Prayer and fasting
Day - 4
Joseph and Mary “lost” Jesus for three days and they didn’t know it. That is the danger for us. Have we lost the manifested presence of God without even realizing it? The omnipresence of Emmanuel is always with us but the manifested presence, Shekinah glory is another level.
The woman who bled for 12 years didn’t have any instructions or precedent to follow of touching the hem of the garment of Jesus. All she knew is that if she gets near to Jesus, be able to tocuh the garment of Jesus, she would be healed. She set a precedent as others began to do the same.
Mark 6:56 – “And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.”
Peter was full of the presence of God as he regularly went to the temple to pray. People knew where he walked so they positioned themselves where his shadow fell. If we are full of His presence, we would surely be a channel of His life and healing.
A new level happened in the time of Paul that God did extraordinary miracles (Acts 19:11). A miracle is already supernatural but Luke had to describe it as extraordinary miracle. In the spirit, there is no limit as we can go from glory to glory. God is unlimited so we have to keep our hunger and thirst for the Lord.
Unlike in the natural, when we are filled, we cannot take in anymore. However, in the spirit, the more our hunger is filled up, we still keep on desiring for more. We are satisfied with a dissatisfied satisfaction. May we never lose our hunger for the Lord.
On this fourth day of our prayer and fasting, let us reject the cheap substitutes, the spirit of the Antichrist, that ruin our spiritual appetite. Let us pursue Christ, the only One who can fulfill our innermost being.
Prayer and fasting
Day - 3
People and circumstances can be disappointing and depressing at times. After pouring out much of our time and energy, some persons seem to easily forget the love and care we showed them. Moreover, some even turn their backs and hurt us. Such is the experience of David with his men upon returing to Ziklag. The Amalekites raided their city, burned it down , and took their wives and daughters while they were out on an expedition.
1 Samuel 30:3-6 – “So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4Then David and the people who werewith him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”
People tend to look for somebody to blame for their misfortunes. The men whom David helped from their sorry state into becoming mighty warriors were now talking about stoning him. With everybody against David, he turned to God and strengthened himself in the Lord. Many times, there is nobody around to encourage us but the Shepherd of our souls is always there who promised us not to leave us nor forsake us.
Not only did David receive strength from the Lord, he also got a clear instruction to pursue the enemy. He was able to rally his troops again and carry out the divine order. In so doing, they were able to rescue their family members and recover all that was taken from them.
On our third day of prayer and fasting, let us brush off all disappointments and hurts people have caused us and let us strengthen ourselves in the Lord. Let us press on and inquire of the Lord, believing God for guidance and direction regarding our next steps. He is faithful for He said, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Prayer and fasting
Day - 2
The present economic crisis is causing people to feel insecure and even panic. Much like in the wedding in Cana where they ran out of wine, a spirit of poverty is whispering to the ears of people today that supplies will run out. “What shall we do?” is the common question. Let us heed Mary’s advise:
John 2:5-8 – His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
Jesus instructed them to fill the six waterpots to the brim with water. Upon doing so, Jesus turned water into wine. Just like then, we need a miracle today. Six speaks of mankind for man was created on the sixth day. Water speaks of the word of God (Ephesians 5:26). Hence, let us fill our minds and hearts with the “logos”, the written word of God. Instead of feeding fear with all the depressing news, let us read the Bible and meditate on the promises of God. Wine speaks of the “rhema” or spoken word of God. In these trying times, we need to hear from God.
On our second day of fasting, instead of eating physical food, we partake of the bread of life, the Word of God. Let us feed our innerman with the precious promises of God that will transform us. Remember, man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). We need to hear what the Lord is saying that is why we are seeking Him with all of our hearts.
God bless you!
Prayer and fasting
Day - 1
The German government has issued austerity measures in the impending energy crisis. The global inflation rate is not just a news item but a reality every time we go to the gas pump or do the groceries. We are being told to cut on our energy consumption and save up for the expected 3-4 fold increase of the energy bills.
As good citizens, we are to do our part in helping society use the available resources wisely. However, as citizens of heaven, we should never be frugal when it comes to Worship. We should never have a cheap mentality when it comes to our offering to the King of kings. We are to wosrhip Him extravagantly, effusively, expressively, and enthusiastically from our hearts.
Let us learn from King David who refused to offer anything to God that did not cost him anything. It was unconscionable for him to build an altar for God that was free. Worship after all is an offering to God (the first time we encounter the word is when Abraham offered Isaac to the Lord). Araunah was willing to give David everything he needed in building an altar and supply him the offerings for free. The man of God refused.
2 Samuel 24:22-25 – “Now Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. 23“All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.” 24Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.”
As we start off our prayer and fasting, let us be prepared to pay the price in building an altar for the Lord. Let us not be cheap by getting a free ride asking others just to pray for us. May we find joy in spending and being spent for God’s pleasure as we seek His face in prayer and fasting.
