THRIVE DEVOTIONAL
Day 1
Read the story of Passover in Exodus 12 & 13. Meditate on the power of God's deliverance.Ask God to show you areas in your life where culture has trapped you.Write down the areas in your life you want God to help you in moving from surviving to THRIVING.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Wake up 15 minutes earlier every morning during this challenge to create margin or extra time for your spiritual growth.
Day 2
Read Isaiah 58:6-8. List the promises mentioned that result from a fasting lifestyle. Fasting is going without something in order to focus on a spiritual purpose.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Today go without your morning coffee, breakfast or lunch. Pick a meal today to fast from.Then take the money you would have used for that meal or box up unopened food items (ex: bread, cookies, sweets, meat, sodas, etc.) that you won’t use for that meal and give them as an offering to the hungry. Drop it off at local food pantr y.
Day 3
Read Galatians 5:1. When you became a Christian, Jesus set you free from the power of sin in your life. But though we ARE free, we have to make the conscious choice to live free each and every day.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Ask God today how He would have you use your gifts and talents at church. Think about how God wants you to connect through participating in connect groups, getting plugged into the church through Next Steps and serving.
Day 4
Matthew 6:25-34 says: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air ; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Apply the principle of this passage and commit to coming to church every Sunday during the 21-day Thrive Challenge. Be an active giving participant in each weekend service.
Day 5
Read 1 Cor. 10:1-13. Ask God to empower you to THRIVE. List areas in your life that you are currently facing temptation or just surviving and ask God to provide you the way to THRIVE in that area.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Do what James 5:16 tells us to do. Get transparent! Have the courage to share your struggles with someone else and believe God for the breakthrough. Make sure the person you tell is someone you trust and honor.
Day 6
Read Matthew 11:28-30. Embrace God's Sabbath for you, your friends, and family. A Sabbath is intentionally disconnecting from normal things in life in order to focus on your own relationship with God. Even Jesus honored the Sabbath.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Disconnect from culture today by avoiding technology (TV, computers, video games, etc.) and use that time do something special with your friends or family.
Day 7
Read Acts 10. Cornelius, through Praying, Fasting, and Giving, brought an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to his culture.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Get to church today.There is something powerful that happens when God’s people come together to focus on God’s purposes.
Day 8
Read Daniel 1:8-15. Daniel resisted the foods and practices of his culture and became stronger and healthier than those around him.Ask God to give you and others supernatural strength and favor as we fast today.Write down areas in your life where you've developed an appetite for culture. How has that appetite affected your life?
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Pick a meal to fast from today. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Just make sure it is a meal that requires a sacrifice from you to go without. Calculate the money you will save by fasting and consider applying this toward your THRIVE Commitment on December 8th.
Day 9
Read Numbers 11:1.Write down the areas in your life that you find yourself continually complaining. Complaining is a sin, and people don’t like to be around someone who complains constantly.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Regardless of circumstances, don't allow yourself to complain about anyone or anything for the entire day. Catch yourself in the act, and choose to focus on something good.
Day 10
Read Matthew 20:25-28. Consider ways in which you can follow Christ by serving others.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Serve our community by doing a random act of kindness. Or spend the day at home cleaning out your closets or garage to de-clutter and donate items.
Day 11
Read Psalm 103. Make a list of the blessings you are currently enjoying. It’s easy to start the list, but keep digging in.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Don't pray today FOR anything. Simply, PRAISE God for everything. When you focus on the goodness of God, rather than your needs, you’re often in a better position to receive God’s blessings.
Day 12
Read Mark 11:23-24. Consider the obstacles and challenges that hold you back from THRIVING.
THRIVE CHALLENGE:Write down this scripture and carry it with you all day.Any time you face an obstacle or have a thought about one of your challenges you may be facing, simply read this scripture out loud to your obstacle.
Day 13
Matthew 6:25-34 reads: 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air ; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Apply the principle of this passage and commit to coming to church every Sunday for the remainder of the 21-day Thrive Challenge. Be an active giving participant in each weekend service. Don’t just sit there...participate!
Day 14
Read Romans 12:1-2. Ask God to renew your mind and reveal to you His plan for you to THRIVE. How does He want you to live with margin and live on mission?
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Don't read or watch the news today. Instead, choose to read or watch something positive. Also, make being in church today with your family a priority.
