Day 5 Fasting Journal

“Day 5: Fasting and Praying

Jesus, while being a very public figure, was actually a very private person. You do not see Him praying in public nearly as much as you see Him praying in private. In fact, our Savior was so committed to private prayer that He would often pray for hours on end, even all through the night. He seemed to crave intimate moments alone with His Father in heaven. But if Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do by praying alone, why would He fast?”

“Could we be missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to fast? Remember the thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold return Jesus spoke of (Mark 4:8, 20)? Look at it this way: when you pray, you can release that thirtyfold return, but when both prayer and giving are part of your life, I believe that releases the sixtyfold blessing. But when all three—giving, praying, and fasting—are part of your life, that hundredfold return can be released!

If that’s the case, you have to wonder what blessings are not being released. What answers to prayer are not getting through? What bondages are not being broken because we fail to fast?

Matthew tells the story of a father who had a demon-possessed son. For years he watched helplessly as his son suffered with severe convulsions. As he grew older, the attacks became so severe that the boy would often throw himself into an open fire or a trench of water. A suicidal spirit tormented him constantly; the situation became life-threatening.”

“Having exhausted every attempt to cure the boy—even taking him to the disciples—with no avail, the father’s plight seemed impossible. Then he heard that Jesus was near. Going to the Master, he cried, “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him” (Matt. 17:15, KJV).

When the boy was brought to Jesus, the Bible says He “rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour” (v. 18, KJV). But what made the difference? After all, Matthew 10:1 records that Jesus had already given the disciples power to cast out evil spirits and to heal every disease. So why couldn’t the disciples cast out the demon and cure the boy?

That’s what they wanted to know too, so later that night, when they were alone with Jesus, they asked Him. Jesus replied, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:20–21).

Now, I’ve read that passage many times, and I’ve even taught from it on occasion. But each time, I’ve focused on the statement “nothing shall be impossible unto you.” I think a lot of people stop right there, but Jesus didn’t because He knew there was more—much more.”

“See, that funny little word howbeit is the connection—it’s the key that unlocks the power in the statement “nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Jesus told the disciples they needed faith, even faith as small as a tiny seed. But that wasn’t all. Long before this incident, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where He spent forty days and forty nights, taking no food. “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” For Jesus, casting out that stubborn demon wasn’t impossible.

If Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do without fasting, why would He fast? The Son of God fasted because He knew there were supernatural things that could be released only that way. How much more should fasting be a common practice in our lives?”

“If you are ready to bring supernatural blessings into your life and release the power of God to overcome any situation, begin today making the discipline of fasting a part of your life. You will be greatly rewarded!

On your fifth day of fasting, remember:

• Journal your journey.

• Concentrate on your own personal prayer time and prayer place.

• Headaches and cravings begin to subside.

• Bad breath becomes apparent as your body detoxifies.

Thoughts for your journal:

(Write your thoughts in a separate journal.)

• Why do you think fasting is important in order to achieve your greatest breakthroughs?

• Jesus fasted, and He intimately related to His Father in heaven. How has this fast, so far, helped you to relate to your heavenly Father?”

“Prayer Focus Day 5: Health and Healing

Take time today to thank God that Jesus is your healer. If there is sickness in your body or mind, or in the body or mind of a loved one, begin to speak forth health and healing in Jesus’s name. Begin to declare: “By His stripes I am healed.…With long life You will satisfy me and my family, and show me Your salvation.” (See Isaiah 53:5; Psalm 91:16.) Just begin to speak it out loud because you reap what you speak. By your words and prayers, release health and healing over your body, your family, your church, and your city. May the name of Jehovah-Rapha, the healing One, be proclaimed in this generation!

List specific healing targets:

(Write your answers in a separate journal.)

But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.

—MALACHI 4:2”