21 Days of Fasting and Prayer: Greater Things

Scripture: John 14:12

Greater Things

Twenty-one days of prayer and fasting will bring God’s presence and power into your life in greater ways. We are in a season where God is doing some amazing miracles in the Church, and we believe God has greater things for us. God not only wants to answer your personal prayers, but He also wants to move across the nation to bring an awakening. Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:12-14). 

What an amazing promise! We can ask anything in His name, and He will do it! That phrase “in my name” not only means saying the name of Jesus in our prayers, but allowing God to shift our thinking so that our thoughts and prayers are aligned with His. Fasting has a way of positioning our hearts into a place where we conform to the heart of God. When we do that, there is a power that is attendant to us in which we see prayers answered and we begin to see His miracles take place in our lives. 

Over the next twenty-one days, we believe God is not only going to answer our prayers but will do even more through us and in us as we set aside time to seek Him. Each meal we fast, every comfort we give up, is a reminder of His promise! Get ready for God to do greater things!

Scriptures: Psalms 100:4, Psalms 107:1, Psalms 143:5, Psalms 77:11

Beginning with Gratitude

There’s nothing quite like a strong start. Whether it’s an Olympic runner out of the starting blocks, taking a new position at your workplace, or the kickoff to a new semester of school – a strong start is very important. The same is true for us when it comes to fasting and prayer. A strong start to these three weeks of seeking the Lord is powerful and important.

But where and how do we start? Praise.

That’s right…praise.

Beyond the dietary plans and schedule adjustments, I want to encourage you to start strong by starting with praise.

The psalmist says,“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4).

In essence, the entry point into God’s presence is praise.

Praise is the key that unlocks the door to Heaven.

Praise propels us out of our present and into His presence.

Praise is where breakthrough begins.

Praise is powerful!

Often, when we approach God, we quickly move right to our list of needs and requests while failing to recognize that we have missed the one thing that will always strengthen our faith and bring us to the place we so desperately need. We need the presence of the Lord much more than we need provision from the Lord, and praise is the very thing that makes this possible.

The amazing thing is that the book of Psalms doesn’t just tell us the power and importance of praise; it also gives us multiple reminders of what to be thankful for.

Psalm 107:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Our God is worthy of praise because of His unending goodness and everlasting love! The expressions of God’s love toward us come without an expiration date!

Psalm 143:5 – “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”

Our God is worthy of praise because of all He has crafted and created, for all the amazing works He has done for each one of us! It’s easy to start with praise when you look back on all the Lord has already done on your behalf.

So, start this fast/this day/this time with the Lord strong by starting with praise. Make a list of things to be thankful for. Begin your time with gratitude. Readily recognize all that God has done on your behalf.

Before you start asking the Lord for blessing and breakthrough over the things weighing on your heart and mind through this fast, do what Psalm 77 says.“Once again I’ll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts” (Psalm 77:11-12).

Give a long, loving look at all God has already done for you, and you will find yourself starting strong, starting in God’s presence, starting with praise.

Scriptures: Matthew 5, Matthew 6

Hunger and Thirst

Growing up, you probably heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.”

Although I never turned into a Snickers candy bar when I was younger, the premise and intent of my parents’ statement were accurate. What you take in will be reflected by what you become. The things you consume have an altering effect on you. This principle is true in so many areas of life.

And in the same way, this principle is also true: you crave what you consume.

Cravings exist because of a constant or continual satisfaction found in what is consumed.

You will most likely experience some sort of physical craving at various points during this fast.

But did you ever consider that you only crave what your body is already accustomed to consuming?

To be honest, I never struggle with cravings for spinach and cabbage during a 21-day Fast.

French fries? You bet.

Pizza? Absolutely.

Kale? Not so much.

Why? Because you only crave what you’ve previously consumed.

Now that your stomach is growling let me encourage you with some spiritual nourishment.

There are so many benefits to a season of fasting and prayer. Fasting helps us reset our discipline with what we consume…a detox of sorts.

