Fast Forward

Scriptures: Psalms 62:11-12, 1 Chronicles 29:11-13, Matthew 6:13

Fasting Does Not Have Power

I began fasting when I was 14 years old. It was a weekly practice at my church; every Wednesday, for 24 hours, my pastor, parents and other church members would meet in the evening for prayer at someone’s living room. I was moved by their vision and decided to join them. 

Fasting every Wednesday became an important practice in my Christian life over the years and I experienced the Lord move in powerful ways. When I was addicted to pornography, fasting helped put my flesh under control. At age 16 I became the youth pastor and continued fasting every Wednesday. The Lord called me in to full-time ministry and touched me powerfully one of those Wednesdays. When I started dating Lana, the woman who would become my wife, I struggled with decision-making so much that I broke up with her. During a congregational 21-day fast, the Lord delivered me from these mental strongholds. I reconnected with Lana, and we were married eight months later. 

Fasting has many benefits, and brings about miraculous results, but I want to make this clear: fasting does not have power in and of itself, nor does it produce power.All power belongs to God. God designed our bodies to fast–stop and rest. In fact, when you sleep you are fasting; that is why the first meal of the day is called breakfast. 

Jesus taught about fasting, and said, “when you fast,” not “if you fast.” He expects us to willingly fast as a part of our normal lives, like He and other men and women of God did in the Bible. 

Fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual reasons – to draw closer to God. There are different types of fasts we can practice: the absolute fast, the full fast, the partial fast, and in certain cases we can do a non-food fast. 

Fasting does not move God; it moves us closer to Him. Keep this in mind as you begin this fast. 

Let’s Pray: 

God, I pray that You would give me grace and strength as I embark into this fast. I pray that as I submit to You, You would align my motives to Your will.

Scriptures: Exodus 3:1, Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29

Go Far to Find Fire 

When I participated in the 21-day congregational fast years ago, I stopped at the 17th day because I was weak and had started fainting. That experience instilled in me a fear of death from prolonged fasts. So, I remained faithful to only three-day fasts each month because it was doable. 

In December of 2020, the Lord prompted me to lead the church into a 21-day fast the following month. I felt that something was about to change in my life and my ministry, but I was afraid because I thought it would be dangerous and kill me. 

The story of Moses came to mind. While he was enjoying the comforts of Egypt, Moses was moved by the suffering of his people. He took matters into his own hands and attempted to deliver a Hebrew by killing an Egyptian. As a result, Moses was a wanted murderer and fled. 

Many years passed, and Moses was living a quiet normal life with his wife and children. While he was out tending the flock, Moses deviated from his course, went out “far in the wilderness,” and there he met a burning bush. He had an encounter with the Lord, which empowered him to deliver the enslaved nation of Israel by God’s mighty hand.

The burning bush sets burned-out souls on fire for God. There is just one thing: the burning bush is found “far in the wilderness”. Only outside of what is routine, familiar, normal, and predictable will you find the all-consuming fire of the Holy Spirit that will push you forward. 

Go beyond normal. Climb over the fence of your fears. You will be surprised at what is waiting for you there. Fire. A burning bush. Empowerment. 

Let’s Pray:

Father, I thank You for helping me complete the first day. I desire to burn for You more than I am now. I pray for Your continual strength as I continue these next days. Take me deeper than I have ever gone with you.

Scriptures: Psalms 27:8, Song of Songs 1:4, Matthew 4:1

Spirit-Led Fast

During the 21-day fast we began as a church in 2021, I felt a strong touch of God to extend my fast to forty days. My immediate thought was that I was barely on the sixth day. I had yet to reach twenty-one! 

At that moment, the Spirit reminded me that Jesus did a forty-day fast before starting His ministry. He brought to my mind these verses that after that fast, “the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:11), and “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region” (Luke 4:14).

I knew with such security that the Holy Spirit was calling me to follow Jesus’ example.If Jesus didn’t start His ministry without a fast, who am I to advance my full-time ministry without an extended period of fasting? I was on my knees when this happened, and with tears in my eyes, I stood up and told my wife, Lana, “I am going for forty.” 

We do not have to be led by the Spirit to fast; it is part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

You can choose how and when to fast, but it is a different story when God Himself chooses a fast for you. When God invites you to a fast, respond in obedience, for He will supply you with His strength for that period of fasting.

