DAILY PRAYER GUIDE

---

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

DAILY PRAYER GUIDE September 25 – November 3, 2018

LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE. MAKE DISCIPLES. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

We hope that this guide encourages and inspires you as you search your heart for guidance in the part God has for YOU in Project Mainstreet. We hope you will pray with each day’s meditation, opening yourself to God’s Holy Spirit, and find the joy of being one with Him, through the loving example of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself completely for us. - Dunwoody Baptist Church Prayer Team

DAY ONE

September 25, 2018

EXTREME ADVENTURE “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 What an exciting time to be a member of Dunwoody Baptist Church! As we embark on this adventure together, moving from dreaming and vision to tangible plans, let us keep our focus on the overarching purpose of this undertaking---to better enable us to share the love of Christ for the glory of God and His Kingdom. Our teams and committees will keep us in check and make wise our steps, but the inspiration of God and fire that has been fanned into flame will motivate us to rely on God and the Holy Spirit for the next chapter in the life of Dunwoody Baptist Church.

Prayer Focus:

Ask the Lord to speak to you through the 40 days of this devotional. Spend time in prayer seeking His will for your life. Thank Him for the opportunity that we have to unify our campus and minister to our community.

A Prayer from Pastor Allen Jackson:

Gracious and Generous God, thank you for the amazing spiritual legacy that is Dunwoody Baptist Church. You have worked through her pastors, her lay leaders, and her people over these five and a half decades. Your presence is felt here, people have been obedient here and the desire to Love God, Love People, Make Disciples and Make a Difference is strong. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us and we praise You for the legacy that lives on by Your eternal Spirit. Now it is our turn to stand and be counted among the faithful and the devoted. Now it is our opportunity to make a joyous and sacrificial offering that will help to ensure that future generations will come to know the love of Christ at DBC. Please grant us wisdom and courage as we prepare to give nothing less than our very best for the building up of your Kingdom and the expansion of the gospel of Jesus the Christ, in whom we pray. Amen.

DAY TWO

September 26, 2018

WHY PRAY? “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 Can prayer really make a difference? Can my prayers actually change things? Is it possible for the will of God to be hindered because I don’t pray? These are legitimate questions. The answers you give them reflect the very foundation of your relationship with the Lord. On one hand, if God is Sovereign, He’s going to do everything the way He wants, so why pray? On the other hand, if He is waiting on my prayers to execute His will, then I had better get serious about praying really quick. How does His Sovereignty and my prayers go together? God uses prayer to make the impossible, possible and the ordinary, extraordinary. Prayers make our efforts effective and help us to define God’s will more clearly. C.H. Spurgeon said, “Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets His people to pray.” Faithful praying releases the Holy Spirit to act and allows us to see God in His full glory. Someone once said, “God does things when we pray that He does not do when we do not pray.” May today’s devotional be an inspiration for you to seek the Lord in prayer. Look up prayer in your Bible’s concordance. Then read and study those verses it gives you. It will help you become endeared to prayer and realize just how vital prayer is.

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for hearing all the prayers that have been lifted up on our church’s behalf. Thank Him for answering them. Pray that God’s people at DBC will pray more than ever before and that everything we do as a church will be labored over in prayer.

A Prayer from David Newman:

Dear Heavenly Father, we invoke Your blessings and guidance as we begin this important step in the life of Dunwoody Baptist Church. We look forward to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to more and more people in our community as we renovate and refresh our facilities. Continue to direct our minds and hearts as we move forward in the weeks and months ahead. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

DAY THREE

September 27, 2018

DON’T LET THE FIRE GO OUT! “This is why I remind you to keep using the gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Now let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.” 2 Timothy 1:6 When the Olympics came to America several years ago, part of the experience was to see the Olympic flame. For every Olympic Game, a flame is lit from the eternal Olympic flame in Greece and then carried to wherever the Olympic Games are being held. The flame made its way to Atlanta for the opening ceremonies by traveling all over America first. Volunteers and heroes carried torches holding the flame from place to place. While the flame was passing through Tacoma, Washington, Harley Sheffield had the honor of carrying it on his bicycle. As he was crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the expansion grates on the bridge blew out a tire on his bike. The torch popped out of its holder, fell onto the bridge, and broke into pieces. The Olympic flame was extinguished. Sheffield was horrified. They would have to go all the way back to Greece and start over again! He would go down in history as the man who allowed the flame to go out! His panic was unnecessary because a “mother flame” was present in a trailing van as well as a replacement torch. Thus he could resume his duty, and the Olympic flame traveled onward. This story provides a great illustration of our walk with God. Too many times we stumble and allow our flame to go out. If your flame has been doused, there is a “Father flame” who stands ready to light your torch today, and He will keep it lit.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God will light our spiritual torches with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Pray that Dunwoody Baptist Church will always be on fire for the Lord. Ask God to make your spiritual flame burn brighter (increase your faith). Ask Him how He can enable you to restore, rekindle, or resume something for Him that will give Him glory.

A Prayer from Linda Flagler:

Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings to us every day. Help us to see that You provide for us in ways we don’t even think about. Thank You for our church and its ministries. Help us to find ways to be used in its ministries to glorify You. Show us where you are leading us by being still and giving You time to speak and time for us to listen. Thank You for Your gift of Jesus. May our lives reflect His presence within us to those around us, who need to know Him. In His name, Amen.

DAY FOUR

September 28, 2018

FROM IMPOSSIBLE TO POSSIBLE “And Jesus looking upon them said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.’” Mark 10:27 God has a history of using the insignificant to accomplish the impossible. It is impossible to overestimate the power and role of dreams in human existence. Dreams have brought us lifesaving medical breakthroughs, soul-stirring revival movements, and incredible technological advances. Some of our greatest athletic achievements are the result of a personal dream. The United States of America is the result of a dream of real democratic government by a group of patriots. Martin Luther King changed the course of a nation because he had a dream. Your world and “the” world can be changed because of the dream inside you. These dreams are your daytime dreams–your vision, your hopes, your aspirations, and your desires. A God-given dream won’t go away. Search your heart and mind to get in touch with the dream God has put inside you. Then pray about it and take action! DBC’s dream to unify our facility began in prayer and seeking of God’s guidance to accommodate the growing ministries and needs of the people who come here to worship, learn, serve, sing praises, go to school, engage in community activities, and more! God has been faithful. We now have the privilege of stepping out in faith to make this vision a reality! We are blessed, and humbled to be a part of such an undertaking!

Prayer Focus:

Pray that our church’s vision will become a reality in God’s perfect timing. Pray that our dreams of bringing our friends and family to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will come about because of our church and ministries. Ask God to reveal or clarify your personal dream—­that is His will for your life—and direct you in acting on it.

A Prayer from Robert Comeaux:

Dear Lord, we pray for wisdom as we pursue your desire for Dunwoody Baptist Church. We ask that You give us guidance and direction as we seek Your face. You are our Shepherd, and we trust You to guide us through every stage of this process. We ask that You give supernatural wisdom to those we have called on to bring leadership in this campaign. We ask that You guide our leaders to have vision for future generations who are not here yet while also bringing great vision on behalf of the generations who are currently here. We pray that our thoughts and inclinations would not be our thoughts, but that they would be Your thoughts. We pray Psalm 37:4–Let us take delight in you so that You would put in our hearts your desires for us. We trust You and we turn our hearts and our affections to You, Amen.

