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Daniel Fast: Day 17

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”Matthew 17:14-16 What a great example of humility: this man approached Jesus and knelt before Him in the midst of a crowd. As the father approached, he believed that Jesus would bring his son relief. But even in his belief, his approach was humble and submitted to what Christ would choose to do. Looking further into the story, we find the father was also persistent and resisted taking offense. Though the disciples were not able to help him, he set aside his temporary disappointment in their failure and continued to seek after Jesus — the solution to his circumstance, the source of relief through his trial. Being humble before God is realizing our need of Him, submitting to His will, pursuing Him, and being confident the outcome will occur in God’s perfect timing. Be encouraged that approaching God with a heart of humility will always position you to find relief in Jesus. Don’t be ashamed to humble yourself before God, even in the presence of others. Though offenses and disappointments may come, continue in your pursuit of Jesus. You may not get relief right away, but know this: God is never late and His solution is always perfect! “The higher a man is in grace, the lower he will be in his own esteem.”Charles H. Spurgeon Bible Reading Plan: Proverbs 2 Prayer Focus: Prayer is a posture of humility. Humble yourself before the Lord each day and bring your cares to Him. He wants to meet you where you are and answer every need. Pray, too, that God will help you with the disappointment and discouragement in your heart today? Write it down and release it to our perfect God. This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 16

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”John 11:44, NIV When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life change. The story of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates how it was the power of Jesus’ prayer and spoken word that resurrected Lazarus from the dead, but the disciples played a role in this miracle too. Lazarus was bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face had been wrapped with a cloth during his time in the tomb. When he arose from his death and came out of the tomb, Jesus called on the disciples to help in the transformation process. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” The disciples needed to help Lazarus, Likewise, we all have a part to play in the lives of those around us. God has done some incredible things around us during this fast. Could it be that someone around you is still walking around in grave clothes? What do you need to help him or her let go of? “Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.”E.M. Bounds “True prayer is measured by weight–not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length.”Charles H. Spurgeon Bible Reading Plan: Luke 12 Prayer Focus: Who in your world is still walking around in grave clothes? Think about friends and family or those who may not know God. What part has God called you to play in the life change He wants to bring them? This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 15

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:43, NIV The story of Lazarus’s death and resurrection reflects the power of Jesus’ spoken word. Jesus was so in tune with the will of His father that He already knew in His heart the miracle that was about to take place, but His words spoke the miracle into existence. While prayer is our declaration of our dependence on God, our spoken words can be a manifestation of what’s happening in our hearts. There is power in our spoken words, whether they are used to build up or tear down. It is important to keep our hearts filled with the truth from God’s Word so that our words will produce good fruit. As you seek God in prayer, ask Him for discernment to know a need and the words to help someone today. Pray that your words would be encouraging, edifying, and aligned with the truth of God’s Word. Building others up around us with our words allows us to be God’s instrument to accomplish His good work. “The key to praying with power is to become the kind of persons who do not use God for our ends but that are utterly devoted to being used for his ends.”John Piper “I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ, and the brightest evidences that he is indeed our master.”John Newton Bible Reading Plan: Luke 11 Prayer Focus: As God continues to fill you through this season of prayer and fasting. He wants to take what is now in your heart and share it with others. How can you use the power of your spoken words to speak God’s truth in the lives of others? This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 14

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”Matthew 6:10, KJV We have all heard the phrase, “just like heaven on earth.” When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, He provided some insight into what “heaven on earth” might look like. In reality, heaven is place where God’s will reigns supreme. If we want to have a taste of heaven on earth, then our prayer should be like Jesus’: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does n heaven. On a more personal level, we can pray that His will be unhindered in our own life. Rather than imposing His will upon us, God gives us the choice to surrender it with trust and gladness. As we yield to the Lordship of Christ over every area of our lives, we come into agreement with Him. We experience alignment with heaven and position ourselves to taste a little bit of heaven here on earth. God’s will then becomes what we desire and the thing we most seek after. We enter into the incredible adventure of participating in God’s plan to move His kingdom forward on the earth. This is where we find the most fulfilling and joyous life, but it all starts with one personal “yes, Lord” on our part. “All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer….Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do anything, prayer is omnipotent.”R.A. Torrey “Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.”Watchman Nee Bible Reading Plan: Luke 10 Prayer Focus: What does God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven” look like in your life? Do the desires of your heart line up with the will of God? As we seek God together, let’s pray as Jesus taught us, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 13