Day 15
Read Numbers 13:1-31, 14:1-10. Joshua and Caleb had a different perspective because of their faith.They had a different spirit which caused them to see giant opportunity where others saw giant obstacles.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Take a "giant" step today. Star t that project, initiate that conversation, do that thing you've been dreaming about today!
Day 16
Read Proverbs 28:27. Consider that there are over 2 billion people in the world living in poverty, surviving on less than $1 per day. No matter how tough things seem, God has been good to you.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to show you an area in your life that you could make a sacrifice (ex. reduce cable, sell a possession, fast a meal regularly, etc.) and consider applying this toward your THRIVE Commitment on December 8th. Sacrificing causes you to THRIVE by making a difference in another person's life.
Day 17
Read Matthew 26:26-28. Jesus often ate a meal with His friends. He used this time of community and communion to build and strengthen their relationships. He also used a meal to represent becoming our Passover Lamb at the Last Supper.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Make Crew Night tonight a priority. Gather with your friends and family, share communion, and pray for the courage needed to fulfill the radical faith steps you're considering in order to THRIVE.
Day 18
Read the story of the widow in 1 Kings 17:8-16.The widow moved from surviving to THRIVING by the act of giving in faith. Consider the radical step of faith you want to take to move from surviving toTHRIVING.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Think and pray about your special THRIVE offering on December 8th. What does God want you to give on commitment day?
Day 19
Read Psalm 19:14 In this passage of scripture King David is asking that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart be pleasing to the Lord.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: With your close friends or family, reflect on your journal notes from this 21-day THRIVE Challenge. Make note of your successes, where you are now THRIVING, and how Praying, Fasting, and Giving has changed your life.
Day 20
Read Mark 2:27. Sabbath is literally translated "take a breath." Ask the Lord to reveal to you areas of your life where you need to "take a breath."
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Get outside with friends or family. "Take a breath" and explore God's creation and enjoy cultivating THRIVING relationships with those you love.
Day 21
Psalm 105:37. says "He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes." Hang on to this scripture all day as we celebrate Jesus and all that He has done and all that He will do through our sacrifices. Celebrate how He has helped you move from surviving toTHRIVING!
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Join us for Church today to celebrate our victories from our 21-day THRIVE Challenge and give our THRIVE offering to God.
Day 1
Read the story of Passover in Exodus 12 & 13. Meditate on the power of God's deliverance.Ask God to show you areas in your life where culture has trapped you.Write down the areas in your life you want God to help you in moving from surviving to THRIVING.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Wake up 15 minutes earlier every morning during this challenge to create margin or extra time for your spiritual growth.
Day 2
Read Isaiah 58:6-8. List the promises mentioned that result from a fasting lifestyle. Fasting is going without something in order to focus on a spiritual purpose.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Today go without your morning coffee, breakfast or lunch. Pick a meal today to fast from.Then take the money you would have used for that meal or box up unopened food items (ex: bread, cookies, sweets, meat, sodas, etc.) that you won’t use for that meal and give them as an offering to the hungry. Drop it off at local food pantr y.
Day 3
Read Galatians 5:1. When you became a Christian, Jesus set you free from the power of sin in your life. But though we ARE free, we have to make the conscious choice to live free each and every day.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Ask God today how He would have you use your gifts and talents at church. Think about how God wants you to connect through participating in connect groups, getting plugged into the church through Next Steps and serving.
Day 4
Matthew 6:25-34 says: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air ; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Apply the principle of this passage and commit to coming to church every Sunday during the 21-day Thrive Challenge. Be an active giving participant in each weekend service.
Day 5
Read 1 Cor. 10:1-13. Ask God to empower you to THRIVE. List areas in your life that you are currently facing temptation or just surviving and ask God to provide you the way to THRIVE in that area.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Do what James 5:16 tells us to do. Get transparent! Have the courage to share your struggles with someone else and believe God for the breakthrough. Make sure the person you tell is someone you trust and honor.
Day 6
Read Matthew 11:28-30. Embrace God's Sabbath for you, your friends, and family. A Sabbath is intentionally disconnecting from normal things in life in order to focus on your own relationship with God. Even Jesus honored the Sabbath.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Disconnect from culture today by avoiding technology (TV, computers, video games, etc.) and use that time do something special with your friends or family.
Day 7
Read Acts 10. Cornelius, through Praying, Fasting, and Giving, brought an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to his culture.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Get to church today.There is something powerful that happens when God’s people come together to focus on God’s purposes.