DAY FIVE

September 29th 2018

WHAT A GREAT DREAM LOOKS LIKE “The leaders gave willingly and completely to the LORD. The people rejoiced to see their leaders give so gladly, and King David was also very happy.” 1 Chronicles 29:9 One thing is for certain; people will come to a place where their dreams can be fulfilled. Dreams are in the hearts of God’s people. How do we know what a dream looks like? This list below gives us a good description of a God-given dream: A God-given dream will stir your passion. A God-given dream will be humanly impossible to accomplish. A God-given dream will make an impression on you for a lifetime. A God-given dream will cause you to exercise strong faith.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that DBC will be a true sanctuary where people can find and fulfill their dreams with God’s guidance. Pray that the whole congregation will be united in our dream to update and unify our church. Pray that we can be one so that the world can be won. Pray for church leaders to have discernment for decisions that affect this dream. Ask God to protect our vision.

A Prayer from Brenda Russell:

Father, We are so thankful that You have blessed us with a loving church family and faithful, passionate leadership. As we prepare to write a new verse in our lifesong of service to You and Your people, we ask that You be with us and give us the words, the strength, and the courage we need to share the Good News of Your Son with our community, our nation, and the world. We thank You for the many gifts with which You have blessed us. We know that all we have comes from You. Help us see that by sharing these gifts we can make sure DBC continues to be a caring and growing church, dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with all people. Without love all our actions are meaningless. We know we can do all things in You and we pray that You will find our efforts pleasing in Your sight. We desire to sign Your name to everything we do each day, so let us join our voices, our hearts, and our lives in praise to You. Amen.

DAY SIX

September 30, 2018 WHEN YOUR DREAM IS DELAYED “‘Here comes that dreamer’ they said to each other... ‘Let’s get rid of him…Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’” Genesis 37:19-20 Joseph found out what every dreamer finds out—not everyone is happy about your dream. Joseph found out that people would envy your dream, conspire against it, speak against it, and even attack it. Joseph’s brothers put him in a pit and then sold him as a slave to go to Egypt. Don’t you imagine that at that time, Joseph wondered just what in the world God was doing and if his dream would become a reality? Remember that every God-given dream will come to a place where it is impossible to accomplish the dream in human ability alone. God is sovereign and His timing is perfect. Remember Habakkuk 2:3b, “It (our plan to build) will certainly come and will not delay.” Therefore, when we get to a place where we realize that the dream cannot happen unless God steps in, then God alone will get the glory when the dream is accomplished. His ways are not our ways, and He does not delay a single day.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that Dunwoody Baptist Church will continue to strive forward with our God-sized dream of unifying our campus so that we are better able to reach others for His Kingdom. Pray that God will give us the endurance and stamina needed to face any temporary setbacks. Pray that all involved will experience joy on this journey of faith. Ask God to strengthen you also as you continue to seek His face.

A Prayer from Esther Ortiz:

Father God, please give Alvaro and me the will and means to support Dunwoody Baptist’s expansion and ministry growth. Help us to gain a full understanding of sacrificial giving so that we may invest in our futures not only spiritually, but also financially. Please continue to give us guidance so that we may raise Liam, Emma, and Diego with a Christian upbringing within a loving congregation. Please bless our ministries’ desire to continue spreading the gospel through Loving God, Loving People, Making Disciples, and Making a Difference. Please help our building campaign be a success; empower us to be leaders of this change. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

DAY SEVEN October 1, 2018

DON’T STOP SHORT OF YOUR DREAMS “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth. Here, you have back what is yours.” Matthew 25:25 The parable of the talents gives us a picture of several different attitudes that are common in our society. The master entrusted his fortune to his servants while he was away. To one he gave 10 talents, to one five, and to the last one he gave one talent. The outcome is familiar. The servants who were given more invested the man’s money for a good return, and were able to return more than they were given. The last, though he was given a small amount to care for, was afraid to risk anything and buried the talent, for the master was known to be a hard businessman. The master was pleased, and rewarded the servants who were willing to take a risk to bring him benefit. There are several lessons we can learn from this story: Don’t allow fear to hinder you. Don’t be afraid to expand your dreams and take a risk. Do know that God’s dreams are often larger than ours. Do know that God’s attitude is not harsh. He honors us for taking steps of faith. Christians look to Joseph as the role model for dreaming big. Genesis 39 holds important lessons for all dreamers. Some lessons in this chapter that can keep us from stopping short of our dreams are: Genesis 39:2 “As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him. He ended up living in the house of his Egyptian master.” Genesis 39:21 “But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, giving him favor in the sight of the jailer.” Genesis 39:23 “The jailer gave Joseph free run of the prison, never even checking, because God was with him; whatever he did, God prospered him. When our deepest desire is to be within His will, we can know that God is with us.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that Dunwoody Baptist Church will pursue our vision to the fullest potential. Pray that through the achievement of this dream, more followers will come to Christ. Ask God to show you ways in which you have stopped short of His best for you.

A Prayer from Eric Nuetzel:

Dear God, thank You for bringing so many people to our church. Thank You for blessing us with a corner in Dunwoody that is so central and accessible. Help us to build and unify our campus so that we can share Jesus’ love in more ways and with more people. Amen.

DAY EIGHT

October 2, 2018 YOU CAN TRUST GOD - PART 1 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 There are two ways people live their lives as they pass through this world—either remembering God or forgetting Him. They either acknowledge His presence and live their lives in dependence on Him, or they pay no attention to His claims on them and live a life on the basis of their own understanding and abilities. The worst tragedy and cruelest deception is the man who says feebly with his lips, “I trust God,” but an examination of his calendar and checkbook shows no difference between him and the man who does not even make that claim. The question we must ask ourselves today is, “Do we trust God?” The very nature of this question produces two possible meanings: First, “Can you ‘trust’ God?” That is, is He trustworthy? Can He handle the decisions and the problems in your life? Second, “Can ‘you’ trust God?” That is, do you have the ability to trust Him? These verses reveal some important things about trusting God: There is no in-between. Either you trust God, or you don’t. After trust is expressed, the blessing comes. This promise of direction is given to those who exercise trust in God.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that our congregation’s faith and trust in God will grow. Pray that we will allow God to be in control and that we will utterly depend on Him and desire that His will be done. Pray that the fruits of our deepened trust in Him will result in guidance from Him. Ask God to identify an area of your life where you need to yield to Him. Give it to Him and then look for His direction.

A Prayer from Jeff Reams:

God, we believe; help us with our unbelief. Help us to surrender in trust to You. May we demonstrate our trust in You in how we live each day, how we plan for the future, and how we do life together as Your children. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

DAY NINE

October 3, 2018 YOU CAN TRUST GOD - PART 2 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 God expects His people to trust Him, and He is a trustworthy God! We were created to live our lives in dependence upon Him. Our knowledge is incomplete, our wisdom is inadequate, our power is ineffective; thus, we need our Creator. These verses in Proverbs tell us how we are to trust Him. We are to trust Him entirely (verse 5). God wants us to trust Him “with all of our heart.” That means everything from our salvation to physical, mental, and social needs. That includes trusting Him with our families, marriages, jobs, relationships, finances, abilities, weaknesses, health, accomplishments, and failures. We are to trust him exclusively (verse 5). God commands us not to depend on our own understanding. Why? Because it is fundamentally flawed. God is truly omniscient. He knows it all from beginning to end. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. So follow His leading from His Word, prayer, and Godly counsel. He is on your side, so trust Him! We are to trust Him uniformly (verse 6). In all we do, in every decision we make, we are to trust His wisdom with everything—big and small.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that DBC will be fully convinced of God’s trustworthiness. Take time to praise Him today for who He is and what He does. Take time to thank Him today for His direction of your church’s path. Thank Him for His direction of your path.

