2020 Fast
Church That Matters,
I am as excited as ever to enter into these 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer with you. I believe with all of my heart that God honors this spiritual discipline of seeking Him through fasting and prayer. I have personally seen the effects in my own life and have seen it in our church as a whole over the years.
I found the following devotional from one of my former pastors and made some adjustments here and there for us to use during our season of fasting this year. I am confident that the devotional thoughts and the accompanying scriptures will help us renew our minds daily and will set us on the right path each day as we seek the Lord through fasting and prayer together.
I hope you will commit yourself to this process fully and will see what God can do. Psalm 53:2 says “God looks down from heaven to see if there are any who seek the Lord.” It is obvious that our intentional seeking the Lord is important to Him. I have found that in order to PURSUE God, we have to PURGE self. That is what fasting does for us. It purges us of selfish desire and behavior in a way few other things can. As our minds focus on what we are hungry for physically, our spirits are brought into focus on what we hunger for spiritually. As we submit to the Spirit and deny the flesh, the Spirit wins out in our lives and we see breakthrough in all arenas of our lives, physical, emotional, and spiritual. THAT is what I expect for our church and for each individual who joins us in this journey.
I am praying for you. I am believing for you. I love you.
Let’s do this!
Pastor Rusty
21 Days of Prayer & Fasting Devotional
Day 1: God Will Answer
Devotional
Today as we begin our 21 days of prayer and fasting, it’s exciting to think of all that we are going to see God do as He supernaturally responds to our prayers! The confidence for that comes straight out of God’s Word and in particular, from Isaiah 58:9 where God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, says, “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” In his paraphrase of this passage, Eugene Peterson translates this verse: “Then when you pray, GOD will answer.”
This verse is a brilliant reminder that one of the results of prayer and fasting is not just a greater awareness of God’s presence but a tangible increase of God’s presence resting on our lives. I read somewhere that “answered prayer is not like the sending of a food package. It is like a home visit by the doctor.” When we pray and fast, God will answer, and He will do it in a way that is powerful and personal!
What areas of your life need a home visit from the Creator of the Universe? Have you made a list of what you are asking God to do in your life through these 21 days? God is ready not only to work in the church but also to work in all of our lives as we call on Him! And He will answer!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Isaiah 58:9-12
Isaiah 30:18
Day 2: Depending On God Through Prayer and Fasting
Devotional
One of the most stunning statements about the significance of fasting comes from the mouth of Jesus in Mark chapter nine. The scene is a chaotic spectacle of finger-pointing and frustration. A weary father had brought his demon tormented son to Jesus’ disciples only to be disappointed by the absence of the power they were proclaiming. It’s in this moment of confusion that Jesus shows up not only with supernatural authority but also with spiritual instruction.
Mark tells us that after the boy was delivered, “Jesus’ disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.’” (Mark 9:28-29)
Most translations make a note in the margin that only some manuscripts of the New Testament include “fasting,” but as biblical scholar, Alan Cole notes, “There is some good evidence for the addition of prayer and fasting at this point.” The fact of the matter is this passage is all about dependence on God, and there is nothing like fasting to call our attention to our need for God. Jesus is calling the disciples to a place of greater spiritual dependence.
During these 21 days, one of the best things that will happen is that you will become more and more aware of how much you need God. No matter who you are, you cannot do what God has called and created you to do without His help!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Mark 9:14-29 (read from the New King James Version, New International Version, or New American Standard Version)
John 15:4-5
Day 3: Doing Battle
Devotional
No matter what you are fasting from, but especially if you are fasting from food, day three tends to be difficult. It can seem like every reason to quit shows up in force. But, it’s important to remember that the reason fasting is a battle is because we ARE doing battle. Prayer and fasting accelerates God’s victory in our lives as we take the fight out of the realm of purely physical and bring it squarely into the space where it is actually won - the spiritual realm.
All of us will have battles in our lives, but the question is, how will we respond to these battles? In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat was confronted with a “vast army” who had the power to devastate his nation. Many would have assessed that his problem was purely physical—it seemed like an issue of military might, battle plans, state-of-the-art weaponry, number of troops, and strategic leadership. But, Jehoshaphat correctly concluded the conflict was spiritual.