Day 8
Read Daniel 1:8-15. Daniel resisted the foods and practices of his culture and became stronger and healthier than those around him.Ask God to give you and others supernatural strength and favor as we fast today.Write down areas in your life where you've developed an appetite for culture. How has that appetite affected your life?
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Pick a meal to fast from today. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Just make sure it is a meal that requires a sacrifice from you to go without. Calculate the money you will save by fasting and consider applying this toward your THRIVE Commitment on December 8th.
Day 9
Read Numbers 11:1.Write down the areas in your life that you find yourself continually complaining. Complaining is a sin, and people don’t like to be around someone who complains constantly.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Regardless of circumstances, don't allow yourself to complain about anyone or anything for the entire day. Catch yourself in the act, and choose to focus on something good.
Day 10
Read Matthew 20:25-28. Consider ways in which you can follow Christ by serving others.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Serve our community by doing a random act of kindness. Or spend the day at home cleaning out your closets or garage to de-clutter and donate items.
Day 11
Read Psalm 103. Make a list of the blessings you are currently enjoying. It’s easy to start the list, but keep digging in.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Don't pray today FOR anything. Simply, PRAISE God for everything. When you focus on the goodness of God, rather than your needs, you’re often in a better position to receive God’s blessings.
Day 12
Read Mark 11:23-24. Consider the obstacles and challenges that hold you back from THRIVING.
THRIVE CHALLENGE:Write down this scripture and carry it with you all day.Any time you face an obstacle or have a thought about one of your challenges you may be facing, simply read this scripture out loud to your obstacle.
Day 13
Matthew 6:25-34 reads: 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air ; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Apply the principle of this passage and commit to coming to church every Sunday for the remainder of the 21-day Thrive Challenge. Be an active giving participant in each weekend service. Don’t just sit there...participate!
Day 14
Read Romans 12:1-2. Ask God to renew your mind and reveal to you His plan for you to THRIVE. How does He want you to live with margin and live on mission?
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Don't read or watch the news today. Instead, choose to read or watch something positive. Also, make being in church today with your family a priority.
Day 15
Read Numbers 13:1-31, 14:1-10. Joshua and Caleb had a different perspective because of their faith.They had a different spirit which caused them to see giant opportunity where others saw giant obstacles.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Take a "giant" step today. Star t that project, initiate that conversation, do that thing you've been dreaming about today!
Day 16
Read Proverbs 28:27. Consider that there are over 2 billion people in the world living in poverty, surviving on less than $1 per day. No matter how tough things seem, God has been good to you.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to show you an area in your life that you could make a sacrifice (ex. reduce cable, sell a possession, fast a meal regularly, etc.) and consider applying this toward your THRIVE Commitment on December 8th. Sacrificing causes you to THRIVE by making a difference in another person's life.
Day 17
Read Matthew 26:26-28. Jesus often ate a meal with His friends. He used this time of community and communion to build and strengthen their relationships. He also used a meal to represent becoming our Passover Lamb at the Last Supper.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Make Crew Night tonight a priority. Gather with your friends and family, share communion, and pray for the courage needed to fulfill the radical faith steps you're considering in order to THRIVE.
Day 18
Read the story of the widow in 1 Kings 17:8-16.The widow moved from surviving to THRIVING by the act of giving in faith. Consider the radical step of faith you want to take to move from surviving toTHRIVING.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Think and pray about your special THRIVE offering on December 8th. What does God want you to give on commitment day?
Day 19
Read Psalm 19:14 In this passage of scripture King David is asking that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart be pleasing to the Lord.
THRIVE CHALLENGE: With your close friends or family, reflect on your journal notes from this 21-day THRIVE Challenge. Make note of your successes, where you are now THRIVING, and how Praying, Fasting, and Giving has changed your life.
Day 20
Read Mark 2:27. Sabbath is literally translated "take a breath." Ask the Lord to reveal to you areas of your life where you need to "take a breath."
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Get outside with friends or family. "Take a breath" and explore God's creation and enjoy cultivating THRIVING relationships with those you love.
Day 21
Psalm 105:37. says "He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes." Hang on to this scripture all day as we celebrate Jesus and all that He has done and all that He will do through our sacrifices. Celebrate how He has helped you move from surviving toTHRIVING!
THRIVE CHALLENGE: Join us for Church today to celebrate our victories from our 21-day THRIVE Challenge and give our THRIVE offering to God.