A Prayer from Chip Thompson:

Dear Jesus, thank You so much for all You have done for and through our church. Thank You that You have instilled in this body a heart for the lost and a willingness to move forward to do the next right thing. Lord, we don’t want to get ahead of Your perfect plan for Dunwoody Baptist Church and yet we feel a burden to make our campus something that will be safe and inviting to our community. So, Lord, we are at a place where we recognize that this issue so big that only YOU can make it a reality. We thank You that we get to trust You in this and only YOU will deserve the Glory for what will be done. We promise to praise and thank You for Your answer and to accept Your answer as what is best. Thank You for saving us, loving us, and for the privilege of being used by You to further the Kingdom, Amen.

DAY TEN

October 4, 2018 LEARNING TO TRUST HIM “Trust in the Lord…Fear the Lord…Honor the Lord” Proverbs 3:5-9 In order to receive the blessings of God, we must trust Him. Trusting God is not some mere token confession you make from time to time. Trusting God must be complete, total, daily reliance upon the promises of God. Every day you will face the choice of relying upon your own understanding or trusting Him. You and I must choose to trust God. When you come to those places in life where the line is drawn and the question is, “Can I trust God?” your answer determines whether you grow beautifully or shrivel spiritually. The issue is, “Which am I going to choose?” When God told Noah to build the ark, it had never rained. Noah chose to trust God. Abraham left everything behind because he chose to trust God. Joshua was faced with a decision, and he said, “Choose today whom you will serve…but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Do you have this kind of trust in the Lord? You can prove your trust in Him. Trusting Him is real when you acknowledge Him, and when you honor the Lord with your time, talent, and treasures.

Prayer Focus:

Claim the following Scripture today and personalize it for Dunwoody Baptist Church and for yourself: Hebrews 10:35-39, “Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember the goal, even if it tests your patience.”

A Prayer from Allen Taliaffero:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for all my blessings and for Dunwoody Baptist Church. I pray for Your guidance as we venture into this project together. I pray that You would open our hearts and minds so that we can discover in what way we can be of service. Whether it be spiritually, financially or physically, our desire is to share Your love. In Your name I pray, Amen.

DAY ELEVEN October 5, 2018

A PRAYER FOR DIRECTION “Direct my footsteps according to your word…” Psalm 119:133 There are at least two essentials to the Spirit-filled life—prayer and the Word of God. Prayer finds its very foundation in the Scripture. It helps you to pray with purpose, conviction, and direction when God is revealed to you through the Bible. Therefore, studying the Bible and being a person of prayer gives depth and meaning. Have you ever considered that God desires to guide every step you take—major decisions, as well as the mundane? He will also guide you to the friend who needs encouragement, the neighbor who needs Jesus, and the co-worker who needs a witness of God’s love.

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for guiding our church through Scripture and prayer. Ask the Lord to continue to give the pastor, staff, and church leaders the wisdom and discernment needed to accomplish everything He has placed before us. Thank God for His guidance, and ask Him to continue to inspire you by making the Scripture you read become alive and personal.

A Prayer from Bo Bowen:

Thank You, O God, for this life. When we wake up each morning, may we scan our day for possibilities of time spent in communion with You. During the day may we be aware of the ways we can use our lives to serve You. When we come to the end of the day, may we pause and reflect on the grace that has sustained us. Our hearts are grateful beyond measuring for what we have received from You. We give You all the glory, Amen.

DAY TWELVE October 6, 2018

DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY…LIKE ABRAHAM “Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:20b Chapter fourteen of Genesis records for us a significant event in the pilgrimage of Abraham. This godly man became a warrior as he joined in defeating four kings who had united against five kings of the valley. War would not have interested Abraham, except for the fact that Lot, his nephew, was captured and taken into captivity. Today’s text picks up with Abraham returning as a conquering hero. His already high esteem, in the eyes of others had gone higher. He was now known throughout the land. At this point in his prosperity, he could have chosen wealth over his promise to God. He chose to honor God, the giver, rather than to accept the material possessions offered. Life is all about making the right choices. In this Bible passage, Melchizedek is a picture of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, you can see that Abraham made a wise choice by giving back to God a tenth of what God had given him. In your own prosperity, which comes from God, what measure do you use to express your worship?

Prayer Focus:

Pray that our church is a giving church. Pray that we will reach beyond our walls and our members to touch the world with God’s love through our talents, time, and treasures. Ask God to reveal ways that we can grow in our giving. Pray about your personal commitment and how you can become more generous—discerning how the LORD would have you contribute support for our church.

A Prayer from Lonice Barrett:

Dear Heavenly Father, the One who has given us the heavens and earth and all that we are, know and love, my fervent hope is that You will accept our prayers to move Your Kingdom forward as we lay our monetary gifts and our human efforts at Your feet. We want to move toward fulfilling Your plan for Dunwoody Baptist Church and bringing more souls to feel the power of Your great love. Help us to understand what is pleasing to You and to be a blessing in your sight as we undertake to do Your work. In Your name I pray, Amen.

DAY THIRTEEN October 7, 2018

DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY…LIKE REBEKAH “‘Drink, my Lord,’ she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, ‘I’ll draw water for your camels too…’” Genesis 24:18-19 Chapter twenty-four of Genesis tells of the servant of Abraham seeking a bride for Isaac. Many interpreters see a story behind the story in these verses, where Abraham is an example of Father God, Isaac is a picture of His Son, Jesus Christ, and the servant sent to find the bride corresponds to the Holy Spirit. This unnamed servant had one characteristic in mind as he looked for a bride for Isaac. It was not natural beauty, though Rebekah was beautiful. It was not strength, though she was strong. It was most important for the servant to find a person with the spirit of giving, for a giving person would bless the son, Isaac. Rebekah’s generosity in not only giving him a drink, but offering to water his camels (which might take hours, by the way!), convinced him that he had found the one for Isaac. Like this servant, the Holy Spirit waits in the background to see your response to the opportunities for giving in your life. When the spirit of giving becomes evident, then the Father’s plans are revealed. (Genesis 24:12) The Holy Spirit will graciously confront you with the opportunity to give, often in ways that are not expected. (Genesis 24:17) Rebekah was willing to give. She had come to take care of her own needs, but was then willing to share what she had available. (Genesis 24:18) Rebekah was even willing to go beyond the ordinary. Who knows what blessings might lie ahead, if you are willing to go beyond the ordinary for God! (Genesis 24:19)

Prayer Focus:

Pray that Dunwoody Baptist Church possesses a spirit of giving above the ordinary. Ask God to bless you with a giving spirit.

A Prayer from Jim Hickey:

Father God, You have so richly blessed our family and our church. You have brought joy and peace to our lives. You have loved us and given us strength during difficult times. Please help us commit to sharing your love with those who do not know You yet. Help us to focus on our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. Help us to be willing to invest our time, money and effort in such a worthy cause; and help us to recognize the sacrifices that we make now are not sacrifices at all, but rather investments in our eternal future, Amen.

DAY FOURTEEN October 8, 2018

DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY…LIKE JACOB - PART 1 “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.’” Genesis 28:16,22 Today’s passage finds Jacob running from the consequences of his actions and falling asleep at a place called Bethel. While he was asleep, God revealed Himself in a very personal way. It was then that the God of his fathers became Jacob’s personal God, too. Jacob was at the end of his rope! His scheming and trickery had brought him nothing but failure and rejection. When he stopped running and fell asleep at Bethel, he had nothing. It is when you are at the end of your rope that God reveals Himself to you in a personal way. Jacob was alone. Throughout Scripture, God has used a person’s solitude as an opportunity to reveal Himself. God came to Moses when he was alone with his flocks in Midian. God came to Isaiah while he was alone in the temple praying. When we provide God with the chance, giving ourselves time alone, God can have our undivided attention and can reveal Himself to us, as well. Personal encounters with God result in changed lives, and Jacob was transformed at Bethel. When God became personal to him, he was moved to promise God a tenth of everything, and Jacob was changed from a taker in life to a giver.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that everyone touched by DBC will experience a personal relationship with God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ask the Father to meet you at your ‘Bethel’ and reveal Himself; then consider how the giving of your time, talent, and treasures can reveal your personal faith in Him.

