7 Days of Prayer 2023- Day 6

WEEK OF PRAYER

Day 6

Saturday January 7, 2023

Psalm 84:11, For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you future and a hope.

Declare, Blessings and Favour Upon My Life

I stand in awe of Your faithful and merciful hand upon my life. Year after year, You are my hope, my future, and my anchor. I believe Your word that says Your eyes are always upon me and upon my year and years to come. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, You watch over every step I take, every prayer I pray, every trial I encounter. You fill my every day with Your presence. You crown my year with your goodness. Your hand of blessing and favour rests mightily upon me this year. I know you have planned great things for my life, and my future is awesome because of You!

7 Days of Prayer 2023- Day 5

WEEK OF PRAYER

Day 5

Friday January 6, 2023

Praying Our Church Into The Supernatural.

REFLECTION:

The church is to be the gateway, the doorway to bring the reality of heaven into every community, every city, every nation. God desires to be awesome in our unique, special local setting through our unique special local church. Let us stir our faith to believe God and our passion pursue earnestly after all that He has promised and believe to see the supernatural invade our church and our community.

Galatians 3:5, “Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observed the law, or because you believe what you heard.”

Hebrews 2:4, “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

John 14:12, I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

PRAY:

1. A strong desire and determination to discover and practice all that church was meant to be.

2. A boldness to break our into unfamiliar territory in spite of little results at times.

3. A cultivating of new, strong desires for the supernatural that affects the entire congregation.

4. Pray for breakthrough for all those you know need a miracle in their life.

7 Days of Prayer 2023- Day 4

WEEK OF PRAYER

Day 4

Thursday January 5, 2022

Let’s do some door opening prayer.

Colossians 4:3, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”

Ephesians 6:19, “Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given known the mystery of the gospel.”

1 Corinthians 16:9, …”because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

FOLLOW THE PROGRESSION:

Paul asked for WORDS to be given to him and that he would speak with boldness.

Then Paul says a wide door has been opened to him.

Then he says his preaching was accompanied by the power of God.

WE SHOULD FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE:

1. Let’s pray for open doors to share the Gospel.

2. Let’s pray for bold proclamation.

3. Let’s pray for a demonstration of power to accompany the Gospel shared.

We pray for a wide door to be opened to us to go through and declare the word the Lord has given us with a demonstration of the power of God.

7 Days of Prayer 2023- Day 3

WEEK OF PRAYER

Day 3

Wednesday January 4, 2022

There is great prayer material in the Bible.

John 17

Colossians 1:9-12

Ephesians 1:15-19

Ephesians 3:14-19

“For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long, and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Pray for yourself, your family, your impact Church Family.

1. “according to the riches of his glory he may grant that you may be STRENGTHENED  in your inner being through his Spirit.”

2. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being ROOTED and GROUNDED in love.”

3. “That you may have power to COMPREHEND, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth.”

4. “To KNOW the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”

5. “So that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Pray and let hope and expectation arise in you, for you, for your family, for your Impact Church.

Ephesians 3:20-21

20, “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.”

21, “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever Amen!”

7 Days of Prayer 2023- Day 2

WEEK OF PRAYER

JANUARY 3, 2023

All Things New

NEW STRENGTH:

Isaiah 40:31, But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

PRAY:

1. Ask God for patience in the waiting.

2. Pray for renewed strength, elevated perspective and courage to rise above present circumstances.

3. Pray for discernment of whether to run or walk in each given situation and believe for His promise of endurance.

NEW MERCIES:

Lamentations 3:22-24, The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness, his mercies begin afresh each morning.

PRAY:

1. Say a prayer of gratitude for God’s faithfulness and endless mercies.

2. Pray these verses as a declaration.

NEW BIRTH: Born into a New Family:

1 Peter 1:3-5, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish , spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

PRAY: 

1. Give thanks to God for redemption and a new life that is hidden in Christ. (Colossians 3:3)

2. Pray for greater understanding of your new birth into the family of God and for an uprooting of anything not planted by Him.

3. Ask God for Spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear beyond the physical and the audible.

4. Pray for selfless, emboldened faith to speak truth in love and to pursue reconciliation of people to God.

7 Days Of Prayer 2023- Day 1

WEEK OF PRAYER

DAY 1

January 2, 2023

Matthew 6:9

This, then is how you should pray. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Who better to teach us how to pray than Jesus himself? In Matthew 6, He gives us the gift of a road map to guide us in times of prayer. As Jesus teaches us, we are first and foremost to focus our minds on who we’re praying to. 

We address our prayers to our Father in Heaven. God is not just any Father, but is a good Father who loves, protects and provides for all His children. So, we can lean into prayer with complete trust in the caring, comfort and character of our God.

Jesus continues by saying, “Hallowed by your name” or “Holy is your name.”

The order is noteworthy. At the beginning of prayer we are instructed to have a posture of worship towards our Father in Heaven. The one to whom we are praying has a name that is holy and is exalted. Our God is high and lifted up, set apart from any other being.

Psalm 29:2 instructs us to “Ascribe to the Lord glory due his name, worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness.”