So, what did he do? He called the people to fast and pray, and notice how God responded, “Do not be afraid or discouraged by this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Whatever you are facing, we serve a God who wants to fight our battles!
Fasting may feel hard today, but with every hunger pang you feel, be reminded not only that you are doing battle but, as you fast, God is bringing the victory!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
2 Chronicles 20:2-3
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
2 Chronicles 20:25
Psalm 34:9 MSG
…worship opens doors to all his goodness.
Day 4: The Power of Praise
Devotional
Yesterday, the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 reminded us that God fights for us when we do battle through prayer and fasting, but that is not the only insight we get from that passage. Verse 21 tells us, as they were preparing to fight, “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out to the head of the army saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his Love endures forever.’”
Praise paved the way for victory. The Bible says, “As they began to sing and praise,” the Lord began to defeat the enemy. The people’s posture of praise released God’s power in the midst of the battle!
One of the most important things we can do is spend time thanking and worshiping God. Don’t just pray about the problem, but praise God in advance for how he is going to bring the victory. Sometimes we have to SING the victory before we even SEE the victory. No matter the conflict we face, celebrating who God is and what He is going to do always opens the door for His miraculous power to be unleashed in our lives!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
2 Chronicles 20:20-21
Psalm 68:1-10 NET
God springs into action! His enemies scatter; his adversaries run from him. As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God. But the godly are happy; they rejoice before God and are overcome with joy. Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the Lord is his name! Rejoice before him! He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace. God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert. O God, when you lead your people into battle, when you march through the desert, (Selah) the earth shakes, yes, the heavens pour down rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them, for you live among them. You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.
Day 5: Empowered for the Impossible
Devotional
Someone once said, “faith sees the invisible; faith hears the inaudible; faith does the impossible.” But, what pathway does faith travel to see the impossible accomplished?
In 1 Kings 17, we find the nation of Israel no longer experiencing the blessing of God in their lives and on their land. The people have followed their king, Ahab, into paganism and idolatry. But, in the midst of their national rebellion, God sends a prophet named Elijah to King Ahab. 1 Kings 17:1 says, “Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” And for three and a half years, it didn’t rain a drop. Finally, Elijah presents himself to King Ahab and challenges him and his false prophets to a showdown in order to prove that there is one true God. After God demonstrates his power by sending fire from heaven, there is national repentance, and Elijah tells King Ahab that the miracle of no rain is about to become the miracle of rain.
After more than three years of extreme drought, it had to seem totally impossible that rain could begin falling at a moment’s notice. So what did Elijah do? What path did his faith take him? In 1 Kings 18:42, we read, “So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.” It seems clear that Elijah knows what God’s will is, but he also recognizes the necessity of praying God’s will into existence. And he does that by fasting. Notice that he sends Ahab to eat and drink, but he climbs Mount Carmel to pray. Verse 45 says, “And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”
This story reminds us that simply knowing God’s will is not always enough. God’s desire is that we would pray his will into existence in our lives. Whether you are believing for God to do the impossible in your life, your marriage, your family or your job, prayer and fasting is often the God-ordained pathway that faith travels to put our miracle in motion.
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
1 Kings 17:1
1 Kings 18:22-45
Day 6: Just Like Us
Devotional
In the New Testament, James makes an interesting observation about the story we looked at yesterday when he writes, “Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t - not a drop for three and a half years” (James 5:17, The Message).
If we’re not careful, we can easily place the personalities in Scripture on a pedestal. We can feel they do life in a different dimension. But, the Bible reminds us again and again of what James makes crystal clear - men and women who populate the pages of Scripture, like Elijah, were just like us. They had the same struggles. They had good days and bad days. They had wins and losses. They had ups and downs. They were just like us, but James includes a critical component of Elijah’s life that led him to experiencing God’s power in his life. He “prayed hard.”
God didn’t halt the rain because Elijah was such a great guy. God halted the rain because he prayed with faith-filled passion. For James, Elijah is a shining example of what he writes in chapter five and verse six, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. ” (James 5:16, NIV).
