21 days of prayer

But as we start in this new year, we’re setting before us a vision over our life, finances, relationships, etc. This is not a routine request. So why treat it the same as asking Him to bless the pizza? 

When Nehemiah heard about the destruction of the walls of Jerusalem, he was heart broken. He needed direction and healing for his hurting heart. He fasted and prayed and God gave him an action step. He needed to do something new and God was calling him to it. He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, where later Jesus would sit to minister to people and perform miracles. Through his fasting and prayer, God aligned Nehemiah’s heart to His and gave direction and clarity on what to do. 

Perhaps, we too should step out in faith and cry out to God in a new way. Setting aside time from our usual routine and instead of reaching for a sweet snack, we take that 2-3 minutes and seek out God, requesting that our hearts align with His. That His will be what we want and share the desires of our heart. Perhaps, if we want God to do something new, something big, we too need to do something new and big. 

God, give us faith + strength to step out in faith in a new way. Align our heart and our desires to your’s. 

Nehemiah 1:4-11

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.

Written by: Kinlee Pruitt

”

Although this scripture is used to describe an attitude that we should have when going through challenging times, it can also be applied to fasting.

This scripture creates a cause and effect that starts with suffering and ends in hope. The same could be said for the journey you go on in fasting. Fasting can be seen as a challenge or it can be seen as an opportunity to rejoice. Sacrifice happens in all challenges. Fasting is a challenge in which we can voluntarily sacrifice for the opportunity to rejoice and to produce endurance which spurs hope.

Fasting is a spiritual work out for us, it exercises and presents challenges purposely so we can grow in our endurance in our faith. Be encouraged in that although fasting can be challenging, there is great hope that is produced. Your sacrifices made in fasting will be honored and blessed by God.

Written by: Kendall Farnsworth

That alone is cause for obedience, but as you dig into the Word, there’s always some greater purpose God’s orchestrating. What are you asking God for? How much does it mean to you? It’s one thing to say “I want to trust God”… or… “I want God to ____” fill in the blank, but how bad do you want it? 

Abraham wanted to obey God, but when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham had a choice to make. If he really wanted to obey God, it was going to cost him greatly. Isaac was God’s promised. He was the one who would carry the promise and his only rightful heir. In the end, God provided a sacrifice and Isaac lived to fulfill the promise, but Abraham didn’t know the end of the story. 

You don’t know the end of your story. You only know that God is faithful and good and the same God now as he was to Abraham. The question is, do you want what you’re asking God for more than a sweet treat? Every time you crave something sweet, pray for strength to resist and for what you’re believing God for. The devil knows you’re seeking God and it makes his skin crawl so expect to see a lot of sweets, commercials on sweets, sales on sweets, and probably some random gifts of sweets…but at the end of the day, it’s up to you. If you had to decide, that sweet treat or what you’re asking God to do…what will you choose?

God, give us the strength to resist. Remind us that you provide our every need + allow our hearts and requests to be thoroughly examined. 

Written by: Kinlee Pruitt

Or maybe you have been in the presence of an emergency, when your decision becomes the difference between disaster and safety. Even grief can steal your mind away from every other thought. In all of these moments, there is one common factor- desperation. It is a desperation for something that makes us focus on one thing.

In the Bible, fasting was used during good and bad times. People generally fasted from food at that time, and anyone who has gone through overwhelming grief or tension likely has lost their appetite over it. It was during these times that people would cry out to God for help (2 Samuel 1:12). Just as they fasted to push out any distraction from God, we go without things we enjoy to demonstrate to God that we take more joy in Him than anything else. We push forward showing how desperate we are to hear God speak to us personally.

In the New Testament, the church would fast to clear their mind and spirit from all distractions to hear from God better:

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2 ESV

When they worshiped God and fasted, then they heard from God what they were supposed to do next. Do you need God’s guidance right now? Are you needing guidance for a new direction? When you lay aside normal things that you enjoy to focus on God better, He will respond to you. He promised that if you take steps to draw near to Him, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). God has spoken to His people through dreams and spiritual ways to get their attention. He will do it again! Someone you have never met could walk up to you and say something to you that only God would know. God will make a confusing situation suddenly clear. Where there didn’t seem to be a clear answer anywhere, in a moment, the solution will be there.

