“When You Fast…”
Brothers and sisters in Christ you are all welcome to the first day of our 21-day Corporate Fasting and Prayer with the theme “Deeper With Jesus.”
He Alone is Lord
Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. To Him all worship, all glory, honor, adoration, and majesty belong. The throne of His Kingdom is established forever in righteousness. It is by Him God will judge the living and the dead. He is the perfect Mediator between God and man. Because of Him and because of the sacrifice of His life on the cross and resurrection from the dead and because of the grace we have received from God the Father to believe in Him, we are saved and in relationship with our Father in Heaven. Our lives are bundled up in Christ.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God
Colossian 3:1-3 NKJV
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Acts 17:28 NKJV
Jesus set the example
Jesus as you may already know did not begin his earthly ministry until he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. The scriptures say that he was “…led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” After trouncing the enemy in the wilderness we are told that “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit…” I hope that you will pray and expect that these 21 days of prayer with fasting will culminate in us all returning with the power of the Spirit for the days ahead.
It was Jesus Himself who in one of His lessons to the disciples said, “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:16) meaning He placed an expectation on His disciples to fast. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we see people and the early church respectively calling fasting prayer here and there individually and corporately for the accomplishment of God’s purposes. Are you a disciple? You are in good company. Amen!
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV
May the Lord change our hearts, and may He pour out His Spirit afresh upon us all. May He empower us with everything we need beginning with a spiritual formation. And may you dig deeper into the word of God for yourself and find spiritual treasure for your soul. Say your Amen loud and clear!
Let Us Pray
You may like and enjoy this song by “The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir” titled “PRAY.” Pay attention to the lyrics.
Prayer Items
Please use the verses provided below for prayer.
- 1 Chronicles 29:10-14. Give thanks to God our Father for the opportunity to give ourselves as an offering to Him in a season of fasting prayer.
- Matthew 6:9, Isaiah 25:1, Psalm 145:2. Hallow (honor and respect greatly) His name. Praise Him within the context of His names such as Provider, Warrior, Helper, Saviour, Protector, Healer, etc. For example, you can say: “Heavenly Father, I worship you for you are my Saviour, Helper, and Provider…” and continue in that manner.
- Matthew 6:10. Pray that His will be done in your life on earth as it is in Heaven. Pray like this for your family and others the Lord brings to your attention.
- Matthew 6:11. Ask for Provision for you and anyone else on your mind.
- Matthew 6:12. Forgive anyone who offended you and ask for His cleansing for known and unknown trespasses.
- Matthew 6:13b, 2 Corinthians 2:11. Pray for deliverance from satan’s wiles
- Matthew 6:13c. Praise Him for His Kingdom Power and dominion are forever. Glory Hallelujah!