We come before God inane and humility, with great expectations and hope. 

Psalm 52:9 “ I will praise you forevermore what you have done, in your name I will hope, for your name is good.

PRAY:

1. As you pray today, start by acknowledging God as your Heavenly Father. Declare that He is a good Father who loves you unconditionally and is with you in your circumstances today.

2. Now spend a few moments acknowledging God for His holiness. Praise Him for His attributes (e.g., He is worthy, all powerful, forgiving, Saviour, healer)

3. Call on the all powerful name of Jesus to help you with issues that are heavy on your heart. Freely share your concerns with Him.

HOW TO PRAY: 3 SIMPLE THINGS TO REMEMBER

Feeling Like You Want To Pray, But Not Sure How? These 3 Simple Tips Will Help.

Have you ever wanted to pray but wondered if you were doing it right or if there was a formula you needed to know?

  You. Are. Not. Alone.

Searches for “how to pray”  have surged on Google over the last year, and we can all understand why. 

We’ve all had the realization that many aspects of our lives are out of our control.  Because of this, it makes perfect sense to want to chat with our creator.  The Bible has some simple instructions to demystify it for you if praying feels overwhelming or uncomfortable. 

Here Are 3 Simple Things To Remember When Praying.

TIP #1 Drop The Pressure To Perform

“7“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”

— Matthew 6:5-7

Jesus wasn’t into prayer being a performance. Prayer isn’t about using big words or being eloquent. God’s not checking your grammar and isn’t judging your delivery. In fact, here in Matthew, we’re directed not to repeat stuff over and over or talk just for the sake of talking. God’s not deaf, and there isn’t any magical combination of words to get him to listen to you. This is a heart thing, not a performance thing...so take the pressure off and start the conversation. He’s always listening.

TIP #2 Be Yourself

“9Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.”

— Matthew 6:9

In this part of the book of Matthew, Jesus is teaching about prayer.  He reminds his disciples that when you pray, pray to your Father.  

 For some of us, praying to a father can feel weird.  We may not have had a dad who was present, attentive or even very loving.  Jesus wants to invite you into a relationship with your heavenly Father.  He knew you before you were even born.  The Bible says that he has even gone as far as numbering each and every hair on your head; that’s how much he cares.   Your heavenly Father unconditionally loves you, so rejection and judgment are off the table. 

  You are safe with him.  

 When you pray to your heavenly Father, you can be yourself.  There’s no pressure.

TIP #3 Invite Him Into Your World

Jesus continues to teach his disciples how to pray by telling them to invite God into our world.  He demonstrates prayer to God by asking that His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

 But our prayers are often filled with trying to convince God to get on board with our plans. They can turn into a negotiation instead of a conversation between Father and child.  Negotiating with God is easy to fall into, but it comes from a belief that you know better, have a better plan, and that God is withholding something from you.  He’s not.  God loves you and is for you.  Negotiations aren’t necessary. 

Throughout the scriptures, we see that God is for us.  He sees the other side of whatever we’re going through.  He knows our needs, and he wants to walk with us every step of the way.

In prayer, you can be yourself; you can speak freely, just as you would to someone who loves you unconditionally. You can trust that God is for you, and He has a plan for your life that is meant to prosper you and not harm you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Thanks so much for being here today. We sincerely hope that this brought you clarity on how to pray and that it’s taken any apprehension you may be feeling about starting a conversation with God. We’d love to connect with you more. Feel free to join us on Youtube every Sunday for more content on connecting with God during these crazy times.

Praying God’s best for you!

Click here to subscribe to our Sunday Messages: Impact Church Toronto

Prayer Day 6

WEEK OF PRAYER

DAY 6

FRESH ANOINTING ON PRAYER AND WORSHIP

Acts 4:31, When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 1:14, These all continues with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 2:42, Ant they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread , and in prayers.

Ephesians 6:18, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Romans 8:26-27, Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Psalm 141:2, May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 9:1, I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvellous works.

Psalm 111:1, Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

PRAY:

LORD, I pray today for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the prayer and worship of my church. Lord, help us to sustain a prayer atmosphere through intercessory prayer in which every believer faithfully participates in fervent prayer at all times, for all things.  Release the supernatural powers of God in an obvious and awesome manner. Help me, Lord, to add to our prayer spirit and prayer atmosphere by being a prayer person.  Lord, anoint our worship with a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I will praise You with my whole heart. I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High! I will exalt You with my words and with the lifting of my hands. For You, Lord, are Holy and You inhabit the praises of yYour people. Come today and invade my life with Your presence. Come invade worship times at my church. Saturate Your people with Your presence.

ACTION PLAN TO CULTIVATE A PERSONAL PRAYER LIFESTYLE

1. Develop a daily habit of prayer. Start with a short time of prayer and then gradually increase it.

2. Thank God daily for all the good things in your life. Spend time worshipping and expressing your love to Him. Use some praise or worship music to assist you.

3. Make a list of prayer requests and bring them regularly before God. Spend time praying for yourself, for those you know, for opportunities to witness, for wisdom in decision making, for help in times of difficulty and for anything that you are worried about.