 “Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.”Mark 1:12-13 Even Jesus disconnected from the world to fast and pray. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of Jesus going to the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. They also describe other times Jesus pulled away from the demands of the crowds, His ministry, and even His closest friends to pray. There are times that we, too, need to pull away from the things of the world to focus on God. “The things of the world” can certainly include more than just food. In fact, in our world they are more likely television, movies, Facebook, Twitter, cell phones and the Internet. None of these things are wrong in themselves, but they are avenues for a mental and spiritual crowd to gather around us and drown out the Holy Spirit’s voice. Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus. Giving up physical nourishment is the first step in engaging in that process. If you think about it, though, in day-to-day life we nourish our souls as well as our bodies. We do so through reading, talking, socializing, playing, and entertainment. When our souls are full of those things, we often don’t hunger for God. During this time of fasting, we are sure to feel physical hunger, but let’s be intentional about cultivating spiritual hunger as well. Let’s draw away from the crowd and lay aside for a season the activities we use to nourish our souls. Instead let’s enter a state of spiritual hunger, a craving for righteousness. Jesus said that being spiritually hungry is a blessed state, because we can be sure of being filled with food that truly satisfies our deepest needs (Matthew 5:6). “Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, to sacrifice ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God…Prayer is the reaching out after God and the unseen; fasting the letting go of all that is of the seen and temporal.”Andrew Murray Bible Reading Plan: Psalms 6-7 Prayer Focus: During this time, you will find that being still before the Lord will set you in a place of increased strength, peace, and hunger for God. Are you disconnected from things that nourish your body and soul? What do you need to deny yourself to make this a powerful time in your life? This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 12

“And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant.”I Kings 18:36 The sacrifice referenced above was a declaration that Elijah was a servant of the Most High God. Elijah belonged to God, and he represented God to the people. However, Elijah’s boldness was not a result of who he was; it was the result of knowing God! As children of God under the New Covenant, we don’t have to be timid or fearful when coming to God in prayer. We can approach Him boldly. “Let us the fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].”Hebrews 4:16, AMP It’s intimidating to think about taking a fearless, confident, bold attitude when coming before God in prayer. Yet this is exactly what we are admonished to do! God has already settled the issue of our access to Him, but we can be assured our access is not because of our own righteousness. It’s because of what Jesus did on the cross. We can come to the throne in such outrageous boldness because Jesus was outrageously righteous! When we pray, we come to God in the authority of Jesus’ name, and we can be confident that we will find grace, mercy, and perfectly timed help. “Fasting is not an end in itself; it is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him. We don’t make God love us any more than He already does if we fast, or if we fast longer…. [Fasting] invites God into the problem. Then in the strength of God, victory is possible.”Elmer L. Towns Bible Reading Plan: Luke 9 Prayer Focus: Do you approach God with timidity or confidence? Seek God boldly today knowing you are fully forgiven and Jesus has made you righteous. When you approach God in prayer, seek a fresh revelation of who He is in your life. This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 11

“Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!”I Kings 18:43-44, NLT How do I know God is going to say yes to my prayers? This is a common question many people have as they seek a confident prayer life. However, it’s important to recognize that prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer. It is our responsibility to check our motives and believe God hears us. We see an example of the process of prayer in this story of Elijah (I Kings 18). Elijah climbed to the top of the mountain to pray for rain to come. As he waited for the rain, he continued to pray, believing God would answer. When he finally saw a small cloud, he told Ahab to go get ready because the rain was coming. Elijah knew what to pray for, and God heard him the first time he prayed. But there was preparation that needed to take place in order for Elijah to receive the answer to his prayer. It is no mistake that God waited until Elijah prayed seven times before He answered. In the Bible, seven represents completion. In this story, seven represents the completion of God’s process regarding Elijah’s prayer request. God does not want merely to answer our prayers; He wants to spend time with us to prepare us for the answer that will come. Many times we want to skip over the process involved in engaging God in prayer as we wait for our answer. But it is this very process that works maturity in us and prepares us for the answers our prayers bring (James 1:4). “The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.”R.A. Torrey Bible Reading Plan: Luke 8 Prayer Focus: What prayers of yours are still waiting for an answer? Throughout this fast, thank God for His process at work in you….and trust Him. This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”James 1:6 What do you expect when you pray? When we pray with earnest expectation, we are exercising our faith. The earnest prayer of righteous people produces powerful results (James 5:16, NLT), and the most earnest prayers come from us when we recognize our need for God. There can be a natural tendency to shrink back when praying for the seemingly impossible, but we must remember that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). If we know the promises that God has given us, and understand His character and the principles by which He works, we can pray with confidence and trust Him for the answer. What has caused you to waver in your expectation with God? James reminds us that faith and wavering are actually contradictory –James says “nothing wavering.” Know that God never wavers in His love for you. You can trust Him completely. “There is no way that Christians in a private capacity can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom of Christ as by prayer.” Jonathan Edwards “When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.” A.C. Dixon Bible Reading Plan: Luke 7 Prayer Focus: What are you trusting God for in this season? How can you line up your expectations with the Word of God when you pray? Find promises in His Word that answer your need and write them down today. This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 9

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6 Have you ever looked at the top of your refrigerator or in the deep recesses of your couch cushions and noticed the filth that has built up over time? Even though we might clean on a regular basis, there are times when we need to go….a little deeper. We realize that what appeared to be clean on the surface was in all actuality, quite filthy. The same thing can happen spiritually. As we go about our daily lives, there are things that can build up over time. Even if we worship, pray, and read our bible regularly, the different temptations, pressures, and cares of this world can build up quietly and end up consuming our lives. Without even realizing it, we can lose our peace, joy, and passion for the things of God. Our service to God, which used to fill us with life and excitement, becomes a tiresome duty that we must fulfill. Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit. Fasting offers an incredibly effective way to get into the nooks and crannies of our souls and bring all those dusty old habits, broken mind-sets, and rusty attitudes out into the light of God’s truth. In fasting and prayer, our service to God returns to something we want to do rather than something we have to do. “One of the reasons for fasting is to know what is in us…In fasting it will come out. You will see it. And you will have to deal with it quickly or smother it again.”John Piper Bible Reading Plan: Luke 6 Prayer Focus: As you pray and fast today, ask God to show you any areas where you could use a refreshed spiritual focus. Pray as David did in Psalm 51:10-12 that God will cleanse your heart, renew your spirit, and restore the joy of your salvation. Pray with confidence, knowing that He wants to fill you with His life and peace. This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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Daniel Fast: Day 8

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” …And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.Matthew 17:5,8 KJV The Mount of Transfiguration is where three disciples had an experience that showed us God’s plan for the New Covenant. Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of the mountain where He was transfigured into His glorified state. Until this moment, the Jews could only relate to God through the Law which was represented by Moses and the prophets, including Elijah. Peter was excited by what he saw and talked about building three tabernacles, one for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Then a loud voice from heaven spoke, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” When they looked up, they saw only Jesus. On that mountain God made it clear that we will only discover his pleasure by following Jesus. God’s grace is freely given to those who receive new life in Him. Sometimes, though, there are areas of our lives where we do not fully embrace God’s grace. There may be circumstances or areas where we still try to earn our way to the Father. You cannot earn God’s pleasure, but you can experience it to a greater degree as you follow Jesus Christ. As you seek God today, ask Him for a greater revelation of Jesus in your heart. Then will you be reminded that you are a beloved child of God. And that He finds pleasure in you. “If heaven were by merit, it would never be heaven to me, for if I were in it I should say, “I am sure I am here by mistake; I am sure this is not my place; I have no claim to it.” But if it be of grace and not of works, then we may walk into heaven with boldness.”Charles H. Spurgeon Bible Reading Plan: Luke 5 Prayer Focus: How does understanding the New Covenant of grace change the focus of your fast? As you pray and seek after God, let His be the loudest voice you hear. This excerpt was taken from “Awakening: A new approach to faith, fasting, and spiritual freedom. 21 days to revolutionize your relationship with God.” by Stovall Weems.  It can be purchased on Amazon.

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