A Prayer from Allen Taliaferro:

Loving God, thank you for hearts that are not trodden, but strengthened by You and unafraid to journey on when falseness and betrayal are laid bare. In these times, may we know the assurance that He who is within us is stronger than he who is within the world. Through You, may we seek to live Your commandment to forgive others, as You have forgiven us. Empower us by Your Spirit to allow love for those who have hurt us to be the mark that reveals we are your true disciples. Amen.

DAY FIFTEEN October 9, 2018

DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY…LIKE JACOB - PART 2 “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…’” Genesis 28:16,22 Today we continue our look at Jacob’s encounter with God. Because of this experience, Jacob went from being characterized as a taker, to being known as a giver. It was all due to meeting the living God personally. God was seen in new ways! God is a Dream-Maker (Genesis 28:12). God came to Jacob with a dream for a glorious future. Jacob awoke to a wonderful truth. Beforehand, he did not know that he was at the house of God and the gate of heaven. God delights in giving us dreams and then seeing them come to pass. God is a Promise-Keeper (Genesis 28:13). God reveals Himself with more than generic terms, but with the covenant name of Yahweh. God is One who keeps promises. God is a Work-Giver (Genesis 28:13). He speaks to us. God reveals Himself clearly to His people through the Bible, which is His word in written form. Jacob had been stumbling around wondering, until he heard the voice of God; then he had direction. God is a Living God (Genesis 28:13). God does not identify Himself as, “I was the God of your father Abraham.” Rather, He says, “I am the God of your father Abraham.”

Prayer Focus:

Take time in prayer to praise and worship God for who He is to you. Love Him back in a real and personal way today.

A Prayer from Jeff Reams:

God, all I am, all I see, all that is or ever has been comes from you. You are the Creator and Sustainer. Nothing can thrive without Your allowing it. Help us to always remember that we were made to know You and live for Your glory. May the expansion and renewal of our campus be for Your praise and honor. It is not for the glory of Dunwoody Baptist that we take this journey. We dedicate it all to You to be used by You for Your purposes. Help us experience your presence throughout the process. Encourage us. Remind us to trust You and be faithful. Thank You for all of the people You are using in our church now to plan this project. To You be the glory, Amen.

DAY SIXTEEN October 10, 2018

CONSIDER WHAT GOD HAS ACCOMPLISHED “Therefore I came forth to meet You, diligently seeking Your face, and I have found You.” Proverbs 7:15 Excerpt from One Heart Full of Love by Mother Teresa: “With God nothing is impossible. Our sisters are living proof of that. When I watch them, I perceive the infinite greatness of God, a greatness that we can tap into. I see how He works through us. Because you and I have nothing on our own, we need Him. As the Bible says, God waits and looks. Will we respond? “Just consider what God has accomplished through the sisters and the co-workers scattered throughout the world. We must ponder it in order to admire the greatness of God shown among us. This is not pride. It takes humility to recognize the greatness of God shining through us. Boasting of our greatness before men is pride. Great humility arises when we recognize that it is God’s kindness and His greatness that shows through our hands, our work, and our love, because that is the simple truth. Jesus is the truth that must be shared. All those who have witnessed our work have been able to see that God is the source. Just as Jesus said, ‘Likewise, when men see your good deeds, they will give praise to your Father who is in heaven.’”

Prayer Focus:

Pray that each and every one of us at DBC will develop ownership of our God-given dream to build. Ask God to revive the church leaders of this dream as they continue to work toward it—our pastor, the staff, the church leaders, and the campaign team leaders. Ask God to revive you in an area of your life that needs it.

A Prayer from Brenda Russell:

Dear God, Your goodness is without measure; it is abundant and overflowing! We thank You for Your steadfast love and unwavering mercy. Already we have been richly blessed, both individually and corporately as a Church, and for this we are grateful! With humble hearts we ask that You give us the faith and direction to continue to become the people You created us to be. We know it is Your will that we live a life worthy of Your calling. Give us Your vision and the strength and means to carry it out. Help us to share our time, talents and treasures unselfishly. Be with us as we work together and multiply our gifts so that the building campaign will succeed, and as a result, we will be able to better reach our neighborhood, community and the world with Your love and grace. In Your Holy name we pray, Amen.

DAY SEVENTEEN October 11, 2018

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? “She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.” Mark 14:3b The story of the anointing of Jesus in Bethany is one of a few stories of Jesus’ life contained in all four of the gospels. This event of devotion permanently impressed the disciples’ hearts. Mark used it to introduce the passion events in high contrast to the hatred and rejection that Jesus received at the hands of the rulers and the people. This act of worship and devotion stood out as an act of love that the Lord deserved from all, but was only given by a few. May this act be received as a call to worship for us today. May it inspire us to ask, “How much is too much?” That alabaster bottle was very valuable—worth a year’s wages. Traditionally, it would be saved for the most important occasion of one’s life. What is the most extravagant thing you have done for the Lord? What can we learn from this Scripture? Real love is always extravagant. Extravagant love is often criticized. Jesus always comes to the defense of those who are criticized for being extravagant in their devotion towards Him.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that the people who call Dunwoody Baptist their church home will find themselves in an attitude of devotion that moves them to extravagant worship, offering their best for the LORD.

A Prayer from Esther Ortiz:

Dear God, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve You as a member of DBC. As our church is at a crossroads for its future, I ask You for personal guidance in my efforts to support this change. I know You have not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but one of power, love, and self-discipline. Lord, I pray that as each of Your faithful followers at Dunwoody Baptist Church comes forward to support this effort that You would receive all of the honor and glory, Amen.

DAY EIGHTEEN October 12, 2018 POWER! “…His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly realms…” Ephesians 1:19-20 One of the greatest needs in the church today is power; not political power, not manipulative power, not fleshly power, but heaven-sent, Holy Spirit anointed power. The source of all power is the Word of God. The Bible tell us in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” The Bible continues to state this truth again in I Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” If the Bible is the source of all power, and there are lots of copies out there, then why are there so few changed lives? How is it possible to read the Bible and be unaffected by it? For the Christian, power and truth are inseparably linked together. Paul says in Ephesians 6:17, “Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” God gives us power through Scripture, and the better we know it, the more confident we can be.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that the people of Dunwoody Baptist Church will be a powerhouse for God because we daily put on His armor. This armor includes the belt of truth, the body armor of God’s righteousness, the shoes of peace that come from the Good News, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Pray that we will be a people who pray at all times (see Ephesians 6:10-18). Pray that we will have a genuine love for God’s truth and will claim its power.

A Prayer from Bo Bowen:

Lord, please help this congregation in its efforts to unify our church campus. Grant us the courage to accept the day-to-day challenges that will occur throughout this campaign, and grant us wisdom to know that all our efforts are spent upon building hearts, not just buildings. We know through Your help and guidance we will be successful. Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to commit to building something larger than ourselves, Amen.

DAY NINETEEN October 13, 2018

POWER FOR THE FUTURE “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” Exodus 14:13-14 God’s power does not become apparent until we move beyond the realm of our possibilities. As long as we can do it in our own strength, there is no need for God to display His power for the watching world to see. This is seen clearly in our text as the recently freed Hebrew slaves found themselves surrounded by impossibilities. Before them was a sea that could not be crossed. Beside them was a barren wasteland. Behind them was an enemy that desired to capture them and take them back to where they had been. In this difficult situation they had three options: They could go back. They could stand still. They could go forward. For the children of God, there is only one real option—go forward! As we move forward seeking God’s direction and by His power, we must be careful. Around us are many roads that can be destructive—loss of focus on God, lack of cooperation with one another, a spirit of division. Avoiding these, through prayer and communication, is vital to the future of our church! Before us there is a future. There is a land that flows with milk and honey. This future is as bright and powerful as the promises of God that we find in Scripture.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that Dunwoody Baptist Church will not be afraid to move forward with God. Ask God to give you a promise out of His word to claim for our church. Pray about an area of your life that needs to move forward.

