Saint James Lenten Consecration Guide 2017

The Christian Church recognizes “Lent’ as a period of 40 days (March 1st – April 14th, excluding Sundays)

that believers prepare themselves for the celebration and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Over the years, many believers have used the Lenten Season to draw closer to Christ, imitate Christ, and

commit to a spiritual fast. This year, the Saint James Family is expecting to F.O.C.U.S. (Faithful, Obedience,

Committed, Unselfish, Serving) in every phase of our lives.

As your pastor, I’m humbly requesting that you covenant with me over the next 40 days to fulfill our 2017

Lenten theme of “F.O.C.U.S.” Below you will find the 2017 Consecration Guide. The Consecration is

holistic and encompasses every area of our lives. This consecration is practical and requires sincerity,

honesty, and most of all, discipline. I believe if you adhere to this consecration guide, you will find yourself

in a better position holistically.

Lenten

Consecration

Guide

2017

2017 Holistic Guide A) Spend quality time with God daily in centering prayer.

Take advantage of Saint James’ Prayer Conference Call daily at 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM and the 2017 Lent Devotional Guide.

B) Be intentional in what you put in your body.

Fast every Monday from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM. For a more intense fast, please refer to the Daniel Fast (also available on the church’s website).

C) No social media on Thursdays and Fridays (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.)

D) Participate in EVERY 2017 Lenten Worship Series by being physically present each night.

Sow a minimum of $20 for each Lenten Worship Experience.

E) Read a chapter a day from the suggested reading list.

Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening or A Play-full Life: Slowing Down and Seeking Peace

F) Participate in some type of “non-sinful” activity that helps you to relax .

Bowling, massage, yoga, PraiseMoves, reading, movies, family games, visit to the psychologist, etc.

G) Make a commitment to become more physically fit over the next forty days.

Exercising, running, walking, sit-ups, push-ups, etc.

Participate in Sweat Suit Sunday.

H) Make a commitment to HONESTLY tithe 10% of your gross income.

Make a pledge to the “Dirt to Destiny Campaign” that will please God.

Make an investment into a savings or mutual fund account.

If you do not have a Life Insurance Policy, get one over the next forty days.

Pay off at least one creditor.

I) Engage in godly and positive conversations/lifestyles (positive language).

Make it a priority to encourage somebody else.

Convey to those that are near and dear to you, that you love them.

Commit to NOT gossiping, slandering, or using abusive language.

If you do not have anything positive to say, then put a gate around your mouth. (James 1:26)

Suggested Books to Read During Lent: Bourgeault, Cynthia, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening (Cowley Publications) Hamman, Jaco, A Play-full Life: Slowing Down and Seeking Peace (Pilgrim Press)

Daniel Fast Guidelines (Scriptural Basis - Daniel 10:2-3)

Foods to include in Your diet during the Daniel Fast:

All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon. All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if You are not allergic to soy. All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn. All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter. All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, French beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans. All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame. Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters. Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices. The Fish Option: Limit their intake of fish to no more than twice a week. Abstain from shellfish, catfish, and any other fish or seafood that is a scavenger or does not have fins and scales. Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast: All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, and poultry. All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs. All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice. All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods. All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives. All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips, etc.

2017 Lenten Devotional

“GET IN POSITION!!!”

