Planning My Personal Calendar - Part 3
By Stovall Weems
In my last 2 blog posts, I’ve shared two of the filters I consider when planning. Again, the key to all of these is to seek God’s wisdom and commit to aligning ourselves with His plans. As we do, He gives us clear vision and directs our steps. Here is another filter that helps to make sure I’m letting God have total control:
3. Have I left enough margin?
I am very careful to not plan out every single week of the year. I always allow for margin. This helps me leave enough room for God to move and even interrupt things along the way. Planning and scheduling is great, but it’s there as a support and still requires some room for flexibility.
What filters do you use when planning?
Stovall
Planning My Personal Calendar - Part 2
By Stovall Weems
In my last post, I shared the first of 3 filters I use when planning my personal calendar. Combined with seeking God for guidance these filters really help to make sure the right things end up on my calendar as I make plans for the year. Here’s the second filter I consider:
2. Are the right things getting my power pill?
This is all about effectiveness and not just busyness. The calendar can fill up pretty quick, but is it getting filled up with the right things, and am I building the right relationships in the process? This helps me stay focused and prioritize the things that move the church forward.
What filters do you use when planning?
Stovall
Planning My Personal Calendar Part 1
By Stovall Weems
There are always several great opportunities for us to take advantage of, both in the ministry and in our family’s life as well. But sometimes I have to say no to some of those if they don’t fit into the big picture for the whole year.
So how do I choose? After praying for God’s guidance and committing to align myself with His plans and purposes for the year, there are basically 3 filters I run things through to ensure I’m stewarding my time well. These have been very helpful to me and I’ll be sharing them with you over the next few blog posts. Today, the first filter:
1. Is it good for our family?
It’s very important to be sensitive to school Holidays and events I don’t want to miss. If something which seems like a great opportunity is going to cause an enormous amount of stress on my family, I won’t commit to it.
What filters do you use when planning?
Stovall
Mary’s Song
By David Branker
Mary is a model for us all in how she believed the seemingly impossible – you’re a virgin, but you’ll bear a Son – and not just any Son – the Son of God. And she believed. As Elizabeth her cousin exclaimed… “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” in Luke 1:46-55, Mary responds to Elizabeth’s Holy-Spirit greeting with a song. This is Mary’s Song:
Luke 1:46-55 NLT
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.
This is Mary’s song, her Hymn. It’s also come to be known as the Magnificat (from the Latin word magnificare). We see three important takeaways from the song.
Mary’s Song:
- Is a song saturated in the Scriptures
- Is a song of praise for what the Lord will do
- Is a song of humble surrender to the God of mercy
What does that mean to us? Maybe this year at Christmas time it’s time to write or re-write our song. I’m not just talking about re-writing the old Christmas Carols even though they are beautiful, but a new song; a song of authenticity from our hearts to God’s heart. Today you and I can write songs through our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions in response to Him. Perhaps for you, it is a song of praise for the greatness of our God, a song of gratitude and humility for His ever-loving mercy towards us. Christ has powerfully impacted our lives and our future and deserves our best songs of worship. Perhaps, it’s time to write your own Magnificat!
David
Leverage…
By David Branker
There are times when we feel powerless against our circumstances. This is difficult regardless of whether we created the conditions that frustrate us or others have impacted what we are able to do. Truth is, our humanity is remarkably limited. Yet, in spite of this, God has not left us without leverage. Leverage is simply the power or ability to act and/or influence people, events and decisions… those forces that shape what we call circumstances. However, God’s leverage is not manipulative or impure by any means. He would not unfairly give you an unjust advantage over others. But He does provide leverage and the key to accessing it is through prayer.
Prayer is about discovering what Jesus would do and doing it. However, I have also found that daily prayer is about discovering what Jesus is already doing and aligning or coming behind that. It is inviting God’s will to take precedence over ours in our lives. It is acknowledging that our efforts are weak, but God’s ways are powerful. It is drawing on the power and presence of God and inviting His perspective, His clarity and His peace in our living. In that place, we operate with leverage. It is there we discover His strength, when we are weak and we see impossible things accomplished by the God through whom all things are possible.
Prayer allows us to draw on the power of God, and invite the involvement of God in the affairs of our lives. Today, if you feel powerless, know that you have access to leverage from on high.
David
Fasting
By Stovall Weems
Just thinking about how powerful fasting is. Bill Bright said he believes fasting as it relates to prayer is the “spiritual atomic bomb” that the Lord has given us against the enemy. Everytime I fast I go on an extended fast with my leadership or church…
- I sense the presence of the Lord powerfully- sometimes I will just begin weeping during prayer or worship because His presence is so strong.
- I feel the fire of God in my heart.
- Powerful truths or revelations of God’s Word seem to leap off the pages of the Bible at me.
- I hear God’s voice much more clearly.
- I am refreshed, re-energized and full of faith.
- I receive supernatural guidance for my life, leadership and for the church
- I sense the favor of God in a powerful way and that I am aligned with God’s purpose and will for my life.