4. Take time to listen to God speaking to you. Use a journal or notebook and write down things that He tells you.

5. Get with other Christians and prayer together.

6. Attend a corporate prayer meeting with the local church.

7. Ask someone who is experienced in prayer to mentor you in your prayer life.

Prayer Day 5

Notes

Prayer in Acts

Acts 1:14

Jesus told them to wait until power came from on high

Pray

1. Pray we build a foundation of prayer throughout 2021

2. Pray for the Harvest

3. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers

4. Pray that believers would have a passion for God to invade their circle of friends

5. Pray for growth, expansion and influence of the Impact Church Network

Prayer Day 4

Notes

Prayer Outline

1. Pray for Pastor/ elder and leaders of the church

2. pray for our local leadership team as they seek the Lord for His direction this year

3. Pray for healthy families in our church and community

Prayer Day 3

Notes

The Bible tells us that God is willing to hear and answer our prayers. He is not too busy.  He is very interested in our lives. He cares about His children because He is our heavenly Father.

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells a story of a persistent widow who finally got what she wanted from a mean judge. It is easy to wrongly interpret this story. We can think of ourselves as the poor helpless widow and God as the the judge, who is not really interested in our situation because He is too busy running the universe. Jesus is not trying to tell us to beg and bother God until He finally has to give us what we want just lust to stop us annoying Him.

But no, this story really explains how God feels about our prayers. 

It is a parable using a study of opposites.

We are not like the widow.

We have a relationship with the judge, because we are His children and He loves to hear our voice.

Secondly, our loving heavenly Father is nothing like this judge. 

God is righteous, holy and tender, responsive and sympathetic.

According to Lev 26, Deut 28 He wants to bless us and is willing and ready to share His resources with His people.

Not only is God WILLING TO HELP US He is also ABLE to help us.

God has all power and He can change any circumstance or any situation.

He is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine. Eph 3:20-21

Psalm 84:11, For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to you a future and a hope.

Luke 18:1, Then He spoke a parable to them that men always out to pray and not lose heart

PRAY FAVOUR ON THIS YEAR

IN JESUS NAME, BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES, I PROCLAIM A MIGHTY BLESSING UPON MY LIFE, MY NOW, MY FUTURE, AND ALL THAT PERTAINS TO MY LIFE, MY HEALTH, MY HOME, MY FINANCES, MY FRIENDS, AND MY CHURCH.

I PROCLAIM THIS YEAR TO BE A YEAR OF FAVOUR, BLESSING, NEW SPIRITUAL POWER, INCREASE, EXPANSION, FRESH ANOINTING, AND GREAT PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

PRAYER DIRCTIVE:

1. Spend time today thanking God for all the good things in your life. Spend time worshipping and expressing your love to Him. Use some praise or worship music to assist you.

2. Make a list of prayer requests and bring them to God today. Spend time praying for yourself, for those you know, for opportunities to witness, for wisdom in decision making, for help in times of difficulty and for anything that you are worried about.

Prayer Day 2

Notes

Pray The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9- “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.

for yours is the kingdom and the power and the Glory forever

God is able!

Jeremiah 32:17- God’s great power

Pray

Father God, nothing is too difficult for you, through your great power all things are possible. All authority is yours. All might is yours and I know your victory will be complete. You are amazing and I worship you.I praise you for your power and presence in my life. You are my God and your are worthy of all praise.

Prayer Day 1

Notes

Pray For The Church

James 4:8- Draw Close to Him

Nehemiah 2:4-5- Build a foundation of Prayer

Joshua 1:9- The Lord your God will be with you

Jeremiah 29:11- Plans to prosper you, plans for hope and a future

Prayer Directives

1. Thank God for the progress we have made as a Church building media and live-streaming

2. Pray for direction and strategy as we continue to address ministry during covid

3. Pray for resources needed (media equipment, volunteers, etc)

4. Pray for peace and confidence as we face these uncertain times and transition.

Week Of Prayer For 2021

Fighting Words Week 10

Porches, Windows and Wisdom

Written by Cheryl Boyce for Impact Church, Toronto

Note To Parents:

 Welcome Back to Impact Church Toronto’s Week 10 in the Fighting Words Series.  We are a welcoming church located in the Yonge and Eglinton area that wants to support our community both on and offline.  

This week we’re talking about the importance of guarding our hearts and how what we allow ourselves to consume affects our lives and the people around us. We pray that this opens up some meaningful conversations in your family and gives some ideas about what boundaries to put in place when it comes to how we consume information and compels you to seek out influences that will help you grow in your relationship with God.

If you have any prayer requests, questions or testimonies, please email us today at contact@impactto.ca or DM us on Instagram at @impactchurchto

We’re praying for you!  

Have a great week!  

                       _____________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL

There once was a Sunday School teacher of teeny, tiny Sunday school class out in the countryside.  One Sunday, when the students met her at church for class, she walked her students over to her home just down the road to sit inside her enclosed porch.  The kids were excited about the change of scenery.  It was a warm summer morning, and a gentle breeze was blowing through the windows.   After everyone found their place and settled in, the teacher-directed the children’s attention to the windows’ screens.  She noted how lovely it was to sit on her porch during the summer months but that it wouldn’t be possible without using the screens.  If she didn’t have screens on her windows, when she opened them to let the breeze in, the bugs would come with it making it impossible to sit there.  She would end up being harassed by the bugs and ultimately be covered in bug bites. 