Introduction Read Scripture: Genesis 1:26-30 (AMP) & Matthew 5:13-16 (AMP) Have you forgotten who you are and who resides within you? Here’s a reminder: you are a reflection of God! You are Light! You are Salt! CHRIST lives inside you! You have been given power – through Christ – to rule, to have dominion, to pull down, to cast out, to do good works and to glorify God in the earth! During this Lenten season, God desires to deposit and download Divine assignments, appointments and instructions that will help you to navigate on earth and to live the abundant life which God designed and purposed just for you. Yet you must be in the right position to hear, listen, obey and carry out God’s instructions. You do not have time to waste! God desires to meet you in the secret place. He is waiting….Will you get in position? March 1, 2017 HANDS Read Scripture: Psalm 90:17 (AMP) & 2 Timothy 1:6-10 (NIV) Reflect & Journal: You are the handiwork of God! Your hands were carefully crafted, molded, and shaped by God to perform or to execute a particular work in the earth. What service will you render? What healing will you bring? What offering will you sow? As you spend time in God’s presence, ask Him to reveal the work that He has prepared for your hands to do. Whatever work you put your hands to do, remember to always do it as unto the Lord!!! Sing Hymn of Meditation: Hold To God’s Unchanging Hands Prayer: God, as we lift our hands to You in worship and praise, remind us that we must also reach them out in service to others. We thank You for establishing the works of our hands. As we go about doing what You have called us to do, remove fear, doubt, worry or anything that will hinder us from finishing the tasks that You have laid out before us. God, forgive us. Cleanse our blood-stained hands from sin. Help us in the days ahead to do no harm and to walk in peace and loving fellowship with our neighbors. As we journey through this Lenten season, we ask that You would lay Your hands upon us. Give us a fresh outpouring of Your anointing. Help us to carry out every God-idea with a spirit of excellence – as unto You. This is our prayer. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen!

March 5, 2017 EYES Read Scripture: Joel 2:18-32 (v.28) (NIV) & Ephesians 1:16-21 (AMP) Reflect & Journal: With all that is going on in the world today, it is easy to keep your eyes fixed on the news, social media, a person of interest or any number of things that may catch your eye. Yet these are merely distractions that serve to blindside you and through you off course. So, if you find that your vision is out of focus and you are unsure of which way to turn - Look up! Fix your eyes on Jesus! He is standing by to show you the way. Sing Song of Meditation: Open the Eyes of My Heart Prayer: Lord, open the eyes of our understanding. Bring our natural and spiritual eyes into focus and alignment with the plans You have for our lives. Cause us to dream God-dreams. Give us the courage to write the vision and, the grace to wait for it to come to full fruition. Lord, we come against the enemy who tries to blur, blind or blot out and distort the vision You have given to us. Help us to see clearly the path of righteousness You have set before us. O God, show us the way that is pleasing in Your sight. Forgive us God, for turning a blind eye to what You have called or purposed us to do in this season. When we become lost in the darkness and can’t find our way, let the light of Your word brighten the pathway. In Jesus’ Name, Amen! March 12, 2017 EARS Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-2 (MSG) & Mark 4:21-25 (AMP) Reflect & Journal: Do You know that there is a difference between listening and hearing? You can hear what someone is saying and ignore them. But, if you are listening, then you are actively engaging and giving attention to the speaker. Tuning your ears to God’s every word will be pertinent to ensuring that you receive ALL the instructions He is downloading in this season. Ignoring or turning a deaf ear to any part of the message may prove detrimental. So, listen up…God has something to say to you! Sing Hymn of Meditation: Hear Our Prayer, O Lord Prayer: God so often we have turned a deaf ear to Your requests out of fear, anger or stubbornness. We admit that we have spent more time seated with the counsel of the ungodly listening to and heeding their advice, rather than Your voice. We repent and are sorry for ignoring You! Our desire is to do Your will. While others may mean well, You – Holy One - have our best interest at heart. Grant us a greater level of discernment in the days ahead – Help us to test what we hear against Your Holy word. Teach us to be still and listen for Your voice. (Selah) Speak Lord. Your servants are listening. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