Let’s pray:

Father, I desire to follow Your guidance. Holy Spirit, please give me the strength to follow You. I humble myself before You. Do your work in me.

Scriptures: Daniel 10:12, Colossians 3:1-2, Romans 12:1-2

Fasting is More Mental Than Physical

I took a trip to Ukraine in the middle of my forty-day fast; someone blessed us with first-class tickets. It was my first time ever flying first class. It was such a different experience. Since Lana was not fasting, she requested a meal. It looked so delicious that thoughts about stopping the fast while in Ukraine and resuming after the trip flooded my mind. 

I knew these thoughts were from the enemy because I was more than halfway through the fast. 

I learned something at that moment: fasting is more mental than physical. When you start a fast, the first few days are physically uncomfortable and even painful, but after all the headaches, fatigue, mood swings, etc., it is smooth sailing. 

The enemy will play mind tricks on believers when they are fasting to try to make them stop fasting and eat. When in reality, they are not physically hungry. Even though you will experience physical hardship, most of the temptation during fasting is in your mind, not in your stomach.

The secret to finishing your fast is to make up your mind to finish the fast before you even begin. God responds to your thoughts and desires of commitment and determination. 

If it is worth starting, it is worth completing.

Let’s Pray:

Father, thank You for the desire You put in me to do this fast. Please help my mind conquer any temptations to quit. I pray for Your strength spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Scriptures: 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Corinthians 8:8, Philippians 3:19, Proverbs 23:21

Comfort Eating

Food is a gift from God. Good food makes people feel good. However, our relationship with food is not always healthy. Food can serve as a comfort to deal with negative emotions or boredom. The beauty of fasting is that it exposes the damaging relationship some have with food. 

When you fast, you cannot resort to food to alleviate your negative emotions, so you have to face them head-on. When we turn to food in times of stress and anxiety as a source of emotional relief and pleasure, we make it an idol. Food was made to nourish our bodies, not to comfort us. When you do this, you run the risk of also falling into gluttony. 

Instead of dealing with these toxic emotions by eating, bring them to the Holy Spirit and share them with the Father. He is the only One in whom we have comfort.

Fasting is an affliction of the soul, not the body. Fasting puts our soul in the backseat, where it belongs, and helps us move from soulish Christians to spiritual Christians. 

Let’s Pray: 

Father, forgive me for falling into idolatry and gluttony. I have sinned by seeking relief and comfort in food and, at times, eating and drinking too much. Thank you for exposing the things in my heart that do not please You. I surrender to You, Holy Spirit. I want to find comfort in You alone, always.

Scriptures: Matthew 16:24, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Galatians 5:24-25

Flying First Class

Remember how I mentioned that I had the chance to fly first-class to Ukraine? It was a new experience. The seats, food, and service were all different from economy class, even though I was in the same airplane with the same pilot. So why was my first-class seat better than a seat by the bathroom? What made the difference? 

The price! The first-class ticket costs more. 

Could it be the same for the life of the Christian? Every Christian is in Christ, but not every Christian has the same experience with Him. Why? It all comes down to the price you are willing to pay. Believing in Jesus gets you on the plane to heaven, but closely following Him puts you in a first-class seat near Him, the pilot. We must live a surrendered life and grow to become disciples of Jesus.

A believer retreats to safety, but a disciple embraces suffering. 

A believer reads the Word, but a disciple lives it. 

There is a vacant seat in first class waiting for you; are you willing to pay the price? 

Let’s Pray: 

God, I desire an intimate friendship with You. I need Your Holy Spirit to help me live eternity-minded. Give me the courage to pay the price, no matter the cost.

Scriptures: Genesis 25:34, Hebrews 12:17, Genesis 27:34

A Bowl for a Blessing

Years ago, I had an iPhone 6 that had stopped working, and since money was an issue, I had to find an inexpensive solution to fix it. I looked on Craigslist and found a new iPhone 7 for $140. I thought it was a great deal. The person who sold it to me reassured me that the phone could be wiped and that it was as good as new on the inside, so I bought it. 

I was happy and excited to get the new iPhone set up. However, when I got home, I realized there was a big problem; I had purchased a fake phone with an iPhone cover on it. I was not so upset at the fact that the person stole $140 from me, but rather that what he gave me was not worth $140! This is what happened to Esau; he paid for a bowl of stew with his birthright blessing. At the moment, he considered his physical needs more important than his inheritance. 

