“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Psalm 92:12-15

God makes the righteous flourish. God’s house, the place of His presence, is the place where believers are both planted and where they continually live and flourish. Are you planted where God wants you to be? If not then what steps are you taking to step into where He has called you? Take a moment to reflect on the fruits you are producing where you are planted.

“All the trees of the field will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will fulfill it.”

Ezekiel 17:24

This verse from Ezekiel serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over our growth and flourishing.

It describes to us that God can reverse fortunes, humble the proud and exalt the humble.

This should be encouragement us to remain faithful and humble, knowing that our flourishing is in God’s hands.

We can trust in God's timing and plan, while understanding that He is the architect of our growth. As you reflect today, thank God with a heart full of gratitude and a willingness to trust His word, He is most sovereign to fulfill it.

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Isaiah 58:11

This verse paints a beautiful picture of what it looks like when we rely on the Lord to lead us through life. He promises to always guide us in every step, to satisfy our every need & to strengthen us in every season. Today let's remember that He is "Jehovah Jireh" our provider, and as we seek Him in these 21 days and throughout the entirety of this year let's believe that The Way Family Church will ,in return, be a beautiful flourishing well watered garden. That we would be a people with abundant, flowing and never failing water springing forth from our life."

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you."

John 15: 2-3

To flourish in God you must let Him take out of you the things that don’t glorify Him. When you let Him cut out of you those things that don’t glorify Him, then you can bear(flourish) in much fruit.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;”

Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Devotional: In the midst of overwhelming sorrow and suffering, the prophet Jeremiah declares a powerful truth. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” Despite the devastation around him, Jeremiah finds hope in God’s unchanging love and daily mercy. Let us in this new year remember and be encouraged that when facing times of difficulty, God’s love is constant, His mercy is new every day, and He is always good to those who seek Him. No matter how dark the season, we can hope in Him. Every morning brings a fresh opportunity for God’s grace, reminding us that no matter what we face, His faithfulness is greater than our circumstances.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God". And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus".

Philippians 4:6-7

“I will bless with happiness the one who trusts in me, the one who trusts in me alone. He is like a tree planted on the riverbank, extending its roots into streams of water. It does not fear when scorching heat comes, for its leaves remain fresh and never fading even in a year of drought. It has no anxieties but continues to bear luscious fruit.”

Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬-‭8‬

Our trust in God leads to flourishing. In Jeremiah 17:7-8 our trust in Him is compared to a tree planted in streams of water, which is able to withstand harsh conditions and does not cease to bear fruit. When we stay rooted in the Lord, we will continue to bear fruit and flourish even when trials come our way. The fruit in our lives reflects our unwavering faith in God. Are you like a well watered tree that bears luscious fruit?

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV

What is God’s vision for your life? Are you honoring and being obedient to the vision He has given you? The fruit of the spirit springs from obedience which then results in walking on the path God has given you to then step into the vision from heaven. Be obedient in every circumstance big and small so that you can fully experience His will and vision for your life.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding 6: In all your ways know and acknowledge Him and He will direct and make straight your paths 7: Do not be wise in your own eyes, reverently, fear, and worship the Lord and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Amp.

This passage encourages us to have faith in God, and not in our own thinking or reasoning. We walk by faith and that’s what pleases God. If we have to try to reason it out or figure it out that’s not Faith. That’s living and walking in man’s wisdom, the wisdom of the world. As we know His ways are higher than our ways. Why would we want to limit ourselves to only what we know or can understand about life? Why not submit to the life creator who knows all things?

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Psalm 92:12-15

This passage reminds us that if we remain rooted in the Lord, we will flourish like palm trees and cedars, gaining strength and vitality in our daily walk with him. Let’s be encouraged to stay connected to our Creator, as He provides nourishment that allows us to thrive in every season of our life, no matter the circumstances or hardships that come our way. As we grow deeper in our relationship with God, we not only find renewal and freshness for ourselves but also become a source of blessing to those around us. Let us embrace this promise of flourishing in His presence and commit to deepening our roots in His truth.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Mathew 22:37- 40

To Flourish! New Year is always associated with new beginnings, resolutions and changes. But changes require changes, we can’t expect new when we are still attached to the old. Just like when we get a new haircut to get rid of unhealthy hair, and as a result we get a beautiful healthy stronger hair that will grow faster, we need to let go and trim things, habits, or people that weight us down to allow new growth, spiritual health, strength and freshness.

Flourishing arises from a deep trusting relationship with God.

The Word of God teaches us that flourishing is not merely about material success or comfort but about a life deeply connected to God, characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy. In seeking a relationship with God, we find a fullness of life that transcends circumstances.

This season let's seek a deeper connection with God and allow Him to transform and renew us, submit to His will and ask Him to lead you in godly ways that will align your life with His purpose.

Psalm 92:12-13 says “but the godly will flourish like Palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. How do we live a godly life? Immerse yourself in the Word of God and delight on it day and night. And you may ask, what is required of me?

Jesus summarizes it saying “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself, the entire law is base on there two commandments” Mathew 22:37-40

Let’s pray! Lord give me a hunger for your Word, open my heart and my eyes to see and feel what is from you. We pray that this new year we flourish, grow stronger and experience your presence like never before. We love you Almighty Lord in Jesus name. Amen.

