How Will You Finish?
5 Day Devotional
Day 1: Beginning with the End in Mind
Devotional: Life's journey isn't defined by how we start but by how we finish. This truth resonates throughout Scripture and our daily lives. When we embark on something new—a ministry, a relationship, a career—the enemy often shows up immediately, attempting to derail God's plans before they gain momentum. In Revelation, Jesus declares Himself as "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End." This powerful statement reminds us that God encompasses everything—He was there before our journey began and will remain long after we've completed our course. While the enemy may try to project negative outcomes and plant seeds of doubt, we can rest assured that God already knows the end from the beginning. The enemy's tactics haven't changed since the Garden of Eden. He questions God's promises, distorts His words, and attempts to make us doubt our calling. But understanding that God holds both the beginning and end gives us confidence to persevere through challenges, knowing that our final destination is secure in Him. Today, whatever new beginning you're facing—whether exciting or daunting—remember that God has already seen the end result. The enemy may show up at the start, but he doesn't determine your finish. Set your eyes on Jesus, who authors your faith and will bring it to completion.
Bible Verse: "And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.'" - Revelation 21:6
Reflection Question: What new beginning in your life is currently facing opposition, and how might remembering that God is both the Alpha and Omega change your perspective on this challenge?
Quote: "The enemy shows up at the beginning of things. When we began to build this church, the enemy showed up. Man, I'm telling you what. We had no problems at all while we was in that little storefront. It was simple, it was easy. But then how many of you have figured out new levels, new devils?"
Prayer: Lord, thank You for being the Alpha and Omega of my life. When the enemy tries to discourage me at the beginning of new journeys, help me remember that You've already seen the end result. Give me faith to trust Your perfect plan and the courage to persevere despite opposition. In Jesus' name, amen.
Devotional: Life's journey isn't defined by how we start but by how we finish. This truth resonates throughout Scripture and our daily lives. When we embark on something new—a ministry, a relationship, a career—the enemy often shows up immediately, attempting to derail God's plans before they gain momentum. In Revelation, Jesus declares Himself as "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End." This powerful statement reminds us that God encompasses everything—He was there before our journey began and will remain long after we've completed our course. While the enemy may try to project negative outcomes and plant seeds of doubt, we can rest assured that God already knows the end from the beginning. The enemy's tactics haven't changed since the Garden of Eden. He questions God's promises, distorts His words, and attempts to make us doubt our calling. But understanding that God holds both the beginning and end gives us confidence to persevere through challenges, knowing that our final destination is secure in Him. Today, whatever new beginning you're facing—whether exciting or daunting—remember that God has already seen the end result. The enemy may show up at the start, but he doesn't determine your finish. Set your eyes on Jesus, who authors your faith and will bring it to completion.
Bible Verse: "And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.'" - Revelation 21:6
Reflection Question: What new beginning in your life is currently facing opposition, and how might remembering that God is both the Alpha and Omega change your perspective on this challenge?
Quote: "The enemy shows up at the beginning of things. When we began to build this church, the enemy showed up. Man, I'm telling you what. We had no problems at all while we was in that little storefront. It was simple, it was easy. But then how many of you have figured out new levels, new devils?"
Prayer: Lord, thank You for being the Alpha and Omega of my life. When the enemy tries to discourage me at the beginning of new journeys, help me remember that You've already seen the end result. Give me faith to trust Your perfect plan and the courage to persevere despite opposition. In Jesus' name, amen.
Day 2: Breaking Free from the Enemy's Yoke
Devotional: Freedom is a precious gift that God desires for each of us. Yet so often, we find ourselves burdened by yokes of bondage—addiction, fear, bitterness, or past mistakes. These yokes restrict our movement and limit our potential in Christ. Isaiah reveals a powerful truth: the anointing breaks the yoke. Just as oil softens and deteriorates a wooden yoke, God's anointing presence in our lives dissolves the burdens that weigh us down. This isn't a passive process—it requires our participation. Like Elisha who slaughtered his oxen and burned the wooden yoke after receiving Elijah's mantle, we must make decisive breaks with whatever holds us captive. The enemy strategically places yokes on us, hoping to control our direction and diminish our effectiveness. But Jesus offers a different yoke—one that is easy and light. When we exchange the enemy's heavy burden for Christ's gentle guidance, we experience true freedom. Today, identify any yokes in your life that restrict your spiritual growth. Perhaps it's an unhealthy relationship, a destructive habit, or a limiting belief. Invite God's anointing to break that yoke, and take practical steps toward freedom. Remember, the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you and is more than capable of breaking every chain.