People often trade the spiritual for the physical, the important for the urgent. The Lord wants us to fast, but we refuse to do so because we think physical food is more valuable than spiritual blessings. 

If you want to enjoy your spiritual inheritance, learn to subdue your physical appetite and obey God’s prompts to fast.

Let’s Pray: 

God, show me what You have for me through this fast. I want to trade what is temporary for what is eternal. I pray for You to release Your blessing upon my life in supernatural ways.

Scriptures: Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3, Psalms 42:1-2

Fasting is Feasting

Hunger and thirst are a normal part of life. It is our body’s way of telling us that it needs food and water. During a fast, the Lord reminds me that the way my body feels is how my spirit feels when I do not feed it spiritual food. What sandwiches and roast beef are to my body, the Bible is to my spirit. What coffee is to the body, sweet communion with the Holy Spirit is to my spirit. 

When a person is not hungry, it is a sign that they are sick, dead, or dying. It is not normal. Spiritual food and drink for our spirit are not optional; they are necessary for every Christian believer. Your spirit experiences hunger and thirst when it is not fed daily. 

Fasting helps you remember how often your spirit was hungry, sometimes days and weeks, yet we did not feed it spiritual food. 

Seasons of fasting are important because they reset our understanding of who we really are. We are not a body that has a spirit. We are a spirit who has a soul and lives in a body. Since we are a spirit, we should live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. When your body fasts, the real you is not fasting; the real you in spirit is feasting. Allow your spirit to feast on God’s Word. 

Replace your regular eating times with the consumption of God’s Word. 

Let’s Pray:

Lord, increase my love and devotion for Your Word. I want to do more than simply read the Bible. Make it come alive for me. As I fast, Holy Spirit, help me to fall in love with You in a way that I have yet to experience.

Scriptures: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Timothy 4:8

Weight, Not Worth

Before getting married, I weighed 130 pounds, and no matter what I ate, I did not gain weight. After getting married, I began gaining weight rapidly. My pastor even told me once that I was growing more in my belly than in my spirit. That hurt! 

It must be noted that fasting is not a solution to weight control. Good health requires good choices to be made before and after our fast because our bodies are the means we use to accomplish God’s will here on earth. Fasting increases our spiritual weight, but it has no effect on our spiritual worth before God.

The apostle Paul instructs us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” 

Remember, we do not fast so God will love us more; rather, we fast because we are loved.

Let’s Pray: 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for what You did for me on the cross. God, help me to die to myself so You may live through me and so others will come to know You.

Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:5-6, Matthew 6:16-18, 1 Kings 21:27-29

The Way of Humility

There were once two ducks and a frog on a farm. They were such good friends that when the pond dried up and the ducks had to fly to another place, they did not want to leave the frog behind. So, they decided to fly and hold a stick in their bills between them while the frog held onto the stick with its mouth. As they were flying, a farmer noticed and said, “What a great idea. I wonder who came up with that.” 

The frog replied, “I did.” Then the frog fell. 

The story’s moral is to remain humble because pride comes before the fall. 

Humility is the key to everything in God’s kingdom, but it is not something God will do for us; humility is an attribute we must practice willingly. How can we practice humility? Did you know fasting is a biblical way of humbling ourselves before Him? Men such as David and Ezra humbled themselves before God with fasting. 

When you enter into a fast, do not advertise it to get attention and praise from men. Your fasting should lead to humility before God. 

Let’s Pray: 

Father, forgive any prideful behavior and intention that has driven me to seek You. Purify me, wash me, and cleanse me as white as snow to present myself in Your presence with a humble heart.

Scriptures: Luke 4:14-15, Galatians 1:18, Acts 13:2-3

From Crisis to Calling

There was a man whose wife had left him; he had lost his job, and he no longer wanted to live. So, he decided to end his life by jumping off a bridge. He arrived at the bridge and was ready to jump. When he looked down, he saw someone drowning and screaming for help. He quickly ran down and swam to their rescue. A crowd gathered around them, her family came, and a newspaper reporter arrived to cover the story. The next day, an article was printed on the front page titled A Purpose Saved a Man’s Life. Both his life and the girl’s life were saved. 

Having a purpose is a powerful motivator to live. 