Fasting not only shows your desperation for god, focuses you, and makes you hear clearly, but it clears doubts from your faith:

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Matthew 17:18-21 NKJV

Here you can see that even the apostles had to fast when they were struggling with spiritual issues. This is because fasting frees us from the weight of doubt and grows our confidence that God is who He says He is and can do what He said He would do. By helping us focus on

God, fasting makes our spirit strong and ready to change the world for Jesus!

PRAYER:

Father God, as I give up this social media/television/gaming to spend time with you, I pray that your presence will meet me. Help my mind focus on you and hear what you are saying to me right now. Help me with the things that weigh on me. Assist me when I don’t know what to do. Lift the burdens that you can carry because I can’t, Lord. Open my eyes to see what You want to show me. Open my ears to Hear what you are saying to me now. I believe, Lord, that you will build me up in my faith stronger at the end of this fast than when I began.

Written By: Matthew Foley

Fasting is a supernatural chance to apply the Bible to our everyday lives. The interesting part of fasting is that there really aren’t many scriptures describing it, explaining it, or telling us how to do it. It just says fast.

I am apart of the golden generation, Gen Z. And our most distinguished quality is our love for our phones. What’s so interesting to me, is that as much as we do LOVE our phones, it would be wrong to only speak of them as a luxury. Phones are no longer just a luxury, they are a practicality. We use them to network, find directions, and pick restaurants. You name it. But, in my opinion, social media is different. The difference is that social media can become about self promotion. Sure, there are elements of practicality, like staying in touch with friends that you’ve grown apart with or making new connections. But, it involves so many levels of presentation that it’s not only a tool for communicating. If that was true, we would all have profile pictures taken from our couch with the Instagram app,  front-facing camera. Yikes. But, don’t get me wrong.  Social media isn’t evil either. My great-grandmother lived to be 105, and she had a ton of sayings she would use to teach us about life. One was, “self-praise is half scandal, and no praise is all scandal.” It’s better to post about your life than to fall off the map forever. There are benefits to social, but they need to be weighed and compared to the cost.

A relationship with Jesus is the most valuable thing we can obtain in this life. Christ is more precious than a ruby or a precious gem found in a field. The Bible says when a man finds it, he sells everything he has to buy the field so he can own it. (Matt 13:44-46) That’s why fasting social media is important. We are denying our own gratification, like keeping tabs on our friends, to give God those moments during our day. There comes a time when we need to be honest about how little social media adds to the quality of our lives, and maybe even so honest to consider how little it adds to the quality of our relationships. Then, consider how precious a few moments spent with God can be. Those moments can uplift us all week long! Instead of making some new rule about how to use social media, use this time as a detox and focus on God!

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 16:24

PRAYER:

Lord, I come to you expecting this time of fasting to be as meaningful to me as it is to you. I am acting through faith, believing that as I fast digital media, in the form I’ve chosen, it will benefit my spirit and mind to step away on this fast. As I deny myself of these things, it can feel like so little compared to what you have done for me. But, I ask you to see this fast as an act of love and devotion to you as my Father. Detox my mind and spirit of any unclean thing from digital media that influences my behavior towards myself, others, or you, Lord. Give me strength to fast today. I ask you to remember this time and use it as a selfless action for you, God, that you can repay me for in glory.

Written By: Kayla Foley

One of these conveniences is the quality and diversity of our entertainment. This is not a negative thing. In fact, it’s something we can be thankful for. So we can take time to appreciate the one who gives us every good and perfect gift, sometimes we need to give up good things (James 1:17). It can even feel like giving up something you love. God doesn’t want you to be miserable, but it is a matter of principle. We must deny ourselves and recognize that even small things, like enjoying a good show, can get in the way of something more important.

I have many favorite shows, and often, they can have major characters that talk like an unsaved person, or make the literal worst decisions possible. Sometimes, I find myself yelling at the screen trying to get them to reconsider. But, what if God looks at us like this? What if God sees us on our phone or our couch for hours and is yelling, “Just get up!” or “Don’t watch that — those characters are miserable.” I know if He is saying that to me, there are times I happen to agree with him. There are days I spend too much time lazing around when God is trying to get my attention. Rest is important, but excessive entertainment is really a distraction.

I don’t know about you, but I want to live a life I don’t need to be distracted from. If we take the time we used to spend on television, gaming, and social media, and focus on God, we would be so much happier (John 10:10). In fact, we might be shocked practically what all we can accomplish in a few days without these distractions. We remember it is a sacrifice, believe it will make a difference, and stay motivated to keep going through with it. It will work!