When we recognize that the heroes of the faith in the Bible were just like us, it will change the way we pray. We’ll pray with more passion, bigger faith, and greater expectation knowing that the same God who came through for them will come through for us!
As we continue in our 21 days of prayer and fasting, let’s believe for God to do extraordinary things as we call on Him!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
James 5:16-18
Hebrews 4:16
Day 7: All About Appetite
Devotional
Fasting is all about appetite. The writer of Hebrews says, “Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite” (Hebrews 12:16, MSG).
In Genesis 25, we read that Esau came home famished from hunting, and noticed that his brother, Jacob, was cooking. As you would expect, he asked for some of the food. Jacob offered a trade – he would give Esau his stew if Esau gave Jacob his birthright (note: a birthright was the right to the inheritance and spiritual leadership of the family). Here’s the crazy part, Esau accepted the deal. It seems bizarre that Esau would sacrifice something so valuable for something so small, but the truth is, it happens to all of us. We can find ourselves settling for less for the sake of satisfying short-term appetites.
Fasting is all about appetite.
Fasting is ultimately a declaration of what our greatest appetite is and what we believe will ultimately satisfy us. This is precisely why God honors fasting and works so powerfully through it. In his book, A Hunger for God, John Piper writes, “God rewards fasting because fasting expresses the cry of the heart that nothing on the earth can satisfy our souls besides God. God must reward this cry because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Genesis 25:19-34
Hebrews 12:16 MSG
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
Day 8: Daily Direction
Devotional
The average adult makes 35,000 decisions a day. From the moment your alarm sounds, your decision-making process begins. With so many decisions to make, it can be hard to know where to spend your time, but the Apostle Paul points us toward one daily decision that will change the trajectory of every other decision we make.
Paul writes to the Thessalonian Christians, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NLT).
He calls them (and us) to pray continually, because talking to God realigns our thinking and our priorities in a way that directly impacts every decision we make. One of the wonderful things about a season of fasting is that it helps us to put Paul’s words into practice because our empty stomachs remind us to!
In the 35,000 decisions you’ll make today and 735,000 you’ll make during this fast, make it a priority to invite God’s direction into every part of your day. Be encouraged that in these 21 days, you are going to experience God’s leading in every area of your life as you draw close to Him!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Psalm 37:23
Proverbs 3:6
Proverbs 16:9
Day 9: The Heart of the Matter
Devotional
The issue of motive was at the heart of Jesus’ first words on fasting. We see this in Matthew, chapter six. Jesus said, “But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:17–18, NLT).
So, is Jesus saying that no one should ever know you are fasting? The short answer is no, but the fact of the matter is a spiritual activity, like fasting, can become an attempt to seek the admiration and applause of people. Jesus understood this pitfall and wanted us to avoid it. Instead of worrying about the opinion of others, our focus should be on seeking the God who knows our hearts.
John Wesley declared, “First, let fasting be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven.” The kind of fasting that God honors is about putting our focus on Him. And when we do that, Jesus promises that God will see what others cannot and reward it!
As we continue in our 21 days of prayer and fasting, continue to make God’s attention your aim and be encouraged that He is going to reward you as a result of this season!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Matthew 6:16–18
2 Corinthians 5:9
Galatians 1:10
Day 10: Nearness
Devotional
Fasting is about nearness. Stop for a minute and consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 9.
Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15, NLT).
Jesus’ analogy was all about nearness. He referred to Himself as the groom in a wedding party. At the moment Jesus spoke these words, His disciples were experiencing in-person communion with the Son of God, but Jesus knew there was coming a day when that nearness would be interrupted. And that day started the moment Jesus ascended to Heaven after His resurrection and continues right into the present. Though Jesus is present with us through the person of the Holy Spirit, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We would prefer to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord.” In other words, every Christian experiences a kind of homesickness for the Savior.
John Piper writes, “In this age there is an ache and a longing… inside every Christian that Jesus is not here as fully and intimately and as powerfully and as gloriously as we want him to be. And that is why we fast.” When we long to draw closer to God and experience His empowering presence more fully than we are, fasting is the right response.
