What I’ve Learned During 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
We have been engaging in 21 days of prayer and fasting in our church. It has been a great way to build the faith and focus of individuals, of our church as a congregation and for me personally.
I’ve been reminded and learned a few things over the last 2 weeks. I wrote down some random thoughts.
1. I could do a lot of what I’m doing during these 21 days – everyday.
Everyone is not fasting everyday. I could fast more often than I have this last year. I’m going to plan more time for this.
We have daily prayer meetings now – we could not do that all year but - I could set aside more time to pray, focus on God and have powerful personal time in His Word. I can live like this.
2. Humbling myself is crucial to my spiritual strength
We get lazy. We get in a rut. Our flesh or carnal nature tends to run our life.
We often follow God in a way that is convenient to us unless there is a crisis or a planned event – like this 21 days.
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
What is it in me or in my life that hinders my absolute surrender to God, His purpose and His leading.
People often cannot hear God speaking to them because we are not humble enough to hear a voice different than the ‘most current loud voice’ we are listening to. I can live like this.
3. Gathering with others to pray is a necessary part of our life.
There is a different kind of power and presence in the gathering of the local church to pray. It’s refreshing and it’s empowering. The prayer of others and the faith of others is empowering. United prayer = powerful results. I’m going to keep meeting with the church to pray – I can live like this.
4. Praying God’s will is the secret to answered prayer
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5.14-15 NIV
Focused prayer brings specific results & unexpected results also. Wanting what God wants and believing Him for it brings the greatest results. I can live like this.
5. Keep your affection for the Word of God alive
I had greater devotion to reading His Word and listening to His voice during this time. It has not taken hours more of my time – just more affection in my heart.
I can live this way.
6. We don’t need to wait for a special even or focus to pray.
While this event has been awesome, we are responsible for our own prayer life – our ‘personal time.’ So many of us ‘feel’ the result of this concentrated devotion to God. Let’s live this way.
7. Pray louder.
‘Quiet times’ are over-rated. Dedicated, concentrated and regular personal times with God are crucial. I like the term ‘Personal Time’. Sometimes I’m too quiet. I don’t pray with the passion that I can and should. I’ve enjoyed praying louder, listening louder and expecting louder. I do NEED to be quiet often. But for me – I found that quiet times can lead to quiet faith. Just a thought. But I like praying a bit louder.
