Try Fasting With prayer
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
Acts 27:21-26 NLT
There appears to be a solid connection between fasting prayer and preservation of life. Jesus embarked on a 40 day fast before entering public ministry. Everywhere He went divine life followed. As I read the scriptures for this morning I was able to connect “no one had eaten for a long time…none of you shall lose your lives.” In between Paul gives the account of how an angel of God stood beside him the night before to assure him and everyone on the ship of protection for everyone in the midst of an impending shipwreck. I really believe God wants to show and do more but we need to incorporate fasting with prayer on the personal and congregational level.
I Agree with Andaza’s words. Fasting and prayer is so key to a Christian’s life. Matthew 17:21 says “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” “This kind” refers to: all manner of terrifying problems and situations. We need to pray and fast when we feel “stuck” and need God’s intervention. God pls give me, my family, my church family the grace (ability and strength) to pray and fast always in Jesus name. Amen!
Paul’s one “ambition” in life was to stand before the king of his day and declare the glory of God on that platform, my own ambitions are fickle and have nothing to do with where I will stand in eternity in comparison ????????
The men in the boat did not listen to Paul beforehand. They were not willing to listen to wise counsel until a major storm arose and they suffered “damage and loss”.
May we hear what God is saying and receive the wise counsel of those He has brought to us so that we don’t have to experience damage and loss to finally get the point.
We need soft and humble hearts.