Scripture promises you and I that when we make these sacrifices, God will honor them and respond to us. By clearing out an evening at home and spending that time in prayer, you can see God respond to your sacrifice and bring peace into your life:

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Luke 11:9-10 ESV

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

PRAYER:

Lord, as I step away from things that I enjoy, to know You better, help me. Give me strength as I run after You and seek You. Help me know you more than I ever have before. Show me how You are better than these things I enjoy. Bring results in my life from this fast, and give me a new and fresh perspective on who You are and who I am. Help me lay aside the distractions and weights in my life that I don’t even see- things that turn my attention away from what is really important.

Written By: Kayla and Matthew Foley

An Answer to Prayer

Several years ago I wanted to further my education. After some research, I decided to try my hand at working on a Masters Degree through a correspondence school.  I completed the application process and paid several hundred dollars in tuition.  This money was coming straight out of my pocket, no scholarships or grants.  

After receiving a package of information about the course work, it looked daunting and overwhelming.  At the time, I was working 9 hour days at my job which was about 50 minutes each way from my home.  This meant that I was gone almost 11 hours every day.  I had two teenage daughters at home and was overly involved in my local church.  Time was short.  My prayer to the Lord after a short time was, I’m in over my head and if I move forward with school, I would be stretched way too thin.  How was I going to get out of this situation and receive back the funds that I had spent for tuition?  In short, I had gotten into a situation of my own making, and now I needed the Lord to help.

One night in a dream I found myself driving a tractor from my childhood down a busy highway.  In my dream, I pulled over and proceeded to change the oil.  Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but after asking the Lord, I knew what the dream meant.  In my day job, I was a parts guy working in a shop full of mechanics. I dealt with similar issues from my dream every day.  I knew what the Lord was speaking to me.  Without hesitation, I withdrew from school.  I did not get all my funds returned for tuition, but the Lord had answered my prayer.  I felt as if he were speaking to me, “Maintain what you have as well as you can, even in a busy life.” 

If you are finding yourself anxious about a situation in your life, allow this fast to remind you to simply run the race well.  God will answer your prayer in a way that you can understand in His time. As you continue to fast, your prayers will grow in intensity and you will develop more faith.  

Remember, you didn’t pledge to fast so you could please a group of people in your church. Your fast is to God.  Be true to yourself.  You owe it to your integrity to keep your promise to God.  Don’t quit too soon, even in moments when your self perception is blurred and your self determination is weakened.

Written by: T.R. + Debbie Jackson

  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.

An answer to prayer.

I love to see God’s faithfulness in the lives of others.  From my early childhood I remember going to funeral services and hearing testimonies of the goodness of God in the lives of His believers.  In those moments, I believe my faith grew to know, without any doubt, that there can be an eternity with God in heaven.  I was blessed to be present when both my mother and father passed on to Heaven.  I was also in the room when my father-in-law passed to Heaven.  I have watched the lives of many who have gone on before me.  In this life, they had troubles, but they were faithful and God was always with them.  As they drew their last breath here on this earth I knew beyond any doubt that their next moment would be in the presence of Jesus.  

Maybe right now, your faith is small. Maybe this is the first time you’ve ever fasted and you’re asking God to grow your faith. Maybe all you know for sure is that Jesus saved you, God is your father, and the Holy Spirit guides you.  What a great start! Just as my faith grew from the testimonies of those who had gone before me, yours can grow too. The more you pray about a situation, the more your faith will grow. As you continue to pray and seek God through this fast, expect Him to strengthen your faith just as He did with Abraham. The amazing thing about our God is, when He makes a promise, He is ALWAYS faithful to fulfill His Word.

Written by: T.R. + Debbie Jackson

An answer to prayer

In the former church we attended in Alabama, there arose a very hard financial situation.  As the treasurer for the church, I had first-hand knowledge of the dire situation the church had found itself in.  We discovered through some unwise financial decisions, that the church owed several thousand dollars in debts and past due bills.  The leadership of the church began to pray. Little did we know, even before we had begun to pray, God was already preparing the answer.  A local business man had sold some property and wanted to tithe the sale of the property to the church.  

Just a couple of weeks after we began praying for help, this man gave a check to the church that was the amount we needed to pay the debt and bring all past due bills up to date.  God knew before we asked!  