Bible Verse: "It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil." - Isaiah 10:27
Reflection Question: What specific yoke has the enemy placed on your life that you need God's anointing to break today, and what practical step can you take to participate in this freedom process?
Quote: When we get to the point where we understand that whatever yoke that the enemy has tried to put on us, that if we will cast that upon the Lord and allow the anointing to destroy that yoke, then we will be able to use that to feed other people spiritually that are struggling with the same kind of yokes in their life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the freedom You provide through Your anointing. I identify the yokes of [name specific burdens] in my life and ask for Your power to break them completely. Help me exchange the enemy's heavy burdens for Your light and easy yoke. I choose to walk in the freedom You've provided. In Jesus' name, amen.
Devotional: Freedom is a precious gift that God desires for each of us. Yet so often, we find ourselves burdened by yokes of bondage—addiction, fear, bitterness, or past mistakes. These yokes restrict our movement and limit our potential in Christ. Isaiah reveals a powerful truth: the anointing breaks the yoke. Just as oil softens and deteriorates a wooden yoke, God's anointing presence in our lives dissolves the burdens that weigh us down. This isn't a passive process—it requires our participation. Like Elisha who slaughtered his oxen and burned the wooden yoke after receiving Elijah's mantle, we must make decisive breaks with whatever holds us captive. The enemy strategically places yokes on us, hoping to control our direction and diminish our effectiveness. But Jesus offers a different yoke—one that is easy and light. When we exchange the enemy's heavy burden for Christ's gentle guidance, we experience true freedom. Today, identify any yokes in your life that restrict your spiritual growth. Perhaps it's an unhealthy relationship, a destructive habit, or a limiting belief. Invite God's anointing to break that yoke, and take practical steps toward freedom. Remember, the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you and is more than capable of breaking every chain.
Bible Verse: "It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil." - Isaiah 10:27
Reflection Question: What specific yoke has the enemy placed on your life that you need God's anointing to break today, and what practical step can you take to participate in this freedom process?
Quote: When we get to the point where we understand that whatever yoke that the enemy has tried to put on us, that if we will cast that upon the Lord and allow the anointing to destroy that yoke, then we will be able to use that to feed other people spiritually that are struggling with the same kind of yokes in their life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the freedom You provide through Your anointing. I identify the yokes of [name specific burdens] in my life and ask for Your power to break them completely. Help me exchange the enemy's heavy burdens for Your light and easy yoke. I choose to walk in the freedom You've provided. In Jesus' name, amen.
Day 3: Trusting Through Trials
Devotional: Trust is easy when everything goes according to plan. But genuine faith is forged in the furnace of adversity. Throughout Scripture, we see examples of believers who maintained their trust in God despite overwhelming circumstances. Job stands as a testament to unwavering faith amid suffering. Having lost his possessions, his children, and his health, Job declared, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." This profound statement reveals a commitment that transcends circumstances—a trust anchored not in favorable outcomes but in God's unchanging character. In our own lives, trials often reveal the true foundation of our faith. When plans crumble, health fails, or relationships fracture, we face a critical choice: Will we trust our own understanding, or will we lean into God's wisdom and sovereignty? The enemy wants us to believe that trials indicate God's absence or indifference. But Scripture teaches the opposite—that God uses difficulties to refine our faith and draw us closer to Himself. Like precious metal purified by fire, our trust becomes more valuable through testing. Today, whatever challenge you're facing, choose to trust God not despite your circumstances but through them. Remember that the same God who sustained Job, Daniel, and countless others through their trials is with you now, working all things together for your good and His glory.
Bible Verse: "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" - Genesis 3:4-5
Reflection Question: What current situation in your life feels most difficult to trust God with, and how might Job's example of saying "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" apply to your circumstances?
Quote: "Job said though, he slay me yet. Well, I trust him. And we need some people that are committed to God and committed to the word of God and will allow the Holy Ghost to move in their life to where they say, I don't care what happens to me, Lord, I'm going to trust you."
Prayer: Lord, in times when trusting You feels difficult, strengthen my faith. Help me to see beyond my current circumstances to Your eternal purposes. Like Job, I choose to trust You even when I don't understand Your ways. Thank You for Your faithfulness that never wavers, even when my trust falters. In Jesus' name, amen.
