“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. We start our new year by asking God to manifest His presence in our lives, allowing us to “drink deeply” and sense God’s presence as expressed by Brother Lawrence and John Piper.
During the 40 days, I encourage those participating to go to “higher ground literally.” Find a local mountain, a view from the top of a building, or the hill behind your house. Go to higher ground and pray, asking God to manifest His presence over all that you see.
Praying and fasting are biblical practice that allows 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:
To experience the presence of God, being filled and renewed by the Holy Spirit
Ask God to bring down strongholds and break the idols in your life
—anything that would hold back God’s outpouring of blessings.
Revival! May God’s blessings pour down and overflow in our lives!
I like what John Piper said above. Our souls are stuffed with “small things, and there is no room for the great.” Nothing is greater than hearing God speak and experiencing His presence in our lives.
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. Do you have 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.
May this time be an incredible revelation of God’s power and presence!
Note: We recognize that fasting is an individual, personal time between you and the Lord. Choose the fast that is best for you. While fasting means abstaining from food for most people, it can also mean abstaining from something else to give you more time in prayer and fellowship with the Lord. Not everyone can fast from food, but if you give up something to focus on the Lord, that can be a meaningful fast. St. Augustine recognized this when he wrote, “If you are not able to keep a fast today, at least partake of food with moderation.”