Similarly, Paul discovered his initial ministry following a three-day fast after first encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus. 

There is a ministry we do for the Lord, but when we use our time fast and minister to the Lord, He empowers us with a ministry from Him. A ministry for the Lord is done with our own strength and understanding. On the other hand, a ministry from the Lord is done with His might and purpose. The big difference is our willingness to pause, fast, and minister to the Lord Himself. 

Let’s Pray: 

Lord, I humbly come before You in surrender. I surrender my desires, my life, and my future to You. Do your will in my life. I want to live for Your purpose.

Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 4:12, James 1:14-15, 1 John 2:16-17

Threefold Cord

Every temptation we face on this side of eternity can be traced to one of three things: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life. But what exactly is temptation? Temptation is a seduction to do evil in order to ruin you. All sins fall into one or more of the three categories mentioned above. 

The Lord Jesus gave us three weapons to use against these temptations in Matthew 6 in His Sermon on the Mount: prayer, giving, and fasting. 

1. Prayer fights pride. 

Prayerlessness is a result of pride. Often, we think we can make it ourselves without Him and find prayer unnecessary. When we take time to seek God in prayer, we are hitting our pride. 

2. Giving crushes greed. 

Greed is not acquiring money; it is when money has acquired you. The only cure for greed is giving; you can even try sacrificial giving. It is giving what hurts to give away, not giving your leftovers. 

3. Fasting starves lust. 

And thirdly, lust is about the cravings of the flesh and the desires of the body. When you fast, you voluntarily deny yourself what your body actually needs, thus preparing the body to be controlled by your spirit. Train the flesh to submit to the spirit through seasons of fasting. 

Practice prayer, giving, and fasting to grow stronger spiritually and be victorious against temptations. 

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the greed and pride in my heart. I ask that You give me a generous heart to help and freely give to those in need. I want to depend on You in everything I do, so please remove any pride I have within me. Give me a love for prayer, giving, and fasting.

Scriptures: Acts 10:30-31, Matthew 16:24, 1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians 15:31

Building, Binding, and Birthing

The trifold practice of prayer, fasting, and giving yields the powerful fruit of godliness in our lives. However, sometimes believers focus on one of the three over the other two. For example, they fast constantly, but they do not practice prayer and giving. They are all as equally important. 

An example of someone who practiced all three is Cornelius. He lived a life of prayer, giving, and fasting, and that caught God’s attention. If you notice, Cornelius lived this godly lifestyle even before salvation. Salvation is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. So, I must make this clear once again: fasting does nothing for our standing with God. It does not earn us salvation or extra points with Him; instead, it is a means of self-denial. 

Prayer, fasting, and giving build the inner man; they increase our sensitivity to the Lord’s presence and His awesome character. The way to grow our spiritual man is by abiding in God’s Word, talking to the Father in prayer, and giving graciously. 

Prayer, fasting, and giving bind the flesh. Fasting helps us subdue the desires of the flesh to the desires of the spirit. The only way to defeat the flesh is death to self, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “…I die daily.” 

Prayer, fasting, and giving will birth breakthrough. When we surrender and humbly seek God, He will bring divine encounters into our lives. 

God wants to birth something in you and through your life to reach those around you. 

Let’s Pray: 

God, I know there are areas in my life in which I have not let You lead me. Break down my pride and independence during this fast. Strengthen me, build my inner man, and help me to die to myself daily to see You move in my life.

Scriptures: Revelation 2:1-5, Luke 5:35

Fast to Get First Love

I remember when I first met Lana in person. We had been talking online for a few weeks, but we met in person at a church where I was preaching in Vancouver. I was smitten by her beauty and captivated by her personality. I was in love. Those feelings were so strong that I wanted to marry her immediately. After marriage, our love for each other has deepened and produced stronger emotions than those of couples who are only dating. My feelings for her today are more intense than in the early days. 

Feelings of infatuation do not require sacrifice; that is why it is referred to as falling in love. Love is a decision, a personal commitment. Choices should lead, and feelings will follow.

Our relationship with the Lord is the same way. The love we feel when we first get saved is incredible. But, many believers are like the church of Ephesus in the book of Revelation. They lose their first love. The church of Ephesus worked so hard, and Jesus even commended them, but they neglected the Lord Himself. So, what now?

