01/08/2017
Starting a 21 day weekly journey through life changing biblical principles based upon Prayer and Fasting.
Week 1: Overcoming strongholds - A new day
Everyone faces a 'demon' (stronghold) at least once, in their lifetime, that attempts to hold a tight grip on our past, present and future. The root of that grip depends upon our perception to believe a lie about ourselves. Here's just an example of a few voices that replay themselves in our mind:
We're not good enough.
We're not loved.
We're too sick to be healed.
We're too hurt to be made whole.
We'll never find someone who will love us unconditionally or vice versa.
We're too addicted to ever overcome whatever has tried to hold us down, and ruin our lives.
We have lost our willpower to move beyond our past.
The list could go on and on. But what does God say about that list? According to the story found in Mark 9:14-29, an 'evil spirit' seemed impossible to overcome. Even the believers in this story claimed they 'believed' but couldn't comprehend what their fleshly perception was telling them.
They believed with their eyes and not with their faith. They tried to do everything they knew to do through their flesh. They believed with their works and not through their prayers and intercession. Basically, they lost hope because they invested in the wrong perception.
Before you begin to pray and fast simultaneously, stop and do only one thing first: Pray, asking God to reveal what you need to fast. If you struggle with an addiction, emotions, anger, finances, failure, etc., God will likely start with the greatest stronghold first, directing you to 'fast' whatever is hindering you the most. Breaking off the 'chains that bind you' enables you to be set free to become what God has for your life.
Prayer precedes Fasting. If your struggle seems too overwhelming, stop and ask yourself one question: What am I 'praying' for and in whose strength am I relying upon to overcome it? If your prayer is a list, then put it down. Instead of ticking off our needs, simply place that list in God's hands as you proclaim two of His promises.
'I will never leave or forsake you.' (He's for us not against us)
'This kind can only come out through prayer.' (God requires our faith to take action before He moves on our behalf)
If God said He's with you, then nothing can come at you without going through Him, first.
God requires us to pray, first, before He moves through our need. God refers to Himself as a 'shepherd', implying that He will do two things consistently on our behalf: Carry us and correct us. Both place us under His covering and constant care. He's not going to just answer our requests, He's going to change us to become what He created us to be, resulting in our request being answered according to His will.
Whatever you're facing today, lay it down at His feet in prayer, first. As you do, ask God to show you what to 'fast'. Each day, awake continuing to pray and fast that which He has directed you to do until He speaks to your spirit calling you to the next step in your journey of faith.
Remember: 'This kind can come out only through prayer.'