A Prayer from Allen Jackson:

Dear God, we are grateful for the love and guidance You have shown in leading your people at DBC. You have brought together an incredible team of leaders to accomplish this task with your guidance. Let our sacrifices be worthy of those who sacrificed so much to build this church. May our works be worthy of that greatest sacrifice of all, made by Jesus on the cross. We want to plant a tree to provide shade for future generations at DBC so that it will be their place of worship, study, and community, Amen.

DAY TWENTY October 14, 2018

POWERFUL JESUS “Jesus said to the woman, ‘Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace…’” Mark 5:34 In Mark, chapter five, we have three important incidents in the life of the Lord Jesus. It is within the context of these events that Jesus revealed Himself as the powerful Son of God. In the first event, Jesus revealed Himself as more powerful than demons. He went along with His disciples to the most demon-possessed man in all the country. When Jesus showed up, the demons immediately began to beg for mercy. With one word the demons left this man, never to return. We also see Jesus revealed as more powerful than death in this passage. When Jairus’ daughter fell ill, he sought Jesus out to come and heal her. But before they could arrive, the girl had died. Jesus, nevertheless, restored her life by the power of His word. Between these two great revelations, there is a rather small incident where Jesus showed Himself more powerful than disease. However, there are still some important truths about the touch of faith. This healing event shows us that in addition to spiritual life, we should have spiritual health individually and in our corporate church body. Many have received salvation and have spiritual life, but are not well. Jesus says in John 10:10, “… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The way to spiritual health is the same way we experience spiritual life—that is to come into contact with Jesus.

Prayer Focus:

Today is the halfway point in our 40 days of prayer. Ask God to give spiritual health to our corporate church body and to you as an individual.

A Prayer from Angela Rodda:

Lord God, We want to make Your name known to the children at Dunwoody Baptist Church. I am grateful for those who pour into the hearts and minds of my children every time they are on this campus. They are truly excited to come to church! I am encouraged that I don’t have to parent alone. Help every truth that is planted in the hearts of our children become a part of them forever and cause them to declare Your marvelous deeds outside our church and homes. May the little ones remain humble examples of what we adults need to become, in the Kingdom. We ask that You use Project Mainstreet as a tangible example of Dunwoody Baptist’s investment in the future of the church and our desire to declare Your love in our community, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-ONE October 15, 2018

POWER TO TRANSFORM “But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to have their plows, hoes, axes and sickles sharpened.“ 1 Samuel 13:20 In his devotional Morning and Evening, Charles Spurgeon comments that because they feared that the Israelites would make weapons rather than tools, the Philistines refused to allow them to have their own blacksmiths. Yet, God’s people trusted that all of their tools would be usable as weapons, if they were kept sharp. Whenever we have work to do, every tool within our reach needs to be ready for use in varied capacities—flexibility and ingenuity can bring nearly anything into service. In our Christian lives as well, preaching, teaching, praying, giving, all must be brought into actions, and talents which may have been thought to be unremarkable must all be employed. Each moment of time, in season or out of season; each fragment of ability, educated or untutored; each opportunity, must be used. Unfortunately, Spurgeon also observes that most of our tools need sharpening. How many of us pray well, read Scripture enough, spend enough time with Christians who challenge us to think about our faith? It is likely that the more we use the “tools of our faith” we will be more than ready to further God’s work in the future days of our church.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that we will be ready to transform all of the tools we have into whatever they need to be in order for God’s will to be done.

A Prayer from Robert Comeaux:

Father God, as we seek Your face we ask that You would give us a spirit of freedom in the midst of this endeavor. We pray 2 Corinthians 3:17 today, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” We pray that You would bring a sweet spirit of freedom over our congregation. We pray that any past hurts or regrets that may find their way into our conversations would be released, and that we would see Your clear vision for a bright future for Dunwoody Baptist Church. We pray that the plans You put on our hearts for our church would be plans that would bring about freedom and clarity in the lives of people who need Your love. Thank You for the privilege of walking in Your Spirit, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-TWO October 16, 2018

POWER OF LOVE “…neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD.” Romans 8:38-39 A woman named Beth was driving her husband Jim’s pride and joy, a little green MG. He had labored over this car for hours every Saturday for four years. He had wanted a car like this for almost all of his life. As Beth was driving, she saw a boy on a bicycle and swerved to avoid him. She heard the little car being crunched, scraped, and the glass breaking. Another driver stopped to help her out of the car. She was dazed but not hurt when the police officer approached her and asked for her insurance papers. She did not so much fear the wrath of her husband, for he was gentle and nice, but she feared the great disappointment he would have. She dreaded the hurt and anguish she would see on his face. As she went to the glove compartment to get the insurance papers, she found them in a plastic package. To her surprise on top of all the documents was a white envelope with her name on it. She opened it and began to read: “Dear Beth, if you are reading this, you have probably been in an accident. Don’t worry. I pray that you are all right, and just remember it is you that I love. Jim” But the cross is God’s statement to us that no matter what mistakes are made, He says, “Remember it is you I love.”

Prayer Focus:

Spend time in prayer adoring God for His love. Pray that as we move forward as a church, we will always cultivate a loving relationship with God and each other. Ask the Lord to reveal ways to show your Christian love within our church family.

A Prayer from Esther Ortiz:

Heavenly Father, transform and guide me that my hands may be Your hands and my words may be Your words. Humble my spirit and destroy all in me that is not of You. Open my heart and mind to more ways that honor and serve You. May all that I do and say each day bring glory to You. I pray this in your precious name, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-THREE October 17, 2018

CHANGED BY THE POWER OF GOD “As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26 How do you know that your life has been changed by the power of God? Well, how do you know that a high voltage electrical line has touched you? When a person comes into a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, it is very obvious to the one who has received this new life and to the people close to Him. When God comes into your soul, you will know it! However, the question can be asked: “Does the Bible teach about the evidence of a changed life?” This Scripture in James is the heart of this epistle, and it gives a clear understanding of a biblical working faith that is evidence of a union with Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of this in Romans 4:1-3, using Abraham as an illustration. Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God’s point of view, the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” There may seem to be a contradiction between these verses in James and Romans. Paul stresses the root of faith, while James stresses the fruit of faith. Paul looks at our salvation from the Divine perspective, and James looks at it from the human perspective. Paul sees the fire, and James sees the smoke. Yet, in reality, the two go hand in hand. Is your faith evident to those around you? Does your faith penetrate your character and actions? Can others tell that you love the Lord?

Prayer Focus:

Lord, increase the faith of every member of our church so that it is obvious and visible to the outside world. Pray Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”

A Prayer from Cathy Hubbard:

Father, there is a good lesson to be learned from 1 Timothy 6:18-20, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share—this is the way they can save up treasures for themselves for the coming age, if they want to make sure of the only life that is real.” Lord, the phrase “rich in things but poor in soul” is a good reminder of what has true worth. There is no price tag I can put on all of the blessings I have received from Dunwoody Baptist—the deep friendships, youth ministry for our children and spiritual gifts. Thank You for this church and the community of people in it. May we all be doers of the word, not hearers only (James 1:22), Amen.

