Jan 16 – One of the challenges in implementing vision, in stepping out following the Lord, is that we can be weighed down by the baggage of yesterday. “I tried this before, but it didn’t work,” or, “no lasting change happened,” “I was wounded by it, or by people in it” – whatever ‘it’ is.

As we mature in faith, we are to learn from the past, but not to be ruled by it. Success or failure, good experiences or bad, challenges and difficulties faced, and overcome, prepare us for the next season. Scars remind us of past healing – wounds of unresolved issues.

‘Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Hebrews 12:1-2, CSB).

Thank You that the people of the Bible, just like us, did make it, became strong in faith, and waxed valiant in the battle against evil, darkness and sin. We are encouraged by their example, and choose to fix our eyes on Jesus.

Father, we would to move forward in faith, denying self, taking up our cross daily, and following Jesus. We ask for the grace and ministry to do so well, the guidance and power of Your Spirit to enable us to step beyond ourselves into Your purposes and will, to become strong in faith and wax valiant in the spiritual battle. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jan 17 – Father, as the team start the new Alpha course this evening – we ask for Your presence, favour and anointing on each team member, and Your Spirit’s deep work in the hearts and minds of every guest who comes.

May no-one be hindered because of Satan, sin, doubt, fear nor the pressure of others preventing them coming.

Satan is waging an all-out war in order to captivate and control the mind and decision making processes of the human race. He is not content to simply destroy any mention of or regard for Christ – instead he wants to receive human adulation, praise, honour and worship himself.

We declare that his strategies will ultimately fail because of Christ – Hallelujah! And we proclaim Your Spirit’s power to be at work in the life of each person leading, serving or the guests in this Alpha course leading to Your saving grace being poured out on each guest. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Jan 18 – As we pray this week about moving forward with our Kingdom Building vision, it is important to remove the weight and sin that hinders – Removing Destructive Baggage. We again focus on Hebrews 12:1-2, CSB,

‘Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’

It is the example of the cloud of witnesses that the writer wants us to take on board; they were full of faith while still being very human.

It is keeping our eyes on Jesus that really counts in all of this. Although we have the example of the heroes of the faith, it is not to them we look; we look to Jesus, the One who opened the Way for us, and is leading us forward to faith’s perfection one day.

Father, the main area that we accumulate baggage in is in our minds. The way my mind operates is complex. Transforming my thinking by the Word of God is such an important part of living in Christ. Help each one of us to do so. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jan 19 – Father, we know that as Satan’s strategies work themselves out as the end of the Age of Redemption and Grace draws closer, it is not sufficient for him to remain as the unseen power behind many of the world’s systems and powers; no, he will want to come more and more to the fore so that his power and ingenuity are lauded and properly appreciated.

May Satan’s revealing not be on his terms in this nation; instead, may Your Spirit unmask Satan’s full darkness, deceit and hatred for every human being.

Satan is destructive, evil, untrustworthy and dirty. In his exposing may many hear the Gospel, repent and turn to You, and come to a saving trust in Your Son – the pure, holy and trustworthy One.

I pray that the UK will be one of the places in the world where his true evil and wicked nature, and the spiritual death, decay and destruction he wreaks, is fully understood, and many people turn to You for salvation and deliverance.

May the UK church arise from under Satan’s baggage having their minds renewed in Christ, and be able to fulfil Your will and call to each one of us to partner with You in The Great Commission. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen

Jan 20 – Father, Paul’s injunction, in 1 Corinthians 10:5c, is still vital, ‘bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.’ I bring my mind to You today. You intimately know my thought patterns both those renewed in Your Son, and those that are still unhealthy baggage.

I bring the realm of my memories to You. Memories are such potent things which have a really strong impact on how I feel I am doing, my mind, and on whom I perceive myself to be.

You know how far I have come in the process of sanctifying my mind – setting it apart from the world for Your use and glory. If I do not take the time to discipline, to biblically reshape and spiritually develop my mind then it becomes unruly, ill-disciplined and destructive to my spiritual walk.

If I fail to heed Your discipline and submit to its work, I end up in a dark place. I chose to submit and trust Your work in my life; and thus, step into a new place full of Your light, and to fill my mind with Your sanctifying word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jan 21 – Father, the pool of memories that are held in the reservoir of my mind can either give me confidence in my identity in Christ and Your dealings with me – a well-spring of life – or leave me feeling broken and uncertain about my place in You – a cesspool of spiritual decay.

I pray today for a healing in the realm of any of my memories which are not yet subject to the Lordship of Your Son.

If any of the memories are unhealthy baggage still controlled by either my sin or the sin of another, or which raise the spectre of the trauma of a past event or events, teach me how to sanctify them.

I pray for the grace to partner with Your Spirit to transform the world of my memories into one which is faith-filled and at peace with my past because of the blood and forgiveness of Your Son. May I, and many in our church, greatly honour and exalt Your Son thereby. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Jan 22 – Father, I pray that the trigger points which take me into confusion, fear, doubt and defeat will be disarmed. May I understand and guard against the temptations I face to wallow under the weight of the unsanctified baggage in my mind.

Grant me the wisdom and spiritual resilience to block the pathways by which Satan comes against me. I bring my mind to You and ask for victory in the battlefield of my mind so that Christ’s freedom reigns in me.

I bring the baggage of false conclusions and deductions to You. Sin, self and Satan want me to always arrive at a conclusion which avoids the way of the cross, exalts self-reliance, and develops a mistrust of You.

Forgive me when I have arrived at such destructive conclusions. Instead, I seek to embrace the way of the cross, reject self-reliance, seek to follow the pathway of humility and grace, and choose to trust You in everything. In Jesus’ name. Amen.