25 Days Novena for Trust and Providence

Introduction

Are you in a place where you are looking at your present difficulties and your own inabilities, or are you trusting in the supernatural ability of God for breakthrough?

This is a question we must all answer over and over again throughout our life.

Will I trust God with all of these impossibilities?
Will I continue to believe Him for the breakthrough?

It’s so easy to look at our inabilities and say, “Lord, I don’t have the gifting.” “I don’t have the strength.” “I don’t have the resources and people.” “I don’t have the money.”

In your present situation, God has supernatural ability to do the impossible. Right now look at your life. Where is your focus? Is it on your finite self, or is it on a limitless God who can do anything? Our responsibility is to trust, know, and carefully obey God’s Word.
• He is able to do what man cannot do.
• He is able to bring breakthrough in your life.
• He is able to help in the most difficult of circumstances.
Our God has the ability. He always has and He always will. Don’t give up. Have faith in God. There is an ability of God that we have not yet tapped into in our life experiences. Don’t doubt but believe, and remember that the Lord is with you.

Steps to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

Perhaps you’ve been told that as a Christian you must learn to “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” But this famous passage from Proverbs 3 contains more than just a general statement about living. Instead, you’ll find the steps you need each day to truly walk with God.

Follow these 7 daily steps to make sure you’re leaning on the Lord:

1. Don’t Depend on You

We live in a world where trust must be earned and seems to be in short supply. But Solomon, the famous king who wrote Proverbs, knew that trust is exactly where we must start:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)

Most of us have faced disappointments, which have taught us that we can only depend upon ourselves. But living the life God has called us to means unlearning that lesson. Instead, we’re meant to rest in God’s understanding.

We may know in our minds that He possesses all wisdom:

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33

But sometimes trusting Him completely like that can be tough. So, each day we must consciously lay aside our own plans and expectations—and surrender to His plans.

What if we don’t feel like we can trust Him like that? That’s where step 2 comes in…

2. Cry out to God

Surrendering to God begins with our lips and our thoughts. We need more than a commitment to depend on Him; we need to cry out to Him to show that dependence.

“in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6)

When we pray, we admit that His ways are higher than ours. We show that we’re leaving our troubles and burdens and dreams in His capable hands. In fact, the Bible promises that when we reach out to Him in prayer, He hears us:

“Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ” (Psalm 55:17)

We handed the keys of our lives to Him, and we know that He’s able to lead us. But in order for that to work, we have to…

3. Run from Evil

So much in this world can clutter up our relationship with God. John, the writer of the fourth gospel, describes them as the desires of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride in our lives (1 John 2:16). In other words, our blessings can easily become our stumbling blocks when we think of them as what we deserve or what we need to be happy.

Instead, life works best when we remember the true source of our blessings—God—and focus on the things that please Him:

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” (Proverbs 3:7)

Sometimes, the only way to live the life God wants us to live is by separating ourselves from the bad influences that keep dragging us down. That works the best when we start pursuing something else in their place:

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Is that easy? Not at all. Fleeing from the evil desires that pull at us means spending a lot of time crying out to God and leaning on Him. But our Creator promises to honor our commitment to Him when we shun evil:

“This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:8)

When we pursue Him, we find life—abundant life. Running from evil and pursuing God doesn’t come naturally to most of us. Instead, it means we have to make a serious change:

4. Put God First in Your Life

It’s easiest to put ourselves first. When something good happens, we want to congratulate ourselves with a reward. When something bad happens, we want to console ourselves or find someone to blame. In other words, we often have a “me-centric” starting place.

And when it comes to money, the struggle is even harder. But Solomon, who had quite a bit of wealth himself, knew that his money didn’t belong to him:

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9–10)

If we can trust God with the first of our wealth, we’re truly showing how much we depend on Him. Handing over the first part of our paycheck takes a huge amount of faith, after all. But doing so means being God-centric.

To get there, though, make sure you…

5. Check Yourself by God’s Word

Let’s be honest. We aren’t so good at evaluating ourselves. We will go to great lengths to excuse our behavior, our actions, and our sins. Who needs a defense attorney when we can pretty much find a reason for any bad thing we do? The prophet Jeremiah captures this very well:

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

If we’re ever going to truly trust in God and flee evil, we have to know exactly where we stand. We have to find an objective measure that tells us the truth. And that truth comes from God and His Word.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we’ll always like what we see or how we see it:

“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke” (Proverbs 3:11)

That’s right. Sometimes it takes something bad happening or seeing ourselves in a bad light before we finally admit that we need to change. And the more we’re in the Bible, the more likely this is to happen.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

When we have Scripture planted firmly in our hearts, God will often use that to deal with us.

