Foundation of Faith (Days 1-7)
1) The Power of Prayer
For prayer to become a part of our life, it needs to become something you look forward to. It is possible that some people do not enjoy prayer because they have never been taught how to pray. When you make prayer and fasting a priority, it declares the sovereignty of God. When you discover the beauty of daily conversation with Him, you will experience the presence of God that will change your life.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:11-12 (NIV)
2) Why Fast?
The goal of fasting is to draw nearer to God. Biblical fasting always has to do with eliminating distractions for a spiritual purpose; it hits the reset button of our souls and renews us from the inside out. It also enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God and prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives. Some think fasting is only an Old Testament thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus said in Matthew 6:16, “When you fast.” He did not say if you fast! There is a closeness to God that you simply will not experience from prayer or personal devotions alone. You get a revelation of God’s Word when you fast that you simply cannot get any other way. Disconnecting from the distractions of the world through fasting and connecting into the power and presence of God through prayer, brings a supernatural freshness and newness to our souls. It is possible to have minimal physical emptiness with maximum spiritual fullness.
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." - Matthew 6:16 (NIV)
3) Awareness of God's Grace
Pray that we would remember God’s great love poured out for us on the cross. Ask God to continually cause us to be amazed by his grace. Rejoice today that you have been saved by God’s grace and not by your own efforts. Pray for those around you who have yet to respond to the grace of God. Ask God to stir their hearts and draw them to himself. Pray that we would see new people come to faith and be baptized in the name of Jesus.
"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)
4) Discipleship
Pray for effectiveness in making disciples. Ask God to cause us to be fruitful. Pray for a renewed commitment to being disciple-making disciples. Ask God to lead you in investing in the lives of others.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8 (NIV)
5) Unity
Our need for community is not something new. We were designed for relationships from the very beginning. The first thing in all of creation which God said was “not good” was that man was alone (Gen. 2:18). This is a foundational statement about the way we were created. God made us to be social beings in community with one another.
"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that they day of His return is drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)
6) Surrender
When we experience staleness in our relationship with God, for whatever reason, surrendering again is the first step to rekindle the fire within! We need to start each day with complete surrender. Surrender is more of an ongoing process rather than just a one-time decision. Full surrender to God means no more going back and forth, with one foot in the world, and the other foot in God’s kingdom. Following Jesus is all or nothing. To get there, you’ve got to go all out. This means total surrender. No more halfway stuff; you can’t be a part-time Christian. God wants you to be a full-time follower of Jesus. When you fully surrender to God, you are filled with His Holy Spirit and are awakened to His presence in your life. God will energize you and give you a hunger for His Word.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." - Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
7) Grow to be Godly
The Bible says His mercies are new every morning, so each day we can discover more in our relationship with the Lord. This means that we continually have the opportunity to grow and become more like Jesus. Growth is healthy, necessary, and beneficial. It’s something that most people desire in some area of their life, whether it’s in business, leadership, spirituality, or abilities. But growth doesn’t always happen naturally – it often takes intentionality. Paul urges believers to distance themselves from trivial and meaningless distractions, and to embrace a life of godliness instead. But notice that Paul tells us we must train for godliness. In other words, it’s not automatic. Training for godliness begins by orienting our lives around God’s Word and putting into practice what we learn.
"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." - 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)
MISSION AND VISION FOR BRIDGE CHURCH (Days 8-14)
We exist to enrich and lead our community to become devoted followers of Christ by living life connected with God, People, and Irrational Generosity
8) God
Pray that we continue to live life connected with God through our salvation with Him, worship, prayer and the Bible. In pursuit of being made new, we turn our hearts towards holiness and righteousness, which are essential for a renewed relationship with God. Ephesians 4 reminds us to live a life worthy of our calling, characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and unity in the Spirit. Let us pray for a revival of holiness in our personal lives, church, and communities, purifying us and drawing us closer to God’s heart.
"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)
9) People
Let us pray for unity—a unity that reflects the oneness of Christ’s Body. Let us intercede for unity among believers, in families, in the church, in our communities, and across ethnic and cultural divides in our nation. Pray for reconciliation, forgiveness, and a heart of cooperation that is transformed by the Lord and transcends differences, fostering harmony and peace.
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)
" How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1 (NIV)
10) Irrational Generosity
While we know it is better to give than to receive, it is the assurance of our access to His abundance that frees us to walk in radical generosity without fearing lack. Not simply because we have been given every spiritual blessing, or because Christ has taught us what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, or because He intercedes for us still at the right hand of the Father; we need not fear because we cannot out- give God. We cannot surpass His generosity. May we learn to give because with Christ we will not go without.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." - Malachai 3:10 (NIV)
11) Revival For Our Country - Faith
Let's focus on faith as the foundation for spiritual renewal not only in our community but for our country. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Let us pray for revival of faith in our hearts, communities, and nation, believing God for miracles, signs, and wonders that will transform those who lead us and will light the way to His glory. As well as those who are of faith grow bold to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." - Romans 10:17 (NIV)
12) Ministry Impact
We give thanks for the privilege of serving God through the ministry of Bridge Church. As we contemplate the impact of our service, we express gratitude for every life touched, every heart transformed, and every seed of the Gospel planted. Let us pray for increased effectiveness and fruitfulness in the ministry of Bridge Church, thanking God for His empowering presence through the Holy Spirit.
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
13) Creative Arts/Sports Training Program
We notice that the people who shaped today's culture are those of influence in movies/tv shows, music artists, and athletes. Our goal is to start this program for students to enrich their giftings while encouraging them with the Gospel. Let's pray for our upcoming generations and that God will use us to influence them in a Godly way.
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." - Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
14) Missions
To help spread the gospel both internationally and here in America.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
