Prayer and Fasting
Good morning brethren, I like to write on a topic “Prayer and Fasting.” I thought it will be great to point us to the need for a personal retreat hence this topic. By way of reminder, 2024 had its own challenges and no doubt the expectations we have for 2025 is not to have a repeat of any negative experiences. Therefore in this early start of the year, there is no better way than to engage in prayer and fasting to speak into your future. What is prayer and fasting? Prayer is talking to God while fasting is a spiritual discipline of denying yourself something, usually food, to focus on God. While prayer is said to reconnects one to God, fasting helps us to detach from the world. For clarity, prayers on its own is great, God answers prayers out of grace, not because of human effort.
Prayer is seen as a ready weapon in the spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:8). But there are added benefits when we combine fasting, fasting will help a believer to prepare for God's answer to his or her prayer, it is also very humbling as it remind us of our dependence on God and the need for His guidance especially in our approach when asking or praying. We read of people like Daniel, David, Paul, Jesus, etc, many of their ministry successes are as a result of their commitment to fasting. It is also believed that fasting along with prayer could indicate the sincerity of a person or people praying and the possible situations in which they may be in. We read in Mark, chapter 9 that after the attempt for Jesus’s Disciples to cast out a demon from a boy they returned to ask why they couldn’t, “ …. His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9: 28-29). We can understand here that the demon was exceptionally stubborn and resistant, hence in this occasion fasting was recommended. Some other reasons Christian are encouraged to add fasting to their prayers includes for assurance of victory, expressing of repentance, answer to prayers, deep intimacy with God, helps in time of temptation, helps us accept God's will, it strengthen us in the place of prayer, fasting may be used to seek God's guidance, it helps seek protection, it can also help a believer to grow spiritually, etc. Medically it has been said that fasting can be of health benefit, for example it was said to decrease inflammation and reducing risk factors for heart diseases.
In conclusion, I will really suggest you consider a retreat that involves fasting and praying. Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:9 “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” I pray that in 2025 the Lord will deal with every adversaries blocking your ways to success in Jesus name. Service is for 10.30am and workers meeting is for 10am. God’s blessings - Mike