Maybe you’re not in a dire situation where you need God to move on your behalf right now, but take the situation to heart as if it were your own.  If someone else has set the fasting goal, such as your Pastor, there is great joy in coming together to see God answer a prayer for the whole church.  Whatever the request, whether it be personal or for the church body, bring it to God through prayer and fasting.  Believe that He is already working out the solution on your behalf. Don’t give up, pray consistently and God will answer.

Written by: T.R. + Debbie Jackson

V23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Ezra was commissioned to lead more than four thousand Jews back to the Promised Land. He was on a mission to repair the temple in Jerusalem that had been destroyed. Talk about a lot of pressure! Ezra knew that the journey was not going to be easy, so he called the people, young and old, to pray and fast.

First, Ezra knew that he would need to pray for safety in order to take that many people through dangerous territory. Secondly, he knew he would need to pray for protection as he would be taking all the money with him to make the repairs. 

How incredible that before they ever set out on their journey, their first response was to pray and fast. How often do we wait until we are in the middle of a problem before we pray and fast? Has prayer and fasting become our first response or our last resort?

God answered Ezra’s prayer and honored his faith.

1. Ezra 8:31 The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.
2. Ezra 8:34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time. 

As you continue on this fast, remember that the God we serve today is the same God from the days of Ezra. Rest assured that if He has honored the prayers of others, He will be faithful to honor you.

Prayer: Lord, protect me and my family from dangers that we are not aware of and keep us safe in the future. Amen.

Written by: Jackie Wilson

Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Esther and the entire Jewish race were faced with certain death. Haman, the prime minster put out a decree to destroy the Jewish people on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. Esther fasted because she was facing a major crisis. If God didn’t answer, an entire race of people would be destroyed! On the third day, Esther went before the king.

Esther 5:1-3 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

Ester 7:3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.

God had honored the fast of Esther and the Jewish people. As you read on, you see where Haman and his household were the ones destroyed! This story is such a great reminder to us today that when you walk with God, He will keep the hand of the devourer away from you! 

Can you recall moments in your life when you know without a doubt that God kept you from a harmful situation? Take some time today to thank Him and reflect on His goodness and hand of protection over your life. Thank Him for keeping you safe from harm and delivering you from the schemes of the enemy. 

If you have a need today, present your request to the Lord. As you fast and pray, believe that He is faithful, He hears your request, and He will answer in His perfect timing.

Prayer: Lord, I come before you with a need that can only be met by you. Search my heart. I trust you to answer accordingly. Amen.

Written by: Jackie Wilson

So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Saul, who was later named Paul, was spiritually blinded. He was known for persecuting and killing Christians. He thought that he was right, but was totally wrong! It wasn’t until after that experience and the fast that he was willing to change and do God’s will. 

Are you willing to change?

Acts 9:18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.

Saul not only received physical sight but spiritual insight. His life was changed!

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes through this time of fasting to see things the way you do. Remove any scales from my eyes. Give me the strength and courage to do what you as of me. Amen.

Written by: Jackie Wilson

..)

SALVATION OF A LOST LOVED ONE

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Early on in my grandparents’ marriage, my grandfather was not living for the Lord. He was a good person, but didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. My grandmother loved my grandfather fiercely and she knew that it wasn’t good enough for him to just be a good person. He needed Jesus.

She began fasting weekly and praying often for his salvation. I don’t know how long this went on, but after a while my grandfather came home one day and gave his life to the Lord right there in their home where my grandmother had so diligently been praying for him. He lived many years for the Lord and was a loyal, unwavering support to his local church. He died 18 years ago and I know, without a doubt, that he is in heaven and they are both now in the presence of their Savior.

This example of fasting is one that I have stood on for many years and I have seen my own answers to prayer through prayer and fasting. I currently have loved ones in my life that need Jesus and I’m sure you do too. Let’s believe together for them to be saved! This is the year!

HOW TO PRAY (taken from the book How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones by Dutch Sheets):

– Pray that the person’s heart be prepared, so that it will be “good soil” for the seed (Mark 4:8).

– Pray that Satan not be able to steal the seeds of truth (see Mark 4:15), and that nothing else will be able to destroy the seeds (Mark 4:16-19)

– Pray that the Word becomes revelation through the lifting of the veil (see 2 Cor. 4:3,4). An excellent verse to use in prayer is Ephesians 1:17: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

– Pray that the root of pride in them be broken (see 2 Cor. 1-:3-5).