“My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”

Psalm 27:8

As a young Christian woman, I lived for the thrill of a packed calendar. I worked hard all week,

but weekends were my social playground. Back then, staying connected meant relying on a

landline—no social media, no “Find My Friends” app. If only I could’ve reached my crew in real

time! In the middle of all my plans, I ignored the gentle nudges of my heart to spend time with

Jesus.

I didn’t know what to do with the quiet moments or slower weekends, so I filled them with

busyness. But over time, I realized those nudges weren’t random; they were His invitation to

something far better—a chance to linger in His presence, to let Him fill my heart with His love,

heal my wounds, and remind me of His beautiful promises for my life.

Psalm 27:8 captures this beautifully. David hears God calling, “Seek My face,” and his heart

responds, “Lord, I’m coming.” It’s a personal, mutual invitation—a divine conversation. Seeking

God isn’t about checking a box; it’s about responding to His loving call and drawing closer to

Him. When we say yes, His presence transforms us.

But what does it feel like when God calls us to seek Him?

• It’s that quiet, irresistible nudge, wrapped in an awareness of His love (Psalm 27:1).

• It’s a holy discontent—a restlessness that no activity or person can satisfy (Psalm 42:1).

• It’s a conviction to let go of distractions and make room for Him (James 4:8).

• It’s urgent but sweet, bringing peace and clarity about your purpose (Jeremiah 29:13).

Here’s the amazing part: God doesn’t need a set time or place to meet with us. He’s always

ready to hang out. So next time you feel that nudge, don’t hesitate. When He says, “Come and

talk with Me,” let your heart say, “Lord, I’m coming!”

My Father today I come before you to give you all the praise, honor and glory! receive this offering of my lips that Glorify your name, the name that is above all, and I mean above all names including, poverty, sickness and death, for poverty you have made me rich, for sickness you have made me whole, for death you have giving me your eternal life Galatians 3:13

For this reason I do not focus my eyes on these things that are temporal, things that I can touch, see, feel and hear. But I look at the things that are not seeing and put all my trust in them 2nd Corinthians 4:18 "them" is your eternal stablished foundation that is unmovable YOUR WORD ! I know that by them I'm warned reminded, illuminated and instructed, and by keeping them there is a grate reward Psalms 19:11

So Let he words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight Oh Lord, my firm immovable rock and my redeemer Psalms 19:14

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Excuses & self reliance are always the things that keep us from getting to where God wants us to be.

Getting in our own way & stopping us from reaching our full potential, both in the natural and the physical.

The more I walk with God, the more I realize that apart from Him and His strength I can do nothing. Oh I can try and get so far, and have had small wins and or success along the way, but to really conquer that mountain or trial that seems impossible or, THAT GOAL, THAT THORN IN MY FLESH, or that THING/ stronghold I know I need to let go of that has held me back from “flourishing”…

I need Him… I need His supernatural touch to lead me, guide me, give me the willpower, the discipline, the peace, and the grace to walk through it, to get through it, and to ultimately have Victory In it.

There are just some things in this life that we need and or desire that only God Himself can fulfill.

So that place of Surrender is:

A place of breaking

A place of exposure

A place of honesty

No more covering up

Its often messy, vulnerable and emotional

It’s where we let God in, and allow Him to refine, touch & change the inner depths of our souls.

Adam & Eve covered up everything… the first thing they did in the garden was hide.

Hide from God because of their shame, their sin. They covered up their bodies and wanted to hide from God.

When you uncover and are ready to be vulnerable, honest and come out of hiding.

It's then that God can Heal.

Covering up Is the great PRIDE!

“Oh I've got this, I can do it on my own, I dont’ need anyones help….”

But PRIDE came before the fall!

To come to The place of full surrender & to deal with the deep things - the roots, is the place of transformation.

It’s from that place that generations are changed…legacy’s are formed.

God will drop everything when you are willing & come to Him.

To be “Fresh & Flourishing” might mean giving up a few things, to lay down the things that hold us back in order to get to that place where we can live light & in His light and walk in victory, freedom and excellence.

So call to Him and draw from His strength as you surrender to Him. His Grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weaknesses.

During the Exodus story the children of Israel faced many difficulties. Some of them self inflicted, sometimes it was correction from God. In one such case the camp of Israel was infested with poisons snakes. The people were being bitten and asked Moses to pray for them. God hearing their prayers told Moses to make a brass serpent and put it on a staff in the middle of camp. The instruction was that if anyone is bitten by these snakes simply look at the brass serpent and they will be healed!

Often times the healing or break through requires us to believe God and trust him with something that we don’t understand.

How could looking at a statue heal me? Think about the logic for a second. If you were bitten by a snake in the wilderness your thoughts would be for a Doctor, antidote, suck out the poison… not standing in front of a brass snake! In the word it says that everyone who did go and look at that snake were healed. Not by the power of the statue but by their faith in what God has said and their obedience to go and do it!

In John 3:14-15 Jesus shows us how this was a picture pointing us to Himself.