She explained that on windy, rainy days or snowy days, it would be impossible to sit there unless she kept the windows completely closed; otherwise, the wind, the rain and the snow would blow in and ruin the porch.  

The children began to wonder why on earth she'd brought them to her porch to teach them about windows.  

“This porch,” she continued, is a lot like your heart.  It’s a beautiful place to be, but you have to guard it.  It’s important to be open to ideas, thoughts and feelings, but you must always have your “screen” on.  The screen is God’s word and the Holy Spirit.  Everything we allow into our hearts needs to be filtered through his word, just like I use these screens to keep the bugs out.  

Then there are times when you must shut the windows.  It’s ok to keep the curtains open and observe what’s happening in life, but you don’t need to allow some things, like bitterness, envy, jealousy, hatred or any things that breed those kinds of feelings or idea access to your heart.  If you do allow these things into your heart,  it will end up full of all sorts of things that will make your life more painful and difficult.  

What a poignant lesson!

In this week’s fighting words, we aren’t instructed to close our hearts or be hard-hearted.  What we are being advised to do is to pay attention to what we allow.  God wants us to use wisdom to filter out the things that will affect our spirit.  If we don’t, our inner world can become a very uncomfortable place to be.  

Matthew 12:34 advises us that the words we speak come from what’s in our hearts.  The condition of our hearts will ultimately spill out into our world through our words.  

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that our words actually have the power to bring life or death. 

The tongue can bring death or life; 

those who love to talk will 

reap the consequences.

Have you ever had someone say something cruel and felt the pain of their words deep in your heart?  Know this; harsh words come from an unguarded heart. When we unguard our hearts, eventually, things that have been allowed to live there, like anger and bitterness, will spill out through our words, affecting the world around us.  Guarding our hearts is not just an important thing to do to protect ourselves; it’s important to protect those we influence.  

If you are feeling like you haven’t been guarding your heart, that’s ok.  Healing and the restoration of our hearts is always only a prayer away. 

The Psalmist prayed this simple prayer:

 “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

None of us are perfect.  Things will get past our “screens.”  In those times, the Holy Spirit is always more than willing and able to help clean up your heart and guide you in cleaning up any messes your heart may have caused.  

Question 1:  Do you make it a habit to guard your heart?

Question 2:  What are some ways that you are going to guard your heart?

Question 3: Are there any circumstances where you think you need to put screens on your heart’s windows or shut the window all together?  Discuss.

Challenge:  This week, try your very best to pay attention to what you’re paying attention to.  Ask the Holy Spirit what media, conversations, or other information you’re taking in that you may need to filter or close the window on.  Ask the Lord to show you how to be open-minded and wise.  Commit to yourself and to God that you will prioritize guarding your heart.  

PRAYER

(Here’s a prayer to pray together or on your own as you memorize your “Fighting Words” this week.)

Dear Heavenly Father,  

Thank you so much for your word.  Thank you for teaching us how to live a content and purposeful life. God, We’re sorry for all the ways we’ve exposed our hearts to things that aren’t good for us.  Things that hurt us and hurt others around us.  

Father, help us to live a life of kindness and holiness.  We pray that our lives and words would put your love on display to everyone we influence.  We pray that you would renew our hearts.  Thank you for your love, Father.

We love you!  

In Jesus’ name, we pray,  

Amen!

Please join us at 10 am on Sundays in person or online at Impact Church Toronto.  

We are located in the Yonge and Eglinton area. 

Impact Church Toronto

27 Castlefield Ave

Toronto

Or join us online here

Fighting Words Week 9

3 Secrets To Seeing In The Dark

Written by Cheryl Boyce for Impact Church, Toronto

Note To Parents:

 Welcome Back to Impact Church Toronto’s Week 9 in the Fighting Words Series.  We are a welcoming church located in the Yonge and Eglinton area that wants to support our community both on and offline.  

This week we’re talking about navigating our lives when we can’t see the way forward.  We’ve included three ways that you and your family can begin to practice hearing and following God’s direction.  Encourage your children to start to listen for God’s voice when they pray.  We’d love to hear from you this week on Instagram to see how God has spoken to you and your family.  If you have any specific needs or prayer requests feel free to email us at contact@impactto.ca or DM us on Instagram at @impactchurchto

We’re praying for you!  

Have a great week!  

                       _____________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL

Have you ever heard of Amy Grant?  No?! Then let me fill you in.

Amy Grant was the Christian queen of pop back in the ’80s and ’90s.  She won six Grammy awards and 22 Gospel Dove Awards.  Every little girl that grew up in church during that era had her tapes and would sing her songs.  On her fifth album, she penned a song based on Psalm 119:105 called “Thy Word.”