Jesus outlined for them how to return to their first love. He gave them three simple steps: remember, repent, and repeat the first works.

First, remember how things were at the beginning. 

Then, repent. That means a change of mind and course of action. 

Last, repeat the first works and choose to become zealous for Jesus. Your first love will return.

However, if you have lost your first love and do not make these changes, Jesus says there are consequences. Jesus is telling us today that if we decide not to repent, we will lose our influence and authority in the dark spiritual world. So, He urges us to remember, repent, and return. 

Anytime we feel as though the presence of God is distant, we should fast. Fasting helps to restore our hunger, our passion, and our first love. 

Let’s Pray: 

Thank You, Lord, for the incomparable love You have for me. Forgive me because I have been distracted and entertained with things of this world so much that my love for You is not the same as it once was. I want my love for You to grow deeper and stronger; teach me how to do so.

Scriptures: Matthew 6:18, Matthew 23:25-28

Private Discipline, Public Reward

While growing up in Ukraine, my siblings and I enjoyed playing together, but we’d always make a mess. As long as we cleaned up, everything was fine. However, there were times when we would receive last-minute visits to the house, so we had to speed clean. Instead of putting everything where it belonged, we would hide things under the bed, behind the couch, or in the closet. So, the house would look spotless in just a few minutes. 

The house looked clean in the eyes of the visitors, but we knew the truth: the mess was simply hidden. 

I wonder if that is what Jesus had against religious people who cared more about looking good in front of people than looking good to God. God dwells in the secret place, and He sees you in secret; He is present in places we tend to neglect. 

Fasting is a private discipline that brings public reward. And what you do in secret will eventually come to be known. 

There are two stories in the book of Joshua that demonstrate this. Achan and Rahab had secrets, and what they were hiding impacted their future. 

Achan was a soldier, while Rahab was a prostitute. 

Achan had a promising future, while Rahab faced a certain doom. 

Achan was hiding something, while Rahab was hiding someone.

Achan destroyed his family, while Rahab saved her family. 

Achan brought defeat to the nation, while Rahab was used to save the nation. 

Our Father sees what is done in private. Will He find something in your secret place that is worth rewarding in public? Live in the secret place of prayer, fasting, and giving, and your Heavenly Father promises to bless you. 

Let’s Pray: 

Lord, I am thankful for Your goodness and Your patience with me. I continue to pray that you get rid of any pride in me and teach me to be humble. I want to please You, especially in private, through daily devotion to You. Help me to be aware of Your presence in private and throughout the day.

Scriptures: Luke 5:4, Jeremiah 17:5-9

Go Deeper

In Tri-Cities, where I live, we get strong winds. One time, a tree close to our church toppled over. The tree was big, but the roots were surprisingly shallow; they were totally exposed. That is exactly what happens when our public life is more notable than our private life. 

Trees have a root system that supports their weight and branches that produce leaves and fruit. The roots are usually underground; they are not visible. It is the same with our life. We have branches (responsibilities). The responsibilities change and increase with time. Over time, the branches grow, tasks increase, and branches become heavier. 

It is important that, along with the branches, our relationship with God grows proportionally.

The roots of a tree grow deeper over time. What does that mean in our life? It does not refer to praying longer or fasting and giving more. Deep roots actually refer to being humble. As the roots grow lower in the ground, we should think of ourselves as lowly, less, and dependent on God.

Are your roots shallow or deep? Are you prideful and independent or humble and dependent? Fasting and prayer will produce humility. To go deeper, you must intensify your dependence on the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, what happened to the tree next to our church will happen to us. The branches outgrew the roots. Responsibilities can outgrow relationships.

Let’s Pray: 

Lord, You know me better than anyone else. I cannot hide anything from You. You know how long and heavy my branches are, but You are also aware of the growth of my roots. I do not want to be knocked down like a tree with shallow roots. Help me, Holy Spirit, to live a surrendered life, a life of humility and absolute dependence on You.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Malachi 3:16-17

Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul exhorts us to build our spiritual house with Jesus Christ as the foundation. The foundation can be made of various materials such as gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Depending on the materials we use, on the Day of Judgement, our works will endure the fire or burn in the fire.

Gold, silver, and precious stones are all hidden underground. They are expensive, rare, usually found in small quantities, and purified by fire. 

For Christians, gold represents prayer, silver represents fasting, and precious stones represent sacrificial giving. 

