Today's reading

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. –John 1:1-18 NIV

January 14, 2019

Know God: In the Beginning was the Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. –John 1:1-18 NIV

Prayer and fasting are times to really dig into the Word of God and get to know Him better. There are several steps to take to know God in a deeper, more personal way. First, you need to realize that God sent Jesus, who is actually the Word, in the flesh to dwell among humanity. People came to know of Jesus through His words and works. It is through faith in Jesus that you come to know God better through the knowledge of His Word.Second, once you believe in Jesus, you need to be continuously filled by God’s Holy Spirit. It is through the Holy Spirit that you will be enlightened more and more to the understanding of God, to His nature and attributes, of His will and ultimate plan for humanity and His future Kingdom to come.Third, daily prayer, humble and authentic conversations with God, and worship of Him avails much in your spiritual journey toward eternity with God. Fourth, obedience to God and His Word and ways allows you to grow in your relationship with Him and knowledge of Him. The more you obey, the more God, through the Holy Spirit, reveals greater things to you. He who is faithful with what’s been given, will be given more.Last, fellowship with other Christians increases your awareness of the Lord’s work and strengthens your liaison with God and others. In time, you will see for yourself the full manifestation and glory of God! The more you read, study, and delight yourself in the Word, the more you will truly know God more deeply.

prayer focuses

Pray for a deeper understanding of God’s Word through the Holy Spirit.

Pray that through prayer and fasting you will experience God’s manifest presence and glory.

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Author

2019 Revolution Contributors

Devotions for Bayside Community Church's 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting are written and edited by: Gloria Shrock, Barbara Alpert, Dan Richards, Dave Thomas, Kate Hahn, Carol Lewis, Traci Bray, Lisa Christy, Rosemary Valentino, Liz Shirey, Angela Shears, and Kris Rowland.

With content direction and final edits made by Bayside's discipleship and creative teams.