DAY TWENTY-FOUR October 18, 2018 ALL POWER “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” Matthew 28:18 The Roman Empire was at one of its greatest moments in terms of size and influence. The borders of the empire were larger than ever before. Their elaborate governing system was in full operation. Tax money was coming in at a higher rate than ever. Truly the Roman Empire was operating in one of its finest hours. It was the most modern civilization the world had ever known. If it were possible for the leader of this great empire, Tiberius Caesar, to have looked from his palace in Rome all the way to a distant remote mountain somewhere in Galilee where eleven men were gathered around their leader, and if he were able to hear what this leader was saying to these eleven men, there is little doubt that he would have laughed out loud. The leader said to His disciples, “I have been given complete authority…” However, if Caesar could have seen about 350 years into the future, he would have been aghast to see his successor naming Christianity as the official state religion. It took less than 400 years for Christianity to conquer the great Roman Empire. History would later show that this act of being made an official religion of the empire would be a blight rather than a blessing to Christianity. However, it is still significant to see how a church of only eleven impacted the entire known world in such a short time. How were they able to achieve this feat? It was through power—Holy Spirit, God-given power. We can impact our world because we have the same Holy Spirit living within us, thus the same power.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that the leaders of Dunwoody Baptist Church will be mightily filled with Holy Spirit’s power and thus impact the world for Christ

A Prayer from Allen Taliaferro:

Lord Jesus, we want to seek Your face in all that we do. Don’t let us get ahead of Your plan. Remind us how important it is to commune with You in prayer each day. Bless our efforts as we move forward with what we believe You have called us to do. Help us to unify our campus and draw more people in to Your Kingdom. We ask these things in Your name, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-FIVE October 19, 2018

THE ANOINTING BRINGS HARMONY “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes...For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133 If you have ever watched one of the medical shows that have become popular with television viewers, you will have seen ‘the transformation.’ This would be the change that takes place when individuals who are consumed with their various personal problems, political views, and ambitions suddenly come together in a united effort to save a patient experiencing a medical emergency. Everything else becomes insignificant. Paul expresses a similar focus when he says, “…let’s run the race before us…throwing off everything that might get in the way and any sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began and finishes our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1-2). In our day of hurting and wounded people, we cannot afford to be one more church that spends all of its time arguing over things that will not matter in the light of eternity. Just as Aaron, the high priest, was anointed on his head and the oil ran down his body, so the Holy Spirit descends from our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, flowing from Him down onto His body, the Church. Anointing always brings harmony.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that, throughout the fulfilling of this dream that the Lord has given DBC, we will experience genuine harmony resulting from the Holy Spirit’s presence among us. Ask God to show you specific ways that you can contribute toward the unity of believers at Dunwoody Baptist Church.

A Prayer from Jonathan Sangster:

Thank you Lord, for all that You provide us with. Thank You for countless blessings, and the opportunity we have to give those blessings and treasures back to You. I’m glad You led me to Dunwoody Baptist Church, to be a part of this family. I pray that as we seek Your will in this campaign, You would put in us a spirit of generosity. I pray that we would seek to glorify You in all that we are planning and accomplishing. In Your Name and for Your Kingdom, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-SIX October 20, 2018

UNITY IN THE CHURCH “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit…” Ephesians 4:3-4 Yesterday’s verses from Psalm 133 were written on the occasion of David’s coronation as King over all of Israel. And what a struggle it was between the time he was anointed king by Samuel until the day of his coronation when he ruled over a united twelve tribes. It was David who united these warring tribes. David understood that harmony could only be achieved when they practiced the unity of their faith. These days of unity for Israel under David, and later his son Solomon, were without question the most glorious days of their history. Never has Israel possessed all of the land that God gave her except in these days. There is a message in these verses for the church. For as the people of God united under one king in the Old Testament, so the people of God must unite today under the King of Kings. As they experienced great glory in this unification in the Old, so we will experience a greater glory in the New. Unity is not uniformity, but can bring direction, focus, and inspiration to move forward together. Always seek ways to be harmonious.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that the Dunwoody Baptist Church of believers will experience and demonstrate true unity of purpose. Ask God how you can help our church be continually unified.

A Prayer from Bo Bowen:

Dear Heavenly Father, during this time of change, guide us to work together for our common goal. Help us to think only of Your will and not our own. Place on our hearts the desire to help out financially so that this project can go as planned. We see the need to unify our facility as the need to share Your love becomes crucial in the world today. We ask Your wisdom in all of this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN October 21, 2018

FROM DEFEAT TO VICTORY “Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the LORD your God will be with you everywhere you go.” Joshua 1:9 In a devotion by Hannah Whitall Smith, she writes: A man was obliged to descend into a deep well by sliding down a rope which was to be of ample length. But, to his dismay, he came to the end before his feet had touched the bottom. He had not the strength to climb up again. To let go and drop seemed to him but to be dashed to pieces in the depths below. He held on until his strength was utterly exhausted, and then dropped as he thought, to his death. He fell—just three inches—and found himself safe on the rock bottom. Are you afraid to take this step? Does it seem too sudden, too much like a leap in the dark? If ever you are to enter this glorious land, flowing with milk and honey, you must step into the brimming waters, for there is no other path; and to do it now could save you months and even years of disappointment and grief. Hear the word of the LORD—“Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9 (KJV) Trusting God may seem like a risk to us, but often our goal is within reach, though not within sight.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God would show us ways to demonstrate our faith through the Mainstream Project. Ask Him to speak to you in a personal way and reveal to you how you can be involved. Seek His presence and commit to “step out in faith” today.

A Prayer from Robert Comeaux:

Lord, we find ourselves needing to change our facilities in order to expand our service and outreach. Guide us in our work as we undertake this important task. Give us the courage, commitment, and energy to go forward until we reach our goal. Help us to realize that our task is great, but that our commitment is greater. Most importantly, we ask that You give us wisdom to know Your will, so that we keep on the path You would have us take. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT October 22, 2018

ARE YOU DANGEROUS? “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 When we are called by God our Savior to join the company of believers, we begin to journey with Him. We follow Him as our Captain and Leader into the future. Along the way, God will stretch us. He will enlarge the horizons of our vision, and strengthen us along the way. We profess to know a power the world cannot reckon with, yet we may feel utterly ordinary, preferring to sit passive and cautiously on the sidelines, content to let others take up God’s challenges, no threat to His enemies. Yet, we have God’s resources—His strength, His creative Spirit, His assets—and could be a powerful force for good! Oh, that God would make us dangerous! How do we get there? Read Joshua 1 and write down everything God commands. Then reflect how these commands compare with what the Lord is calling you to do.

Prayer Focus:

Pray 2 Chronicles 15:7 for our church, “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Ask the Lord to embolden us with strength, courage, and submission to Him to follow the path He has placed before us. Pray these traits for yourself as well.

A Prayer from Jeff Reams:

You are the Lord Almighty. No one has more power than You. You have the power over life and death, sickness and health, wind and waves. Through Your word You create and give life. Through Your sacrifice you forgave all our sins. Help us remember Your power among us. May this season of building physical buildings remind us of Your power to magnify the work of our hands beyond anything we can imagine. You do not dwell in buildings made by humans, but You dwell among Your people. Your Church does not need facilities to seek Your kingdom, but we give thanks for what You have provided and seek to use it for Your will. Help us to be strong and courageous, trusting that You will take what we do and use it in ways we never could have dreamed. We love You Lord, Amen.