Over the years, I’ve caught myself humming the chorus:

“Thy Word

Is A Lamp Unto My Feet 

And A Light Unto My Path”

It has reminded me that when I’m unsure about moving forward in life, what direction I should take or how I should behave that I can turn to the Bible for guidance. 

As we grow and mature, there are so many decisions that we encounter.   Decisions like who are we going to be when we grow up?  What school to go to?  Where to live?  How to respond in difficult situations?  Who to befriend and who not to befriend?  The choices are endless, and it can be so hard to know if the decision you’re making is the right one.  

It often feels like we’re walking blindly in the dark and hoping that we’re doing the right thing.  

God didn’t want us to live our lives like that.  Over and over in the bible, he reminds us that He is the light and that He will illuminate our lives.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never be in darkness.”  

John 8:12

What a bold promise Jesus made here.  The promise that if we follow him, we will live in the light.  

The big question in response to this then is, how do I live in the light?

3 Steps To Lighting Up Your Future

Step 1 - Set Aside Time:  In our memory verse (fighting words), God doesn’t promise to show us our future.   He doesn’t promise to be our personal fortune teller, letting us know the ins and outs of all our days to come. What the scripture does say is that reading the bible will illuminate our feet, which will help us with our next step and our path, which will give us direction.

It’s important to set aside time to read God’s word and see what God has said.  The bible is God’s voice written down for us so it can be applied to our lives even now, although it was written so long ago.

Step 2 -  Listen To The Holy Spirit:  The Bible promises that the Holy Spirit will speak to us and remind us of what Jesus had said.  It’s so important to take the time to invite the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts and show us how we are to put into practice what the Bible is telling us to do.  

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 

John 14:26

In this scripture, we’re promised that the Holy Spirit will teach us and help to bring Jesus’ words to remembrance.

This is why it is important to remember the scriptures and have them tucked away in our hearts.  This is why we call them our “fighting words.”  When we know the scriptures, the Holy Spirit can remind us of them, and then we can use them to fight whatever battle we may be facing.

Step 3 - ACT! :  A light is only useful if we use it and pay attention to where it is guiding us.  The same is true of reading God’s word and hearing from the Holy Spirit.  It’s so important to not only read it but to do it.  James 1:22 talks about this, specifically.

He says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”

Sometimes we read the bible, then go about our day and forget about the direction we were given.   When we do this, we can trick ourselves into believing that God doesn’t really speak to us because our way forward still seems so dark.  The problem isn’t that God didn’t provide light for us to see our way; the problem is that we forgot to follow the light. 

It can be so easy to do what we think is right, but life will be so much better when we learn to lean into God’s word and choose to be obedient to what the Holy Spirit is teaching us.

Some of the best advice ever given can be found in Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

In the end it makes so much sense to trust the Father.  He loves us,  and he wants to illuminate our next steps.  He wants to provide us direction.  What that will require from us is to set aside time with him, listen to the Holy Spirit, act on what he teaches us and trust that he is a good Father and always has our back.

Some Stuff To Think About

Question 1: When can you set aside time to read or listen to God’s word? Make a plan.

Question 2:  Do you find it challenging to understand the Bible? If so, take some time to ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and teach you to hear his voice.  

Challenge:  This week, challenge yourself to make it a daily habit to read a scripture from God’s word.  Then ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it and show you how to act on it.  We have included a free printable for you to use. 

PRAYER

(Here’s a prayer to pray together or on your own as you memorize your “Fighting Words” this week.)

Dear Heavenly Father,  

Thank you for the Bible.  Thank you that you left us with your words to study it and learn it and use it to direct our lives.  God, we’re thankful for the Holy Spirit and that you sent him to teach us.  We pray that you would teach us how to hear his voice.  Lord, help us to remember your words and how to live by them in our day to day lives. Help us to know how to use your teachings to make the right decisions and to follow the path that you have set out for us.

We love you!  

In Jesus’ name, we pray,  

Amen!

Please join us at 10 am on Sundays in person or online at Impact Church Toronto.  

We are located in the Yonge and Eglinton area. 

Impact Church Toronto

27 Castlefield Ave

Toronto

Or join us online here

Fighting Words Week 8

Gratitude:  Finding Gratefulness Even When Life Is Hard

Written by Cheryl Boyce for Impact Church, Toronto

Note To Parents:

 Welcome Back to Impact Church Toronto’s Week 8 in the Fighting Words Series.

This week we’re talking about gratefulness.  We’ve also included a gratefulness journal page to help you and your family members this week begin a practice of having a heart of gratitude and recognizing God’s enduring love in our day to day experiences.  We’d love to hear from you and your thoughts on this week’s devotional.  Don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram today and let us know how this scripture has impacted your life.  

 We’re praying for you!  

Have a great week!  

                       _____________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL

Gratitude has been a trendy topic for some time in our culture.  There’s been endless blogs, books and podcasts produced about why it’s good for you as a habit.  

The truth is, gratitude isn’t a new idea on how to live a more positive life.  Having a heart of gratefulness has always been important, and the Bible was teaching it way before it became a buzzword.

Why is gratitude important?  Science has proven now that it improves relationships when you express your thankfulness for the people in your life.  It’s also proven to improve your physical and mental well being.  Being grateful puts our mind at ease and can even help us get better sleep and lower anxiety.

