Fasting Devotional day19

“Day 19: Rewarded Openly

Whether done corporately or individually, fasting is a personal, private discipline. It is a sacrifice born out of expectancy. Job went through a devastating trial and lost everything. Yet he continued to pray and fast, saying, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). God “restored Job’s losses,” and “blessed the latter days of Job more than the first,” and even gave him more sons and daughters. God’s open rewards flooded Job’s life.

I want to share with you some of the open rewards that God told me He would pour out on us at Free Chapel as we were diligent to seek Him in giving, praying, and fasting. These same rewards are open to every believer!”

“First, He told me that fasting will break poverty from your life. As I plant a seed each time I fast, major blessings return on my life. Again looking at Joel 2:15–16, the people were so poor and in such a famine that they couldn’t even bring an offering. But God said to “blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly” (KJV). After that fast, the threshing floor was full of wheat, the oil vats were overflowing, and they ate in plenty and were satisfied. The Lord brought great financial blessing to people who fasted and prayed. When fasting is a lifestyle, poverty will not be.

God also said that health and healing would follow fasting. Of His chosen fast God said, “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily” (Isa. 58:8). Fasting humbles you and brings clarity, even allowing you to get unforgiveness and bitterness out of your heart. Some people have tried and tried to truly forgive someone but have never been able to let the matter go. “Begin a fast, and trust God to work that in your heart. Earlier in the book, I told you how fasting helps you physically because it cleanses your body and gives your organs time to rest. It also helps you “spring clean” in a spiritual sense because it makes you sensitive to the desires of the Lord. Unforgiveness, bitterness, and the like can all be linked to illnesses, fatigue, stress, and more.”

“Fasting will also help you overcome sexual addictions and demonic powers. It will break great sin off people. In Matthew 17:21, Jesus said of that stubborn demon that “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Remember? Now, we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood. But there is a spirit behind homosexuality. There is a spirit behind pornography. There is a spirit behind adultery. There is a spirit behind fornication. These demonic spirits of perversion manipulate and use people like puppets on a string. But fasting will break the stronghold of demonic sexual addictions like pornography, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, and lust.

God will also target your children who are being led off and destroyed by the enemy’s devices. In the Book of Joel, God called for a holy fast. And He said, “It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28). Many times the rewards of fasting come after the fast, though from time to time answers can come during the fast. Look at the story of Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, who became king of “Judah (2 Chron. 33:1–13). Manasseh was a wicked king whom God had warned many times to no avail. Then the army of Assyria captured Hezekiah’s son, put a hook in his nose, bound him in chains, and took him to Babylon. In his distress, Manasseh cried out to God and humbled himself with fasting. The Bible says God heard his plea and “brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God” (v. 13).”

“The scandals and corruption on the front pages of our newspapers and the gross perversion that is prevalent on every level of society tell us how much we need revival in this country. How much more should we, as Christians, devote ourselves to fasting and prayer?

On your nineteenth day of fasting, remember:

• Continue to drink water.

• Pray for guidance and strength.

• Document your thoughts in your journal.

Thoughts for your journal:

(Write your thoughts in a separate journal.)”

• “Consider what you would be willing to share with others today. How you will articulate your experience, and what it has meant to you in terms of your relationship with God?

Prayer Focus Day 19: Revival

Revival is when Earth is attacked by heaven. Revival is an awesome move of God that affects you in powerful ways. Revival is when you get closer to heaven than you are to anything on Earth. We need revival in America. We need heaven to touch Earth with power. So, as you near the end of your fast, pray for revival. Ask God to send the rain of His Spirit on the land to break up the hardened hearts and bring forth a harvest of souls. Cry out for it as a desperate man crying out for water in the desert. Our young people need revival. We need revival. The church needs revival. In the past, the great revivals were always preceded by seasons of fasting and prayer. Do not grow weary, but stand strong in the power of His might!

“LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.

—HABAKKUK 3:2, NIV”