6. Listen to the Holy Spirit

When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to the church, He told His disciples that this Counselor would be their spiritual compass or GPS:

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

As we go through our day, this same Holy Spirit guides us, too. That means we don’t have to go it alone or hope we’re getting it right. No, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and protects us:

“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:14)

After all, the gift of the Holy Spirit to us believers reminds us that we can truly…

7. Rest in God’s Love

When we face a difficult world each day, we can sometimes wonder if God even cares. Why do bad things happen? Where is God when I need Him? Solomon reminds us that God never takes a break or leaves us to fend for ourselves:

“because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:12)

Even in the midst of turmoil, God sticks with us and uses those challenges to shape us. When we understand that, our perspective completely flips. No longer do we see our setbacks as failures; we see them as moments when God, as our loving Father, works on us.

And that’s exactly why we can trust in the Lord with all our hearts. He cares for us each and every day. He gives us what we need to thrive. He pours blessing after blessing upon us.

Of course, following each of these daily steps isn’t easy. That’s why Jesus said we have to deny ourselves and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Trusting God takes a whole-hearted commitment from dawn till dusk. But we’re never alone in it:

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)

---

Father CK Foundation Support Paybill No. 762763 ( Account No. SUPPORT)

---

Ways to Trust God when Money is Tight

Wouldn’t it be nice if having a relationship with God meant never having to worry or stress about money again?

Actually, that’s possible. But not because God fills our bank account with money when we surrender our lives to Him. Like with every aspect of our lives, God wants a relationship with us in which we are dependent on Him, and trusting Him with all that we have. He wants us to keep Him as our God, not what we have or what we’d like to have. Lets go through these steps together;

1. Realize it’s not about the money.

I’m convinced that our financial stability depends on how much we trust God rather than on how much we make. It’s really not about the money, how hard you work, and how wisely you’ve invested. Our financial situation is almost always about trust.

2. Trust Him with today.

It’s easy to look ahead at the month and estimate how much you’ll need to pay your bills and then stress about the shortfall. But Jesus must have known we’d have a tendency to do that. He told His followers to look around and see how God provides food for the birds, and clothing for the lilies of the field. Then He told them, “if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (Matthew 6:30).

Jesus summed up His teaching by saying, “don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (verses 31-33).

Jesus was giving them – and us – a formula for trusting Him daily for our provision, and not stressing about money by worrying about tomorrow.

3. Remember how rich you really are.

God owns it all… which makes us (His children by faith in Christ) heirs of all He has (Galatians 3:29). While we might not feel that we have much on this earth, we can read Ephesians 1:3-14 and be reminded again of what is ours in the heavenly realm. As you look at what God gives you through salvation, you can be encouraged at what is yours today, not just some day in heaven.

Think about it. If God can take care of our eternal life, by providing His beloved Son for our salvation, then certainly He can take care of our everyday life, including whatever financial needs we have. Read Ephesians 1 – daily if you have to – and remember what is yours in Christ. It will give you a different perspective and it may cause you to thank Him more than ask Him, when it comes to your financial needs.

4. Release it back to God.

We are managers, not owners of the money God has entrusted us with. That makes it all His in the first place. Therefore, He expects us to give from the first of what we have to Him, as a way of honoring Him, and as a reminder to us that He owns it all. God is our source and Principle Recipient of our Gifts.

5. Welcome the faith adventure.

Trusting God for His provision when it looks bleak is truly an adventure in faith. Yet, we have a God who is not only pleased by our faith (Hebrews 11:6), but who also loves to come through for His children (Matthew 7:9-11).

6. Gain wisdom through God’s Word.

Sometimes we are just foolish when it comes to spending, borrowing, and handling our money. Debt is often the consequence, as is feeling we are under too heavy of a burden to ever repay or be financially free again. But that doesn’t mean God can’t still work in our lives, teach us lessons, and get us back on the road to financial recovery.

The Book of Proverbs is full of financial wisdom and warnings about getting into debt, living beyond your means, and going into business with someone you can’t trust. Read it and take its advice when it comes to business dealings, spending money you don’t have, and charging – or paying – excessive interest.

7. Practice generosity.

Sometimes we think the more money we hold onto, the more we’ll have. But the opposite is true in the Kingdom of God. The more we give, the more God gives us so we can keep on giving. In Second Corinthians 9:6-11 we are told that as we give generously and cheerfully “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (verse 8)

8. Practice Generosity

The Apostle Paul told the early Christians, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13). A few sentences later in that same letter, Paul assured them, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (verse 19).
Can you be content with little if that is what God has ordained for you? There is joy in living simply, in giving things away, tossing out clutter and not collecting more, and determining to live on less. Most of us have no idea how much excess we already have and how little we really need to not only get by, but to be happy. Practice contentment and you may find your financial worries aren’t nearly what they used to be. First Timothy 6:6 assures us that “godliness with contentment is great gain”.

Irrespective of what you may be going through right now, god is ever ready to change your situation and give you the peace that you so much desire. Lets do these 25 Days Prayer Journey and surely God will come through for you.