During these 21 days as we fast and pray, we are acknowledging with our hunger that we want to be closer, and that is a cry that God will honor!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Matthew 9:14-15
James 4:8
Day 11: The Certainty of Change
Devotional
Maybe you’ve heard it said that “the only constant in life is change.” Much truth rests in that simple statement because things around us always seem to be changing. Whether it’s the constant change in technology or going from one season to another, we know that change is inevitable.
When we look at the stories throughout Scripture, we often see that new and spiritually significant seasons in people’s lives were preceded by fasting. Moses fasted before he received the law and Jesus fasted before the start of his earthly ministry. Acts 13:2 shows us how fasting can bring new ministry into our lives: “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.’ Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
Through praying and fasting, new ministry began for the church in the New Testament and you never know what the Lord will speak to you regarding your future as you fast! There is one thing you can be sure of – whatever change the Lord brings, you can live with a holy expectation of great things. God won’t send you without an anointing and preparation for what is to come.
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Acts 13:2
Exodus 34:28
Matthew 4:2
Day 12: Supernatural Results Are On Their Way!
Devotional
Prayer and fasting are some of the key ways we can accelerate the Lord’s blessing in our lives. But, these spiritual disciplines also cultivate a greater sensitivity to God’s voice and open our eyes to what God is doing in the unseen.
Daniel 10 provides an incredible story that gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what takes place in the supernatural realm when we are fasting. After receiving an upsetting vision of the future, Daniel decides to fast and pray for 21 days. The results are unbelievable.
On day 24, three days following the fast, Daniel’s spiritual eyes and ears are opened as he sees and talks with the brilliance of the pre-incarnate Christ! Through this miraculous encounter, Daniel is given supernatural strength and insight into the future because he prayed and fasted! “And he said, ‘O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage,’” (Daniel 10:19).
God wants to strengthen his children, and fasting helps bring that supernatural strength! Even when your body feels weak from fasting, know that God is strengthening you spiritually!
Not only will He strengthen you supernaturally, but God will also open your spiritual eyes and ears in a brand new way. What situation have you been praying for but have yet to see answered? Whether it’s the restoration of a broken relationship, the salvation of a relative or co-worker, or breakthrough financially, fasting is the path for believers to see and hear from God. As you are fasting and praying, remember, supernatural results are on their way!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Daniel 10:1-21
Day 13: Since Day One
Devotional
Yesterday we looked at the story of Daniel’s 21-day fast in Daniel 10. The passage reaches a pivotal moment in verse 12 where we gain significant insight into the power of prayer and fasting, “Then he said to me, ‘Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.'”
Daniel, speaking with the pre-incarnate Christ, is given supernatural understanding into what’s been happening in the spiritual realm during his fast. Jesus tells him the very first day he began fasting; things began to change. As we read on, we discover that the Lord was fighting for Daniel in the unseen world from the moment that he humbled himself before God in prayer and fasting.
The Apostle Paul writes about the reality of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” There are powers and forces constantly working in the spiritual realm in ways that we cannot see and that we may never understand on this side of eternity.
Sometimes when we’re fasting, it might feel as though nothing is happening. But God wants us to know that since the FIRST DAY we began the fast, things began to change. Your situation might not look like it’s changed yet, but Daniel and the Apostle Paul remind us that even though we can’t see it, we can know that God is fighting for us and victory is coming!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Ephesians 6:12
Daniel 10:1-21
Day 14: Responding to Temptation
Devotional
Fourteen days into prayer and fasting and the craving for the foods that we have chosen to set aside temporarily are as strong as ever. It’s interesting that even simple things like food commercials that were once uninteresting can now suddenly become a temptation when you are abstaining from eating. Because when we are fasting from certain foods or desserts, whether or not we have eaten it prior to fasting, those items instantly become very appealing.
We live in a world where facing temptations of all kinds is a definite reality. But it’s encouraging to know that temptation isn’t just something we experience; even Jesus walked through times of temptation during his time on Earth.