In Malachi 3, God refers to His people as precious jewels. Giving is not simply giving some of what we own. Sacrificial giving is giving ourselves and giving our heart since that is where our treasure is. 

When our life and ministry are built with these precious materials, they will endure and please the Lord. The spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and giving are like the building materials found underground: costly. We should not offer the Lord our leftovers and that which can easily be given. However, if we build with wood, hay, and straw, our works will be burned in the fire, and we will suffer loss, even if we are saved in the end. 

Wood, hay, and straw are easily found on the ground. They come in large quantities because they are common and cheap, but they can be destroyed by fire. This speaks of a life that is built on pride, carnality, and secret sin. The materials represent prayerlessness, busyness, and compromise. We are not called to be busy but to be fruitful.

It is time to stop offering to the Lord that which costs us nothing. As you are fasting, it may be difficult, but take courage because you are building your foundation with a costly material. 

Let’s Pray: 

Thank You, Lord, for the promise of eternal life. I am grateful that I have eternal rewards awaiting me. I pray that You help me build a strong and fireproof foundation. I want to put You before everything else in my life and be a living sacrifice to You. Develop in me a greater love for Your Word, for prayer, fasting, and giving graciously.

Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, Psalms 85:6

Viral Revival

Revival was viral during the Great Awakening in America when John Edwards and George Whitefield were preaching. During the Second Great Awakening, one in every fifteen Americans belonged to an evangelical church. The same was true during the Businessman’s Revival, the Civil War Revival, the Urban Revivals, the Azusa Street Revival, the Latter Rain Revival, the Healing Revival, the Campus Crusade for Christ, and the Crusades of Billy Graham. The message of the gospel spread like wildfire. God wants to do it again. 

God has given us the recipe for viral revival in 2 Chronicles 7. 

“If My people” – This means that revival does not depend on the world but on His Church.

“Humble themselves” – We know that fasting is the biblical way to humility. Obey His instructions and humble yourself. God’s people will either humble themselves or be humbled by Him. 

“Pray” – Fasting must lead to fervent praying.

“Seek My face” – God wants us to abandon everything and seek His face. 

“Turn from their wicked ways” – Repentance and turning from wicked ways are always the outcome of humility and prayer. 

“I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land” – That is God’s promise to us. If the earth doesn’t turn to repentance, heaven has no rain to give. God doesn’t stop at forgiveness; He promises to heal our land. 

May our fasting lead us to repentance so God will usher revival. God wants to bring revival to our lives, communities, and nations. 

Our goal is to make revival vital, but God’s job is to make that revival viral.

Let’s Pray: 

God, I want to be a part of what You desire here on earth. Examine my heart and forgive any wickedness found in me. Purify my heart. I ask You to bring revival to my life, home, and nation.

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 4:7, Psalms 1:1-3, Proverbs 10:24

Be a Finisher, not a Quitter

Many believers have a bad habit of not finishing their fast to the end. Now, I do not want to make you feel guilty if you have not finished a fast in the past. My goal is to develop in you the mindset of a “finisher.” Do not quit fasting–finish!

Jesus is our best example. He is called the author and finisher of our faith. To develop a “finisher” mindset, we must rely on the Holy Spirit. Here are seven steps I have used to grow in consistency with prayer, reading Scripture, fasting, extravagant giving, and even practical things like exercising and writing. 

1. Desire

Everything starts with desire. 

Do you have the desire to have a desire? God can work with that. If there is no desire, be honest with God. Tell Him you want to change because He can also work with that. 

2. Decision

Desire leads to a decision. A decision is making up your mind about something and moving forward to the end result. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much of God’s favor you will enjoy by making the right decisions. 

3. Dependence

Strong desires and firm decisions are good, but you must come to the Holy Spirit for inner strength. 

It is not about discipline; it is all about dependence. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit more than on your own willpower and strength. 

4. Determination

We must submit our decisions to the Holy Spirit and ask Him for help. Upon surrendering to the Spirit, we must deny ourselves and be determined to do what God has called us to do. 

We are people of faith, not of feelings. God wants steadfast believers. 

5. Delight

After discipline becomes a routine, we begin to enjoy what we could only once endure. 

I truly believe that God does not want us to simply endure the tasks of praying, reading, and fasting. 

