God has marked out a race for each of us, but the enemy is actively working to sabotage our run. This week, we hear from Elijah about what he’d want us to know when life seems like it’s falling apart around us. Elijah would want us to know that we have to choose to let go and let God! It is important to understand that our perspective shapes our reality. When Elijah’s perspective shifted from faith to fear, he ran for his life. God didn’t change. Neither did Elijah’s calling or potential. His perspective changed, and this can work for good or negative. Remember that perspective is a choice: we are only alone if we choose to be alone! God is always with us, and God’s plan is always better than

our own. When we choose to let go and let God, we must go all in, we must come stop hiding and start following we must trust God’s provision for our problems. first have to choose to let go of it all by approaching God without

holding back. We also have to let go out of it all by coming out of hiding in darkness and into His presence. Lastly, in the presence of God, Elijah would encourage us to let go of it once and for all by placing all of our problems in God’s hands.

John prophesied the coming of Jesus and baptized hundreds (including Jesus), but he was imprisoned just as his ministry took off. His life didn’t look the way he thought it would, and, for a moment, John’s reality began to shape his faith. Like John, we often find ourselves in situations we

didn’t hope or ask for, and it can be easy to doubt or feel like God is absent. In spite of everything he faced, John would tell us that when life doesn’t make sense, we can put our faith in God’s purpose. John would encourage us to know God’s promises, experience what God is

doing, and remember who God is. When we know the promises of God’s Word, we can walk confidently in His truth no matter the circumstance. God’s Word isn’t meant to just be a part of our lives; it’s meant to inform every aspect. Also, when we see and share what God is doing, it’s easier to take our eyes off our current situation and put them on our Savior and His promises. There’s nothing like a good “God testimony” to help us put our faith in God’s purpose. Lastly, when we remember who God is, we can

claim Matthew 11:6 AMP, “And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].”

To live out moments with God, Mary would encourage us to stay connected to God, to our purpose, to the people who encourage us, and to the big picture: heaven. Every day, spend time talking with God. He wants to give us moments. If we’re too busy to take time to listen, we

can miss what He has for us. Next, reconnect to the purpose Jesus has given us. When we fan the flames of our spiritual gifts, fire will ignite our hearts for God moments. Also, stay with the people who call you blessed.

Let’s enco urage and be encouraged in our relationships. Lastly, let’s remember that even when things don’t turn out the way we want, there is always the blessed hope of heaven. No moment will ever compare to being face to face with Jesus for eternity!

While his life is known for deceit, trouble, and disobedience, God still considers Samson a giant of faith. His disobedience led to his eyes being gouged out and living the rest of his life in slave labor but Samson would

tell those of us who think we see everything clearly on our own, that we don’t have to lose our eyes to be blind. We can be blind to God’s purpose for our lives, blind to the power of relationships, and blind to the nature of God. But in God’s eyes, we were born on purpose for a purpose, our relationships matter, and He wants us to have a healthy

fear of Him. Samson would encourage us to protect the presence of God. God’s not expecting perfection, just relationship. Samson would also tell us to choose our relationships carefully. We need to nurture important

relationships, restore broken relationships, sever harmful relationships, and initiate some meaningful relationships. Lastly, Samson would tell us that failure is never final. Proverbs 24:16 NLT says, “The godly may trip seven

times, but they will get up again.” Failure is only final when you fail to get back up! He is the God of the second chance!

Celebrating all we've seen God do in and through CrossRoads this past year and launching into this next ministry year plus commissioning ministry leaders for this next year!

Psalms 23 is one of the most popular passages of scripture but this song that David wrote is so much more! We want to look at some specific prayers we can pray over our lives that are pulled from these six verses.

This prayer is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 which says, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” We see in this prayer how we can pray for blessing, influence, presence and protection.

James 5:16b says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Several key ingredients of effective prayer as seen in Acts 12 are the presence of pressure and pain, persistence in bringing requests to God, praying in partnership with others and focusing on the person of Jesus and the power of His name.

In Exodus 25:8-9, God said to Moses, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.” Exodus

33:11says that, “Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” As seen in our Pray First booklets, the various courts and components of the tabernacle/tent of meeting are powerful prayer metaphors.

Wrapping up the "You Asked For It" series with a question on the 21 Days of Prayer CrossRoads does twice a year, why do we do it? We look at the why heart behind the 21 Days of Prayer as well as our prayer focuses for this season.