It sounds pretty miraculous, doesn’t it? But, having a heart of gratitude can sometimes be difficult when we are struggling with something.

Maybe we’re having a hard time at school or work.  In this scripture, we are reminded that our gratitude is focused on something bigger than our circumstances.  We aren’t called to give thanks to just anyone, or for only the things going right in our life.  We’re called to give thanks to the Lord because even when things aren’t good with us, HE is still good, and HIS love endures forever. 

We can ALWAYS be grateful because of His lovingkindness.  

When you realize how good of a God we serve, you can rest your head at night and let go of your anxieties knowing that He is good, faithful and loves you, and He will continue to carry you through.  

If you were to look up this scripture in The Message, it puts it like this:

“HIS LOVE NEVER QUITS”

The love of God the Father is patient, kind and gracious.  He will never abandon us, quit on us, or take back his love.  His love is the kind of love that every human heart longs for, and He has made it available to each and every one of us.  

When you allow your heart to understand that you are profoundly and infinitely loved, it will be so much easier to have a heart of gratitude.

Some Stuff To Think About

Question 1: Do you make it a habit to give thanks to God?

Question 2: Do you find it hard to be grateful when life is difficult?

Question 3: In this scripture, what are the reasons we’re given to be grateful to God?

Challenge:  This wee,k, challenge yourself to make it a daily habit to see God’s love for you in the ordinary things you do and see in your day.  We’ve included a gratitude journal for you to print off for each family member.  Pick a specific day and make it a point to notice all the ways that God shows his love for you and write them down.  Next week share what you’ve written on your sheet with a friend or a family member. Then, thank God for his love together. 

PRAYER

(Here’s a prayer to pray together or on your own as you memorize your “Fighting Words” this week.)

Dear Heavenly Father,  

Thank you so much for who you are.  Lord, we are grateful for your loving kindness and enduring love.  Thank you that regardless of our lives’ circumstances, you never give up and never quit.  Thank you that we can always depend on you and trust you. 

Help us to lean on your love when things get hard.  Help us to see your love working in our lives.  Father, we pray that you would teach us how to love like you and love others the way you do. Help us to be an example of your loving kindness and your enduring love for others.

We love you!  

In Jesus’ name, we pray,  

Amen!

Please join us at 10 am on Sundays in person or online at Impact Church Toronto.  

We are located in the Yonge and Eglinton area. 

Impact Church Toronto

27 Castlefield Ave

Toronto

Or join us online here

Fighting Words Week 7

Our Purpose Found In Peace

Written by Cheryl Boyce for Impact Church, Toronto

Note To Parents:

 Welcome Back to Impact Church Toronto’s Week 7 in the Fighting Words Series.

This week we’re talking about finding our purpose in being peacemakers.  We’re discussing the difference between being a peacekeeper and a peacemaker.  We pray that this week speaks to you and that it helps as you pursue a home with greater peace as we navigate these weird times in history.  As always, don’t forget to reach out to us, either digitally or in person.  Community is so important, and we would love to connect with you on a deeper level.  We’re praying for you!  

Have a great week!  

                       _____________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL

Have you ever wondered what you were born to do?  A question that we get asked a lot when we’re little is, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”  For some, that’s an easy question to answer.  Some kids know right from the start that they want to be a teacher, or a fireman or a video game developer.  In my house, the kids would like to become famous YouTubers!  

As we grow up, a more critical question starts being asked.  This question is a little bit deeper. We begin to ask ourselves who we want to be, rather than what we want to be.  We search for meaning and purpose in the life that we have been given.  Answering this question can be challenging. There are so many options.  When we’re searching for answers to important questions like this, the best place to turn is towards our Heavenly Father and his word.  

In Matthew 5:9, we’re told that “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”  

When you first hear this scripture, it’s easy to assume that what this scripture tells us is to be nice and don’t start fights, and then God will accept you as his child.  But that’s not what this scripture is saying.  

Keeping The Peace vs. Peacemaking

It can be confusing to see the difference between what it means to keep the peace and peacemaking.

If you do a quick Google search and ask, “what does keeping the peace mean?”  The answer you will find is this:

hold/keep one's peace, to refrain from or cease speaking; keep silent - www.dictionary.com

In this week’s scripture, the Bible isn’t instructing us to “keep the peace.” The instruction we’re given is to be a peacemaker.   When you look up that word, you find that being a peacemaker is the opposite of being a peacekeeper.  Peacemaking is NOT a “sit back and keep quiet” kind of word.  When you dig a little deeper and study this word in the Bible, you’ll actually find that it means to be an ambassador for peace.

Have you ever heard of an ambassador?  Ambassadors are representatives or the voice of a brand or a group or even a country.  On Instagram, you’ll find lots of brand ambassadors.  Their job is to wear the clothes of a brand or talk about important things to a company. 

In this case, because we are children of God and represent God’s family, it is our job to be peacemakers.  It is our job to lift our voices against injustice.  It’s our job when we see struggle and pain to step in and work for peace to come to the situation.  God never intended for us to hide and keep quiet and stay out of the tough stuff. 

