looking at God through the veil of legalism and religion? In Jesus, we see the full revelation of the nature of God: His love and holiness, mercy and justice, compassion and power all perfectly and beautifully expressed. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you see God through the eyes of grace and truth given to us in Jesus Christ.

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 4 Agreement with the Will of God

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Amos 3:3

In the heart of every believer is the desire to walk closely with God. We know that He, too, desires a close relationship with each one of us. A key to having a strong level of spiritual intimacy with God is living in agreement with His will for your life.


In Genesis 5:22, we read of Enoch and see that his life modeled a long journey, walking consistently with God, for it says, “Enoch walked with God three hundred years.” Enoch lived a powerful life. He was a man who walked in agreement with God’s will and lived a life pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:5).


The level of our agreement with God will determine the degree of closeness in our walk with Him.


It is one thing to know God’s will for our lives; it’s another to live in agreement with His will. In order to enjoy the best life that God has for us, we must first understand that God does not change, but we sometimes must. Let’s earnestly seek to know and agree with God’s will. The level of our agreement with God will determine the degree of closeness in our walk with Him.


I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition
and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts.
But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God.
We must be emptied before we can be filled. —D. L. Moody


Bible Reading Plan: John 4

Prayer Focus: Pray today that you can walk in agreement with God and enjoy the life He desires you to have in Christ.

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 3 Fasting Removes Unbelief

Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” —Matthew 17:18–21, NKJV


When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting, we are the ones changed. Coming into alignment with God helps us curb our doubts and fears. When we pray and fast, the thing that leaves—the thing that goes out—is our unbelief. It is when we have faith to believe that we can pray with confidence and know that “nothing will be impossible.”


When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting,
we are the ones changed.


Ask God to strengthen your heart to fully believe Him and His Word. It is okay to recognize and acknowledge if you struggle with unbelief. That’s the first step in allowing God to strengthen your faith and bring you into alignment with His plan for your life. Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not
only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.


Expect…“above all that we ask or think.” —Andrew Murray

Bible Reading Plan: John 3

 Prayer Focus: What do you need faith to believe for? Align yourself with God’s Word and will during this fast. Release your unbelief. Pray with confidence, knowing “nothing will be impossible” 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 2 Tune In

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27, NIV

Have you ever tried to tune in a radio station only to be frustrated by finding static rather than music? And when you fiddled with the dial again, suddenly you hear a clear signal. The fact is that clear signal always existed on the airwaves. The difference is that now you have adjusted your tuner to the right frequency.
In our hectic lives, there are so many signals bombarding our senses that it can become difficult to distinguish God’s voice from the deafening static noise of life. Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God. As we fast, we deny our flesh. When we deny our flesh, we become more in tune to the Holy Spirit and can hear God’s voice more clearly. If you truly listen for God’s voice, you will hear it. And when you hear it, your faith will increase.

Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God.

If you desire to tune out the static of life and really tune into the voice of God, come to Him first and foremost with ears willing to listen and a heart ready to obey what He says (Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 66:2). The more we practice being in His presence, the clearer and more recognizable His voice becomes.

Fasting is more important, more important perhaps than many of us have supposed.… When exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where others may have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world, a spiritual weapon of God’s provision, mighty to the
pulling down of strongholds. —Arthur Wallis

Bible Reading: John 2

Prayer Focus: In this time of fasting, what is your mind tuned to? What distractions do you need to remove so that you can focus on God? Prepare your heart to hear the voice of God, and ask Him to help you remove distractions that keep you from focusing on Him and hearing His voice clearly.

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 1

“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and
weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12, NIV

If we look at the kind of fasting that took place in the Old Testament, it would be easy to assume that the reason for fasting is to gain forgiveness. In the book of Joel, the Israelites had wandered far from God, and their sinfulness had resulted in famine and pestilence in the land. Through the prophet Joel, God called them to repentance, ordering them to declare a sacrificial fast, which along with mourning and weeping, would show God the sincerity of their repentance. In return the prophet said that perhaps God would “turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” (verse 14, NIV).
Such a fast of repentance is seen in the Old Testament time and again, because under the Old Covenant, man had to rely on his works and sacrifices to avert the wrath of God. But under the New Covenant, we don’t have to fast for forgiveness. Every wrong we have done and will do was forgiven at the cross, and when we accept Christ, we live under the New Covenant of grace and forgiveness!
First Thessalonians 5:9 tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (NIV). So then, why do we, as people under the New Covenant, devote ourselves to fasting and prayer?

We don’t have to fast for forgiveness. Every wrong we have done and will do
was forgiven at the cross.

As we walk with God, there are times that we feel far from Him or disconnected. Joel’s words resonate with us, even if we live in a context of grace: “return to me with all your heart.” There are times we realize that though we have chosen to follow Jesus, the flame of our love for Him has grown cold. Your time spent in prayer each day of the fast can result in a new richness, a rewarding connection with the Father. No matter where you are on your journey with Jesus, you can always take a step closer toward Him.

Bible Reading Plan: John 1

Prayer Focus: As we begin this time of prayer and fasting, let’s turn our hearts toward God. Make a commitment to seek Him daily. Pray that your love for Christ will be increased and your passion for Him will be reignited.

Covenant Church - Pastor Terry Crawford

Shepherdstown, WV

All content adapted from Awakening by Stovall Weems,

WaterBrook Press © 2010. Used by permission.

20*10*1, What is it?

Life's Healing Choices - Week 7

The Growth Choice
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church

Scripture Reference 1
2 Peter 3:18 GNT

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.

Growth Choice
I reserve a daily time with God for Bible reading, self-examination, and prayer in order to know God and his will for my life and to gain the power to follow his will. ~ Learn how to continue growing and make it to the finish line!

7 Good Tools for Growth 1
Set a daily time with God.

Note 1
When we do decide to have a dedicated time “satan” will throw all kinds of things at you. When we don’t have that daily time with God we don’t have the power and strength.

Scripture Reference 2
1 John 3:6 ESV

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
7 Good Tools for Growth 2
Fill our mind with scripture.

Scripture Reference 3
James 1:25 NIV84

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.

7 Good Tools for Growth 3
Focus on my goal not my habit.

Scripture Reference 4
Philippians 3:12-14 NIV84

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Goals 1
Focused - specific. I want to serve.

Goals 2
Attainable - set goals that can really be done through God’s power, daily-time-where.

Goals 3
Individual - you are not making it for someone else. It’s for you.

Goals 4
Trackable - Starting tomorrow (date) will spend x time until x.

Goals 5
Heartfelt - gotta mean something to you.

The Skinny on Fasting
Whether your starving for food or your iPod, fasting is a key ingredient to renewing your dependence on God. Everyone seems to go about fasting in their own, unique way--as seen in this short comedy from the Skit Guys.
The Skinny on Fasting

7 Good Tools for Growth 4
Face and forsake my failures quickly.

Scripture Reference 5
Lamentations 3:40 NIV84

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Scripture Reference 6
1 Corinthians 11:31 NIV84

But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.
7 Good Tools for Growth 5
Flee temptation.

Scripture Reference 7
1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV84

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
Scripture Reference 8
1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV84

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

7 Good Tools for Growth 6
Participate in ongoing small group.

7 Good Tools for Growth 7
Follow Christ to the finish line: don’t quit.

Scripture Reference 9
Philippians 1:6 NIV84

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Scripture Reference 10
Galatians 6:9 NIV84

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.