Jesus' last prayer wasn’t for our lives to be easier—it was for unity (John 17:21). Why? Because the way we love one another is how the world will see His love. Watch this message today to dive deeper into God’s design for relationships.

In this episode of The Table: A Celebration Podcast, we sit down with Clyde Tew, a key leader in Small Groups and the Dream Team at Celebration. Clyde shares his journey of coming to Christ after already being established in his career and business, the impact of serving, and the lessons he’s learned about trusting God through different seasons. Whether you’re leading, serving, or simply looking for encouragement, this conversation will inspire you!

Follow Celebration Church on Instagram: @celebration_church

Welcome to Day 21 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! Today, we celebrate the powerful truth that mountains will move when we draw near to God.

In Exodus 33, we find a fascinating story of the Israelites camped in the desert, waiting to enter the promised land. During this waiting period, Moses would pitch a tent outside the camp, known as the tent of meeting. This was where he would seek the Lord.

Each time Moses left the camp to go to the tent of meeting, the people would stand at the entrance of their tents to watch him pass by. This was a man facing significant challenges—enemies to fight, battles to win, and a nation to lead. As he walked out of the camp, he surely had countless thoughts racing through his mind. He passed by people waiting for his decisions, each with their own complex problems. Yet, despite all his responsibilities, Moses chose to leave those distractions behind to spend time in the presence of the Lord.

Scripture tells us, “Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11a NLT). The Hebrew word for "face" signifies not just someone’s appearance, but the very essence of who they are. Moses sought to know God deeply, not just to receive answers or blessings.

This time of fasting is not merely about obtaining answers but about drawing closer to God than ever before. If we are to see battles won and mountains moved in our lives, it is our nearness to God that will make all the difference!

As we conclude these 21 days, let us remember that if our goal has been to get closer to Him, we will indeed see mountains moved!

Welcome to Day 20 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! Today, we focus on the powerful truth that God will do more than we can ask or imagine.

The Israelites had endured captivity by the Babylonians for over 70 years, exiled from their homes and the land that God had given them. After decades of displacement and servitude to foreign kings, something remarkable occurred. A rival king, Cyrus of Persia, captured the Babylonian territory, including Jerusalem, and miraculously allowed the Israelites to return home. However, upon their return, they found the city in great disrepair.

Nehemiah learns about the dire condition of Jerusalem and is deeply grieved by the report. He plans to take his request to the king for help in repairing the walls of the city, fully aware that a displeased king could result in losing his position as cupbearer and even facing execution. Desperate for a favorable response, Nehemiah fasts and prays.

In Nehemiah 1:4, we read: “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of Heaven.”

Nehemiah’s dedication to prayer and fasting leads to an unprecedented response from the king. Not only does the king grant him permission to help with the repairs, but he also provides security and timber for the reconstruction!

This story reminds us that God delights in doing more than we can ask or imagine, especially when we humble ourselves and seek Him in prayer. As you continue to pursue God, you can be confident that He is not only going to answer your prayers but will do so in even bigger and better ways than you could have ever thought possible!

Welcome to Day 19 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! Today, we’ll explore the theme of persistence in prayer and the importance of continuing to ask God for what we need.

Recent studies by the CDC reveal that nearly 40 percent of Americans eat fast food each day. This trend highlights our increasing need for quick solutions in our fast-paced lives. Unfortunately, if we’re not careful, we can impose similar expectations on God regarding how and when our prayers should be answered—wanting things to happen our way, right away.

God desires to engage with us in our prayer life, but His ways are often different from our expectations. Jesus provides us with clear instructions on how to approach prayer in Matthew 7:7-8: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

It seems straightforward, doesn’t it? Jesus promises that we will receive when we ask. However, the reality is that receiving answers to our prayers often takes time. In that waiting period, we must hold on to Jesus’ encouragement to “keep on asking.” A persistent, never-giving-up attitude can grow in our hearts as we press through, knowing that God is doing a deeper work within us through the process.

Even when we don’t see the answers in our timing, we can have confidence that God will answer!

Welcome to Day 18 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! Today, we focus on the transformative power of gratitude and its role in our spiritual journey.

Studies consistently show that some of the happiest people on earth are those who excel in expressing gratitude. The more a person recognizes and shows thankfulness, the happier they become! This truth is not just a scientific observation; it is rooted in Scripture and reflects the very nature of who God created us to be. Psalm 100:4 invites us to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

One of the essential keys to effective prayer and fasting is gratitude. Before we ask God for anything, we should start by thanking Him for what He has already done! Psalm 143:5 reminds us: “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”

Reflecting on what God has accomplished in our lives serves as a powerful reminder of His faithfulness. When we remind ourselves of His goodness, we can’t help but respond with gratitude! As we enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise, we open ourselves up to experience even more of His joy and true happiness in our lives.