Father CK

For Daily Use:

1. Make a personal prayer to be prayed daily.
2. With your needs intact, pick one person or a family to intercede for throughout the 25 Days Journey.
3. Every day is a fasting day depending on your health and age.
4. Talk to me in case you want to share with me your daily prayer request, my number 0721 42 11 39.

---

Father CK Foundation Support Paybill No. 762763 ( Account No. SUPPORT)

---

Day 1

A Prayer to Jumpstart Your Prayer Life
I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands in prayer. Psalm 63:4
Commit to Prayer Time Our lives get so crazy. We get overloaded at work, the kids have to be shuffled everywhere and then there are the unexpected things that pop up. It’s easy to let our prayer life become stagnant. During these 25 Days, commit to spending 15, 30 or 60 minutes with the Lord on a daily basis. Pencil it in on your calendar so it becomes ingrained in your daily life.

1. Pray without Distraction, Sit down with your family and explain that you want to really lean into your prayer life this year. Let them know that from this time to this time each day, you won’t be available and that this is your prayer time.
2. Pray Spontaneously. A lot of people think you have to be in church to pray but this is not true. You can pray anytime, anywhere. It’s always good to pray spontaneously. If you run into a friend or hear of someone who needs prayer, don’t wait till you can write it down. Pray right then and there. Pray for people whose names float through your mind during your busy day. Pray when you feel a tugging or stirring in your heart. Praying this way is excellent because you never know if the person you are thinking of needs prayer at that very moment.
3. Pray Specifically Take some time to step up your prayer game.
   Instead of ‘blanket praying’ as we all do at some point when we are absolutely exhausted, take some time to write down specifics. If you know someone who needs surgery, write a specific prayer for it. If you know someone who is going through a divorce, write a specific prayer for that. If you know someone who just had a baby, write down specifics to pray over the situation. If you know someone who just got engaged, write a specific prayer for that. Praying specifically for a person or situation not only makes you feel closer to the Lord, it makes you feel closer to the person.

Prayer

My Daily Declaration

Day 2

A Prayer to Find Faith in the Chaos

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

It may seem impossible to spend time finding faith amidst the chaos, and I agree, it’s not always easy. But I encourage you to steal moments wherever you can find them to reconnect with God in the jumble of your life.

1. Be still. That’s all it takes. A moment in which to remember. Stop. Breathe deeply. And let yourself be aware that He is right there with you. Take that knowledge with you when you ease back into the day.
2. Put God first. Mentally commit to putting God first, to spending time talking to Him and learning about Him. When I can do this near the beginning of my day, everything else is a whole lot more manageable and I feel more balanced. Even if I just have five minutes.
3. Keep an eye out for God in the chaos. Peace infuses the atmosphere when you slow down and feel God’s presence, but that doesn’t mean He is not also present in the too-cluttered, hectic activities crowding your days. God is with us all the time. Just think how much more meaningful your day will be if you spend it noticing Him. When we see Him, our faith increases, and in turn we focus even more on watching for Him.
4. Pray without ceasing. Practice keeping up a running commentary with God, thanking Him for the blessings you see and the people you encounter. Prayer is the primary way we communicate with God to strengthen our faith.

Day 3

Reassurance
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2
We need to live every minute of every day knowing that no matter what we face, we can truly say, “God’s got it!”
When we focus only on what we can see and understand or explain, we will worry.
Fear and doubt will become familiar companions if we live each day against the backdrop of this broken world and our desperate circumstances. Our only hope is God.

Day 4

Unshakable Peace

“I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8.
No matter what you go through, you can experience unshakable peace, and declare, “I will not be shaken!” as the psalmist did in Psalm 16:8. God knows what you have been through and what you are going through. He promises peace to each believer through Jesus.
Part of our unsettled nature is that we try to cling to the things of earth—to the “American way” of living—to the here and now. When we put our trust in things of this world, we give anxiety, fear, jealously, discontentment, greed, and insecurity open access to our lives. (1 Timothy 6:17–19)
Instead of finding ways to hold on to what you have, be encouraged today to let go.
Let go of what doesn’t matter. Even let go of those things that seem worth your worry.
“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.” (Matthew 6:31–34)
Seek God first, friend … above and before any earthly thing, large or small. Have faith that He will meet you at your need. God wants us to store up treasures where moth and rust will not destroy.
He wants us to trust Him. When we do, He promises that we can live with an unshakable peace that passes understanding.

Day 5

Hard Day
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8
We all have hard days. Challenging days. Days that stretch us, sometimes beyond what we can bear. Sometimes these days appear as a series of little irritating events that build up to one terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Other days we wake up to find one huge unexpected event that lands like a bomb in our life.
Sometimes those hard days find us busy and distracted as we try to fix everything that has gone wrong. Or we get so caught up in our thoughts and feelings about our circumstances that it consumes us. Or perhaps we attempt to hide away from struggle of the day in the hopes that if we don’t think about it, maybe it will all go just away.
Instead of such responses, hard days are opportunities for us to draw near to God. They are opportunities for us to rely on him, depend on him, and receive more of his grace. Such days remind us how desperate we are and how much we need our Savior.