In Luke 4, Jesus precedes the start of his ministry with a 40-day fast. Because the enemy knows the power of prayer and fasting, he doesn’t stay silent but does his best to tempt Jesus when He was seemingly at His weakest. In every instance of Satan’s attacks, Jesus combats by responding with Scripture. Scripture then tells us that after his failed attempts, Satan left him alone. Following Jesus’ 40-day fast, Scripture says in verse 14 that “the power of the Spirit was with him…”
The reality is that Satan hates when we are fasting because he knows the power that will follow. Through this time of prayer and fasting, it’s important to remember that though temptations may and probably will come, we have nothing to fear. We have the power of God’s Word to respond and defeat the enemy’s strategies. In the end, we too will be filled with the power of the Spirit in an even greater way!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Luke 4:1-14
Day 15: Great Expectations!
Devotional
Expectation [ex-pec-ta-tion] noun: a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.
One of the results of the time we spend in prayer and fasting is an increase in our expectation of God’s work in our lives. In other words, our faith grows! Spending time in God’s presence has a way of strengthening and recharging these expectations. In fact, it’s God’s will that we would live with great expectation that we are going to experience his miraculous power. His Word is full of promises that declare how God always has our best interests in mind. This is the testimony throughout Scripture. Read the following verses to see it for yourself:
Our theme for this 21 days of prayer and fasting is, “God Will Answer.” This simple phrase is an expectation mentality that we place not on our own power, but on a supernatural power. This holy confidence is the result of faith-filled people who spend time seeking the Lord. So, whatever you’re praying and believing for, live with great expectation and certainty that God is going to move!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 27:13
Philippians 4:19
Ephesians 3:20-21
1 Corinthians 2:9
Day 16: Seeing and Seizing Opportunity
Devotional
America is known as the land of opportunity. The potential of upward mobility in this nation has drawn and continues to draw many to this great country. The reality is each day is filled with opportunities. And with these opportunities comes the need to identify and make wise choices for our lives.
That’s why the Apostle Paul provides this helpful guidance to us as believers in both Ephesians and Colossians:
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
In both passages, Paul points back to how we live as a key to making the most of every opportunity. Making the most of every opportunity means you’ll say no to good things so you can say yes to the best things. That’s what we’re doing when we fast. We are saying no to some things we want, so we can receive the greatest things the Lord desires to give us. As you position yourself to hear from the Lord, he is going to provide guidance for your life. You will be able to both see and seize the incredible opportunities he has for you!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Ephesians 5:15-17
Colossians 4:5-6
Psalm 32:8
Day 17: This Is Your Time
Devotional
In the book of Esther, we read an incredible story of how prayer and fasting bring justice and protection to thousands of people whose lives were at risk of death. The mighty king of Persia had made a proclamation that would annihilate all of the Jews living in the land – all as a result of a Jewish man named Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman, the king’s chief official.
Mordecai then sends a message to Queen Esther, who is in a position to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. In verse 14, he writes a letter to her saying, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Esther understood the weight of what was happening and immediately called for a fast. For three days and nights, the Jewish people fasted and prayed that the king’s heart might be changed, resulting in the reversal of his order to kill the Jews. Through what can only be described as a miracle, the situation did change, and thousands of lives were saved!
It would be a mistake for us to think that our prayer and fasting couldn’t make an impact as significant as what we read in Esther 4. You might need a situation to change but are powerless to make that happen. Perhaps you need a circumstance to turn a corner that is out of your hands. Or maybe a decision has been made that would impact you and your family significantly, and you are desperate for it to turn around.
The truth is, your prayer and fasting have the power to change the hearts of people in your family, your workplace, and your city! This is your time to see God work miracles so amazing that the only explanation will be God’s mighty power came as a result of your dedication to seeking him wholeheartedly!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Esther 4:1-17
Day 18: Beginning with Gratitude
Devotional
Studies consistently demonstrate that some of the happiest people on earth are those who excel in showing gratitude. The more a person is thankful and can show their gratefulness to others, the happier they become! Throughout Scripture, we see this truth as more than a result in a scientific study; it is in the very fabric of who God created and desires us to be. Psalm 100:4 calls us to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
One of the keys to prayer and fasting is gratitude. Before we ask God for a single thing, we should give him thanks! Every time you start to pray, begin by thanking God for all the things he’s already done. We do this most effectively through intentionally recalling and thinking about how great God is and how he’s come through for us in the past. Psalm 143:5 says, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”
Looking back at what God has done in our lives serves as a reminder of all the ways God has been faithful. And when we remind ourselves about how good God is, we can’t help but thank him! As we enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise, we will experience even more of his joy and true happiness in our lives!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Psalm 100:4
Psalm 107:1
Psalm 143:5
Psalm 77:11
Day 19: Keep On Asking!
