Be encourage with biblical encouragement and inspiration from Pastor Kevin Berry. Receive leadership tips to succeed in your work or daily life, follow along with daily devotionals, and receive practical steps to walk out your Christian life.
March 1 – Today’s reading from The One Year Bible:
“Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” —Jesus – Mark 10:21
Hey, thanks for reading through the Bible with me this year and joining me in fasting and prayer the first three days of every month!
In our Bible reading today, we learn about the unusual “altar call” that Jesus gave. This man ran up to Jesus, wanting to inherit eternal life. He said, “What must I do?” Jesus did not tell the man to close his eyes or raise his hand. There would be no simple prayer for him to repeat after Jesus. Instead, Jesus said, “Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor! Then come, follow me.” At that, the man went away sad! It’s a sad story… his possessions actually possessed him.
In his mind, he did everything right… he had obeyed all the laws. But Jesus was more concerned with his heart than his deeds. So Jesus got to the heart of the issue with the man—money! Even though he was promised treasures in Heaven, his heart could not give up the treasures he had on Earth! He was so close to the realm of the Kingdom, but could not give up his attachment to the things of this realm. Bill Johnson put it well when he said, “You will always represent the realm you are most aware of.”
I pray for you, that during this time of fasting and prayer, God will cause your heart to be more aware of the realm of the Kingdom. That you would be more concerned about your treasures in Heaven than the possessions you have on Earth. That God would give you wisdom to be a good steward of the finances He has entrusted you with.
Later this month, our dear friends, Michael and Ramona Woods will be joining us on Sunday, March 26th for our morning services. They’ll be back again on Monday evening, March 27th for a Financial Workshop that I know you will love! They have blessed people around the nation when it comes to the number one challenge for most—money! Hey, money doesn’t have to have a hold on you. Come and receive practical help from experts that will give you tools to advance you by years! Position yourself this year to be blessed so you can be a blessing to others! Simply click below to register so we can save a seat for you!
Blessings!
Your Pastor and Friend,
Kevin Berry
February 3 – Today’s reading from The One Year Bible:
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “ LORD, I am coming.”
– Psalms 27:8
King David said, “My heart has heard you say.” Wait a minute. Hearts don’t hear… or do they? As I read this the other day I was captivated by this thought – a heart that hears!That’s what I must have. If my heart only beats… it’s not enough! If my heart only bleeds… it’s not enough! If my heart only hurts… it’s not enough! I must have a heart that hears! This year, I want my heart to hear the voice of the Lord more!
It’s not enough to have ears that hear. The Pharisees had ears that heard the words of Jesus, but their hearts were like rocks – stony hearts that could not hear. Oh, the tragedy of those who hear words, but miss the words of God. They miss the divine whispers that I have come to cherish.
If you have a heart that hears, then you must also have a heart that responds! We must have a heart that talks back to the Lord, where love responds to love. We are told that in the last days the love of many will grow cold, but your love should be hotter every day. Yes, may your heart burn within you as the Lord opens up the scriptures to you.
I pray for you today, my friend, asking that God would work in you a heart that hears His voice with greater clarity. A heart that hears the majesty of His whispers to you. A heart that hears His intentions toward you. A heart that is soft, warm, and responsive to His voice. I pray that your heart would respond with a leap of joy at the mention of His name. Take notice of what the Lord is doing in you this year – He’s forming your heart.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we begin a new series, “Neighboring.” There are some things the Lord wants to work in our hearts during these next few weeks.
February 2 – Today’s reading from The One Year Bible:
There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. – Exodus 16:2
The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints.” – Exodus 16:12
In our Bible reading today, we learn something about the Israelites – they complained. Not just once, not twice, but over and over again. What they didn’t know was that God was listening. Oh, that God would have heard them praying, trusting, and believing. Imagine what could have happened if they would have said, “Lord we don’t understand what’s happening, but we know that You are on the throne and leading us into a promised land… we trust You!” But no, they just complained, and that complaining kept them from entering into the land that God had prepared for them.
