We are about halfway through our 21 days of prayer and fasting and what a way to start the year! 100% focused on our amazing God, seeking more of His love, presence and power to be poured out amongst us.
Years ago, Pastor Jentezen Franklin led his church, Free Chapel, through a season of prayer and fasting, uncertain of what God had in store. Their prayers centred around seeking direction and spiritual growth. Unexpectedly, in the midst of their fasting, a series of breakthroughs followed: financial needs were miraculously met and countless individuals in the church testified to experiencing personal healing and freedom. Pastor Franklin recounts these events as a significant turning point, which brought about profound, life-changing results in his church. (You can read more about this story in Pastor Franklin’s book, “Fasting”)
This is my prayer for us! As we increasingly embrace a lifestyle of seeking God with prayer and fasting the more we will see His kingdom breaking through in amazing ways!
If you need a little bit of encouragement today to stay committed to the finish line, or you are thinking about joining us (it’s not too late!), let’s remind ourselves of the following examples of prayer and fasting in the Bible which brought about great spiritual and physical breakthroughs. Take a hold of these promises as they are true for you too!
Ezra 8:23 tells of how the Israelites, preparing to return from exile, sought God’s protection. “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.” God’s people fasted, surrendered their fears to God and witnessed His divine intervention.
In Esther 4:16, Queen Esther fasted and prayed before approaching the King to save her people from destruction. Through Esther’s fast, God saved the lives of her people.
Isaiah 58:6 beautifully captures God’s purpose for fasting, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice…to set the oppressed free?” Prayer and fasting empowers us to stand in the gap for others, bringing about justice, healing and freedom.
James 5:16 reminds us, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Just as Pastor Franklin’s church witnessed transformation, so can we! Let’s allow our spirits to cry out to our God of hope, healing and miracles. Let’s open ourselves up to His blessing and see Him work in our lives and in the world around us.
Fasting is more than simply abstaining from food; it’s about tuning our hearts to God and trusting in Him. When we fast, we are reminded of our reliance on God, and our faith is strengthened as we connect more deeply with him.
I experienced this not long ago. I could feel my faith was low and I was feeling particularly discouraged about a number of situations plus my own health battles. I decided to spend five days with no TV or entertainment, seeking God with a Daniel fast. I set aside extra time to be with God, particularly focusing on praying in the spirit and worship. My body and mind never enjoys giving things up, but I literally felt my soul coming alive again, I felt a new closeness to Jesus, fresh faith in my heart and a feistiness in my spirit that I hadn’t felt for a while!
God is so kind! As we seek Him in this way, telling our bodies “you are not in charge!” He comes and meets with us and breathes life into us again. I am convinced that this needs to be a regular part of my weekly, monthly and yearly rhythm to keep my soul alive in God!
So, as we enter the second half of the 21 days, let’s hold onto great expectation: knowing that God hears and answers His people, and He is leading us into new levels of faith and breakthrough!
Bring it on! Let’s see what God will do!
Much love,
Carole and the eFocus team