If you read Matthew 5:9 in the Message version, you’ll see it put this way:

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

When we are helping to end fights and bringing unity to the world, that’s where we find who we are.  It’s in peacemaking that we find our purpose, and people will know that we are Children of God because we are upholding peace, which is a significant value in his family.  

We find purpose in our lives when we pursue making peace in our lives, our community and our world.  

If you ever feel like you aren’t sure what you should be doing with your life or you’re not sure what you were born to do, remember that you are a peacemaker because you are a Child of God.  You’re the kind of person who loves justice, helps people cooperate, shows people how to end a fight, and forgive.  You don’t run away from the tough stuff but run into it with the hope of Peace for anyone who will listen because you, sweet friend, are a child of God.  

Some Stuff To Think About

Question 1: Before reading this scripture, had you thought about the difference between being a PeaceKeeper and a PeaceMaker? Explain in your own words what the difference is between the two.

Question 2: Do you think it’s easier to be a PeaceKeeper of a PeaceMaker?

Question 3: What are some ways that you can help make peace this week?  Is there someone that you’re fighting with and need to clean up the relationship mess? Brainstorm with your friends or family about how you can have a more peaceful home.

Challenge:  It’s clear that peace is an essential value in God’s family.  What are some important values in your family? This week pick a time to sit down with the people in your family and discuss some values that you will work towards making important in the way you live.  

PRAYER

(Here’s a prayer to pray together or on your own as you memorize your “Fighting Words” this week.)

Dear Heavenly Father,  

Thank you for all the ways you have blessed us and kept us this week.  Lord, we pray that you would help us not just to be peacekeepers but to be peacemakers.  Lord, show us how we can bring peace in our lives, our families, and our community.  Thank you for making us your children and welcoming us into your family.  Help us establish peace in our household and bring peace to the lives of the people we come in contact with, whether online or in person.

We love you.  

Amen!

Please join us at 10 am on Sundays in person or online at Impact Church Toronto.  

We are located in the Yonge and Eglinton area. 

Impact Church Toronto

27 Castlefield Ave

Toronto

Or join us online here

Fighting Words Week 6

Have You Heard The Good News?

Written by Cheryl Boyce for Impact Church, Toronto

Note To Parents:

 Welcome to Impact Church Toronto’s “Fighting Words Series,” Week 6! 

It’s been awesome to go through this series with you and hear about how God is using his word to impact you and your family.  If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and comment on each week’s #fightingwords post.  We’d love to connect with you on Instagram or facebook.com

This week we’re memorizing Isaiah 40:28 and once again talking about what an amazing God we serve. 

Have a great week!  

                       _____________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL

Guys!  The bible is full of such good news!  People often try to make it about a God who’s angry with us and has tons of rules.  But, as we learned last week, when you boil everything down, the Bible and living for Jesus is all about loving God and loving people.  When you are committed to loving God and loving people, a life of integrity isn’t complicated.  

This week we’re talking about how awesome God is.  It simply isn’t true that he’s a mean old guy in the sky,  waiting and watching for us to mess up so he can punish us.  That’s not who He is.  He is THE living God.  He is everlasting.  Meaning that He was always there, and He’s with us now and will be forever.  

In short...He’s not going anywhere. 

Time hasn’t taken its toll on God, and it never will.  The scripture also tells us that He is the creator of all the earth.  That includes us!  We are His big idea, and He loves us like crazy!  The good news doesn’t stop there, though.  He is so incredible that he never gets tired or worn out.  

Do you know what that means?  Regardless of your circumstances, he’s just as loving and just as strong to carry you through.

Sometimes we think God showed up for us the last time we had an issue, which means that this time, his patience has run out. Perhaps his love and his strength are wearing thin.  But that’s impossible. He’s a big God, and his love and power never run out.  We can be confident in the fact that no matter what, He doesn’t change. He will always be there for us.

It seems too good to be true, doesn’t it?  Even the most incredible superheroes have some type of kryptonite that will slow them down or shut them down, but not our God.  That’s the best news you’ll hear all week. Let’s be honest, that’s the best news you’ll ever hear!  THE one and only everlasting God, the creator of the earth, who also happens never to get tired or weak, and whose wisdom is more profound than we could ever understand, is in your corner and loves you. God is so good!  We are so blessed!   When we get a full realization of this scripture, it changes the way we live.  It has to. 

 We are not alone  

That’s a truth we need to remember when we’re struggling.  Knowing this will lift our heads when things get tough.

This week as you remember your fighting words, don’t forget to thank him for how amazing he is and then go out and live your life knowing that He loves you more than you could ever fathom.

Some Stuff To Think About

Question 1: Have you ever stopped to think about how amazing God is?

Question 2: Does knowing that God is the everlasting God, the creator of everything, that he never tires out or gets weak and knows everything, help you trust him with your life?

Question 3: What are some ways to live your life differently when you realize how incredible God is?

Challenge:  This week, take the opportunity to ask God some of your biggest questions.  God is all-knowing.  He wants to share his wisdom with you.  Spend some time asking him a question and asking him to reveal the answer to you or direct you to the answer.  Our relationship with God goes two ways, and he loves to speak to your heart and direct your steps.