Day 6

A Prayer for When You Don’t Understand Your Circumstances
“His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him” John 12:16,
We can all attest to the 20/20 nature of hindsight; that moment of looking back on a complicated, confusing situation and realizing
exactly what we should have done or been aware of at the time.
But can we somehow turn this expectation into an advantage in the moment, as it’s playing out? Can we live in light of the reality that a time is coming when we’ll see God’s hand in all of this?
Have you ever been in a situation like that—where you didn’t understand what was happening? Where you couldn’t seem to feel anything but disappointment or confusion? Where you seemed to be more questions than answers?
Knowing why is not part of the skillset God expects from us as His followers. Answers to all the usual questions—Why is this happening? What on earth is God doing?—are not required, most likely not even available, during the heat of life’s most mystifying moments.
All you need to know in times like these is the confident assurance that afterward, when you look back, you will see His hand at work in it. And knowing you’ll see it from a distance means it’s already here in the present—perhaps not to be recognized immediately, but to be trusted implicitly.
Even when it’s difficult now, remember that one day you’ll see with clarity what God has been doing. And that it was always, only, for your good and His glory.

Day 7

A Prayer for Guidance from the Holy Spirit
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16
One of the Holy Spirits tasks is to experientially validate for every believer God’s awesome love, acceptance, and encouragement toward each of His children. We “taste and see” that the Lord is good through the Holy Spirit, bringing his goodness to us (Psalm 34:8). We sense it and feel it deeply. We love how the Holy Spirit takes the intellectual concepts of love, mercy and grace of God and makes them practical and experiential.
The Holy Spirit’s best work in people is seen in how He changes the way they relate to one another. You want the best part of your
character displayed in your kids. It’s when your positive qualities, ways, words, actions and encouragements are reproduced In your child’s interactions with others that brings you joy. On the other hand, if they abuse, discourage and harm others with their way and words, you are grieved.” That’s not me,” you protest. I think our waywardness has the same effect on the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit heals relationships. He does this by lending and prompting all believers to show to others what God has shown them in the person of Jesus Christ. His point: you didn’t deserve grace, but now that you have it, you better give it as liberally as you received it! If we don’t the same thing grieve the Holy Spirit. Jesus aggressively illustrated His heart in the parable of the unmerciful servant. You feel the Holy Spirit’s presence and you honor him when your character reveals the grace that Jesus has freely given you.
If you want more of the Spirit’s presence in your life, to be more in touch with His leading, here is a prayer you can pray today:

Day 8

A Prayer for a Heavy Heart
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Psalm 22:11
When all I can see is darkness and all I can offer is tears.
When I feel hopeless and helpless, I come before the Lord and surrender it all to Him. I cannot, but I know He can, and I’m grateful for the words of this prayer:

Day 9

A Prayer for When You Struggle with Doubt
“’If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.’” Mark 9:23–24
Tough seasons reveal what we really believe. So what do we do when our head and heart think differently? Ask God to teach us the truth.
For anyone to truly know God and the truths of His word, God Himself has to work supernaturally in our hearts. Want to hear the great news? HE WANTS TO DO THAT IN US. God desires for us to know Him and truly believe His Word. All we have to do is ask.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is when a father brings his sick son to Jesus and asks Him to drive out the evil spirit possessing him. The father asks Jesus to heal him by beginning the sentence, “if you can”. When Jesus responds that everything is possible in Him the father exclaims, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Amen. That is a prayer I believe God is honored in. This is my version of that prayer:

Day 10

A Prayer for Direction
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
We naturally want to determine our own course in life. It seems like the only logical way to get where we want to go. But being wise in our own eyes is pride. To combat this tendency, the Lord instructs us to fear Him and turn away from evil. This “fear” is not a horrified dread of the Father, but an attitude of respect that motivates us to obey Him for both our good and His glory.
We naturally want to keep our money for ourselves. A desire for a better lifestyle or fear of not having enough leads us to hang onto everything we get. But our compass directs us to honor God by giving Him the first part of all we have, trusting Him to provide for our needs.
We naturally hate God’s discipline. His painful reproofs seem to prove that He doesn’t care about us. But our heavenly Father says His discipline is the evidence that confirms His love and delight in us as His children.
Sometimes in our desire to follow the Lord, we focus on obedient actions—doing what He says—but miss His directions concerning our attitudes and thought patterns. To stay on God’s path for our lives, we must make course corrections not only in our behavior but also in our hearts and minds.
Pray with me for direction from the Lord:

