Sunday, February 21 – Day 5

Lord, Your Word says: “Give us life, and we will call on Your name”.  Breathe a new blast of life into the church of Eastern Iowa that together we will call on Your name in unprecedented ways that an unprecedented, city-wide move of God would come to fruition.

Lord, Your Word says: “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit”.

Renew the church of Eastern Iowa by stretching the members of Your body in spiritual disciplines, that we may truly abide in Christ, and thereby increase in the character of Christ and the life-giving nature of Christ.  In accordance with Your Word, may the fruit from this be so huge that it has to be “carried on a pole between two people”!

Lord, Your Word calls for shepherds to care for Your flock.  Bring a caring community, camaraderie, and unity among the pastors of Eastern Iowa that allows for burdens to be shared and loads to be lifted so our shepherds can maintain strength to continue to fully care for Your flock.

Amen and amen and amen!!!

Dan Koskamp, New Covenant Bible Church

Sunday, February 21 – Day 5

....to restore His People to fruitfulness

It's impossible to read John 15 and miss the father's heart. Like a good father he has big dreams for us - He knows what in is us and the potential we have because He put it there. The cool thing is we are not asked to bear much fruit. Its not our job, its not our responsibility. We are simply to "abide".

I struggled in ministry for so long trying to figure out how to produce - to make fruit. I was get depressed when there wasn't a good crowd on Sunday or our finances were low. I was obsessed with fruit. Our country is obsessed with results - the joy of our salvation is not enough. God's presence is not enough - so we fixate on the fruit - results we want for our lives. We plan, plot and fertilize hoping to bear much fruit - whether money, successful ministry, a relationship. Fruit has become our Idol!

But the Father makes us a promise that frees us from all this. If we would simply learn to abide. Like the prayer guide says in the prayer for pastors "that God will pour His Spirit upon them in power and humility, giving fresh intimacy with Jesus." Intimacy with Jesus is the core and essence of abiding. The Lord is preparing us for His presence. If we would simply take our eyes off the fruit and put them on His face - He will take care of the fruit!

Lord we repent - Lord I repent again for trying to be successful and bear much fruit instead of simply abiding and trusting you'll do exactly what your word says - make me fruitful.

Forgive us for forsaking prayer, NOT walking with you, NOT listening to your voice Father. Pull us again into your presence - let us make again Jesus our first love! Then as the top of this page says Lord - you will be the God who ..."restores His people to fruitfulness"

Amen

Caleb Plumb
caleb@encounterchristian.org