– Pray that the person comes to true repentance (see 2 Peter 3:9). 2 Timothy 2:25,26 is a wonderful passage to pray over individuals in this regard: “God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

Written by: Dana Owens

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

There is so much noise in our lives nowadays – from social media, the news, busyness, and even what the people in our life are saying. There is a never-ending assault on our attention. The louder these voices become, the more we listen to these voices and the more we give them permission to affect our life. God’s voice is drowned out by the distractions and noise when His voice is the only one that matters. He is always speaking, but we can’t always hear because of all of the distractions and busyness.

Spending time reading your Bible, praying, meditating on Scripture, giving thanks, praising and worshiping the Lord are all ways we can fix our eyes on Jesus. But when we fast in addition to those things, it is like adding rocket boosters to our spiritual life and heightening our awareness of Him. We are emptying ourselves of all the worldly things that take up space in our lives and we are making room for Him to move in our lives.

The more we focus on Him, the less we are focusing on our desires and the traps of the enemy. We can move forward in what He has for us – His will that is good, pleasing, and perfect! That is where true fulfillment is found!

PRAYER:

“God, help me to focus my attention on You. Help me to let go of the things that tangle me up and trip me in my walk with You. Tune my ears to hear Your voice with clarity. Help me to follow You today with conviction so that I can walk in Your good, pleasing, and perfect will that is beyond what I can ask or even imagine.”

OTHER VERSES:

Romans 12:2

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Ephesians 3:30

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.

Written by: Dana Owens

FASTING DOESN’T TWIST GOD’S ARM.

For over 3.5 years Matt and I tried to conceive a baby. We fasted. We prayed. We did all we knew to do. Having a baby was at the top of our prayer and fasting list for years. Year after year, the prayer was left unanswered. It seemed like everyone was getting pregnant. Baby shower invitations seemed to come regularly, but never an invitation to the most important baby shower of all – mine. I was in a place where it seemed like my prayers were going unheard. I felt like I was in the wilderness all alone parched and weary without any water to drink.

In seasons of drought a tree’s roots will go deeper and deeper to find the life-giving, thirst-quenching water that sustains it. After a tree survives a drought, its root system is stronger than before. So when storms come, the tree is stronger and more ready to withstand the outside pressure that pulls the tree this way and that. It’s the same with us. Outside pressures and the cares of life can threaten to break us. And sometimes we do break. But finding shelter in the presence of the Almighty renews us and gives us life-giving water that restores and refreshes our soul.

My roots grew deeper in Christ in those 3.5 + years than they did all the years prior. I had to have an encounter with the Lord or I felt like the grief of lost dreams would suffocate me. Those years taught me that God does answer prayer. When I felt like I was all by myself, God put the right people in my life to encourage me, to give me godly wisdom, and to help me keep on moving forward.

Years later in the chaos of my home filled with kids, I sit here and remember the nearness of God during those years where my prayer wasn’t answered yet. He was so near to me and I look back and realize that I was never truly alone. When I remember what he has brought our family through – infertility, cancer, financial hardship, and many other things, I thank God for the prayers answered and I stand on those answered prayers and believe He will see me through again! And I believe He will make a way in those impossible situations in your life too!

PRAYER:

“God, I thank You for the plan that You have for my life. As I draw near to You help my roots to grow down deep so that my faith in You is firm and unwavering. I believe, but help my unbelief. Make a way in my life where there seems to be no way all for Your glory!”

OTHER VERSES:

Isaiah 43:19
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Written by: Dana Owens

2 Chronicles 26:5 NKJV

Definition: Intentional
Done on purpose, deliberate, premeditated, thought out in advance. 

Definition: Sought
An attempt to find, obtain, or achieve something.

Intentional fasting is just that, seeking God to find, obtain, or achieve something. Throughout scripture we read of great men and women who fasted to obtain something. Moses fasted before he received the Ten Commandments, Exodus 34:28. The Israelites fasted before a miraculous victory, Judges 20:26. Ruth fasted for a harvest of wheat & barley, Ruth 2:23. Esther fasted for deliverance & protection, Esther 4:16. Hezekiah fasted for healing, 2 Kings 20:1-11. Nehemiah fasted to show grief, Nehemiah 1:14. David fasted over his own pride, Psalm 69:10-14. Jonah and the Ninevites fasted for repentance, Jonah 3:5-9. Jesus fasted before his ministry began on earth, Matthew 4:2. Anna fasted to worship God, Luke 2:37, and Paul and Barnabas fasted to seek wisdom, Acts 14:23. 