Day 11

A Prayer for When Life Is Messy
“He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love.” Zephaniah 3:17
So many of the things we face daily are huge. True loss, severe and unavoidable consequences, serious and real stuff that far surpasses stress and hormone-induced rage. It’s never just one situation that makes it hard to pray, but an accumulation. Emotions and losses. Disappointments and mistakes.
It’s not realistic to think that we’ll ever be without pain or fear or grief or doubt or chaos.
We need God now, every single day, each and every moment, not at some unforeseeable point in the future. Not only in the moments of crisis, but in the days in between.
The only way to get through anything—to get through everything— is to pray.
When we recognize our own limitations, when we acknowledge the barriers before us. When we ask God to quiet our souls and renew our strength.
Pray with me:

Day 12

A Day to Remember Your True Identity
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13
God did not make you to be what somebody else wants you to be. God didn’t make you to be what your parents want you to be, what your girlfriend or boyfriend wants you to be, what your spouse wants you to be or your boss or your friends want you to be.
God made you to be you. If you’re going to become all you can be, you have to refuse to be defined by others. You must be defined as a child of God.
Hebrews 11:24 says, “By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” .
Moses had an identity crisis. He was born a Hebrew slave but raised as Egyptian royalty, the grandson of Pharaoh. When he grew up, he had two choices: He could pretend to be Pharaoh’s grandson for the rest of his life and live a life of luxury and fame and power.
Most people today are living lies. They’re trying to be people they’re not. But Moses refused to live a lie because he was a man of integrity. He insisted on being who God made him to be against all kinds of peer pressure.
Here’s my question for you: Who are you letting determine your identity?
Make this resolution today: “I resolve that no more will I let other people press me into their mold. I’m going to be what God wants me to be. I’m going to do what God wants me to do, and I’m going to fulfill the plan that God has for my life, not somebody else’s plan for my life.”
Real success in life is being exactly who you were created to be and nothing more.

Day 13

Trusting God in Hard Times
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
We all want God to answer our prayers. We believe in the power of prayer, but when it comes down to our own individual lives and our own problems, we often don’t have the faith to believe God will answer. The times we are living in are difficult. We are often trapped by our unbelief and fear, but God is preparing us for the end-time harvest. He wants to enlarge our territory. He wants to bless us with increase, because His nature is to care and bestow divine favor on us.
We are the ones who limit Him because of our lack of trust and our fear of stepping out in faith. The truth is that the things we do for God should be outside of our own ability and should be trusting in His supernatural ability. When we back away from dependence and trust in God, we are not living by faith. He wants us to trust and obey His Word. He wants us to be strong and courageous. We need to be willing to attempt things big enough that unless God’s steps in, we are sure to fail. This is the kind of trust and dependence He is looking for in our life. We need not be shaken. He can break through every obstacle. He is the God of the impossible!

Day 14

On how to Keep it Together When Your Life is Falling Apart.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:28–29
The drama that life brings is inevitable. Yet how we respond to it determines whether or not it will be fruitful in our lives in conforming us to the image of Christ. Our response to the drama also determines whether God gets the glory or we shine the spotlight on our frailties, insecurities, and emotional instability.
With help from God’s Word, plus some practical guidance, you and I can be drama free—even when the unthinkable happens. Even when you are clearly a victim. Even when life takes an unexpected turn and you are caught in an overwhelming whirlwind of circumstances that would make any person lose it. Even then.
Here are four ways that you can keep it together when it feels like your life is falling apart. (These four steps spell the word “CALM” which is what you can be if you practice them.)
C – Consider the bigger picture.
Life—and therefore every circumstance you encounter—is meant to conform you to the image of Christ. Once you consider this, you can relax and realize God knows what He’s doing in the circumstances He’s allowing. And you can focus on passing the test, rather than failing it through unnecessary drama.
A – Acknowledge God is in control.
You are going to trust the God of miracles and whatever He decides to do or not do, for your greater good. Try taking a look at God’s track record in the stories of the Bible. People went through trial after trial, but when they acknowledged God’s control and remained faithful to Him in spite of their circumstances, they experienced deliverance, protection, comfort, and peace. God has an excellent track record of honoring those who trust Him.
L – Look for the lesson.
Ask God to show you what He wants you to see in the moment, and then stay tuned to His instruction. I find it is helpful, and a reminder to me that God is working in my life, when I say aloud,
“God, show me what You want me to see in this situation” or, “Mold me through this, God,” or, “Open my eyes to the truth of Who You are through this situation and my pain.” Maybe your short prayer is simply, “Change me through this, Lord Jesus.” By acknowledging that God is doing something through our situation, we won’t miss the lesson.
M – Make it a point to praise.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we are instructed to “give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Note that command says in all circumstances, even the unexpected, uncomfortable, and unwanted circumstances. As we thank God for our circumstances—and for whatever He determines to do through them—it will change our perspective and make us people who anticipate His provision, rather than dread the worst.