Your purpose is found in the mind of your Maker!God created you with intention and gave you everything needed to walk in the purpose He designed for you! When we lose sight of His original plan, we can forget who we’re truly meant to be…But here’s the good news: your purpose isn’t lost—it’s waiting in the hands of the One who made you!Seek Him, read His word, and let Him show you who you are.

Welcome to Day 17 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! Today, we reflect on the powerful truth that Jesus is building His Church and what that means for us as His followers.

In Matthew 16:13-19, we find an exciting moment as Jesus and His disciples approach the region of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They respond with various answers, but then Jesus turns the question personal: “But who do you say I am?” Without hesitation, Peter declares, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

From this profound declaration, Jesus makes a powerful statement that has shaped history: “On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” The “rock” refers to Peter’s realization of who Jesus is. Once they understood His true identity, Jesus could begin using them to build His kingdom.

What’s remarkable is that the unstoppable force behind building the Church is not a unique growth strategy or influential leaders. Instead, it lies in ordinary people recognizing who Jesus is and joining Him in His mission. This realization is transformative; when we understand who Jesus is and what He has done for us, the only logical response is to serve Him whole-heartedly.

The true power of this understanding is not merely our dedication to a cause, but the empowerment Jesus promised to those who confess Him as Lord. He said He would give us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, enabling us to bind the powers of darkness and set people free from their chains.

As we pray and fast, we wield these keys. Our prayers are powerful and effective. Jesus is actively building His Church, and He is using us to do it! Nothing in all of Heaven or earth can stop this movement.

Welcome to Day 16 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! Today, we focus on the important theme of preparing for a miracle as we look to God’s promises.

In life, there are significant moments when we make special preparations for something new. For example, when a family expects a new baby, they prepare by painting walls, purchasing furniture, and creating a room for the new life. Similarly, when buying a new home, preparations abound, from packing boxes to parting with items that have gone unused for years. Preparation is essential before something new can come forth.

In Isaiah 54, we find a prophecy about Israel’s future and the preparation for a miraculous day ahead. The prophet writes in Isaiah 54:2-3, “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.”

At this time, the Israelites were living in exile under Babylonian oppression, enduring shame and humiliation. But Isaiah brought a message of hope, calling them to prepare for change.

When we receive a word from the Lord, we have a responsibility to steward that word by believing, praying, and preparing.

First, we must believe the word by holding onto it in faith, trusting that the God who spoke will fulfill it in His perfect timing.

Second, we need to pray over the word. One of the best things you can do with a promise is to write it down and keep it somewhere you can read and pray over regularly.

Finally, we must prepare for the word to come to fruition. For example, if you’ve been praying for a family member who doesn’t follow Jesus, consider preparing for your miracle by purchasing a Bible with their name engraved on it, believing that the Lord is answering your prayers for their salvation. This isn’t about forcing God’s plan but about preparing by faith for the promise that is sure to come.

As Numbers 23:19 states, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” The answer is a resounding No! God is faithful.

Joshua 21:45 reminds us of the reliability of God’s promises: “Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

God will complete every word He has spoken, and our preparation makes way for the miracles He desires to fulfill in our lives!

Welcome to Day 15 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! Today, we focus on the powerful truth that greater things are coming as we place our faith in God.

In Joshua 3, we witness one of the great miracles of the Old Testament as God’s people prepare to enter the promised land. Forty years earlier, due to unbelief, the Israelites failed to enter this land. Now, Joshua, who had believed God would deliver them the first time, would lead them into the promised land four decades later. God was about to perform a miracle for this generation of Israelites—a miracle that would accomplish something even greater than they anticipated.

Joshua 3:15-16 tells us, “But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam…” Unlike the parting of the Red Sea, where the waters split into two sides, the water here began backing up several miles upstream.

As the people watched the priests and the Ark of the Covenant step into the water as instructed by God, nothing seemed to change at first. If we allow our expectations of how God will perform a miracle to overshadow our faith, it can lead to disappointment and doubt.

However, God had something much greater in mind than just a sea crossing. Biblical scholars note that many nations living near the Jordan River would witness this miracle, seeing the water stopped upstream. God was demonstrating His supreme power to the nations, showing them that there is a God in heaven who is all-powerful and capable of doing the impossible!

The Israelites crossed on dry ground, and this miraculous event became a testimony of God’s power to the surrounding nations. God desires to do even greater things through every battle we face and every miracle we are believing for. Whatever you’ve been praying and fasting for, trust that God will exceed your expectations and do more than you could ask, think, or imagine.