It’s a detox to our physical bodies from all that we typically feed ourselves, and even more important is the detox to our spiritual lives.

But one powerful thing you need to understand about fasting is that you are not only detoxing but also developing an appetite for even better things.

Fasting cultivates a greater craving for the Kingdom, a greater longing and desire to draw closer to the Lord and linger in His presence.

And here is the great thing about developing a holy hunger – Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

As you spend time in the presence of the Lord, fasting and praying, you will be blessed and nourished. Your stomach may feel empty at times, but your spirit isn’t. Spiritual feeding and fueling are taking place, and with that comes a filling and satisfaction for your soul. Jesus promises in the very next chapter that whenever you begin to develop Kingdom cravings, the Lord will take care of the rest.

Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

This means that our daily focus and needs will be provided as we pursue God’s priorities when we make His matters the only thing on our menu. The serious needs on your prayer list are taken care of when the things on God’s list are taken seriously.

So be encouraged today to keep developing a spiritual appetite and craving for more of God, knowing that the Lord will provide as you hunger and thirst after the things of His kingdom.

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20

More Than We Can Ask, Think, or Imagine

One of the most encouraging and exciting verses found in the New Testament is Ephesians 3:20.

Ephesians 3:20 – “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,…”

Imagination is a powerful thing. I’m sure we can all remember when our imaginations ran wild, and it seemed like anything was possible. A recent study said the average person spends two hours daily lost in thought or imagining. That might not seem like a significant amount of time, but over a year, that adds up to just over 30 days.

Now go ahead and tap into your two-hour daily average of imagining and think about how different your life would be if you trusted God beyond what you could even ask or imagine. Think about it. What would your life look like if you fully trusted God without any hesitation, non-stop, around the clock for the entirety of a month?

Paul encourages the church in Ephesus with this truth, and the same truth challenges us today.

God wants you to tell Him your heart desires, trust Him with your greatest dreams, pray the most audacious prayers, and still expect Him to do more. He is the God of more, the God of abundance, the God of increase, the God of greater. He is able to do more than can be measured. He defies our limitations of understanding, exceeding what can be quantified or qualified. That’s who our God is. That is the God we pray to.

That means the most incredible scenario you could dream up in your mind, He’s able to do more. When you are in a situation you can’t imagine seeing a way out of, He can do more. When you don’t even know how to ask the right question, He is able to do more. When you have exhausted all resources and energy trying to create a better outcome, He can do more. Our God can do even more than what is coming to your mind at this very moment. He is the God of greater things.

The question isn’t whether He can do greater things. The question is, do you believe He is able to do more than any of us could ever ask or imagine?

We serve an unlimited God, so let’s believe, pray, and live like that today.

Scripture: Isaiah 58:9

God Will Answer!

Isn’t it a great feeling when you call or text a friend, a parent, or a spouse, and they text you back or answer your call when you need it? That feeling is even greater when you know you can rely on that friend, parent, or spouse to answer your call or text every single time.

In our walk with the Lord, we have the opportunity to faithfully call upon God and see Him answer our prayers. And when we pray, we can always approach Him with the confidence that He will answer.

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to show us that we can boldly and confidently approach God with our daily prayers, stating,“Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ (Isaiah 58:9)” God desires to answer our prayers! God loves and cares for His people, and He responds with “Here I am” when we pray! This means there is never a time when you call out to God, and your words just bounce off the ceiling and back to you. Our ever-present God is right there when you call out to Him.

Along with that promise, Isaiah continues to say,“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:11). This means that not only does God answer us when we pray, but He also continues to guide and strengthen us as we pray. When we lift our voices to God, He refreshes our souls and satisfies us.

In the New Testament, Jesus confirms that we can pray confidently. He promises,“If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).

Today, you can pray in confidence, knowing God will answer.

He is faithful to His word and always holds true to His promises.

So, no matter what is on your heart or weighs heavy on your mind, pray in confidence with a faith-filled expectation, knowing that God will answer!

Scriptures: Nehemiah 1:3, Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah 2:8

Fasting Brings Favor

One of the most encouraging aspects of fasting is inviting God’s favor into our lives. We desperately need God’s favor in our relationships, future, and finances, just to name a few. We also need God’s favor because there are times when life’s circumstances are out of our control. The results can be tragic when we are hit with an unforeseen difficulty. Although we may not be able to control our situation, we can dictate our response to it.

A great example in the Bible of why we need favor is Nehemiah. Nehemiah was confronted with catastrophic news and was desperate for God to intervene.

“Things are not going well for those who returned. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” (Nehemiah 1:3)

This news was shocking, but Nehemiah’s righteous response would garner favor from God, which would bend the will of an enemy king and change the course of Israel’s history. What did he do? Nehemiah fasted and prayed, believing that God’s favor can turn around even the most hopeless situations!

“When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of Heaven.” (v.4)

His prayer was simple:

“Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” (v.11)

His faith was profound, and God went above and beyond all Nehemiah asked.

God gave Nehemiah supernatural favor with the king. God took a king who was opposed to Israel and turned his heart to be gracious to them. God’s favor turned around a seemingly impossible situation through prayer and fasting.

Be encouraged today that no matter what situation you may be facing, God can turn it around by imparting His favor on your life. As we fast and pray, we can be confident that God is on the move in our lives and is more than able to do the impossible in our situation!

Scriptures: Acts 12:1, Acts 12:17

What Happens When the Church Prays

There is something powerful about people coming together to fight spiritual battles. In Acts 12, we see a fantastic miracle resulting from the church praying in unity.

Verse 5 says, “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.”In response to their earnest requests, God not only protected Peter from the coming sentencing, but He exceeded their expectations through a miraculous escape. We see in verses 7-10 that a supernatural prison break took place when an angel led Peter past multiple prison guards, the city gate opened all on its own, and no one could see him as he left. Verses 12-17 show how even the believers were shocked and unsure it was Peter when he showed up at the house where they were praying.

All of this was because the church earnestly sought the Lord.

Not only should this encourage you to continue to fight off the physical cravings for greater spiritual breakthroughs, but it should also build your expectations and faith because when the church prays, the power is exponential.

In your journey of prayer and fasting, you are realizing more and more just how powerful prayer is. It’s exciting to think that you aren’t the only one fasting and praying during this time—countless others are doing the same thing.

So be encouraged because we are all earnestly seeking the Lord together, and our prayers are not only being answered but are exponentially powerful. God is bringing breakthroughs in ways we can’t even imagine, and He is going to do even greater things!

Scriptures: John 8:12, Matthew 5:14, Matthew 5:16

The Light of the World

Has this ever happened to you? It’s 2:00 a.m., and suddenly, you are wide awake. You try falling back asleep, but it’s not working. You head to the kitchen and grab a drink of water, hoping that will help. You don’t want to wake anybody, so you decide to go covert and not turn on any of the lights. It becomes quite the journey of feeling for walls, quietly tiptoeing, and ensuring you don’t step on any Legos. You reach the kitchen, get your drink, and head back to bed. You completed your midnight mission, and the water was just what you needed to get back to sleep.

It’s funny that turning on the lights in this scenario would make everything easier. You choose not to turn on the lights because you don’t want to disturb anyone. Light can’t help but impact its environment. When a light is turned on in the dark, it gets people’s attention. That being the reality, it is very fitting that Jesus is the “light of the world.” Jesus came into a broken world and revolutionized it with his teachings and miracles.

What’s interesting about Jesus’s claim that he is the light of the world is that it can seem to contradict what he says in Matthew, “We are the light of the world.” So, which is it? Is Jesus the light of the world, or are we the light of the world? The answer is yes. We are the light of the world because Jesus, who is the light of the world, lives in us.

This means we can live in a way that radically impacts our environment, just like Jesus did. So how do we do that? We do it by letting His power operate through us. We take time to stop and pray for someone to be healed. We share an encouraging word with the person God places on our hearts. We step out in boldness to share the Gospel with a stranger. As we walk in obedience, we see God do the extraordinary in us and through us.

During this season of prayer and fasting, God will give you opportunities to shine His light. Be bold, step out in faith, and watch God do the supernatural through you!

Scripture: Daniel 10

The Answer Is On The Way

One of the reasons we fast is that we believe God will bring a breakthrough in response to our prayers. Whether it is for a specific need—like finances, a family situation, physical healing, or a deep longing for more of God—our desire is that God would hear our prayers and provide an answer.

The story of Daniel, chapter 10, is so encouraging because even when we do not see it, the answers we are looking for are on the way. In this section of scripture, Daniel fasted for 21 days. During these 21 days, it seemed as if nothing had happened, and yet it was not until three days after his fast was over that the answer to his prayers came.

The Lord sent an angel to Daniel, and after his fast had ended, he received an angelic message that brought perspective to him and should serve as an encouragement to us throughout this fast. Verse 12 says,“Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.’”

Did you catch that? The angel said that from the very first day Daniel began to fast, the Lord heard his prayers and sent a response to them. The same can be said for us—the moment that we start praying is the moment that God starts answering. It might not match up with our preferred timeframe; it might not be exactly when we hoped it would happen, but we can know that God’s timing is perfect, and the answer is on the way.

The moment you start praying, He starts providing.

As you bring your needs to Him, He brings breakthroughs for you.

The moment your heart turns to Him, His hand moves to you.

Sometimes, it is not in the timeline you set; sometimes, the miracle doesn’t surface instantly. But even when you can’t see it, He is sending the answer to your prayers.

When we fast, we humble ourselves, settle our hearts on the supernatural, and trust that God is hearing us and working for our good and His glory. With that, you can know your prayers are powerful, that God has heard every one of your needs, and that He is moving on your behalf.

There will be breakthrough because you chose to fast and pray, and God is sending an answer. It’s already on the way!

Scripture: Psalms 103:1

The Power of Remembering

We have all had this experience: you are sitting peacefully on your couch when the urge to get something from your bedroom hits you. So, you jump up and march into your room full of purpose and meaning. However, your thoughts get distracted somewhere between your living room and your room. Your body keeps going on the original purpose, but your mind has moved on. Suddenly, you find yourself staring into your closet. Your body has reached the intended destination, but your mind is desperately searching for the reason you are standing there.

We have all had this sudden lapse in memory—it can be incredibly frustrating! One lapse in concentration can completely derail our sense of purpose. We had a mission when we started marching down the hall towards our room, but now we don’t even know what we were doing or why we were doing it.

This same thing can happen to us spiritually if we are not careful. We can start off with purpose and meaning, only to get distracted along the way. As we continue this fast, it can be easy to let the discomfort of fasting distract our minds from what we are going towards.

The key to preventing this kind of spiritual drifting lies in the power of remembering. Focusing on who God is and what He has done fortifies our sense of purpose and meaning.

That is why in Psalm 103, King David tells us,“Let all that I am praise the LORD” (v. 1). There is power in praising Him and remembering His goodness; it clarifies and stabilizes us. Praising God allows us to keep His character in front of us and His presence around us.

But the Psalm doesn’t stop at praise; David closes out verse two with this profound statement:“May I never forget the good things He does for me.” From that declaration, the psalmist launches into a list of the wonderful blessings available for all who believe. There is power in remembering who God is and declaring what He has done. As we testify of what He has already done, we simultaneously proclaim what He will do!

If we want to see God do greater things in our lives, we have to remember to always keep God’s praise on our lips and His goodness in our minds!

Scripture: Joel 2:28

Pour Your Spirit Out

In this time of prayer and fasting, we are seeking and believing that God will bring revival to our lives, our cities, our country, and throughout the world. We desire to see salvation flood the streets as families and communities are completely transformed. And for this to happen, we not only need to desire and pray for revival, but we also need the Spirit of God to be poured out on us.

The Book of Joel tells us that dreams, visions, and words from God for people are some of the signs of the Spirit of God being poured out on us.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” Joel 2:28-29

These verses promise that no one has to be excluded from this when it happens.

It doesn’t matter your age, gender, demographics, spiritual upbringing, or education—everyone is a candidate for God to pour His Spirit out.

YOU are a candidate for God to pour His Spirit out!

As you fast, part of your prayer should be asking God to pour out His Spirit on you so that He can speak to you and use you. Through the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting, you are denying yourself and your desires in order to hear God more clearly. You can know that God is going to speak to you as you continue to speak to Him through this fast. Whether it is through a dream or a vision or giving you a word for someone, God will speak.

It is up to us to be obedient to God’s instructions. When we are obedient, when we step out in faith and speak up with boldness, we play a vital role in the revival that is coming.

Be encouraged by the fact that God is true to His word – if we pray, He will pour out His spirit.

Are you ready?

Ready to see it?

Ready to receive it?

Ready to be used by God?

Ready for revival?

God is hearing our prayers and has promised to pour out His Spirit.

We will see revival! We will be a part of it!

Scripture: Mark 10:32

Amazed and Afraid

As we continue in our fast, we believe that God will move in miraculous ways in our families, our church, and our community. In all that, one of the greatest blessings we hope that each of us gains from this fast is a deeper understanding of the presence of God. 

In Mark’s gospel, there is an interesting passage that gives us a glimpse of what it was like to be in the presence of Jesus during His earthly ministry. “And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid” (Mark 10:32a). 

It’s like Mark is recording these seemingly random details of what it was like to be with Christ. This verse paints the image of Jesus and the disciples as they walked up the dusty road with Jerusalem looming in the distance. As the disciples looked ahead and saw Jesus, they were amazed. In the Greek, the verb literally means to be astounded, to be struck with amazement. The incredible thing about this statement is in that moment Jesus was not walking on water, or healing the sick, or answering prayers – He was simply walking ahead of them. Just to see the divine clothed in flesh was astounding. Just to be with Him on the journey held a striking sense of amazement. 

Mark also records that those who were with them were afraid. The language here can be understood as a deep sense of reverence and awe. Up to this point in Mark, Jesus has cast out demons, healed the sick, raised the dead, calmed the storm, and many more incredible miracles. While those things are certainly gripping, it’s like the gospel writer is telling us that just walking with Him was just as powerful as seeing Him raise the dead. 

Through this fast, we will see God do many miracles, and while those things will certainly be gripping, our prayer is that the most amazing and awe-inspiring thing from these 21 days is to simply be in His presence.

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Signs, Wonders, and the Church

We are in an incredible season of seeing the miraculous power of God work in an increased way in His Church. People are being saved, baptized, and supernaturally healed all over the world. God is building His Church! 

This is exactly what the first New Testament churches were experiencing. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit falls on the church which leads Peter to preach to the people resulting in 3,000 salvations in just one day! 

Then Luke writes in Acts 2:42-43, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.”

As the church gathered for fellowship, meals, teaching, and prayer, they experienced God’s power through many signs and wonders. Miracles have been an essential part of the church since the very beginning! 

And notice what Luke adds at the end of Acts 2 in verse 47, “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” As the church gathered and prayed, as signs and wonders were among them, the lost were saved! 

As a church, we are praying for a Great Awakening to sweep our area and our nation. Let’s take time today to pray for an increase in signs and wonders, for the lost to be saved, and for an awakening in our area and country unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the history of our nation!

Scripture: Isaiah 54:2-3

Preparing for a Miracle

There are times in life we make special preparations for something new. When a family is expecting a new baby, there is preparation. Walls are painted, furniture is purchased, and a room is prepared for the new life coming. When you purchase a new home there are lots of preparations – from packing boxes to finally giving away items in storage that haven’t been used in years, preparation precedes something new. 

Isaiah 54 records a prophecy about Israel’s future and the preparation for a new, miraculous day coming. The prophet writes in Isaiah 54:2-3, “ Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.”

Not only were the Israelites living in exile under the oppression of the Babylonians, but were experiencing the shame, disgrace, and humiliation of losing their country. But that would soon change, and Isaiah calls them to prepare. 

When we receive a word from the Lord, we have a responsibility to steward the word by believing, praying, and preparing. 

First, we must believe the word by holding onto it in faith and trusting that the God who spoke it will make it happen in His perfect timing! 

Second, pray over the word. One of the best things you can do with a promise is keep it somewhere you can read and pray over it regularly. 

Finally, prepare for the word to come to fruition. Perhaps you have been praying for a family member who doesn’t follow Jesus. Begin preparing for your miracle – buy them a Bible with their name engraved on it believing that the Lord is answering your prayers for their salvation. We are not trying to force God’s plan, but we are preparing by faith for the promise that is sure to come. 

Number 23:19 states, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” The answer is, No! God is faithful.

Joshua 21:45 reminds us of the reliability of God’s promises: “Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

God will complete every word He has spoken, and our preparation makes way for the miracles He desires to fulfill in our lives!

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

Jesus is Building His Church

In Matthew 16:13-19, we find an exciting and powerful story. As Jesus and His disciples approached the region of Caesarea Philippi, with Mt. Hermon looming in the distance, Jesus turned and asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” They gave various answers they had heard in their travels with Jesus; some said He was John the Baptist come back to life, and others said Elijah or Jeremiah. But then Jesus quickly turned the conversation personal, “Who do you say I am?” 

Seemingly without hesitation, Peter blurted out, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 

Out of that one statement, Jesus made a profound declaration that has since shaped the course of history, “…On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

The “rock” on which Jesus declared he would build His Church was Peter’s realization of exactly who Jesus is. Once they knew and understood who He was, Jesus could begin using them to build His kingdom. Since then, Jesus has been building His Church, and nothing has been able to stop it. 

Interestingly, the unstoppable force required to build the Church was not a unique church growth strategy or highly trained and influential people. The unstoppable power of the Church lies in ordinary people realizing who Jesus is and joining Him in His mission. 

This is a profound realization because when we understand who Jesus is and what He has done for us, the only logical conclusion is to serve Him wholeheartedly. The true power of that understanding is not our dedication to a cause, but the empowerment Jesus promised would accompany anyone who chose to confess Him as Lord. He said He would give us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, that we might bind the powers of darkness and set people free from the chains that bound them! 

We have been given the keys to the Kingdom; our prayers are powerful and effective. As we fast and pray, we lock up the enemy and set people free. Jesus is building His Church and using us to do it! Nothing in all of Heaven or Earth will be able to stop it!

Scriptures: Luke 4:1, Luke 4:14

The Spirit and the Wilderness

As we fast and pray, it is important to recognize that the enemy will do everything in his power to stop the moving of God, especially as we are believing for greater things and asking for a great awakening to sweep across our land.

We see an example of this demonstrated in Luke chapter 4. At this point in the Gospel, Jesus had just been baptized in the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him. “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, He was hungry.” (Luke 4:1-2)

The Holy Spirit then leads Jesus into the wilderness, which was a barren and unfamiliar place. As we fast and pray through these weeks, some of us might be entering or are already in a season that may seem or feel uncertain and unfamiliar. But when you are being led by the Holy Spirit, you will never be led to a place without a purpose, regardless of how it may look or feel. It’s also in those times that the enemy takes every opportunity he can get to distract, disrupt, or discourage your heart and mind.