Day 15

On Finding the Good During Hard Times
“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places so that you may know that I am the LORD, your God.” Isaiah 45:3
I am constantly amazed at the profound truths God has tucked into the simple things of life.
Pearls are formed when a piece of grit, sand or shell is trapped inside an oyster. The oyster protects itself from irritation by secreting a nacreous liquid that surrounds the irritant until it eventually becomes a pearl. In other words, that which begins as an annoying irritant eventually becomes a valuable treasure. The same is true in life.
In every trial or difficult moment of life, God has buried a treasure. To find the treasure, we must go through the trial. So when the tough times come, just look for the pearls.

Day 16

Waiting on God without Losing Faith
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 34:7
Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for God to move, to change a situation, to please help… and nothing happens? I have.
Sometimes it’s hard to understand God’s perspective. He sees our lives differently than we do. In general, we’re a fast-food, soft-onsuffering, high-on-anxiety society. We want what we want now and we want to avoid discomfort. We take on worries we don’t need.
Our relationship with Him is intensely personal. He’s our Father, and parenting is intensely personal. For those of you who have a child, this makes complete sense. We see beyond what our kids think they need in the moment. We have a bigger view of their lives. We think ahead and plan accordingly. So does God. Often when our faith is shaken, it’s because we’re looking at a 12-inch section of a 180-inch screen.
He knows what we need. Knows how He wants to grow our character. And like any parent of multiple children, what He allows for you might not be the same as what He allows for me. What He gives us won’t look the same. Neither will the timing of our answers when we pray. Or the way our faith is stretched and blessed.

Day 17

On How to Keep the Enemy from Stealing Your Joy
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
Don’t let the enemy steal your joy today. He’ll try you know. You may not even realize it until it’s too late.
From the moment your feet hit the floor, he’ll do all that he can to distract you, to overwhelm you, to frustrate you, and to stir up worry and strife. Often his ways are subtle, other times they’re
clearer. It’s what he does best. Stealing. Killing. Destroying.
Just say “no.” Don’t let him win.
We have a choice of who we listen to and what we believe. Recognize who is at the root of it all, and push past his lies; step over his traps.
God gives us the power through His Holy Spirit to live free from the entanglement of sin. He gives us the power to live strong. He gives wisdom and discernment to make the right choices. He gives joy deep inside. He offers the assurance, that no matter what we face, He is with us.
May His grace, peace, and joy cover your day. He is with you.

Day 18

A Prayer for Progress over Perfection
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:17–18
Our goal in life is to be transformed and to learn to walk in love as we continue to grasp just how much we are already loved by our precious Heavenly Father. Seeing this love will enable us to know which goals we should strive for—the goals God desires for us to have. The more we realize the immenseness of God’s love for us, the more we will make progress on goals that we would like to complete.
God doesn’t love our completed tasks as much as he loves our enthusiasm to work for Him. He is pleased the entire time that we are taking steps of obedience, not just at the end. There are some things that will never be completed this side of heaven—like world peace, for instance—but God is pleased when we take steps to live in unity with one other person.
Progress toward our goals, and even more importantly, progress toward our becoming more like Christ, is an ongoing thing. There will always be more to do and more ways to grow in character and love. God is pleased when we take steps, when we step out of our comfort zones, and when we try.
Hebrews 11 says a lot about God’s happiness with our progress— otherwise known as faith:
• Faith shows the reality of what we hope for and is the evidence of things not seen yet.
• Through faith, people earn a good reputation.
• We can never fully know God and His ways but we can take steps to seek Him and seek to walk in the ways that we can decipher.
• Even when Abraham reached the land God had promised him, he lived there by faith. Abraham confidently looked forward to a city designed and built by God.
I will and should complete tasks in this life and with enough progress, the end of a project will come. But there will be another project to follow that. It’s a journey and each project will teach me something new and grow my character.
You can be obedient and make progress each day of your life, a little at a time. And God will help you as you seek Him. God gave you that good work to do and He won’t leave you until your progress is complete.

Day 19

A Prayer to Grow Your Confidence in God
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:6–8
• Ever pray and then wonder if it were going to do any good?
• Ever knelt down and bowed your head, but felt disconnected, as if your prayers were just drifting off into the ether?
• Ever had prayers go without an answer of any kind?
This is an interesting dynamic, really. Most of the time, we have no trouble accepting that the Bible is true—that it’s God-breathed, that it’s the Word of Life. Then we turn around and question what the Bible says about prayer. We might not see it that way, yet that’s what happens when we doubt the strength or usefulness of our prayer life.
The Book of James should encourage you as it proves the power of prayer:
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” — 5:16
Make no mistake. Our prayers are powerful not because of anything we do or who we are. Remember, we’re just the fuse. It’s because of who He is and what He can do. Therefore, we can approach Him with an honest, upright, and believing heart. Then God is eager to respond, doing what only He can.
That’s why James also reminds us to quit questioning what prayer can do:
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”—1:6–8
No mincing words there. We need to drop the doubting of what we’re doing when we kneel before the God of all creation. Quit questioning the effectiveness of presenting our requests to Him. Earnestly seek His will for your life, His wisdom for your mind, and His love to fill your heart. He delights in answering you. He is all about His glory. You can fully trust Him with your prayers, as you also trust the truth of His character, purposes, and promises.

