Day 1: When God Closes a Door
Reading: Acts 16:6-7

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

Reflection:
Sometimes the Spirit’s “no” is the most faithful word we can hear. Paul and his team were not wandering aimlessly—they were active, hopeful, ready to serve. Yet the Spirit blocked their plans. For churches seeking to thrive, this may sound familiar. We pour energy into programs, strategies, or buildings that once worked but now feel strangely lifeless. God’s Spirit might be redirecting us toward a mission we cannot yet see. The vitality of a church is not measured by its activity but by its responsiveness. Thriving begins with the humility to let the Spirit say “no” so that a deeper “yes” can emerge.

Prayer Prompt:
Ask God to help our church listen when doors close. Pray for discernment to see redirection as grace, not failure.

Day 2: Holy Detours
Reading: Acts 16:8

So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

Reflection:
Troas was not the plan. It was the place they arrived after the Spirit said “no” twice. Churches often find themselves in their own Troas moments—spaces of uncertainty, transition, or fatigue. Yet Troas became the gateway to Europe, the launching point for a new chapter of the gospel. When congregations choose patience over panic, these detours become holy ground. CBFNC walks beside churches in such seasons, helping leaders reimagine ministry and rediscover their calling. Thriving rarely looks like returning to what was. It grows from trusting that God is already waiting in Troas.

Prayer Prompt:
Invite God to meet you in your detour. Ask for the courage to see possibilities where you once saw disappointment.

Day 3: A Vision of Help
Reading: Acts 16:9

During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Reflection:
Paul’s vision began with a cry for help. Before there was a strategy, there was compassion. Churches thrive when they remember that ministry begins with responding to real human need. The Macedonian man’s plea reminds us that thriving is not self-preservation; it is partnership. CBFNC’s mission to help churches thrive echoes this same call: “Come help us.” Whether it is mentoring young pastors, supporting rural congregations, or equipping lay leaders, the Spirit’s work continues through the mutual call of need and response. The Church flourishes when compassion directs its movement.

Prayer Prompt:
Pray that your heart and your church will stay open to the cries around you. Ask God to help you see need not as a burden but as an invitation.

Day 4: We Got Ready at Once
Reading: Acts 16:10a

After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia.

Reflection:
Obedience is the bridge between vision and vitality. Paul did not wait for a committee report or a detailed budget plan. He simply got ready at once. Churches thrive when discernment leads to movement. Many congregations hear God’s call but struggle to take the first step. Yet thriving is rarely about perfection; it is about readiness. CBFNC encourages congregations to act with faithful agility—to experiment, risk, and learn as they go. When we move with trust instead of fear, God meets us on the road with provision and surprise.

Prayer Prompt:
Ask God to give your church a spirit of readiness. Pray for the courage to act on what you already know God is calling you to do.

Day 5: Conclusion and Calling
Reading: Acts 16:10b

Concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Reflection:
Discernment involves both listening and concluding. After their experiences, Paul and his team connected the dots: God had called them. Thriving churches take time to interpret what God is doing among them. They reflect, pray, and test what they believe the Spirit is revealing. CBFNC’s work of helping churches thrive often involves facilitating these conversations, where leaders and members together ask, “What is God calling us to now?” Churches that thrive do not have fewer challenges; they simply refuse to stop discerning. Their calling keeps unfolding.

Prayer Prompt:
Pray for the wisdom to see God’s pattern in your church’s story. Ask God to make your next step clear and faithful.

Day 6: Partners in the Gospel

Reading: Philippians 1:3-5

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Reflection:
Paul would later write to the very people he met through the Macedonian vision. What began as a plea for help became a lifelong partnership. Thriving churches never thrive alone. They are sustained by relationships with other congregations, with CBFNC, and with communities around them. Partnership multiplies strength, creativity, and hope. When one church shares its gifts, another finds renewal. When CBFNC connects leaders and resources, everyone grows. The Spirit who called Paul to Macedonia is still weaving the Body of Christ together for the sake of the world.

Prayer Prompt:
Give thanks for your partners in ministry. Pray for unity among congregations and for new collaborations that bring life to all involved.

Day 7: A Thriving Future
Reading: Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Reflection:
The story of Acts 16 is not simply about where Paul went—it is about how God’s imagination outgrew Paul’s. The same is true for the Church today. Thriving is not about returning to a former strength but trusting that God can do more than we can imagine. The Spirit who redirected Paul’s steps continues to shape the journey of churches across North Carolina. As we dream, discern, and serve together, we join God’s mission of resurrection and renewal. The future of the Church belongs not to fear, but to faith that God is already doing immeasurably more.

Prayer Prompt:
Pray for bold imagination. Ask God to help your church dream beyond maintenance and into mission, trusting that God’s power is already at work within you.