Fasting is more than abstaining from food or habits—it’s a spiritual discipline that creates space for God to move. When we fast, we intentionally quiet distractions so we can hear God more clearly and align our hearts with His will. Spiritual disciplines like fasting, prayer, and reading Scripture help strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with God. They aren’t about perfection or performance, but about positioning ourselves to receive God’s guidance, correction, and peace. Through fasting, we learn: • Dependence on God rather than ourselves • Greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit • Self-control and spiritual clarity • Humility and surrender Whether you’re fasting for a day, a season, or from something specific, let your focus be on drawing closer to God—not just completing the fast. What is one spiritual discipline you want to be more intentional about this season?

Vision shapes the direction of our lives. We are all moving toward something—whether intentionally or not. The question isn’t if we have a vision, but who is guiding it. Vision Without God Vision without God is often driven by pressure, comparison, fear, or personal ambition. It focuses on control—trying to make everything happen on our own timeline and according to our own understanding. It can look like: • Chasing success without peace • Setting goals that impress others but drain your spirit • Measuring worth by productivity or outcomes • Feeling anxious when plans don’t go as expected Vision without God may still achieve results, but it often comes with burnout, pride, disappointment, or emptiness. When God is removed from the process, the weight of the vision rests entirely on us. Vision With God Vision with God begins with surrender. It’s rooted in prayer, obedience, and trust—even when the path isn’t fully clear. God-centered vision isn’t always fast, flashy, or easy, but it is purposeful and peace-filled. Vision with God looks like: • Seeking God before setting goals • Trusting His timing over your own • Allowing Him to redirect your plans • Finding peace even in waiting seasons • Growing spiritually while moving forward practically When God leads the vision, He also provides the strength, wisdom, and grace to walk it out. His vision may stretch you, but it will never leave you without His presence. The Difference That Matters Most The biggest difference between vision with God and vision without God is who carries the burden. With God, you walk in partnership. Without God, you walk alone. Proverbs 16:3 reminds us: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” God doesn’t just want to bless the outcome—He wants to be involved in the process. A Moment to Reflect As you look ahead: • Whose vision are you currently following? • Have you invited God into your plans—or just asked Him to bless them after? • Are you willing to let go of a vision if God asks you to trust Him with something different?

As a new year begins, take a moment to intentionally place it in God’s hands. When we dedicate our plans, goals, and desires to Him, we invite His guidance, peace, and purpose into every step. This year, choose to: • Seek God first in all things • Trust Him with your plans and timelines • Surrender worries and expectations • Walk daily in obedience and faith A year dedicated to the Lord is never wasted. He will lead, provide, and be faithful—every step of the way. 💛 Have you taken a moment to dedicate this year to God in prayer?

A Thought-Provoking Question for the Community Isaiah gives us a sobering prophecy about the suffering Messiah: “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness.”(Isaiah 52:14) Later, Isaiah continues: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.”(Isaiah 53:3) The Gospels echo this reality. Jesus was scourged, beaten, mocked, struck in the face, crowned with thorns, and forced to carry His cross (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 22–23, John 19). Roman scourging alone was designed to tear flesh, weaken the body, and leave a person nearly unrecognizable. Scripture tells us that many witnessed these events—soldiers, crowds, disciples, and onlookers. Yet when we look at most artistic depictions of Christ today—paintings, films, statues, illustrations—we often see something very different: • A recognizable, peaceful face• Hair perfectly in place • Clean features with minimal wounds • A few gashes or marks, but not complete disfigurement (not that we want otherwise hanging on our walls) This raises an honest and thoughtful question. Community Discussion We are not saying this is right or wrong. We are simply opening space for reflection and discussion. What do you think? • Is it appropriate to depict Jesus in a way that softens the brutality described in Scripture? • Does this kind of imagery help people approach Christ—or does it unintentionally minimize what He endured? • Is it biblical to show Christ as a symbolic figure rather than the brutally honest reality of what hundreds of witnesses saw? • When sharing the Gospel with non-believers, does gentler imagery make the message more accessible—or does it risk losing the weight of the sacrifice? This isn’t about debate for debate’s sake. It’s about pausing to think deeply about what our Savior truly went through—and how the world chooses to tell that story today. 💬 Fill the comments with your thoughts, reflections, and Scripture if you feel led.

✨ Reflection: Where Did I See God This Year? As this year comes to a close, take a quiet moment to look back. Not just at the milestones and answered prayers—but also at the waiting, the challenges, and the moments that shaped you. Sometimes God shows up in the big blessings. Sometimes He’s there in the strength you didn’t know you had, the peace that carried you through, or the people He placed beside you at just the right time. Reflect and ask yourself: • Where did I feel God’s presence this year? • What prayers were answered—maybe differently than I expected? • How did God grow me through the hard moments? Take a moment to write it down or share if you feel led. Reflection helps us recognize that God has been faithful all along. 💛