What are you fasting for today? Is it intentional? Have you thought about what it is you are fasting for? What would you like to see God do on your behalf? On your family’s behalf? On your church’s behalf? Write the vision and make it plain, Habakkuk 2:2-3. 

Today I challenge you to fast on purpose. What do you need God to do for you? Do you need healing, deliverance, provision, direction? What are you willing to sacrifice? Do you want it bad enough to do whatever it takes? Our God is able! Ephesians 3:20.

Prayer:

Lord, today I thank you for your faithfulness. I thank you for answering prayers. Though I may not see the results immediately, I know that you are always working on my behalf. Help me to see clearly what it is that I need to lay down for you today that I may have the petitions of my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by: Tracy Sims

Though I had been saved years earlier, I was no longer living for Christ. I had allowed life circumstances, sin, and the lies of the enemy to creep in and take a hold of my heart and my mind. I began to self-medicate using drugs, alcohol, and sex, to numb and ease the pain that I was experiencing. I am so grateful that through all my unfaithfulness, my God was faithful. Though I absolutely deserved his abandonment, God did not leave me. In fact, He came closer to me. (The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit, Psalm 34:18.)

As I sat in my misery one warm summer day, the Lord began to gently speak to my heart. The words were different from those that I had been hearing lately. They were not hopeless or indulging of my pity party. They did not point out every negative thing going on in and around me. They were words of love and comfort. Words spoken from a father to his child reminding them who and whose they are. As I sat there, eyes closed, warmth of the sun on my face I could feel the presence of the Lord so strongly. I realized for the first time in a long time how much that I had missed Him. How much that I needed Him.

For the next few weeks, I spent countless hours enjoying moments just like those. Somedays, I would sit quietly soaking up His presence. Others I spent crying and sharing with Him the secret despairs of my heart.

As the days went by, my heart became more in tune with the heart of the Father. I began to sense His desire for me to lay down my self-prescribed medications. I knew that He was calling me back in to right relationship with him. Up until this point He had come to sit with me in my mess but now he was calling me out of it.

I remember the very moment so clearly the thought entered my mind and I prayed, “Lord maybe I should fast.” I had grown up in the church and I understood the concept of fasting. I had even taken part in corporate and individual fasts at various times in my life. If ever there was a time to fast, it was now I thought. I had turned my back on God, picked up old habits, and gave the enemy free reign of my life. How could I overcome all the garbage I had packed into my proverbial suitcase? Certainly, a fast was in order. As I pondered the idea, I ask the Lord for guidance and immediately, He spoke to my heart. “If you want to fast something, fast your addictions.” Ouch. If I am being honest until that point, I had not really saw them as addictions. Crutches maybe, hang-ups at best, but addictions, no way. But there it was, spoken as clear as I have ever heard the voice of God, fast your addictions. So simple yet so difficult. I even chuckled a little when I heard it and told God how tricky he was. I knew that He knew, if I would just commit to fast my addictions, He would free me from them.

Heavenly Father, today I thank you that in the darkest moments of life you are always nearby. Thank you, Lord, for always providing a way out of any situation. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me. Help me to be sensitive to your voice. Help me to hear you clearer and to serve you better. In Jesus name. Amen.

Written by: Tracy Sims

Three out of five of our adult children were having serious growing pains. I was doing all that I knew to do to help but things continued to worsen. I knew that only God could fix things for them. When I had finally had enough, (which is usually when we give it to God) I decided to go on a three-day liquid only fast. I was determined for God to move on their behalf. I set aside extra time daily for prayer and study along with quiet time to sit in the Lord’s presence and listen to what He had to say to me about their situations. On the third and final day of my fast I was so excited to see how God was going to answer my prayers. During my morning devotion and prayer time I even used the words, “God, I have done all that I know to do, I cannot wait to see what you do.” Then, out of nowhere, I heard that still small voice, “What have you done for me?”  

What? What could He mean? I had humbled myself through fasting. Practically starved to death according to my stomach. I prayed and studied His word for hours and He asks what have I done for Him? Hadn’t I done all the things the bible says to do when your fasting? 

Then, as He always does if you allow Him. He answered by speaking the words of Isaiah 58:7-9 MSG. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing food with the hungry, inviting the homeless and poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

In other words, fasting and personal holiness are acceptable to God only when we have our priorities straight. Clearly mine were not. It cannot be only about me and mine. When I read those verses, it checked me. I had to do something for those closest to Gods heart, the poor, the oppressed and the needy. 