The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe his promise to care for them. Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the Lord. – Psalms 106:24-25
The whole community of Israel complained. Sound familiar? There sure are some similarities to America, where it feels like almost the whole nation is complaining about something. People complain about their jobs, boss, families, and the government. What could happen if we prayed more than we complained? The fact is that while complaining keeps you from the promise, praying accelerates the promise!
In this culture that is bent on complaining, I want to encourage you to think differently. When you do, you have the ability to use your voice to do something that will actually accelerate you toward the promises of God. You can use your voice to prophesy, make faith declarations, praise, and pray! No matter what you see, trust the Lord. Believe His promise to take care of you.
It’s Day 2 of our fast this month. From my heart, thanks again for joining me. I pray that God will reward you and bless you as we fast and pray together the first three days of every month this year. May the Lord lead you into all the good that He has promised you!
February 1 – Today’s reading from the One Year Bible:
– Exodus 13:17-22
– Exodus 14
– Exodus 15:1-18
– Matthew 21:23-46
– Psalms 26:1-12
– Proverbs 6:16-19
The LORD is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!
– Exodus 15:3
Thanks for joining me in a fasted life this year by praying and fasting with me for the first three days of every month. Together, we are setting our eyes on the vision and getting ready to run. I decree this to be a year of Miracles, More, and Multiplication for you!
When you read the Bible, you are looking to find God, not principles about Him. In today’s reading, we get a picture of who God is and what He is like. “The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name.” Those words were a spontaneous song after the parting of the Red Sea. It’s the oldest poem in history by hundreds of years. But more than that, this song shows us who God is.
Have you thought about the Lord as a mighty warrior? Have you seen Him as the one who fights battles for you? Oh, that you will see the Lord today as the mighty warrior He is. Don’t fret at what you see around you, my friend. The Lord is a warrior and He is for you, not against you.
“One person with God is always in the majority.”
– Graham Cooke
“Yahweh is His name.” God’s name was highly respected by the Jews. In fact, His name was so holy to them that they would not even say it. When the scribes would come to write God’s name, they would go in and take a bath, put on fresh clothes, wash their pen completely, dip it in fresh ink, and then write God’s name. Oh, that we would have a love for His name! That we would cry out as Moses did, “Show me your glory, Lord!” That we would relish in His name—My Father, The Lord my Healer, My Shepherd, My Provider, The Great I AM, Jesus, Prince of Peace, Savior—the name above all names!
“When His name means everything to you, it will obtain everything for you.”
– Andrew Murray
I pray for you, my friend, that you have an experience with God’s glory this month! That you have a deeper experience of God’s name and who He is to you in this current season of your life. I pray that His name becomes a name you cherish more, a name that floods you with hope, and that you experience the Lord as the Warrior that is fighting for you.
Watch or listen to Pastor Kevin’s “Vision Sunday” messages here or on our Mount Hope Church app. You can also download our 2017 Vision and Core Value handout so you can keep it in front of you all year long here!
And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. – Matthew 13:58
“Anything is possible if a person believes.” – Jesus – Mark 9:23
Unbelief has been the downfall of many! In today’s Bible reading, we see that Jesus was among some who needed a miracle, who needed a healing, but they refused to believe in Him. Unbelief will keep people from being saved, keep people from miracles, and keep people sick. Unbelief is a silent killer of dreams, hopes, and potential.
As we come to the close of 21 days of prayer and fasting, I want to encourage you! As you have been reading God’s Word every day, hiding the Word as a treasure in your heart, and meditating on the Word throughout the day—faith has come, your faith has grown, and it’s time to release that faith for miracles in your life! Here is the thing about faith, it will always prompt you to do something! It’s an action word.
May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
– 2 Thessalonians 1:11
Faith will prompt you to pray for the sick, to write a kind note to a neighbor, to take some form of action. Faith prompted Abraham to leave his father’s house and believe for the impossible. Faith prompted Moses to stretch his staff over the Red Sea. Faith prompted Joshua to walk around the walls of Jericho. Faith prompted Peter to grab a lame man by the hands and pull him up to his feet; then the miracle happened. There is some action that your faith is calling you to take this year. When you take action in faith—when you dare to believe—that’s when the supernatural happens!