March 19, 2017 FEET Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:31-34 (NLT) & Mathew 6:13 (NIV) Reflect & Journal: It’s time to get on your feet – to move into an established position! What is God calling you to do? Where is God calling you to go? What area(s) is God calling you to possess and take dominion? Fold your hands in prayer. Lift your eyes to the hills. Open your ears and listen for His wise instruction. Then, move your feet in the direction God is showing you…. Sing Song of Meditation: Order My Steps Prayer: God, You have called us to be like a tree planted by rivers of water. In moments of weakness, when we bend and feel as if we will break, stand us up. Ground us in Your word. Remind us that You are our strength and our song. Lead us not into temptation. Forgive us when we walk outside Your will. Help us to walk out the steps that You have ordained for our lives. This we pray, In Jesus’ Name. Amen! March 26, 2017 HEART Scripture: Ezekiel 36:22-26 (MSG) & Hebrews 4:9-12 (AMP) Reflect & Journal: News of violence, hatred, injustice, urban decay, loss of loved ones and natural disasters can easily cause fear, anger, disillusionment, hopelessness and sadness to loom within the human heart. John 14:27 admonishes: “Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” As you journey through this Lenten season, give God your heart. He is able to guard and shield it from the cares of this world! Allow the touch of His unfailing love to mend the wounded, scarred, tattered and broken pieces of your heart. God loves you and He will take care of you and everything that concerns you. Sing Hymn of Meditation: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Prayer: Here’s my heart Lord. Examine me. If You find any wicked way in me, remove it and lead me the way everlasting. Create in me a clean heart. Renew a right spirit within me. Write Your word upon my heart. Purify me daily. Give me a heart of flesh. Make it a reflection of Yours. This is my earnest plea. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. April 2, 2017 MIND

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) & 1 Peter 5:6-8 (AMP) Reflect & Journal: In her book, The Mind Connection, Joyce Meyers writes: “A transformed mind leads to transformed moods, attitudes, and behaviors. Thinking Godly thoughts and speaking them each morning is an exercise that can change your entire day”. Take time to clean up and clear out the negative, self-defeating, self-loathing and ungodly thoughts from your mind. Ask God to help restore, renew and transform your mind as You read His word and sit quietly in His presence. In doing so, you will notice your moods, attitudes and behaviors changing for the good! Sing Song of Meditation: I Surrender All Prayer: God, I put on the helmet of salvation. I ask that You would renew my mind. Remove any thoughts that cause clutter or that cloud good judgement. Grant me the peace that surpasses all understanding. Show me, Lord, how to take captive and toss out any thought that is not like Christ. Help me to love You with all my heart, my mind and my soul. I love You. I bless You. I thank You in advance for granting me the mind of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. April 9, 2017 SPIRIT Scripture: Isaiah 44:3 (AMP) & John 16:12-13 Reflect & Journal: You cannot do this on your own! In order to do God’s will, you must invite the Holy Spirit to reside within you. Apart from His leadership, guidance, correction and instruction, you will not be able to reach God’s intended destination for your life. In order to get to every divine appointment, complete every divine assignment and reap the benefits of eternal life with Christ, you must yield to the Spirit. Welcome the Holy Spirit into your heart and watch Him do the exceedingly, abundantly above all you ask, think or imagine in your life! Sing Hymn of Meditation: I Am Thine, O Lord Prayer: Holy Spirit thou art welcome in this place. Holy Spirit, thou art welcome in this place. Mold me, make me – Fill me with Your Spirit. Pour out Your Spirit upon me. Deposit within me everything that I need to fulfill Your perfect will. Align my heart, my mind, my spirit to Yours, God. Sovereign Lord, I surrender all to You. I confess that it is in You that I live, move and have my very being. God, not my will but Your will be done. Help me let go of anything that hinders my ability to draw closer to You. Forgive me for being afraid and not taking my rightful place as an heir, a royal priest, a chosen generation, Your son/daughter. Today, I give You my hands. Use them as You please. Touch my eyes. Help me see what You see. I am ready to listen to every word that falls from Your lips concerning me and my assignment. With Your help, Holy Spirit, I will walk out the steps that have been ordered and authored by God. I ask that You examine my heart – cleanse me with hyssop. Anoint my mind afresh and anew. Grant me Your peace. I will be careful to forever give Your name all the glory, all the honor and all the praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Amen. Amen!