- I have confidence that we have received God’s vision and direction for the church that year.
- I experience joy and peace bigtime.
- I see all kinds of supernatural breakthroughs and miracles in the church.
- My mind and body feel fantastic after fasting. My health is in peak form.
After I fast, I look back and think “what if I wouldn’t have fasted…” I would have missed God on so many things-and so many things would be a lot more difficult and complicated this year”
Thank you Jesus for this incredible, powerful weapon of fasting!
What has been your experience with fasting?
Stovall
Community
By David Branker
In John 17:20-21 (NKJ) Jesus said… “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.” It is the will of the Father, not that we should be like God or become gods, but that we should be invited into relationship with Him and with others. God’s aim in human history is an inclusive community of loving persons with Himself included, as its primary Sustainer.
This is why it is so powerful when we get glimpses of community in action. The unity you see in a great marriage, between a parent and a child when a family is working really well, between siblings, or when friends go through life together. It fulfills a longing inside of us; a longing to receive from others and a longing to share with others. In Acts 4:32-33, we see when oneness existed in the hearts and minds of the believers, great grace and great power was evident. God’s power is evident in a loving community. It is why being planted in a local church is so critical in the life of the believer. Not just attending a local church, though that’s a great start, but going beyond attendance to engaging in meaningful spiritual relationships with other believers.
Today you might be feeling alone in the struggle of life or you know someone who is. In the coming season, loneliness can be even more of a struggle for many. Discover the wonder and joy of a God-loving community of believers, who pray together, share together, and build each other up. Choose today to be in community with others. God may have blessings and answers awaiting you that He has deposited in someone else’s life. Or perhaps, He has placed within your arms the healing and encouragement someone else desperately needs. Who around you is in need of a community of spiritual friends? Why don’t you take the first step and invite them in.
David
Awakening: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
By Stovall Weems
At the beginning of each year, we engage in a season of prayer and fasting. This has proven to jump start our new year with huge spiritual momentum that sets the tone for our effectiveness throughout the year. In years past, we have seen increased salvations, breakthroughs and miracles as we chose to put God first at the onset of the year. I believe with all my heart that for the church to prevail in this next season, a culture of prayer and fasting in our churches is vital.
This year, we are uniting with several other churches across the nation to pray and fast together, aligning ourselves with the power and favor of God. If you are a pastor reading this, we would love for you and your church to participate.
The goal of Awakening is two-fold this year.
1. To come together as the church during this season of prayer and fasting and align ourselves, our church leadership and our congregation with what God wants to do in 2009.
2. To inspire pastors and churches across America and around the world to establish a culture of prayer and fasting in their church.
We have launched a website at www.awake21.org where we will have tools available such as a fasting plan and calendar as well as a place where you can share testimonies and prayer requests. We will also be providing a daily devotional to read through the Gospel of John in 21 days and great practical information on prayer and fasting from some of the leading pastors in the nation. There will be information on different types of fasts, including how to fast and the health benefits. Also, for the churches who participate with us, we will offer optional resources, media pieces, instructional videos, branding etc. in both English and Spanish available free of charge for churches that register to participate with us.
I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in our churches, what an incredible way to start off the year. Mark your calendars now and invite others to join us.
Awakening: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
Sunday January 11th – Saturday, January 31st
Simply Abide…
By David Branker
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” John 15:7 NKJV
This could also be translated, “if you maintain a living communion with me, and My Word is at home with you, I command you to ask at once for whatever your heart desires and it will be yours.” Before we quickly focus on the promise at the end, remember that Jesus said that a condition needed to be met. It doesn’t matter whether you are a CEO of a successful enterprise, or now beginning your climb up the ladder. The key to our prayers being answered is the same, abiding in Jesus Christ.
To abide like this speaks of intimacy, closeness, and friendship. It’s a picture of two friends who are comfortable in each other’s presence. You aren’t ill at ease with each other, looking forward to getting away. Of course, this must be balanced with a healthy awe and reverence for who God is. It isn’t an invitation to become overly casual with Him – - He’s not our buddy. He’s the almighty God and He’s to be revered, worshipped, and obeyed. But He’s also our daddy (Father) in heaven, who greatly desires to hear from us and to be ever so close. Abiding entails allowing the scriptures be at home in our hearts. Our prayers cannot be divorced from our lifestyles. They flow out of a close walk with God. When this happens – we want what He wants, we desire His desires for us. He changes and/or confirms our outlook, desires, and eventually our prayers. No wonder, it lands us in a place of incredible confidence – the place of “and it shall be done.”
So today, what have you been seeking God for? What’s been eating your lunch? Shift your focus away from the urgency of the request and pursue abiding in Him. Time spent in His presence will bring you incredible peace and you will not be disappointed. Simply abide.
David
Thankfulness
By Stovall Weems
I have a lot to be thankful for, but I’m especially thankful for Jesus and my family.
I have 3 very important “success” goals for my life:
- That Jesus would remain as my first love.
- That I stay happily married to my wife.
- That my kids grow up and serve God with all their heart.
Stovall