What is it that the Lord has put in your heart? What action step is He asking you to take? Take courage, my friend, anything is possible if a person believes! I dare you to believe God for something so big that it requires supernatural activity in your life this year!
The Lord has taken notice of your fasting and your prayers. Every day and every meal you fasted has been a significant part of pulling you back in the giant slingshot the Lord has you in! Yes, He has strategically positioned you and is preparing you for a launch… it’s time!
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as I share what the Lord has put in my heart this year for Mount Hope Church and for you! I have such a strong sense of urgency and expectation for what is going to happen this Sunday—the first day that the fast is over. Also, remember, the first three days of every month we’ll be praying and fasting together this year. I look forward to sending you a devotional for each of those days.
Now I bless you in the name of Jesus. I call for this to be a year of encounter for you—a year of greater intimacy with the Lord! I decree this to be a year of expansion, taking territory, a year of bearing much fruit, and a year of rapid growth. I speak this as a blessing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Your Pastor and Friend,
Kevin
But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger. – Psalm 18:6-7
We only have one more day of the 21-day fast! It’s hard to believe how quickly this time has gone by. I want to encourage you that as you have taken time to fast and pray with me during this season, God has been watching! Your prayers, your cries, have reached His ears. This is what we discover in our Bible reading today. Here we see the pattern for prayer. It goes like this: we pray, God hears, and then… the earth quakes! Your prayers are meant to be earth-shaking! Let’s take a closer look at this.
What has been distressing to you? What has been overwhelming to you? A certain amount of stress is good for you. If a guitar string doesn’t have enough stress, it sounds horrible. If it has too much stress, it snaps. And, if you have too much stress, it will eventually turn into distress. When that happens, instead of freaking out, try crying out to God. Pour out your heart to Him, asking Him for help.
What gives power to your prayers is the fact that they reach God’s ears. The King of Kings has heard the cry of your heart. He has seen your distress and heard your prayers asking for help. You have an invitation to daily come before God’s throne of grace, and there, receive the mercy, grace, and help you need.
Take heart, my friend, the Lord has seen your fasting and has heard your prayers. What comes next is this word – “Then!” Then the Lord does something earth-shaking. Then all of Heaven breaks loose on the earth. And, then God takes what the enemy meant for bad and turns it around for your good. Then suddenly what looked impossible becomes a reality. Then healing collides with your sickness and healing wins every time!
I pray for you, my friend. I pray that you will be filled with hope today. And, I pray that the joy of the Lord fills your heart as you know that your cry has reached His ears. It’s now time for the Lord to come and do all the good things that He has promised to do for you!
Your Pastor and Friend,
Kevin
And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”
“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.” – Genesis 40:8
I was recently called to jury duty and while sitting in the jury box, the attorney started asking each of us what we did for a living. He wanted to know what business we were involved in, and I was going to be the last one to answer the question. As I sat there, I was thinking about the different answers I could give. I could just say, “I’m a pastor.” But I also could say, “I change people’s lives.” “I heal the sick.” “I save people.” “I’m in the restoration business.” The list goes on and on. I ended up going with, “I’m a pastor.” But the deeper reality is, what I do really depends on what God is doing that day, because His business is my business… and what He does is supernatural!
Joseph understood that. Take a second look at what he said in today’s Bible reading: “Interpreting dreams is God’s business… so go ahead and tell me your dreams.” Wait a minute! He just said that interpreting dreams is God’s business, so why not just leave that to God? Oh, what a wonderful truth we see in God’s Word today. As followers of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, we get to spend our lives doing God’s business! Regardless of what you do to earn an income, every day you have the opportunity to be part of a supernatural business – God’s business! This is what we see in the life of Jesus when He said,
“Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” – Luke 2:49
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.” – John 5:19-20
Will you take time to ask the Lord what He is doing today, and how you can be part of it? Then slow down enough to notice the compassion He puts in your heart, the people He brings to your path—from giving a hug, showing kindness, caring for the poor, filling someone with hope, to healing the sick. Every day of your life this year can be a supernatural adventure when you live like Jesus—doing the Father’s business!