Devotional: Trust is easy when everything goes according to plan. But genuine faith is forged in the furnace of adversity. Throughout Scripture, we see examples of believers who maintained their trust in God despite overwhelming circumstances. Job stands as a testament to unwavering faith amid suffering. Having lost his possessions, his children, and his health, Job declared, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." This profound statement reveals a commitment that transcends circumstances—a trust anchored not in favorable outcomes but in God's unchanging character. In our own lives, trials often reveal the true foundation of our faith. When plans crumble, health fails, or relationships fracture, we face a critical choice: Will we trust our own understanding, or will we lean into God's wisdom and sovereignty? The enemy wants us to believe that trials indicate God's absence or indifference. But Scripture teaches the opposite—that God uses difficulties to refine our faith and draw us closer to Himself. Like precious metal purified by fire, our trust becomes more valuable through testing. Today, whatever challenge you're facing, choose to trust God not despite your circumstances but through them. Remember that the same God who sustained Job, Daniel, and countless others through their trials is with you now, working all things together for your good and His glory.
Bible Verse: "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" - Genesis 3:4-5
Reflection Question: What current situation in your life feels most difficult to trust God with, and how might Job's example of saying "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" apply to your circumstances?
Quote: "Job said though, he slay me yet. Well, I trust him. And we need some people that are committed to God and committed to the word of God and will allow the Holy Ghost to move in their life to where they say, I don't care what happens to me, Lord, I'm going to trust you."
Prayer: Lord, in times when trusting You feels difficult, strengthen my faith. Help me to see beyond my current circumstances to Your eternal purposes. Like Job, I choose to trust You even when I don't understand Your ways. Thank You for Your faithfulness that never wavers, even when my trust falters. In Jesus' name, amen.
Day 4: Maturing Beyond Offense
Devotional: In a world increasingly characterized by division and outrage, spiritual maturity stands out as a rare and precious quality. Jesus warned that in the last days, many would be offended—and we certainly see this prophecy fulfilled in our current cultural climate where offense has become a default response. Spiritual maturity doesn't happen automatically with age or church attendance. It develops through consistent engagement with God's Word, regular prayer, and the willingness to endure difficulties without becoming bitter. Mature believers understand that being offended is a choice, not an inevitable reaction. When we're easily offended, we reveal areas where our identity is still rooted in something other than Christ. Perhaps we're seeking validation from others, protecting our reputation, or demanding our own way. These self-centered concerns make us vulnerable to offense. Jesus modeled a different way. Despite facing the ultimate rejection—crucifixion by those He came to save—He responded with forgiveness rather than offense. His security in His identity and mission enabled Him to endure opposition without becoming bitter. Today, examine your heart for areas of offense. Are you harboring resentment toward someone who criticized you? Are you nursing wounds from perceived slights? Choose to release these offenses to God and embrace the freedom that comes with spiritual maturity.
Bible Verse: "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." - Matthew 24:10
Reflection Question: What recent situation caused you to feel offended, and how might viewing that situation through the lens of spiritual maturity change your response?
Quote: "We don't need church members that are acting like middle schoolers. We need church people and members that are mature in the word of God and they're in that word of God and they're operating by the word of God."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've chosen offense over grace. Help me grow in spiritual maturity by rooting my identity firmly in Christ rather than in others' opinions or my own pride. Give me the strength to release offenses quickly and respond with the same grace You've shown me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Devotional: In a world increasingly characterized by division and outrage, spiritual maturity stands out as a rare and precious quality. Jesus warned that in the last days, many would be offended—and we certainly see this prophecy fulfilled in our current cultural climate where offense has become a default response. Spiritual maturity doesn't happen automatically with age or church attendance. It develops through consistent engagement with God's Word, regular prayer, and the willingness to endure difficulties without becoming bitter. Mature believers understand that being offended is a choice, not an inevitable reaction. When we're easily offended, we reveal areas where our identity is still rooted in something other than Christ. Perhaps we're seeking validation from others, protecting our reputation, or demanding our own way. These self-centered concerns make us vulnerable to offense. Jesus modeled a different way. Despite facing the ultimate rejection—crucifixion by those He came to save—He responded with forgiveness rather than offense. His security in His identity and mission enabled Him to endure opposition without becoming bitter. Today, examine your heart for areas of offense. Are you harboring resentment toward someone who criticized you? Are you nursing wounds from perceived slights? Choose to release these offenses to God and embrace the freedom that comes with spiritual maturity.
