prayer

21 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER 2026 MEDITATION 6

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HERE IS OUR AFTERNOON MEDITATION. AS WE SEEK TO CATCH UP WITH THE 21 DAYS OF MEDITATION, WE ARE ON DAY 12 OF OUR ANNUAL FAST FOR 2026. OUR CONGREGATIONAL MEDITATION IS IN THE BOOK OF 1 JOHN.

1 John 2:7-11

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

1 John 2:7-11 (Source: Equip the Called)Theme: The Old and New Commandment (Love)
1. The commandment to love one another is both old (from the beginning) and new (embodied in Christ).
2. Walking in love is walking in the light; hatred keeps you in darkness, stumbling aimlessly.
3. The true light is already shining, empowering you to live a life of love.

THINKING TIME:

  1. HOW IS LOVE DIFFERENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW?
  2. HOW IS WALKING IN THE LIGHT DIFFERENT FROM WALKING IN THE DARK?
  3. HOW ARE YOU ALLOWING CHRIST TO SHINE HIS LIGHT IN AND THROUGH YOUR LIFE?

21 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER MEDITATION 4

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I am feeling pretty good about this new rhythm God has established for me during this season of fasting and prayer. It seems like my time is being multiplied. It took a while to get this rhythm established but it seems to be going strong now. Here is our evening meditation.

1 John 2: 1, 2

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:1-2 (Source: Equip the Called)Theme: Jesus Our Advocate
1. When you fail, turn to Jesus, your advocate, who intercedes for you with the Father.
2. Christ is the atoning sacrifice (propitiation) for your sins, making a way for you to be right with God.
3. Strive for obedience, but rest in the grace that covers your shortcomings through Christ’s work

WHAT IS YOUR NORMAL REACTION TO FAILURE?

HOW DOES HAVING SOMEONE WHO WILL ALWAYS ADVOCATE MAKE YOU FEEL?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO REST IN GRACE?

21 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER MEDITATION 3

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The day is moving on and it is time for us to do our afternoon devotion.

1 JOHN 1:8-10

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:8-10 (Source: Precept Austin)Theme: Confession and Forgiveness
1. Denying your sin only deceives yourself; honesty is the path to spiritual health.
2. Confession is an act of humbling yourself, trusting in God’s promise to forgive and purify you from all unrighteousness.
3. God’s forgiveness is complete; once you confess, believe His promise and don’t take the sin back.

WHAT ARE SOME REASONS YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF DENYING YOUR SIN?

WHAT DOES COMPLETE FORGIVENESS FEEL LIKE TO YOU?

WHAT DOES THE WORD PURIFY MEAN TO YOU?

THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLITUDE

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I have learned that if I am going to have a healthy prayer life. I must learn a balance between the work of ministry and the place of solitude in ministry.

Not just that, prioritizing time to be alone is not just healthy but essential.

This work of ministry can steal a person from themself if he is not careful. An intentional solitude is healing balm from the rigors of the calling.

So I practice small solitudes throughout my days. In the midst of meetings and e-mails, phone calls and pastoral zooms I build small margins of time to withdraw and listen to Scripture and pray. I have my longer sessions too, but I think it is the more frequent “little solitudes” throughout the day that keep me on track.

DO YOU PRACTICE SOLITUDE? HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Breaking Strongholds Aug. 2025

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Many of the current words from the Lord for our congregation at Cornerstone have been about breaking down unhealthy thought patterns that keep us from God’s best. Here are two of those words that have led me to do some preaching around Colossians chapter 1.

From Carrie Hackett: Many feel unimportant and they are timid about going to the Lord because they feel so small and insignificant, they feel that what they have to offer the Lord is to small, but the Lord is saying give me the little you have just like the boy with the 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish,(he gave me ALL he had) and I will take the little and multiply it for my glory.

From Amanda Lillie: