21 Days of Fasting and Prayer – Here as in Heaven

Scriptures: Matthew 6:5-10, Revelation 21:4

Here as in Heaven

Today we begin 21 days of prayer and fasting, and we call on God to answer the “here as in Heaven” prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. This is not a timid, play-it-safe kind of prayer, so it is no surprise that the person who taught us to use those bold words was none other than the Son of God. Jesus said,

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.’” (Matthew 6:9-10). 

Undoubtedly, the disciples were taken aback by such an audacious request. As New Testament Scholar Leon Morris writes,

“In Heaven, God’s will is perfectly done now, for there is nothing in Heaven to hinder it, and the prayer looks for a similar state of affairs here on earth.” 

Sometimes it’s hard for us to see anything beyond hindrances—earthly roadblocks to Heaven’s agenda abound. So, there’s a choice: do we yield to the current state of affairs that surrounds us, or do we refuse to accept the status quo of our sin-sick world and believe in the priorities and power of Heaven to flood our lives? Jesus’ instruction makes the answer quite clear—we believe for “here as in Heaven.” 

As the Kingdom of Heaven advances, the powers of darkness begin to retreat. We can pray confidently for healing, sickness does not exist in Heaven and God is our healer. Anxiety can be defeated because God is never worried, and He is our help in any time of trouble. We can be assured that as we call on God, He will make the impossible possible. 

As we prepare our hearts for these next 21 days, we are praying for Heaven to come, and as God’s will is accomplished on the earth as it is in Heaven, we will see what we have never seen before!

Scriptures: Proverbs 29:18, John 14:26, John 16:13-14, Proverbs 25:2, Ephesians 1:16-17

How to Fast for Revelation

God will speak to you during these 21 days of prayer and fasting. God speaks through His revealed Word, the Bible, but He also speaks through divine revelation. There is no doubt that God wants to bring powerful answers to the things you are praying for, but He also wants to reveal things to you through this fast. 

Revelation is a critical component of our walk with the Lord. Proverbs 29:18 tells us, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.” Apart from God’s revelation, our lives can become increasingly destructive and confusing. 

Jesus told the disciples how they would receive such divine revelation: 

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” John 14:26 

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.” John 16:13-14 

These passages teach us several things about revelation: 

Revelation provides wisdom and supernatural insight. The life of faith is a life of learning and discovery. With more revelation comes more responsibility. Proverbs 25:2 says,

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”

God doesn’t conceal things from us; He conceals them for us! The same Hebrew word for glory is used both times in the verse – God’s glory becomes a glory we can personally experience as we search and discover, and if we seek, we will find! 

Revelation guides us into truth. In today’s pluralistic society, truth has been diluted and redefined based on whatever people think is true. Imagine living your life based on a false truth. This will lead to destructive decisions, poor choices, and ultimately a life of confusion and chaos. God wants your life to flourish, and revelation is key to receiving His guidance and direction in every season of life. 

Revelation reveals the future. Throughout Scripture, God regularly revealed coming events to different people. Whether through dreams, visions, or divine visitations, God desires to lead us into the future. He cares about the paths our lives take and offers to show us the way to go. 

God wants to speak and reveal things to us through this time of prayer and fasting. Our job is to seek revelation, and God promises He will reveal it! So, as you’re fasting and praying, be expectant for God to speak – grab a journal and a pen. Write down what He says because it will prepare and direct you in the days ahead.

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:9

Hearing from God

Have you ever found yourself in a place where it’s been so loud that you couldn’t hear the person you were talking to? Perhaps a concert for one of your favorite bands or a busy airport with constant announcements over the intercom. Regardless of the setting, the more noise in our surroundings, the more difficult it is to hear someone speaking to us. 

The same thing can happen when it comes to hearing from God. It may not be the physical environment that limits our hearing but the place we find ourselves spiritually. This can be dangerous because hearing God is a critical component of walking in His plans and purposes for our lives. 

One person in the Bible who understood this was King Solomon. At the beginning of Solomon’s rule, God extended an incredible offer. He said to King Solomon, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Wow! That’s a great question coming from God, who can give anything. At this moment, Solomon could have asked for whatever he wanted. All the gold in the world, military dominance over the surrounding nations, or to become the greatest king who ever lived. Rather than being rash or self-centered, he asked for what he knew he desperately needed: the ability to hear from God. Verse 9 in The Message paraphrase says, “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well.” Solomon knew that if he could hear from God clearly, God would take care of everything he needed in life. 

Every believer has the opportunity to hear from God with regularity. That’s why a season of prayer and fasting is so important because it lowers the volume of the world and the voice of God becomes more easily heard. The question is never “Is God speaking?” but always, “Am I practicing a listening ear and leaning into what He’s saying?” Take time today to ask for a listening heart, and then quiet your heart and lean in to listen to what God has to say.

Scriptures: John 14:13-14, John 15:16, John 16:23-24, 1 John 5:14-15, Matthew 7:7-8

Designed for Answered Prayer

Research shows the older we get, the fewer questions we ask. One study shows that a 4-year-old will ask as many as 200-300 questions a day, and between the ages of 2 and 5, children will ask a staggering 40,000 questions! A few top 10 questions include: “Where did I come from?” “What is God?” “What does ‘we can’t afford it’ mean?” “Why do I have to go to school?” and “Why can’t I stay up as late as you?” 

Kids have the inherent belief that their parents know the answers to all of their questions. Interestingly, parents admitted to turning to Google for nearly half of their answers! 

We, believers, have the most reliable source for life’s toughest questions. Scripture is clear that God desires to answer our prayers – not just some prayers, but all of our prayers. He wants to provide wisdom, direction, and guidance for anything we need. We are invited to approach God with confidence and boldness, believing He will answer, and this truth is covered throughout the pages of Scripture. 

Scripture teaches that we are designed to experience answered prayer. God is not afraid of our questions and never grows weary of us coming to Him. One of Jesus’ instructions is to “Keep on asking…keep on seeking…keep on knocking” What an incredible invitation! 

Are there things you’ve stopped asking God for because you either got tired of asking or thought it wasn’t God’s will to answer? Perhaps it’s praying for that lost friend, healing breakthrough, dream job, a spouse, or becoming pregnant. Whatever you’re praying for through this fast, remind yourself that just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t happen soon! 

You were designed to see powerful, life-changing answers to your prayers. James 5:16 tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, and you will see God answer in a wonderful and miraculous way!

Scriptures: John 14:27, Philippians 4:6-9

How to Fast for Peace

One of the most frequent responses to the question of what our world needs today is peace. From wars to tragic shootings to an unstable economy, the opportunity to allow anxiety and fear to rule our lives is very real. Studies show more people are experiencing increased anxiety and worry, leading to various physical conditions and illnesses. The Bible shows that we were designed for something much better: peace. 

Jesus said this in John 14:27, 

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” 

What an encouraging promise we have from Jesus! People pursue peace in many ways, but peace doesn’t come from a place – it comes from a person. The first step to experiencing God’s peace is recognizing that it’s a gift to receive. 

Paul gives us clear instructions on receiving the gift of peace in Philippians 4:6-9, 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” 

That’s amazing! Paul says we can live not under the weight of worry but with the power of peace. Here’s the path to the peace only God provides: 

Exchange worry with prayer. When you begin to worry about a situation, exchange that worry with prayer. Instead of focusing on what is seemingly out of control, remember and turn your attention to the One who is always in control! 

Defeat anxiety with thanksgiving. The number one weapon for defeating anxiety is thanksgiving – the strategic defense disarms the enemy. We thank God for all He’s done because remembering His faithfulness in the past is the key to fueling our faith for the future. 

Foster a healthy mind. Paul provides eight areas to focus our thoughts. The peace that passes understanding comes through strategic thinking. As you go through your day, take inventory of what you allow into your mind. Studies confirm that increased social media and news intake is one of the leading causes of increased anxiety. A healthy mind is fostered by intentionally guarding our minds. 

Peace is a promised gift from Jesus. Through this time of prayer and fasting, bring your needs to God, thank him for all He’s done, and immerse your mind in His Word, “Then you will experience God’s peace…His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Scriptures: Isaiah 42:10, Isaiah 42:12-13

Fasting and the Power of Praise

One of the wonderful results of extended time in prayer and fasting is an increased awareness of God’s presence. 

As we spend extended time in prayer and fasting, we become more aware of how powerful this season of spiritual fervor is. Our prayers while fighting our physical cravings are significant, and a supernatural breakthrough is on the way. 

One of the powerful spiritual weapons we can utilize each day is the power of praise. Isaiah 42 illustrates this truth: 

“Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing his praises from the ends of the earth! Sing, all you who sail the seas, all you who live in distant coastlands. Let the whole world glorify the Lord; let it sing his praise. The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies.” 

This passage demonstrates some of the powerful results of our praise. As we are praising, God is moving on behalf of His people. Through this fast, God is moving in the unseen realm to fight your battles and bring great victory to every part of your life. As we see in this passage, praise preceded the victory. 

The truth is the more time we spend in the Lord’s presence, the more we realize there is much to praise Him for. As we praise the Lord for who He is and all He has done, we see in Isaiah 42:13 that the Lord goes before His people as the mighty hero, like a warrior that crushes the enemy. 

So, as you spend time today in prayer and fasting, utilize the powerful weapon of praise. 

Praise the Lord for the answers to your prayers. 

Praise the Lord for the amazing gifts and blessings He’s already given you. 

Praise the Lord for the victories that are yet to come in your life. 

As you praise, your troubles get smaller as you make God bigger. Victory is coming, and your praise becomes a weapon that battles the enemy. The Lord is going before you and defeating the enemy with every word and song of praise from your lips.

Scripture: Isaiah 43:19

The Path Ahead

One of the life-giving recreational activities in the Ozarks is the various walking and bike riding trails. Anytime you’re going to a new trail, there is a thrill in learning about the trail, where to cross rivers or streams, where the campsites are, and any points of interest that you won’t want to miss. More than knowing all the details is the ability to see the whole path from start to finish. When you’re on the trail, your perspective is limited to what you can see right in front of you, but the map has a way of giving a bigger perspective. 

As we continue our fasting, many of us are praying for situations in which, from our perspective, we cannot see the path ahead. From what we can see, things may seem impossible. 

Yet fasting has a way of orienting our perspective from what we see to what God sees. God knows the whole path of our lives, from start to finish. In Isaiah 43:19, God invites us to look at things from His point of view: 

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” 

As we dedicate ourselves to the Lord through fasting, He begins to change our perspective so that we can see what He is doing and how He is working. It’s an incredible gift that God tells us that the path He leads us on “springs up.” When our hearts are in-tune with Him, we will not miss His plan. He makes it obvious; it springs up! 

As we fast, our hearts are changing and gaining a godly perspective. God already has a path for us, and He will show us the way forward as we pray.

Scripture: Psalms 62:1-8

The Weapon of Waiting Pt. 1

According to a recent study, the average person will spend five years waiting in lines. Six months of that waiting is at traffic lights alone! So, that means, in your lifetime, you will spend nearly 2,628,000 minutes waiting. With our culture’s high value on speed and time management, the idea of waiting is often considered time wasted. 

Biblically though, nothing could be further from the truth. Waiting could be considered a spiritual discipline vital to one’s growth and maturity when utilized well. Psalm 62:1-8 recounts a waiting period King David experienced while fleeing his son, Absalom, who had stolen the allegiance of many in Israel. 

During this incredibly challenging time, King David provides helpful direction when in a season of waiting: 

“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. So many enemies against one man all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:1-8

Two times King David says he waits quietly before the Lord. The Hebrew word could also be translated as rest. It’s the idea that although his situation is chaotic, his spirit is at rest, but how is that possible? The next verse tells us how: “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” 

King David immediately turns his focus to God’s nature. His hope is not in a dwindled army or that he’s the true king, but instead anchored in the truth that God is his rock and salvation, and nothing will shake him to ultimate despair. 

In times of waiting, the focus of our thoughts and words will create a fortress of fear or a fortress of faith. When you choose to make the characteristics of God the center of your focus, you will find your faith strengthened during your season of waiting. This turns waiting into a weapon that will thwart the enemy’s plans. 

Whether you’re waiting for healing, that financial breakthrough, or the salvation of a loved one, utilize the weapon of waiting to transform your prayers into powerful arrows against the enemy.

Scripture: Psalms 62:5-8

The Weapon of Waiting Pt. 2

It’s hard to believe that as you are reading this devotional today, you are on a planet spinning at 1,037 miles per hour and moving through space at 1,525 feet per second. Due to the force of the gravitational pull, we don’t feel the movement. This physical reality demonstrates a powerful spiritual truth: even when it seems like nothing is happening, things are always moving! 

Yesterday, we considered the power of our thoughts and words as a weapon to utilize when in a season of waiting. As King David and some of his loyal men are hiding in the mountains, he writes: 

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8

Nowhere in this passage does King David deny his present circumstances, but instead of making his challenges the focus, he turns his trouble into trust and declares with confidence that “victory and honor come from God alone.” 

In this psalm, King David writes, “trust in Him at all times.” Trust God when we can see Him working and trust Him when it seems like everything is at a standstill. Trust Him on the mountaintop and trust Him when walking through a valley. 

He doesn’t end there. King David understands that part of fostering trust is through communication and encourages us to “Pour out your heart to him….” The Hebrew word for heart means the “inner part, soul.” King David encourages us to pour our inner souls to the Lord. This is an incredible invitation to come to our Lord and share what’s in our hearts. 

You can tell God how you feel, tell Him what you need, but also acknowledge the truth that He is your rock and your fortress, the One who will bring your victory. The One who will heal your body. The One who will provide for your every need. 

As you turn your trouble into trust, you may not see things moving with your physical eyes immediately, but you will have a certainty within your spirit that God is working even through your waiting!

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Proverbs 12:25

The Power of Encouragement

Over the years, psychologists have studied the power of our words and found that they profoundly affect the human brain. One study of how encouragement helps athletes’ performance concluded that successful athletic performance is not just based on natural skill and level of training, but on the frame of mind. When athletes are motivated with encouraging words, their performance increases for the better. 

The truth is that words have great power. Words can breathe life or death into the soul, build up someone’s spirit or tear it down. They either encourage or discourage – there is no middle ground. 

That is why the words we digest and speak daily are so critical. Reading the Word of God is a way to build yourself up. We are encouraged when we read Scriptures like Isaiah 41:10, 

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of encouragement in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 

One of the fantastic results of intentionally encouraging others is how encouraged you become through it! 

In reality, encouragement is not natural; therefore, it must be cultivated. So, what are some ways we can become carriers of courage and build up the hope of those around us? 

Smile – Did you know that smiling is contagious? Studies show that smiling increases mood-enhancing hormones while decreasing stress-enhancing hormones. It also reduces blood pressure and releases happy endorphins in your brain. When you smile, it not only changes you, it directly impacts those around you and leaves them more encouraged. 

Speak Encouragement – People everywhere need encouragement – in your workplace, in your neighborhood, at your sporting events, and even in the church. An encouraging word can change the course of a person’s day and even their life! 

Many know the close friendship of renowned authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien was highly influenced by Lewis’ encouragement for him to write “The Lord of the Rings.” The encouraging words of C.S. Lewis spurred Tolkien on toward what has become a literary masterpiece read by millions. 

Write it out – Spoken words are powerful, but there is something special about written words – they last forever. A simple card or text message reminding someone they are valuable and seen can go a long way toward encouraging someone. 

Compliment – Enter your day with the mindset of what you can give rather than get. How can I compliment someone I interact with today? How can I make them feel valued? 

To encourage someone is to impart courage to them. Every day we have the opportunity to leave a conversation, a meeting, or an interaction better than we found it, and that happens through our words. Choose to use your words to bring life everywhere you go!

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

What Happens When the Church Prays

Thousands of people fasting and praying together are setting the stage for God’s miraculous power, unlike what we have ever seen before. There is something powerful in the number of people fighting spiritual battles together. In Acts 12, we see a fantastic miracle resulting from the church praying together. 

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

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 where 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 is because the church earnestly sought the Lord. 

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

So be encouraged because we are all earnestly seeking the Lord together, and our prayers are not only being answered, they are exponentially powerful. God is bringing breakthroughs in ways we can’t even imagine.

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 the only logical conclusion is to serve him wholeheartedly when we understand who Jesus is and what he has done for us. 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!

Scripture: Psalms 67:1-2

The Power of Testimony

Whatever you seek the Lord about during this time, be careful coming to Him with a narrow perspective of wanting your needs met only. Instead, come to the Lord with the kind of faith and passion for seeing your prayers answered in a way that ultimately brings glory to God and has a Kingdom impact. 

A great way to help shift your perspective on this is by taking the time to pause and reflect on God’s goodness and richness. 

In the book of Psalms, you find at various times the word “Selah.” This term means to slow down, pause, and recognize the moment. We see in Psalm 67:1 that the writer inserts this word right after stating a very powerful and significant request – a prayer for the Lord’s grace, blessing, and favor. 

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah” Psalm 67:1 

After this Selah – this time of reflection – we find a shift in perspective and the motive behind such requests in the following verse. 

“… that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.” Psalm 67:2

The psalmist desired the favor and blessing of God so that many others would know of God’s power for themselves. 

The psalmist realized our God is powerful and personal, and what He does is never supposed to be kept private. Believing in God’s favor in your life is significant, and the Lord’s goodness and blessing are not only on display for others to see but also must be declared for others to hear. 

Your testimony is powerful, so let your story be known. Talk to others about the goodness of God in your life. When you do, it brings glory to God for all He has done and builds faith in those who hear it. Your testimony could be what God uses to spur someone else to believe for breakthrough and ultimately experience the miracles God intends for them to have.

Scriptures: Romans 8:14, Ephesians 2:19-22

Welcome to the Family!

There is nothing like going to a large family gathering or reunion. You get together and reconnect with cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family members you may not have seen for years. There is also the occasional moment of not knowing who some individuals are, but you still know they are family. No matter who is there, you know because of relationship or bloodline, each person is family – gathered from different locations, with different physical traits, different names – yet all part of the same family. 

The same can be said for your spiritual life. Because of a relationship through Jesus, every believer is grafted into the amazing family of God. Romans 8:14 puts it like this, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” 

What an amazing reminder! When we surrender our lives to Christ, it’s as if God says, “Welcome to the Family!” and His Spirit comes to live in us and unite us with the body of Christ. 

This family we are part of, just like your physical family, is filled with different personalities, perspectives, and giftings, but the same Spirit leads us all. The Spirit who works in and through us will do more through us united than we could ever accomplish on our own. 

As you continue in this fast, pray that your hunger to be led by the Holy Spirit outpaces your physical appetite. Be reminded today that many others in your spiritual family – your brothers and sisters in Christ – are with you, desiring and pursuing the same. As we seek God together, He will work powerfully in our lives and in His church to change the world around us! 

Take some time today in your prayer and fasting to remember those who are a part of your spiritual family. Let them know you are praying for them and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in what to pray for them.

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

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 making sure you don’t step on any Legos. You make it to 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 saying he is the light of the world is that it can seem to come in opposition with what he says in Matthew that “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!

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

Fasting Brings Favor

One of the most encouraging aspects of fasting is inviting God’s favor into our life. We desperately 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 them. 

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.” (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), 

but 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 opposing Israel and turned his heart to be gracious to them. A seemingly impossible situation was turned around by God’s favor 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 are fasting and praying, 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!

Scripture: John 4:27-38

The Harvest is Now

If you’ve been fasting food at any level, you’re likely hungry at this point in the fast. When we come to John 4, we see the disciples in a similar situation we have found ourselves in. They were hungry! It was time for lunch, so they went into a nearby village to find something to eat. After securing their meal, they return to Jesus and offer him some food. Unexpectedly, Jesus denies their offer and tells them he has food they know nothing about. 

At this moment, the disciples are confused and ask themselves if someone else brought Jesus food while they were gone. Jesus continues to say that his food is to do the will of the One who sent him. As if the disciples aren’t confused enough, Jesus tells them a proverb about harvesting. It’s safe to say the disciples were utterly clueless about what was happening at this point. 

The problem the disciples had, which caused them to completely miss what Jesus was talking about, was that they were looking at the whole situation from their natural point of view. All the disciples could see was their immediate need – they were hungry and needed food to eat. Jesus, on the other hand, was looking at the situation from a supernatural perspective. Jesus was not concerned with eating lunch. Jesus was concerned that the village they got lunch from was filled with lost people who needed to be saved. 

So often in our lives, we miss what Jesus is doing because we look at our situation with physical vision rather than spiritual vision. Like the disciples, we can find ourselves going through a place filled with people who don’t know Jesus, and our primary concern is not sharing the Gospel; it is getting something for lunch. 

That’s why a season of prayer and fasting is so refreshing. We become less concerned with what we need and more concerned with what God wants to do in and through us. When we take our eyes off ourselves and set them on doing God’s will, we start to see what Jesus meant: the “fields are ripe for harvest.” We begin to see opportunities to pray for people and see them healed. We start to notice people who are down and give them encouraging words. We see lost people all around us and choose to step out in boldness to share the Gospel. 

The opportunities are endless because the harvest is now. Resolve to step out in faith and obedience today and watch what God will do!

Scripture: Matthew 10:5-8

Freely Give!

Imagine this. You are going about your day like usual until you hear tragic news. A family you know well has suffered a devastating financial loss and needs $100,000 to compensate for their debts. You are heartbroken for them and want to do something to help. A friend of yours who also knows the family hears about the news and decides they will help them by covering the $100,000. They want to keep the gift anonymous, so rather than paying the family directly, they ask if you would be willing to deliver the funds personally. You are thrilled with the news and have decided to give the funds as quickly as possible. You meet with the family and hand over the money they need to cover their debt. They are thrilled and so grateful to receive such a generous gift. Even though it wasn’t your money, you were still able to be a part of making a massive difference in their lives. 

This perfectly illustrates what it looks like for a believer to operate in the power of the Spirit. When it comes to healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons, we are not the ones who are doing it. Instead, we are just delivering the resource given to us by God. That’s why when Jesus is teaching the disciples how to minister to others, he says, “Freely you have received; freely give.” 

As believers, we don’t have to worry about whether we have the power to impact the lives of those around us. Jesus has the power, and He has freely given it to us! Our responsibility is to go out and share the power God has made freely available through the Holy Spirit. 

As you go throughout your day, look for opportunities to minister to those around you. You have freely received, so go out and give!

Scriptures: Leviticus 6:9, Leviticus 6:13

Keep the Fire Burning

As we approach the end of this fast, you probably sense God has begun uniquely moving in your heart over the last few weeks. Fasting has a way of quieting our hearts so God will not only start to work in the situations we have been praying for, but he often works deeply in our hearts as we draw close to him. 

Leviticus 6:9 gives us a clear picture of God’s presence in our lives. God had descended on the Tent of Meeting and kindled a fire. God’s instructions to his people were to keep the fire burning. God told Moses: 

“Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar.’” 

God would say that a burnt offering would be offered every day at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. It was a reminder that devotion to God was to be continual and ongoing. 

The idea behind the burnt offering is that of total devotion to God. It was a symbol of the commitment of the worshiper. Nothing would be left of the sacrifice; it would have been consumed on the altar in the presence of the Lord. 

God has started a fire inside us through this fast, and we are responsible for keeping what God has sparked in us. It will require total devotion to him because it is spiritually deadly to stop what God has started in you. 

This fast has allowed us to give up certain things to seek God on a deeper level. While our seeking God may look different after this fast is over, the commitment and intentionality of spending time with him should remain the same. 

God has started a mighty work in your life; keep the fire burning.

Scripture: Acts 4:29-31

Boldness to Witness

Have you ever found yourself in this place? You want to tell a friend about Jesus. You know they don’t have a relationship with God, but you have never dared to bring it up. Every time you start to work up the confidence, your thoughts are flooded with “What if they think I’m weird?”, “What if I don’t know what to say?” or “What if they stop being my friend?” Ultimately, you decide it’s better not to say anything. You’re frustrated with yourself because you know what you need to do, but you don’t have the boldness to do it. 

If you resonate with that scenario, know you’re not alone. When we come to Acts 4, we find the early church in a situation where they need boldness. Except for them, the stakes are higher. If they share Christ, they wouldn’t just be losing a friend; they could lose their lives. The Jewish ruling council gave the order that Peter, John, and the church could no longer speak in the name of Jesus. If they broke this charge, it could result in a beating, imprisonment, or even death. 

Most people would pray for God to remove the opposition if they heard a similar threat. What the church did was completely different. They did not pray for God to remove their problem; instead, they prayed for boldness. The incredible reality about this account is that God immediately answered their prayer. What was God’s answer to their prayer for boldness? The baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit filled every person in that meeting, enabling them to speak God’s word boldly. 

So what will give you the boldness to share Christ with that friend, neighbor, or worker at the grocery store? The baptism of the Holy Spirit. God desires that we will share Christ with anyone, at any time, and in any place. If you cannot do that, you need the Holy Spirit! 

As we’re in this season of prayer and fasting, it’s the perfect opportunity to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If you’ve never been filled, start to make it a focus in your prayer time. If you have been filled but don’t have the boldness to witness, God wants to refill you full to overflowing. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit, God will give us the boldness to go out and share the Gospel. As we do, we will see revival in our cities, nation, and world!

Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-12

Heaven Come

Over these past 21 days of prayer and fasting, we have set aside our comfort to seek something more valuable. It is impossible to spend time calling on God, asking Him to bring Heaven down, and there be no change because God is faithful, and His Word promises that He responds to the prayers of His people. 

Throughout these past few weeks, God has shown up and moved extraordinarily. People have been saved, set free, and miraculously healed. There’s so much to celebrate, but the exciting reality is that this is only the beginning. There is still more that God wants to do! 

In Ezekiel 47, we see an interesting story. The prophet Ezekiel has a vision where he sees a river flowing from God’s temple. As the water flows from the temple, it grows deeper and deeper. It starts ankle-deep, then becomes knee-deep, then continues to deepen until it is uncrossable. On either side of the river are many trees and swarms of fish in the water. The most extraordinary part is that at the place where the river reaches the Dead Sea, the salt water becomes fresh water. Once dead and unlivable, the place was changed to be fresh and full of life. 

This story is a beautiful illustration of what we can expect in the days ahead. This season of prayer and fasting has been incredible and full of life, but the water is only ankle-deep. We have seen only the beginning of God’s work, not the end. There are more miracles God wants to do. There are more people God wants to save. As we have fasted and prayed, we can have confidence that Heaven is coming and our best days are still ahead!