“Prayer is nothing else than a sense of God’s presence.” — Brother Lawrence
“Do you have a hunger for God? If we don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because we have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. If we are full of what the world offers, then perhaps a fast might express, or even increase, our soul’s appetite for God.” —John Piper
Each year our church sets aside 40 days for prayer and fasting to reset our hearts and focus on a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Praying and fasting is a biblical practice that helps us to focus on the Lord, allowing us to find extra time and energy to pray, hear God’s voice, and experience His presence.
Examples of fasting in the Bible include:
· Moses Fasted Before Receiving the Commandments – Deuteronomy 9:9-18
· David Mourning His Child’s Illness – 2 Samuel 12:1-23
· Elijah Fasted While Escaping Jezebel – 1 Kings 19:4-8
· Ezra Fasted While Mourning Over Sin – Ezra 10:6-17
· Esther Fasted for the Safety of the Jews – Esther 4:15-17
· Daniel Fasted for an Answer to Prayer – Daniel 10:1-3
· Jesus Fasted Before Temptation by Satan – Matthew 4:1-2
· Paul Fasted After His Conversion – Acts 9:1-9
There is so much in our lives needing prayer, but you can start with these three things:
· Pray for an encounter with God, and to be filled and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
· Ask God to bring down strongholds and break the idols in your life —anything that holds back God’s outpouring of blessings.
· Revival! May God’s blessings downpour and overflow in our lives!
“Our souls are stuffed with small things and there is no room for the great,” John Piper said. Nothing is greater than hearing God speak and experiencing His presence.
Your prayers and fasting will also impact other lives. John Wesley said, “Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere, and mercy will come down.”
Pray and ask the Lord to show you how to fast, then prepare for a wonderful 40 days of living in God’s presence and experiencing His love.
Note: Maranatha Chapel begins our 40 Day Fast this year on February 13. You can join us and pick up a free prayer journal designed for the 40 Day Fast at our church campus, or download one here:
https://www.maranathachapel.org/event/40-days-of-prayer-and-fasting-2pzpp
May this time be a wonderful revelation of God’s power and presence!