Father, I thank you that in the midst of all the natural things I will do today, you give me a holy invitation to do something supernatural. I don’t want to just be busy today, I want to be busy about your business. Will you share your heart with me today and direct my steps into the supernatural adventure you have for me?
Happy Fasting,
Pastor Kev
I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. – Psalm 16:7-8
The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. – Exodus 13:21
Before long, we’ll be reading together in Exodus about how God guided the children of Israel when they didn’t know what way to go. Have you ever been there before? They had been slaves in Egypt for 430 years. How would they know where to go outside of Egypt unless God would guide them? The guidance God provided was unmistakable. How can you miss a huge pillar of cloud by day? How can you miss a pillar of fire at night? They didn’t have to think, “I wonder if this is the Lord?” or “Maybe that’s just my own thoughts?” No, they could look up in the sky and see clearly where they were supposed to go. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
You actually have it better than the Israelites traveling through the wilderness. As a follower of Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. That means you come with a built-in supernatural guidance system. It is the Lord’s delight to guide you and even at night to instruct your heart. That means even when you are sleeping, God is putting into your heart what you should do and where you should go. And because you can be confident that He is directing your steps, that He is in you and with you, you have no need to be shaken. Take heart, my friend, He is right beside you, taking you by the hand and leading you into a glorious future!
If you are looking for some direction this year, go ahead and pray through the scriptures below and fully expect that God will give you clear direction!
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” – Isaiah 48:17
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. – John 16:13
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. – Psalm 23:3
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8
For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die. – Psalm 48:14
You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. – Psalm 73:23-24
The Lord will guide you continually. – Isaiah 58:11
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. – Galatians 5:16
Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. – Psalm 25:4
I pray that during this time of prayer and fasting, you will receive supernatural direction, insight, and revelation.
Blessings,
Pastor Kevin
And his name will be the hope of all the world. – Matthew 12:21
The central event in the history of the earth is the birth of Jesus! His name has been the cause of great joy and celebration around the world. Andrew Murray said, “When His name means everything to you, it will obtain everything for you.” Oh, that we would live in the wonder and awe of His great name.
This past Christmas was different for me in some ways since it was on a Sunday, but it was still a day all about Jesus! Here are my thoughts from my journal early Christmas morning.
Lord, here I am sitting in the sanctuary on Christmas morning. It’s different in that I’m not at home, I’ll be preaching in a while, but it’s the same in that I’m with you! You are my heart’s desire.
Oh, Lord… Christmas. As a young child, Christmas for me was more about presents, eating Aunt Betty’s green stuff, seeing my grandfather dressed up as Santa, seeing family I would only see once a year, playing with new toys. But there is something I still have in common with those days – wonder, excitement, and celebration.
Back in the day, I would wonder who I would see that day, what toys I might receive, if there would be enough snow for snowmobile rides at Grandpa’s house. Today, I sit here in wonder at what You have done, Jesus – stepping out of Heaven as the Prince of Heaven coming to the earth, leaving a throne room for a manger. I’m in awe and wonder not at what I’m going to get… but at what I have received – Jesus!
Back in the day, I was excited – excited to get presents, excited to give something, excited about the food and family visits. I was going to have something NEW to play with. Today, I’m excited to see family, to be with You… but also because I’ve got something new today. I’m on the verge of a whole new year! With 2016 almost behind me, the sky is the limit as to all the new and good that this next year can be filled with. I have new hopes, new dreams, new goals, new desires, new opportunities, new friendships. I’m going to learn something new about Jesus. I’m going to walk in a new sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
Back in the day, Christmas day was always about celebration as we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s son! It’s like everything was special. The food – there would be lots of it! Grandma would make sure that there were all kinds of fudge and yummy treats… health food of sorts. There was a festive atmosphere. Today, it’s still festive for me, it’s still filled with an atmosphere of celebration. There is nothing normal or common about this day! Before, I would celebrate over gifts under a tree… now I celebrate because Jesus came as a baby and died on a tree.
I pray that the name of Jesus will fill you with hope today. May you celebrate His name all year long!
Happy Fasting
Pastor Kevin