DAY TWENTY-NINE October 23, 2018

WE HAVE NEVER DONE IT THIS WAY BEFORE! “He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’” Mark 2:12 The air must have been so charged in Capernaum at the time this Scripture passage took place. There was a crowd, and this crowd was curious about the ministry of Jesus. Scribes surely were scowling as they watched this new Rabbi closely, hoping that they could catch Him in an error. The room was charged with excitement. Everyone knew that something dramatic was about to take place, for when He is present, something miraculous is going to happen. Sure enough, excitement mounted as four men began to tear up the roof in order to let a friend down in the presence of Jesus so that he could be healed. The Bible says they literally “took off the roof.” When our group of believers gather, it ought to be a “roof- raising experience.” And we too should be able to say, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” According to this passage, three things are needed to have a “roof-raising” experience with Jesus: We must have a Savior who can save. We must have a preacher who can preach. We must have a flock who has faith.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that Dunwoody Baptist Church will be filled with people of faith like these four roof removers, for they did everything possible to bring their friend to Jesus. Ask the Lord to make you like one of these four.

A Prayer from Mark Chapman:

Dear God, thank You for the church family we all are in the midst of here at Dunwoody Baptist. Thank You for the opportunities You continue to bless us with and for allowing us to be a part in furthering the message of good news that is Christ Jesus. Remind us that in Your eternal world there is nothing new under the sun. We are not the first, and we are not the last church body to improve our church home. Remind us that Your church isn’t about buildings and landscaping and enrollment. It is about loving You and loving others as ourselves. It is about making disciples and making a difference. Help us to have a fearless faith. We pray for the peace that only You can provide, Amen.

DAY THIRTY October 24, 2018

A MIGHTY WORK IN GOD’S TIME “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace, What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 It is important to realize that the fruit of our labor is a gift from God. All of the experiences listed in these verses are appropriate at certain times. The secret to peace with God is to discover, accept, and appreciate God’s perfect timing. So, are we ready? To some of us, it may seem presumptuous to say that our plan for expansion is God’s plan, or is God’s will. Yet, maybe we can have some confidence that we are on the right track. How do we know? The Bible says wait for the LORD, and through the past year of thinking and planning, the dream has not faded, nor has God stopped us. The Bible says that we should pray for guidance, and we have prayed, receiving inspiration to simplify, consolidate or revise the plans. The Bible says that we should consult with one another, and we have—through the various committees, Congregational Town Hall Meetings, and small focus groups; many perspectives for this project have been discussed and refined. In God’s time, He will move His people to inspire one another.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that He will do a mighty work through DBC because we are of strong faith. Ask God to show you if there is a roadblock of unbelief in your life.

A Prayer from Allen Taliaffero:

Lord, as we begin our building campaign, let us always remember that our plans are just not for our present members but also for future generations. Guide us. In Christ’s name, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-ONE October 25, 2018

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 “Excellence is the stuff of which greatness is made. It is the difference between just getting by and soaring—that which sets apart the significant from the superficial, the lasting from the temporary. Authentic excellence is not a performance; it is there whether anyone ever notices or tries to find it….” We must seek our own outer-most limits as a congregation—not ...”merely drift along with the tide or half-heartedly catch a wave and wash ashore. No, we must soar! Since it is the living Lord and the final analysis who appraises our excellence, it is He whom we must please and serve, honor and adore. For His eyes only, we commit ourselves to living above the level of mediocrity. He deserves our very best; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.” - Excerpts from Living Above the Level of Mediocrity by Charles Swindoll

Prayer Focus:

Pray that our prayer warriors will be encouraged in some way today. Pray that God’s people at Dunwoody Baptist Church will continue to strive to deepen their relationship with God on a daily basis and that a spirit of generosity and excitement will reflect their increased faith.

A Prayer from Allen Jackson:

As our church family enters into this stewardship campaign, Dear Lord, please give to all of us the courage, wisdom and strength to do according to Your will for us as we contribute to this great church. May what we build be to Your glory, for the purpose of expanding Your Kingdom here on earth. In Your name we pray, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-TWO October 26, 2018

GOD’S GREAT RELOCATION PROJECT “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’” Numbers 13:30 God is in the moving business. He is always in the process of moving His people. Although we are often content where we are, God loves us enough not to leave us there. Sometimes we can get a little stubborn about changes that He has in mind for us. A good illustration is found in the children of Israel as they were moving from Egypt to the Promised Land. God sent miracle after miracle to get them out. But then, they did not want to go on in and possess what He intended for them. In fact, they said in Numbers 14:3, “…Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” It seems God could take His people out of Egypt, but His people couldn’t leave Egypt behind. The old song says, “I have decided to follow Jesus—No turning back, no turning back.” Paul says in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God has begun a spiritual project for His people of Dunwoody Baptist Church. May we take heed of the lesson we learn from the children of Israel going to the Promised Land. May we be wise enough to realize that God began this great project, and He will continue this work until completion.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God will continue to lead the way and that our faith will remain strong as we continue with this vision He has given our church. Thank the Lord for loving you enough not to leave you where you are. Also thank Him for the privilege of being a part of this church body of believers during this exciting time in our history.

A Prayer from Bo Bowen:

Father God, thank You for the legacy and vision of Dunwoody Baptist Church. May these bricks and mortar be for us the building blocks of our church’s future. May unknown generations be strengthened by the events of faith that happen in these spaces. May the ‘now,’ as it becomes the past, live on in the lessons learned and the traditions handed down through this effort. Help us all to work together to serve You, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-THREE October 27, 2018

THE BIBLE AS YOUR GUIDEBOOK “All Scripture is God–breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.“ II Timothy 3:16-17 Change is occurring so fast that none of us can see it clearly. Yet we have to make vital calls and daily decisions about very important things, all the time wondering if we are making the right ones. There has never been a time when we have needed a standard more in our lives than we do today. We need a fixed point, a true north, an unchanging truth on which we can base our decisions and not have to worry about changing them. God has given us such a standard. It is the Word of God, the Holy Bible—the always relevant, always available resource. Unbelievers might say the Bible is irrelevant and outdated. Believers know that “…God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it, no matter what.” (Hebrews 4:12 - The Message)

Prayer Focus:

Pray that our fellowship of believers will read and study the Bible daily. Ask God to let its wisdom sink into our hearts and minds and then reflect in our character and actions.

A Prayer from Ron Cameron:

Dear God, thank you for allowing me to be a part of my second family at Dunwoody Baptist Church. I feel blessed to have found this group of believers who has helped and encouraged me to grow in my faith. It is so exciting to see how the Lord is working in our community and how DBC is a big part of this work. Your love is hard at work in this congregation, and we are ready to share that love. Please bless us with courage and faith and patience as we embark upon this great project. Through You all things are possible! Amen. Philippians 4:6-8 says; Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

DAY THIRTY-FOUR October 28, 2018

WATCH OUT FOR THE DREAM-STEALERS “…so I sent messengers to them with this reply: ‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’” Nehemiah 6:3 God is in the business of working through His people to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. Nehemiah was a common man in a unique position. He was secure and successful as a cupbearer to the Persian king. Nehemiah had little power but great influence. He was also a man of God concerned about the fate of Jerusalem. Now, Nehemiah was needed. Jerusalem’s wall was in ruins and the news broke his heart. He talked to God and began a plan to rebuild the city walls. He willingly left the security of his home to follow God on an impossible mission, and the rest is history. Nehemiah never hesitated to ask God for help and displayed unusual leadership. The wall was rebuilt in record time, despite resistance. Even Israel’s enemies grudgingly and fearfully admitted that God was with these builders. God worked through Nehemiah to bring about a spiritual awakening among the people of Judah. He completed his God-given dream in record time to the praise of His glory. He is a role model for us today.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God will enable us to complete the dream that He has given us in such a way as to bring Him glory and expand His kingdom.

