I am going to focus on Prayer and Fasting and reading some scriptures on Wednesday October 27th.
Prayer and Fasting
By God’s design, perilous times shall come (2 Tim 3:1). The turmoil in our world is waking people up and many are turning to God seeking help. The road that lies ahead is unknown to us, but we do know the God who holds our future. God is a kind and loving God that will not impose himself upon you. He is waiting for you to make a move towards him. He put a natural desire and instinct into your heart to search and desire a higher power. The need for prayer and fasting is ever increasing in our world. The attacks of the enemy, Satan, upon our lives, family, livelihood, are real and we need to call upon the Lord for help. Prayer is simply talking to God. It helps us build a relationship with him and focuses our attention to Him so he can guide us. One of the methods we can really let the Lord know we are seriously in need is to humble ourselves in prayer AND fasting. When you stop feeding yourself, it heightens your senses to God. It takes away the comfort and energy our flesh desires. When prayer is combined, we are more in tune with the Lord and some things will happen that otherwise simply won’t. We are feeding our spiritual man while we deny our flesh. Fasting is not a fun and enjoyable thing to do. But the benefits of Prayer and Fasting can be truly amazing and out of this world.
The Word of God is full of examples of Prayer and Fasting. Seeking God pulls on His heart and supernatural events can and DO happen. Make a move to God and he will make a move to you.
Joel 2:12 - Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Mark 9:29 - And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Isaiah 58:6 - Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Ezra 8:21-23 - 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Nehemiah 1:4 - And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God’s Provision
There is Power in the name of Jesus. When you ask of the Lord, do it in the name of Jesus. The man called Jesus was God robed in a fleshly body to live among us and be a teacher and servant (1 Tim 3:16, Isaiah 9:6). His life on earth demonstrated how we ought to live. His ultimate show of love to us was to allow his own creation of mankind to crucify his body being the ultimate blood sacrifice (John 3:16). The name of this man, Jesus Christ, contains all power of God (Matthew 28:18) and we must do all things in His name (Col 3:17). For there is none other name under heaven whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:10-12).
John 14:1-14 - 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
We worry too much about God’s provision. We mean so much more to God than the animals he takes care of.
Matthew 6:26 - Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
The name of Jesus is powerful. Use it in prayer. Use it in all that you do. Give thanks unto Jesus.
Matthew 28:18-20 - 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Acts 4:10-12 - 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Col 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
I Tim 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Psalm 18:6 - In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
I hope these scriptures are encouraging to you. Let his Word be a guiding light in your life. Seek Him in prayer. God has more in store for you. Don’t stop here. Let me know if I can be of help to you. I’d love to share God’s word and my testimony with you.
~Aaron