PRAYER

(Here’s a prayer to pray together or on your own as you memorize your “Fighting Words” this week.)

Dear Heavenly Father,  

We are overwhelmed at how amazing you are.  Thank you for reminding us through this scripture that we serve an all-powerful God who is everlasting, strong and full of wisdom.  Lord, help us to live in light of your strength.  Help us to live wisely.  We ask you to be with us in every storm that we face.  God, you are more than enough for us.  Teach us to live a life of victory because of who you are.  Bless us this week in ways we can’t even imagine.  Teach us to be strong and loving like you.  Speak to our hearts.

Thank you for who you are, God.  We love you so. 

Amen!

Please join us at 10 am on Sundays in person or online at Impact Church Toronto.  

We are located in the Yonge and Eglinton area. 

Impact Church Toronto

27 Castlefield Ave

Toronto

Or join us online here

Fighting Words Week 5

Love God. Love People.

Written by Cheryl Boyce for Impact Church, Toronto

Note To Parents:

 Welcome to Impact Church Toronto’s “Fighting Words Series,” Week 5!  We’re halfway through our ten-week series.  We hope it’s been a fun process so far and hasn’t been an added stress.  If you’ve missed a week, no worries!  We wanted to share some tips on making it a part of your day without having it as another task on your list. 

1.  Set it as a reminder in your phone or electronic devices

2. Print it off and put it on the refrigerator

3. Post it in your front hall where you and your family will see it as you come and go.  

4. Recite the scripture together over dinner.  

                      _____________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL

 Have you ever noticed that the older you get, there’s more expected of you?  As you grow, there is more to manage and consider.  Everywhere you turn, there’s new advice on how to live your life, manage your relationships, what career to pick and how to be successful at it.  On top of all that, there's the information on managing your money wisely and the infinite ways you can invest it.  Everyone has opinions. Trying to do the right thing and live up to all of it can be so complicated.  

In the book of Matthew, we find Jesus is being quizzed by some religious people who believe they are very smart.  They want to see if they can trick Jesus into saying something they think is wrong by asking him complicated questions.  These men had made their whole lives about complicating life and getting everyone in their community to follow their complicated rules.  They wanted to know if Jesus was willing to be as complicated as they were.  One of the religious law experts decided to ask Jesus what he thought would be a tricky question.  He wanted to force Jesus to pick which law was the most important that Moses had given them.  Jesus answered him by telling him simply that it was to love God with all your heart, soul and mind.

Then he continued by saying that the next important law that is just as important is to love your neighbour as yourself.  

Jesus broke down all the rules into a checklist of only two things:

Love God 

Love People

He didn’t preach about all the things we shouldn’t do. He simply said loving God and loving people are the most important commandments.  He also said they were both equally important.  I think he pointed out that loving God is first because it’s only in a deep, loving relationship with Him that we can have the kind of love we need to love others. I don’t know about you, but loving God seems much easier than loving other people sometimes, especially when they’re difficult or hurtful.

Who we grow up to be, who we have relationships with and how we manage our money is all-important.  What’s more important, though, is if we have lived a life of love.  We are designed to be in a relationship with God for us to grow.  Our relationships with each other grow when we love people the way we love ourselves.  Can you imagine a world where we all put loving God as our priority, and because of that love, we love people the way we want to be loved?!

Jesus took what could have been a challenging question by the religious expert and made it very simple but so powerful.  The answer to how to live our lives is to live a life of love.

All this isn’t to say that life won’t have difficult moments, and there won’t be tough decisions and situations, but if we make loving God and loving people the centre of all that we do, we will live a life of purpose and fulfillment.  

Some Stuff To Think About

Question 1: Have you ever thought that being a Christian was complicated?

Question 2: How does it make you feel to hear that Jesus said the most important laws to follow are to love God and love people?.

Question 3: What are some ways that you can show God that you love him this week?

Challenge:  This week, take some time to talk to God and just let him know how much you love him.  Make a list of all the ways he has blessed you and let him know how grateful you are, then ask him to show you someone in your life that you can show God’s love.  When you come up with an idea, make sure to discuss it with your caregiver and get their permission.  Be sure to let us know here at Impact Church Toronto, how you showed God’s love.  We’d love to hear your stories about how your love for God is impacting your world.  

PRAYER

(Here’s a prayer to pray together or on your own as you memorize your “Fighting Words” this week.)

Dear Heavenly Father,  

We want to let you know how much we love you.  Lord, help us to grow into a deeper relationship with you.  Forgive me for the times that I leave you out of my life.  Help me to remember to include you in my decisions and my relationships.  Thank you so much for all the ways you have blessed us and kept us.  We pray that you would point out people in our lives that we can show your love.  God, we pray that our family, friends, and co-workers would all come to know your love. 

In the name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen!

Please join us at 10:30 am on Sundays in person or online at Impact Church Toronto.  

We are located in the Yonge and Eglinton area. 

Impact Church Toronto

27 Castlefield Ave

Toronto

Or join us online here