Leave it There!

One of the greatest challenges to one’s faith is taking things to God in prayer and leaving it there! No matter how long we’ve been walking on our Christian journey, it’s natural for all of us to feel the need to be in control of our lives and destiny. When challenges arise – whether it be facing sickness, encountering a financial burden, or watching our families fall apart – we feel a need to figure out ways to fix things. It’s our natural human response, BUT in this Lenten season, we are being asked to take a step of faith and trust God with the things in our lives that we can’t fix. We are being challenged to trust God more and more on a daily basis to deliver on His promises for our lives.

What are God’s promises for your life? Do you truly trust Him with these promises? Are you willing to trust God with those things that may make you look a bit crazy?

We can’t expect God to deliver on His promises without recognizing our role in the relationship. God’s request for us is to bring our burdens to Him and leave them there. God’s request is for us to bring those things that we struggle to release from our hearts and hands to Him, so He can show us that He can meet our every need. God’s Word tells us that His yoke is easy and His burdens are light. We can find rest and giving our lives and our burdens to God. Mt. Calvary, will you be bold enough to take your burdens to our amazing God and leave them with Him, trusting that He will deliver on His promises!

Why not draw a circle around God’s promises for your life today?

You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest,
And have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.

​Is Your All on the Altar?
​Elisha A. Hoffman

Lenten Season 2013

Amazing Things!
The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

2 Chronicles 7:14


"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."


When Pastor Corey Brooks got fed up with the murder and mayhem that became a way of life around his south Chicago church, he drew the proverbial line in the sand. Instead of complaining about, "Those people in our neighborhood," calling the cops, or turning his head, he decided to do something about it. During the coldest 94 days of the year, Pastor Corey lived in a tent across the street from his church on top of an abandoned hotel that served as headquarters for drug dealers and prostitutes. He wound up birthing Project HOOD and raising $450.000 to tear down the hotel to make room for a new community and economic development center. I don't know if Pastor Corey read the Circle Maker, but his actions put fast feet and crazy faith to what God had spoken to him. Sometimes when God speaks to us about our purpose and our destiny it may look crazy to other people. I know that it looked downright ridiculous for Pastor Corey to hole up in a tent in the middle of the winter in Chicago, but he did it anyway. I encourage you to move on what God is saying to you this Lenten Season. Like Pastor Corey, you are not going to understand it completely, and it doesn't matter if others understand it, however, moving on what God has said shows God that you trust Him and that you believe the promises He has designed just for you. Where do you start? By listening to God and knowing His voice. How do you act? By moving to circle your prayers. When you go to Mt. Calvary this week you will see circles drawn all over the property. Get inside of a circle and pray. If that circle is too small for your problems and prayers-get your own chalk and draw one that suits your needs. Draw one that you can fit your entire family or your ministry in. Draw one that you can leave your heartbreaks or dreams in. I don't care....just draw your circle. When the rain or snow washes it away...draw another one. Will you look crazy drawing a circle with chalk and standing in it and praying? Probably so, but it felt crazy suggesting it until I read ahead to the chapter in Draw the Circle that speaks about crazy faith. God knows your beginning and your end. Get to drawing and watch God move.

The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

Lenten Season 2013

Amazing Things!
The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

2 Chronicles 7:14


"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."


When Pastor Corey Brooks got fed up with the murder and mayhem that became a way of life around his south Chicago church, he drew the proverbial line in the sand. Instead of complaining about, "Those people in our neighborhood," calling the cops, or turning his head, he decided to do something about it. During the coldest 94 days of the year, Pastor Corey lived in a tent across the street from his church on top of an abandoned hotel that served as headquarters for drug dealers and prostitutes. He wound up birthing Project HOOD and raising $450.000 to tear down the hotel to make room for a new community and economic development center. I don't know if Pastor Corey read the Circle Maker, but his actions put fast feet and crazy faith to what God had spoken to him. Sometimes when God speaks to us about our purpose and our destiny it may look crazy to other people. I know that it looked downright ridiculous for Pastor Corey to hole up in a tent in the middle of the winter in Chicago, but he did it anyway. I encourage you to move on what God is saying to you this Lenten Season. Like Pastor Corey, you are not going to understand it completely, and it doesn't matter if others understand it, however, moving on what God has said shows God that you trust Him and that you believe the promises He has designed just for you. Where do you start? By listening to God and knowing His voice. How do you act? By moving to circle your prayers. When you go to Mt. Calvary this week you will see circles drawn all over the property. Get inside of a circle and pray. If that circle is too small for your problems and prayers-get your own chalk and draw one that suits your needs. Draw one that you can fit your entire family or your ministry in. Draw one that you can leave your heartbreaks or dreams in. I don't care....just draw your circle. When the rain or snow washes it away...draw another one. Will you look crazy drawing a circle with chalk and standing in it and praying? Probably so, but it felt crazy suggesting it until I read ahead to the chapter in Draw the Circle that speaks about crazy faith. God knows your beginning and your end. Get to drawing and watch God move.