Get Off That Porch
- Felica Crockette
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 6
Every New Year comes with the same familiar energy.
New planners. New goals. New intentions.
And if we’re honest…some of the same old habits.
We tell ourselves this will be the year things change…it will be the year we finally move
forward, the year we stop circling the same issues, the year we gain clarity about
purpose, direction, and what God is actually calling us to do.
But clarity doesn’t come from effort alone.
It comes from vision.
When There’s No Vision, We Don’t Die… We Drift
In my first sermon of the year, I shared a picture that has stayed with me my entire life.
A porch.
Not a bad porch. Not a dangerous porch. Just a comfortable porch.
Growing up, I watched family members sit on that porch day after day; laughing, talking,
waving at cars passing by, watching other people go somewhere while they stayed right
where they were.
Life didn’t end on the porch. But it also didn’t move forward.
And Scripture puts language to that reality:
Where there is no vision, the people perish. - Proverbs 29:18
The word vision doesn’t mean imagination or a good idea. It means divine revelation;
God showing us where He’s taking us.
Without that kind of vision, people don’t collapse. They just… settle.
They don’t stop breathing. They stop becoming.
Vision Comes From Abiding, Not Hustling
Here’s the part we often miss:
Vision doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from staying connected.
Jesus said it plainly:
Abide in Me, and I in you… apart from Me you can do nothing. - John 15
Abiding means staying rooted. Remaining connected. Living from the Source instead of
checking in only when we’re desperate.
And when we abide, something shifts:
Our prayers change
Our desires get refined
Our goals get aligned
Our clarity increases
Vision flows naturally from connection.
Why We’re Starting the Year With a 40-Day Sugar Fast
As a church - both in person and online - we’re choosing to start this year differently.
Before we plan. Before we strategize. Before we set goals.
We’re seeking God.
We’re entering a 40-Day Sugar Fast - not to punish our bodies, but to realign our
hearts.
This is not a starvation fast. It’s a fast from added sugars and distractions that dull our
spiritual sensitivity.
And yes… sugar counts.
We’re following the example of Daniel, who abstained from “pleasant foods” so he could
hear God clearly. And Scripture tells us that God honored that fast with wisdom,
understanding, and favor.
Fasting doesn’t twist God’s arm. It tunes our ear.
What This Fast Is Really About
People are joining this fast believing God for:
Direction and clarity
Purpose and alignment
Family healing
Wisdom for work and decisions
Deeper intimacy with God
This fast is about stepping off the porch and reconnecting to the Vine.
Because when we abide, fruit happens.
You’re Invited…
Whether you’re part of Harvest Nations, an e-member, or someone who just needs a reset…you’re invited.
We’ve created a 40-Day Fasting Guide with:
Daily Scripture
A one-sentence prayer for each day
Clear guidance for the sugar fast
A focus on vision, purpose, and abiding
You can find the full guide below.
Start where you are. Go at your pace. And give God space to speak.
This year, we’re not sitting on the porch watching life pass by.
We’re staying connected. We’re seeking vision. And we’re moving forward…together.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Felica
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