6. Difference

It is exciting when you start seeing a change in your life after your decision, discipline, and delight. People notice the fruit, and whatever you do prospers. Choose to enjoy the work of God’s grace in your life. 

7. Destiny

If you pay the price to walk with God all your life, it becomes easier for your kids to do the same. Generational blessings are as real as generational curses. 

Be a finisher, not a quitter. You are close to the finish line–finish! 

Let’s Pray: 

Lord, thank You because it has been You who has helped me through this fast. As I continue, break the mindset of limitation off of me. I recognize that I have had a hard time finishing what I started. Lord, shift my mindset to be determined and unshakeable. I depend completely on You. Help me finish this fast and make any other right decision.

Scriptures: John 2:5, Joshua 3:5

From Grapes to Glory

During the forty-day fast, the Holy Spirit taught me something important about Jesus’ first miracle. Jesus transformed water into wine. It seemed impossible, but it was a miraculous event. 

Water does not have what it takes to become wine; it becomes wine only due to a miracle. The key to that miracle was obedience. When the servants obeyed Jesus, God turned the water into wine. If you are willing to be a servant and obey, God will do the same in your life. 

You may not have the proper education to be successful or the right connections to make it in life. It is not about what you have; it is about whether you are willing to do what He says. God can take your weakness and turn it into strength; He will change the water to wine. 

Focus on doing what it takes to be an obedient servant to the Holy Spirit. Even if it seems crazy, obey, and you will see Him work miraculously. 

Grapes, on the other hand, have what it takes to become wine. They can become wine only if they are willing to go through crushing. Oh, how we hate crushing! Grapes are the people who are gifted, skilled, and connected. He wants to take you further and release His anointing in your life, through crushing. The path of brokenness leads from being blessed to being a blessing to others. God wants to break your pride, ego, selfishness, and sinful tendencies to sanctify you. Today’s sanctification will bring tomorrow’s success as Joshua told the people of Israel. Fasting today will bring favor tomorrow. And today’s prayers will be tomorrow’s power. 

Are you water that God wants to turn into wine? Or are you a grape that God wants to turn into wine? Either way, obedience, and consecration are the way to new levels with the Holy Spirit. 

Let’s Pray: 

Father, thank You for what You are doing in me through this fast. I surrender and ask You to get rid of anything that hinders me from fully obeying You. I desire to obey You, even in the smallest of things. Give me grace to follow You and the courage to obey, no matter the cost.

Scriptures: Romans 7:9, 1 Kings 18:21

Someone is Living in a Revival

One time in prayer, the Holy Spirit highlighted in my mind that publicly, many believers claim to follow Jesus, but privately they “mute” His voice. They profess Jesus, but they do not allow Him to lead them, possess them, fill them, or change them. It is not that God is not speaking, but that they decided ahead of time that they will ignore what He has to say. 

“Fasting is too radical.” “Praying is too boring.” “Reading the Bible is just not that interesting.” “Sharing their faith is just too awkward.” “Serving the Lord is simply too time-consuming.” Oh, and “giving is not affordable because of other expenses and bills.” 

They are “following” Jesus but have “muted” their Friend who loves them intensely. They have enough of the world that they are not fully living for God, yet they have enough of God that they cannot fully enjoy the world. What an empty way to live! 

In Romans, Paul wrote, “sin revived, and I died.” He was referring to the strict commandments of God, and that they have no power to produce life and holiness. In his life, sin experienced a revival, and that revival brought him death. You may be experiencing a revival, but that revival might be of your sinful self, not your spirit. 

What has been revived in your life and gets you excited about life?

Is it entertainment or lust? When sin has a revival, you die. When your spirit has a revival, sin dies. Spiritual revival is the best defense against sin. 

I want to spark in you a new passion for His presence so that you sincerely want to pursue His purpose for your life. You will never know what God has prepared for you unless you go all the way for Jesus. Many people are disappointed with Jesus because they are expecting His full-time benefits, but they are living as part-time believers. Unmute the voice and listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

My prayer for you is that you cannot remember a time when you loved Jesus more than you do today. Today is the day of revival for your spirit, your prayer life, and your consecration. 

Let’s Pray: God, I don’t want anything in my life to revive that isn’t of You. There are so many distractions in mundane life. Kill all that tries to keep me from hearing You and following Your lead. Awaken in me a new love and passion for You.