A Prayer from Brenda Russell:

Father, our eyes are turned to You, our Savior, our Friend, our Sustainer, our Great God who loves us more than we can imagine. May we continue to trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge You and You will direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) We want to walk with You, not run before You, nor lag behind Your leading. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who guides and directs us. Keep our eyes and ears open to Your voice. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-FIVE October 29, 2018 DREAM BIG! “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not now know.” Jeremiah 33:3 Faith is dreaming God’s dreams…. What’s the purpose of life anyway? Only to eat, drink, work, play, and love? Or do you have a brain designed to dream dreams? Is your mind created to be an architect, drawing plans? Can you imagine beautiful accomplishments? Think of this: the human being is the only creature in the universe that has the capacity for exercising creative imagination! The divine quality of dreaming—what you want to be, where you want to go, what you’d love to do, goals you’d like to reach—all of this makes you the most unique creature in all creation! You really are “made in the image of the Creator-God!” So you are fulfilling your destiny as a child of God when you start dreaming the beautiful dreams God Himself is inspiring in your mind. A television is designed to pick up the moving pictures that are in the airwaves around you. Your mind was invented and created by God to pick up the messages and mental pictures He is sending your way. That’s exciting! -Excerpts from Robert H. Schuller

Prayer Focus:

Pray that we will continue to live our Christian lives in the Spirit and not by our own human effort. Ask the God of grace to help you deepen your relationship with Him by filling you daily with His Holy Spirit.

A Prayer from Allen Jackson:

Lord God, Your Holy Spirit has provided inspiration faithfully to Your people, those with a heart for You, as well as to those who are still searching. Please keep the DBC family— all who love You in this place—in Your care and will. Guide us into the future with the faithfulness that we find all throughout the Bible, as well as in our lives, whenever we look back. Strengthen our love for one another as we take steps to prepare our church for both the present and for the people who will take the baton of this ministry from us in the future. In the Name of Your Precious Son, Jesus, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-SIX October 30, 2018

OPEN TO GOD’S PROMISES “I heard the voice of the LORD saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me.’” Isaiah 6:8 God never asks about our ability or our inability—just our availability. One of the items in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is a picture of a plain bar of iron. It is valued at $5. The same bar of iron has a far different value, if it’s fashioned into different items: As a pair of horse shoes, it would be worth $50 As sewing needles, it would be worth $5,000. As balance springs for fine Swiss watches, it would be worth $500,000. The raw material is not what is important. What’s important is how raw material is developed. Each of us has been given talents and abilities—some have received more, others less, but all have received something as a unique gift from God. As Christians, we also enjoy spiritual gifts which flow from the Holy Spirit of God. The value of these raw materials, however, is a moot point unless we develop and use our talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts as a force for divine good in this world.

Prayer Focus:

If you don’t know what your abilities and gifts are, ask God to reveal them to you. Then, ask Him to show you what He wants you to do with them. Your happiness and success in life will be found in fulfilling His plan.

A Prayer from Jeff Reams:

Dear Lord, help me be available to you today. May I hear your voice. May I be willing to go. May I not trust in my own ability or fear for lack of ability. Instead, may I trust in You and follow where You lead, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-SEVEN October 31, 2018 PERSEVERANCE “Not that I have already obtained all of this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider that I have taken hold of it yet, but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12 Persevering becomes essential to living—the only key that unlocks the door of hope. Through perseverance character is built, a strong and solid character that brings about hope. Why keep persevering? Why continue standing against the strong currents of temptation, fear, stress and impossibilities? Because it is in the realistic arena that true character is forged out, shaped, tempered and polished. Because it is there that the life of Jesus Christ is given the maximum opportunity to be reproduced in us. Because life is a mission, we need strength to face it, not speed to run away from it. We need what perseverance offers: willingness to accept whatever comes, determination to stand firm, and insight to see the Lord’s hand in it all—then God is glorified.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that our church will persevere with what the Lord has entrusted to us. Proverbs 11:25 says, “…he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Claim this promise as you act upon it.

A Prayer from Lynn Phipps:

Holy, Loving God, thank you for Your faithfulness and mercy through the years on our corner of Dunwoody. Guide us in Your Holy Spirit, to trust in what You have in store for us. May we faithfully and joyfully respond to the challenge before us in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-EIGHT November 1, 2018

CONVERSION = CHANGED LIFE “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” 1 Timothy 1:12 After Watergate, there was an abundance of books published by the various personalities involved. One of the most famous was Chuck Colson who wrote the very famous Born Again. This book detailed his conversion to Christ. All of these years later, we think of Chuck Colson as a great man who has had such an impact on the world through his prison ministries. We forget that before his conversion he was known as “the hatchet man.” It was a common saying in Washington that Colson would walk over his own mother for Nixon! Another player in the Watergate scandal was the very boisterous G. Gordon Liddy. One of the great quotes from his book tells of a time when a certain court date came around. Everyone had been discussing Colson’s conversion to Christianity. As Colson walked into the courtroom, Liddy was overheard to say, “Oh, no, if Colson would walk over his own mother for Nixon, just think what he will do for Jesus!” Time has proven Colson’s conversion genuine. He certainly is one more example of how God can change a life. In 1 Timothy, the apostle Paul is encouraging Timothy in the faith to cherish, protect, and preach the gospel. The reason is that the gospel’s message changes lives. Indeed at DBC, the gospel is preached so that our goal of “Making Disciples” and “Making a Difference” can be met.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that our church will always be a place that impacts the world for Jesus. Pray that each one of us will join together to help expand God’s kingdom and achieve Christlikeness.

A Prayer from Robert Comeaux:

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You today with praise and thanksgiving for the mercies You have showered on Dunwoody Baptist Church. Now we ask Your blessing on the Mainstreet campaign we have begun. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we might make wise decisions and discern Your will for this undertaking. Teach us to be diligent in our duties and selfless in our giving. Grant us boldness to face the future in faith. We recognize our own inadequacy, but with You all things are possible. We hope this project brings honor and glory to You, and that our work will build up Your kingdom here on earth. We worship and praise You and pray in the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus, Amen.

DAY THIRTY-NINE November 2, 2018

TRUTH AND FREEDOM “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 “….Visions are what energizes and drives us. Dreams lift us out of the doldrums and give a quickness to our walk…..” -Tony Campolo Having a clear vision and dreaming how to accomplish it has brought many through times of questioning and hesitation. An honest and good mission can generate energy that will amaze young and old alike. The prophet Isaiah says: ‘But the people who trust in the LORD will become strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired.’ (Isaiah 40:31 NCV) That is where we at Dunwoody Baptist Church find ourselves—our dreams and plans intersecting with God’s directive to share the love of Christ with all people. When we are truly in the business of glorifying God, there is no guarantee of an easy time, but we are assured that God will guide us; that He will strengthen us through to the end, if we rely on Him and desire only to be within His will; and that, if love for Him is our motive, we will stand as an example for generations to come.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that DBC’s believers are a discerning people who will claim our Christ-earned freedom.

A Prayer from Brenda Russell:

God of all creation, we praise You for who You are. We are grateful for Your church and Your call to share the love of Christ near and far. Thank You for allowing us to be part of Your mission in the world. I thank You for the opportunity to serve and I give You thanks for all the children, youth, adults, and senior adults who are growing in their faith and ministering to others. Fill us and guide us with Your Spirit that we would have the courage to give generously from all the gifts that You have given to us. Help us share to build and build to share the love of Christ, so Your goodness, mercy, and compassion may be built up in each of us for the blessing and building up of your peace and justice throughout the world, Amen.

DAY FORTY

November 3, 2018 HE IS FAITHFUL “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:23 God has given Dunwoody Baptist Church a vision for the future. As we have explored forty days of prayer in pursuit of this dream, we have found Him to be a faithful promise keeper. Today’s devotional is dedicated to praising the Lord for this aspect of His character.

Prayer:

Praise Him using this wonderful old hymn:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

(Text by Thomas O. Chisholm. Music by William M. Runyan)

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

1445 Mount Vernon Road | Dunwoody, GA 30338 770.280.1200 | www.dbc.org