Day 20

A Prayer for When You’re Facing Battles
“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously” Exodus 15:1
Long before the cross, the Israelites who escaped the bondage of slavery witnessed one such victory. Imagine their joyful shouts when they looked back and saw the miraculously-parted Red Sea close over the Egyptian army in hot pursuit.
Some two-thousand years later, after what looked like a devastating defeat by the enemy, came the ultimate triumph: “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6). Neither death nor the grave nor Satan’s plans stood a chance against the risen Savior!
Today, Jesus lives to further His victory through the lives of His followers. In fact, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). In Christ, we aren’t just conquerors, we’re super conquerors—because God doesn’t just win, He crushes the enemy (Romans 16:20). That’s why you don’t want to take on this battle yourself. It is the reason the transaction at the cross was entirely out of our hands.
Jesus took on your debt, your sin, your condition, and defeated the condemning, eternal hold those things had on you. Because of His death and resurrection, all who trust in Christ for salvation are granted a place in the conquering band that will rejoice in His victory forever!
Consider your battles in light of this truth. Express your heart to the Lord and pour out your adoration. Every day we have the ultimate reason to celebrate.

Day 21

A Prayer for the Troubled Heart
This world can be a dark place many days. News reports of shootings, innocent lives being lost too soon, terrorist attacks, unrest, and struggle are constant reminders that we live in uncertain times. Past hurts cling tightly, our present reality filled with pressures, the future may seem to loom with fear.
Many times we wonder, is finding peace in the midst of all this even possible?
Often, living a peace-filled life comes down to a choice. Choosing to come to Him, choosing to set our minds on His Word, choosing to trust Him no matter what, choosing to pray in all that we face, choosing not to be anxious, choosing to believe that He’s always with us and in control, choosing to set our thoughts on those things that are true and right.
God reminds us in His word that peace will not naturally just come our way, He tells to “seek peace and pursue it,” Psalm 34:14. Some may offer their own advice, “Get away for a few days, relax, be happy, take a vacation, tune out, just don’t think about stressful stuff.” But it’s only temporary relief in a crazy, struggling world. Vain attempts to cover desperate places of our souls with superficial, external fixes.
But the peace God offers is vastly different. It’s lasting. Confident. Real. Breathing deep reassurance in the midst of all that we face— past, present, or future. Rising up against the fear that would seek to choke our lives. Bringing comfort and freedom.
He sent His only Son, pure essence of Peace Himself, to give us lasting freedom and peace that only He can give.

Day 22

A Prayer for Courage
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:1–2
There are many days where I feel an overwhelming sense of discouragement, exhaustion, or frustration. It might be little things that bring about these feelings in me, or it might be major life events that have left me weary and hurting, but either way, I know I don’t have the strength on my own to make it through. It’s days like those where I find prayers like this comforting. When we feel those feelings creeping in, may we instead choose to kneel before our Father in heaven and ask him for the strength and courage we need to carry on. Will you join me in this prayer today?

Day 23

A Prayer Against Spiritual Warfare
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Are you in a battle today, and it’s taking more than just a physical toll on you? Are you finding it difficult to find the words to tell the devil to be gone? Spiritual warfare is crippling, real, and troublesome, but Jesus has already won us the victory! Pray along with these words now and let the Lord break the chains of fear and bondage!

Important Information for the Participants

My Gift of Trust

Making an offering for the expected provision and Breakthrough.
Spiritually and liturgically, we do not go to God empty handed. In the 25 Days Novena, He is calling us to trust Him with our lives; shall I go there empty handed? We can purpose we make an offering of whatever nature tactile of otherwise.

Giving is not just about sacrifice; It is an appreciation for what God is doing in my life. It is also God’s way of ritually introducing us into the flow of sowing and reaping that is the subcurrent of his creation. Participate in the harvest that God has for us by depositing your gift with him before and after the closure of this Novena.
“A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.” (Proverbs 18:16)
God knows the power of a gift. That’s why he didn’t institute a “church tax.” He wanted every gift to be given from one’s own will so that when the blessings come, we understand how God worked through our gift to prosper our wellbeing.

You have a moment of opportunity to be ushered into the presence of God by giving to him, as he so graciously has given to us.

For sending your gift and any other enquiry, kindly use this Phone Number (+254) 721 421 139
Or Pay Bill 762 763
Acc. Support.