Bruce and I travel frequently, and I always save the mini soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. I rarely ever use them, but you never know when you may need them. So, on this day, I gathered up all that I had and was able to make up fifty “shower” bags that included scripture mints and tracts that share the love of Jesus then dropped them off anonymously to the local homeless shelter. It is funny because afterwards, the needs I felt that my family had were no longer so important. I genuinely wanted God to move on behalf of every person that may be touched by the simple gift I left at the shelter. 

In the end God did move, and like it so often is, it was not in the way that I prayed or expected. Yes, my children made it through their individual crisis’ but even more so, He moved in me. In this one simple act, God gave me a glimpse of His heart and His desire for those that He loves. And once again, He showed me that His ways are so much greater than our ways. 

Today, Lord I pray that you open my eyes to a greater knowledge of you. Let me lay myself, my needs, and my desires aside and consider the needs of others. Help me to see your heart for your people that I may truly be the hands and feet of Jesus while I am on this earth. 

In Jesus name, Amen. 

Written by: Tracy Sims

It’s easy to think that when fasting life is going to be all rainbows and sunny skies, but usually for me when fasting it seems like a lot of crazy things happen! What have you been believing God for during these 21 days? Are you needing a miracle in your finances, health, family? Maybe you need to hear from God on a specific direction. In this passage in Kings the people of the town go to Elisha needing a miracle because the water in their land had become contaminated. Elisha tells them to bring him a new bowl and some salt, and proceeds to put salt into the water, and the water becomes clean. I want to challenge you today that whatever problem you may be facing, or whatever may feel “contaminated” in your life, to take it to God and let him sprinkle new salt on it for healing. Maybe you need to do a spiritual act and literally put salt on your wallet and declare financial miracles! Sure it may feel kind of crazy, but sometimes you’ve got to have that crazy faith! 

God today we come to you needing a miracle in our life. (your specific need) God we ask that these areas that feel contaminated that You sprinkle your fresh and new salt on. Make our homes clean again, Purify our marriages. Bless our finances to be overflowing. Allow our children to love you and grow closer to you. Bring our bodies into your perfect alignment and healing. We declare miracles in Your name. Amen. 

Written by: Morgan Kawakami

During a very dark time in my life and in a season where I felt there were no answers, I had lunch with a friend who quoted this verse to me. She said, “I know you will make it because of this verse.” Ever since then I have prayed it over my life. During that particular time, I didn’t feel like I was seeing signs and wonders by any means. The biggest miracle I saw was that I was able to get out of bed. But by praying it, and believing it over my life, I know it’s what sustained me. I can look back now and see all His wonders that have come to pass since that season. I can see miracles that have happened that I can’t explain. Sometimes we are the miracle. The fact that we are still here, that our marriages are still thriving and healthy, and our family serving the Lord, those are miracles! I want to encourage you that even if you haven’t seen the prayers you’ve been asking God for come to pass yet, you will. God does not always work instantaneously, but if you continue to believe and pray, you will see it come to pass. 

God today we pray that we would begin to see wonders that cannot be fathomed and miracles that cannot be counted. Help us not to grow weary in waiting but to press on firmly believing that You can do anything and that You will work all things together for our good. You are a gracious Father, and we thank You for all that you’ve done, and all you are going to do. 

We had been living with my parents after moving here on faith and searching for a home in what felt like the worst time to be buying a house. We were not specifically just fasting for a home, but we were definitely believing God for one. And faithful He was because during the second week of the fast we found our home that we now live in still. We closed on Valentines Day. We still talk about what a miracle this house has been and just how much God met all of our desires, even down to the things we didn’t necessarily need.

In Deuteronomy 1:11 God tells the people that He will bless them 1000 times more. That He doesn’t care about their past or where they have come from, that He was going to move them on to better things. Don’t you want a blessing of 1000 times more? I know I do! As this fast comes to an end, and a new year begins, I declare 1000 times more over you! I hope you are able to rejoice and celebrate today that you’ve made it 21 days in fasting and that 1000 times more is on its way to you and your family. 

Father, we declare 1000 times more over our lives! We receive 1000 times more! We thank you that You do not care where we’ve been, and that our pasts don’t dictate our future. We thank you that You are moving us forward in this new year with a blessing of 1000 times more and favor. We love you Jesus! 

Written by: Morgan Kawakami