Devotional
According to new studies by the CDC, nearly 40% of Americans eat fast food each day. This trend continues to rise as more people desire a quick meal option during their day to meet the demands of their on-the-go lifestyle. In our fast-paced society, if we’re not careful, we can put the same expectations on God as to how and when our prayers should be answered – our way, right away.
God desires to move in and through our prayer life, but his timing and methods aren’t always what we envision. Jesus provided instruction for us when it comes to how we should approach prayer. He says this in Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Seems easy, right? Jesus promises that we will receive when we ask, but actually receiving the answer is far from instant most times. And in the waiting, we must remember the words of Jesus and “keep on asking.” There is a pressing through that begins to take place as we ask God for what we need, and then ask him again…and again! A continuous, never-giving-up attitude begins to take root in our hearts as we press through because God desires to do more in us through the process. But we can rest assured, even when we don’t see the answer in our timing, we can be confident that God will answer!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Matthew 7:7-8
Matthew 6:33
Romans 8:32
Day 20: God Will Do More!
Devotional
The Israelites had been held in captivity by the Babylonians for over seventy years, exiled from their homes and the land God had given them. After decades of displacement and servitude to foreign kings, something remarkable happened. A rival king, Cyrus of Persia, captured the Babylonian territory, including Jerusalem. Then miraculously, he let the Israelites return home. We learn in the book of Nehemiah that when the Israelites returned home, the city was in great disrepair.
Nehemiah hears about the condition of the city and is grieved by the report. He plans to take his request to the king to help repair the walls of Jerusalem but knows if the king is displeased with his request, he could lose his position as cupbearer and even face execution. Nehemiah is desperate for a favorable response from the king, so he fasts and prays.
Nehemiah 1:4 says, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”
Nehemiah’s praying and fasting resulted in an unprecedented response from the king. Not only did the king allow him to go help in the repair, but sends security and timber with him to help with the reconstruction!
God delights to do more than we can ask or imagine, especially when we choose to humble ourselves and pray. You can rest assured that not only is God going to answer as you continue to seek him, but he’s going to answer in even bigger and better ways than you could have ever thought possible!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Ephesians 3:20-21
Day 21: God Will Answer
Devotional
Studies are showing that people are answering their phone less often. Many either wait for a voicemail or even a text message to come through before they decide when and how they will respond. As technologies continue to change, so do our habits.
Regardless of how much technology changes and who does or does not answer your call, it’s encouraging to think that we serve a God who never changes and always answers when we call on him!
As we are on the final day of our 21 days of prayer and fasting, you can know that not only has God heard your prayers, but he will answer! Isaiah 58:9 says, “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer, you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
Whether you’ve already seen God begin to answer your situation, or you are continuing to seek Him for it, you can have confidence that God is going to come through because his Word is true. He wants to exceed your expectation and demonstrate his power in your life. As you prepare to complete the 21 days of prayer and fasting, be encouraged that God is honoring your faith and dedication, and the best is yet to come!
Scriptures
Take some time to open the Bible (I suggest using a paper copy as I find I am far less likely to get distracted by a text message, email, phone call, etc… and I am less tempted to hurry through or get on an app etc…) and read through, pray through, and meditate on the following verses.
As you prepare to read God’s Word each day, here is a prayer you can use to help engage your heart and mind with the Lord’s. “Lord, as I open the pages of scripture, open he eyes of my heart to see You. Help me hear from Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and follow Your will and Your way as it is revealed in Your word.”
Isaiah 58:9
Psalm 17:6
Psalm 91:15
Psalm 34:5
James 1:17