Day 24

A Prayer for the Long Walk of Faith
“Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24
• Is there a person in the Bible whose story you simply love?
• One who encourages you, challenges you or with whom you share a similar life circumstance?
• Perhaps it’s Moses and his keen leadership skills?
• Or, Esther—the compelling queen, both beautiful and brainy—who used her quick thinking to help save an entire nation?
• Maybe Joseph is your favorite, as you contemplate how someone so mistreated could continually take the high road which led him not only to political power but also to family forgiveness?
All of these are fabulous choices, but I choose Enoch.
Not a lot is written about him in the pages of Scripture, but what is there piqued my interest: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24).
In Hebrews 11:5–6 we catch more of the story. “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” .
That’s it! Enoch was whisked away, spared the pain of death and transported immediately to God’s side, all because of one simple thing: He pleased God.
I say simple, but I don’t say easy.
It is a simple thing to please God. You just do what He says in His Word. Straightforward enough, right?
However, my years as a follower of Christ have taught me that simple is not always easy. Choices present themselves, the world screams, our flesh gets in the way and we want revenge or glory … so we often lack faith, and instead try to control our own destinies. We mess up the pleasing God part with our very own hands and hearts.
Enoch walked with God.

Walking with God means we daily give up our desire to navigate our own lives, and we place our faith in Him.

Father CK

Oh, don’t we long for that to be said of us? I’ll admit I don’t always walk with God. I take a stand for God—believe the right things and make it known. I may walk after God. And sadly, sometimes I run ahead of God, make my own plans and then say, “Oh yeah. By the way God, do you mind blessing’ these plans? I made them in Your name. I may have forgotten to consult You in the midst of them, but they are for You, alright?” What a shame and a sham!
Walking with God means we daily give up our desire to navigate our own lives, and we place our faith in Him. We admit He knows what’s best for us and realize He might not always reveal the hows and whys until the very last second. God is seldom early, but never late. Only day-by-day faith-walking pleases God.
Do you long to be one who pleases God this way?
One who makes Him smile as He sees you place complete trust in Him and His infinite wisdom daily?
Maybe then we just might be like my Bible hero Enoch … the one who walked so closely by our Creator’s side that one day, during one of those long walks, God looked at him and said, “You know, we’ve been walking together for so long now that we are actually closer to My house than yours.

Why don’t you just come on home with Me right now?”

Glory! Well, at least that’s how I picture it.

Important Information for all the Participants

My Gift of Trust

Making an offering for the expected provision and Breakthrough.
Spiritually and liturgically, we do not go to God empty handed. In the 25 Days Novena, He is calling us to trust Him with our lives; shall I go there empty handed? We can purpose we make an offering of whatever nature tactile of otherwise.

Giving is not just about sacrifice; It is an appreciation for what God is doing in my life. It is also God’s way of ritually introducing us into the flow of sowing and reaping that is the subcurrent of his creation. Participate in the harvest that God has for us by depositing your gift with him before and after the closure of this Novena.
“A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.” (Proverbs 18:16)
God knows the power of a gift. That’s why he didn’t institute a “church tax.” He wanted every gift to be given from one’s own will so that when the blessings come, we understand how God worked through our gift to prosper our wellbeing.

You have a moment of opportunity to be ushered into the presence of God by giving to him, as he so graciously has given to us.

For sending your gift and any other enquiry, kindly use this Phone Number (+254) 721 421 139
Or Pay Bill 762 763
Acc. Support.

Day 25

A Prayer for Hope
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said.
“Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:35–36
When we have come to the end of our life and power, God whisper into the dark corners of heart time-and-again: “Just trust me.”
I don’t think anyone likes hearing the phrase, “Just trust me.” But sometimes that is just what God requires of us. When I’m worried about what is going to happen next, when I’m stressed out over what the doctors results will say, or when I feel like I have no hope because I can’t see my dreams ever being reality that’s when I hear it, quiet, firm, “Just trust me.”
When everyone else is questioning if Jesus really cares about the hard things we’re going through, I listen for his voice declaring, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”
A Prayer for Hope
If today you’re struggling to find hope in dark places and are looking for words to pray, I hope these prayerful words help:

Important Information for the Participants

My Gift of Trust

Making an offering for the expected provision and Breakthrough.
Spiritually and liturgically, we do not go to God empty handed. In the 25 Days Novena, He is calling us to trust Him with our lives; shall I go there empty handed? We can purpose we make an offering of whatever nature tactile of otherwise.

Giving is not just about sacrifice; It is an appreciation for what God is doing in my life. It is also God’s way of ritually introducing us into the flow of sowing and reaping that is the subcurrent of his creation. Participate in the harvest that God has for us by depositing your gift with him before and after the closure of this Novena.
“A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.” (Proverbs 18:16)
God knows the power of a gift. That’s why he didn’t institute a “church tax.” He wanted every gift to be given from one’s own will so that when the blessings come, we understand how God worked through our gift to prosper our wellbeing.

You have a moment of opportunity to be ushered into the presence of God by giving to him, as he so graciously has given to us.

For sending your gift and any other enquiry, kindly use this Phone Number (+254) 721 421 139
Or Pay Bill 762 763
Acc. Support.