“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These are the verses that set the stage for our beloved John 3:16. Helping us to understand stand it’s that easy.

We will forever be faced with circumstance that will test our faith, Opportunities to say this doesn’t make sense to me! I don’t see how this will work out or why this is Happening. May our continued response be “ But I Trust you God” and remember in our trouble, all we need to do is “Look to Jesus”! He is our Healer, our Redeemer, our strength, our help! And He has become our Salvation.

(Isaiah 12:1-6).

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Psalm 84:11

This verse is a reminder of God’s unwavering provision and protection. As the sun, He illuminates our paths, providing clarity and guidance in uncertain times. As a shield, He defends us from harm, offering safety and peace amidst life’s battles.

God’s promise to “withhold no good thing” reassures us of His abundant grace and care. It doesn’t mean we’ll receive everything we desire, but rather, everything we truly need for our good and His glory. The key is to walk uprightly, living in faith and obedience, trusting His timing and purpose.

Today, take comfort in knowing that God’s light and protection are over you. Rest in His promise that He withholds nothing good from His beloved children. Over these next 21 days take time and reflect on how you can walk uprightly, trusting that He is faithful to provide.

While they were worshipping/ministering,

serving the Lord and fasting , the Holy Spirit said “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2 AMP

A question you should ask yourself is: Am I determined to minister to the Lord during my fast? Acts 13:2 tells us that the prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch minister to the Lord and fasted. Fasting is the time we set aside for ministering to the Lord it’s not about us getting what we can get from God (All the time.) God will move when we fast, but it should be a time when our heart is crying out, I want to minister to you, I want to love you, I want to know you, I want to draw closer to you, my heart cries for you, My Lord

It will bring you closer to God… as you put your Flesh down your spirit will come alive unto the Spirit of the Living God

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

Thessalonians 4:7 (KJV)

At 70 years old, I find the call to holiness in 1 Thessalonians 4:7 resonating deep within me. God reminds me that my life is meant to reflect His Son in purity and love. This calling encourages me to evaluate my actions and thoughts, ensuring they align with His will.

Holiness is not about perfection but about identity and a sincere pursuit of a life that honors God. As I engage with my community during the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, my focus will be seeking a revelation of holiness and a deeper

loving relationship with ABBA, with our Lord, and with the Holy Spirit by decreasing the time I spend with technology and increasing my time in prayer 🙏🏽 , praying for the needs of our Pastor and the church body.

I embrace this calling with gratitude, knowing that God equips me for this purpose. As I continue to walk this path, I strive to live in a way that reflects His love and draws others closer to Him.

My Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to holiness. Help me Father to reflect Your love in my life and guide me by YOUR Holy Spirit on this journey. May my actions point others to You.

In Yeshua's name, I pray. Amen🙏🏽

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

6

“You have sown much, and bring in little;

You eat, but do not have enough;

You drink, but you are not filled with drink;

You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;

And he who earns wages,

Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

HAGGAI 1: 5-11

“ Consider your ways! “

These few words so passionately and sternly spoken by God through the prophet of Haggai should stand as daily conviction, principle, and cornerstone in our devotion to Christ as followers of Him. Throughout these verses we see the lord illustrate and warn his people to redirect their focus back to Him, and what putting this world's needs, demands, and desires as our priority does in the spirit and in the natural. Serving the needs of this world before first glorifying and building what the Lord has called us to do with, in, and through him, is operating in a completely backwards order in comparison to how God has intended our lives to look. The Lord can and will only work with a life of sacrifice and reliance on Him. In losing focus and first serving our fleshly needs, we exalt and place this world's demands on the throne of our lives. Everything we reap then will be from this world since we are serving it as our God. Worthless, dead, and lacking will our harvest be since we are investing into the source of all things dead and with no eternal value. Our throne is a sacred place that should only be given to and devoted to the Lord our God. A place where we sacrifice, offer, serve, and worship with our all. If we aren’t leading a life that's devoted to the lord and builds his temple as priority, we allow a spiritual curse to come upon everything we put our hands to; a drought from heavenly blessing that separates us from God's intended desire to provide and touch all we do in life. How many of us have been consumed by the natural needs of life while our spiritual lives lie in ruin? In months, weeks, days, and even moments we can tend to lose focus and misplace Jesus, neglecting to prioritize the very thing he’s created us to do. I urge all of you to make 2025 a year of devotion to the lord and building his temple everyday before tending to any worldly need and desire. A year of dependance on his presence, drawing away from the noise, and consecrating ourselves back to the will of Christ. Removing the idols that have captured our eyes, consumed our praise, and drew us further from the heart of God. Amen.

“Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Matthew 13:8 ESV

Fresh and flourishing starts at the seeds that we plant. A great farmer knows not every seed they toss into the field will land on good soil. However, for the seeds that do, make all the planting worth it. If we desire God to bring fresh and flourishing, we must be responsible to never cease to plant seeds.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3

I pray this scripture would encourage you to persevere, just as a leaf on a planted tree does not wither, let us be a people who continually seek the Lord and his will, and to be planted in our hope and faith. That we would be a people who continually thirst and hunger for him so that our fruits in due season would be fresh and flourishing.