In this passage, we read that the devil interrupts the 40 days of Jesus’s fast to tempt Him, but Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit, full of power, and purpose. After Jesus successfully resists the temptations of the devil and survives 40 days in the wilderness without food, He returns with the power of the Spirit, and His ministry spreads quickly. “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about Him went out through all the surrounding country.” (Luke 4:14)

Some of us may be in a wilderness season as we fast and pray, but if we are led by the Spirit, we know that it is for a specific purpose. There is power waiting for us on the other side as we persevere. As we face temptation and trials during our time of fasting and prayer, we can remain faithful, knowing that God has something great planned for us.

If you haven’t already, let today be the day when you settle it in your heart that God has greater things in store for you. He wants to do greater things in you through this fast so that He can do greater things through you after this fast. Don’t get discouraged or distracted by the wilderness because the Spirit of God is leading you, and just on the other side of this is a season of significant breakthrough and impact for the Kingdom. God has greater things for you!

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Empowered by the Spirit

Words are powerful. Each day, we have the opportunity to use our words to bring life and strength into every situation we encounter. Perhaps some of the most important words a person will ever speak in their lifetime are the last words they share before leaving this earth. When we consider Jesus’ final words before ascending into heaven, He speaks a promise that is an essential gift to every believer.

These words are recorded in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

If we are going to make a significant impact on this world we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament the word “power” is mentioned 121 times and continually connected to the Holy Spirit. It is the infilling of the Holy Spirit that brings greater power to our words and every area of our life.

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit results in ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things for the Lord. We see throughout the book of Acts that the disciples performed many miraculous signs and healings – all connected to the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. That same power continues to work in and through believers today!

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:18, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word used for “be filled” indicates an ongoing, regular filling. It’s not a one-time instance but a daily practice. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:4, “A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally…”and in verse 14, “For if I pray in tongues, my Spirit is praying but I don’t understand what I am saying. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the Spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand.”

Praying in the Spirit each day provides an empowerment to believers that is essential for spiritual strength and power. The reality is our words have an even greater effect when they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Take time today to pray for more of the Spirit’s empowerment in your life and in your words that you might see even greater power and miracles take place through your prayers!

Scripture: Isaiah 6:8

Send Me 

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, the prophet records a powerful vision where he sees angels surrounding the Lord on His throne continually crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Isaiah sees the Lord in all of His glory and holiness and immediately recognizes the disparity between God’s holiness and the sinfulness of he and his people. An angel responds by placing a live coal on Isaiah’s mouth, atoning for his sin and purifying him. With his sin forgiven, Isaiah then writes, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? “And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ He said, ‘Go and tell this people…’”

God asks Isaiah a question that He asks His people today, “Who will go for us?” Who will go and tell people about the forgiveness God offers? Who will go and tell people there is freedom in Jesus? Who will go and tell people that there is a God who loves them and wants to transform their lives?

Isaiah passionately responds, “Send me!” Through this time of prayer and fasting, God is doing a deeper work in us. But the truth is what God does in us through this fast is not meant to stay with us; He wants us to go!

God is empowering us and increasing our boldness to share His love and power with others so we can witness even greater things in the days ahead. The Lord is sending you to the people in your family, your workplace, your neighborhood, and on your kids’ sports teams. Will you go?

Scripture: James 4:8

He is Close

“I never signed up for this!” Perhaps this thought has crossed your mind a time or two. On this side of heaven, we are faced with all kinds of challenges. What is your response when you are unsure what to do or when facing a circumstance that seems overwhelming? 

One of the great promises we find in Scripture is recorded in James 4:8, which tells us, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” What a promise! The God of all creation desires to come near you today. Here are some practical ways Scripture encourages us to draw near to the Lord each day: 

PRAISE HIM. In Psalms 100:4, the psalmist writes, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Praise turns our attention from the difficulty of our circumstances to the wonderful power of the Lord. Entering God’s presence should always be filled with thanksgiving and praise. 