Bible Verse: "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." - Matthew 24:10
Reflection Question: What recent situation caused you to feel offended, and how might viewing that situation through the lens of spiritual maturity change your response?
Quote: "We don't need church members that are acting like middle schoolers. We need church people and members that are mature in the word of God and they're in that word of God and they're operating by the word of God."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've chosen offense over grace. Help me grow in spiritual maturity by rooting my identity firmly in Christ rather than in others' opinions or my own pride. Give me the strength to release offenses quickly and respond with the same grace You've shown me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Day 5: Finishing Strong
Devotional: The beginning of a journey captures attention, but it's the finish that defines legacy. Throughout Scripture and history, we see that starting well doesn't guarantee ending well—and conversely, a difficult beginning doesn't determine a disappointing end. Elijah experienced this truth firsthand. After his triumphant victory over the prophets of Baal, he fled in fear from Jezebel's threats, eventually asking God to take his life. Yet this moment of weakness didn't define his legacy. God restored and recommissioned him, and Elijah ultimately finished so powerfully that he was taken to heaven in a whirlwind without experiencing death. Like the baseball pitcher who overcame a disastrous debut to become a Hall of Famer, we too can transcend difficult beginnings. The key lies not in our own strength or determination but in the power of the Holy Spirit working through us. As Scripture reminds us, it's "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." The enemy wants us fixated on past failures or intimidated by present challenges. But God calls us to focus forward—to forget what lies behind and press on toward the goal. Our past doesn't determine our future when we place our lives in God's hands. Today, regardless of how your journey has unfolded so far, commit to finishing strong. Set your eyes on Jesus, embrace the Holy Spirit's power, and run with perseverance the race marked out for you.
Bible Verse: "Then Elijah said to him, 'Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jordan.' But he said, 'As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!' So the two of them went on." - 1 Kings 19:5
Reflection Question: What area of your life feels like it's had a difficult beginning, and how can you apply the principle of "finishing strong" to this situation with the Holy Spirit's help?
Quote: "It's not how you start out, it's how you finish. It's not how you take off, it's how you land. And where are you going to land in eternity?"
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being both the author and finisher of my faith. When I'm tempted to focus on past failures or present struggles, help me fix my eyes on You instead. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can finish strong, not by my own power but by Yours. May my life's end bring glory to Your name. Amen.
Devotional: The beginning of a journey captures attention, but it's the finish that defines legacy. Throughout Scripture and history, we see that starting well doesn't guarantee ending well—and conversely, a difficult beginning doesn't determine a disappointing end. Elijah experienced this truth firsthand. After his triumphant victory over the prophets of Baal, he fled in fear from Jezebel's threats, eventually asking God to take his life. Yet this moment of weakness didn't define his legacy. God restored and recommissioned him, and Elijah ultimately finished so powerfully that he was taken to heaven in a whirlwind without experiencing death. Like the baseball pitcher who overcame a disastrous debut to become a Hall of Famer, we too can transcend difficult beginnings. The key lies not in our own strength or determination but in the power of the Holy Spirit working through us. As Scripture reminds us, it's "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." The enemy wants us fixated on past failures or intimidated by present challenges. But God calls us to focus forward—to forget what lies behind and press on toward the goal. Our past doesn't determine our future when we place our lives in God's hands. Today, regardless of how your journey has unfolded so far, commit to finishing strong. Set your eyes on Jesus, embrace the Holy Spirit's power, and run with perseverance the race marked out for you.
Bible Verse: "Then Elijah said to him, 'Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jordan.' But he said, 'As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!' So the two of them went on." - 1 Kings 19:5
Reflection Question: What area of your life feels like it's had a difficult beginning, and how can you apply the principle of "finishing strong" to this situation with the Holy Spirit's help?
Quote: "It's not how you start out, it's how you finish. It's not how you take off, it's how you land. And where are you going to land in eternity?"
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being both the author and finisher of my faith. When I'm tempted to focus on past failures or present struggles, help me fix my eyes on You instead. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can finish strong, not by my own power but by Yours. May my life's end bring glory to Your name. Amen.
Posted in Pastor Chris