SEEK HIM.In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Every revival in history has come through people committed to seeking God and making Him the top priority in every part of their lives. Jesus promises that when He becomes our greatest priority, His power will take care of all other areas of our lives! 

LISTEN TO HIM. Matthew 17:5 says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” The Lord speaks when we read His Word, when we listen to the preaching of His Word, and through other believers we surround ourselves with. As we draw near to God and listen to His words, we will see His power work through every situation. 

OBEY HIM. Psalm 34:8-9, 10b says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need . . . but those trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.” Favor follows obedience. As the Lord speaks to you and you respond with an obedient heart, you will experience the blessing of the Lord in your life and in your family in greater ways! 

There is no doubt God wants to take care of every situation you face, but even more, He wants His presence to fill your life in greater ways than ever before. So as you come near the Lord today, pray for more of His presence, more of His peace, and His power on your life than ever before because His promise is true that as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you!

Scripture: Acts 19:1-7

Ready for Awakening

One of the greatest revivals in the early church took place in the city of Ephesus. It is interesting that of all places, Ephesus is where God chose to do one of the most significant revivals in the Bible. History tells us that this was a city where sorcery and witchcraft were widely practiced, sexual immorality was rampant, along with many other issues. 

The story of how this revival started is recorded in Acts 19. When the Apostle Paul first arrived in Ephesus, he and his companions happened to find some fellow believers. Paul’s first question to them was if they had received the Holy Spirit. They responded, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). Moments later we are told, “When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying” (Acts 19:6). 

Paul understood that if the city of Ephesus were going to experience a spiritual awakening, the people of God would need to be full of the Holy Spirit. 

Over the next two years, Paul would preach powerfully in the synagogues and throughout the city. However, Paul’s sermons were not just wise words or persuasive speech; they were accompanied by the power of God. We are told in verse 11 that God did “extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul”, and that the fear of the Lord descended on the entire city (v.17). 

The results were stunning. People began coming to faith in Jesus in a tremendous way. Those practicing dark arts were convicted of their sin and dramatically gave their hearts to Christ. Verse 19 tells us, “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver”. By today’s standards, this would equate to several million dollars that were burnt up, along with the darkness those texts represented. 

The insights of Acts 19 provide an important blueprint for revival. If we want to experience a great awakening in our nation today, we must be believers who are full of the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaiming the power of God, not just with words but also with deeds. 

Our country is ready for a great awakening! God is preparing His people for something historic, so get ready!

Scripture: Joshua 3:13-16

Greater things are coming!

Joshua 3 records one of the great miracles in the Old Testament as God’s people prepare to enter the promised land. Due to the unbelief 40 years prior, the Israelites failed to enter the land, but now Joshua, who had believed God would deliver them the first time, would be the one to lead them into the promised land four decades later. God is about to do a miracle for this generation of Israelites, but it’s a miracle that accomplished something even greater than they anticipated. 

Joshua 3:15-16 says, “But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam…” Instead of the water splitting into two sides as it did for Moses at the Red Sea, Scriptures say the water began backing up “a great distance away,” which commentators believe was several miles upstream at the town of Adam. 

The people watched the priests and the ark of the covenant step into the water like God had instructed, but nothing seemed to change. If we allow our expectations of how God is going to do a miracle overshadow our faith, it will ultimately lead to disappointment and we’ll struggle to believe God at all. 

But God had something greater in mind than just a sea crossing. Biblical scholars write that many nations Israel would need to conquer lived near the Jordan River and would see this miracle themselves since the water was stopped upstream. God was demonstrating His supreme power to the nations so they would know there is a God in heaven who is all-powerful and in whom nothing is too difficult! 

The Israelites would cross on dry ground and a testimony of God’s power would be seen by the nations living in that area. God wants to do something even greater through every battle we face and every miracle we are believing for. Whatever you’ve been praying and fasting for, believe that God will exceed your expectations and do even more than you could ask, think, or imagine. 

Greater things are coming!