Prayer and Fasting

"Only prayer and fasting can drive out this kind of Spirit." - Matthew 17:21

When we want something of God, we resort to prayer. Sometimes we pray and pray and see no results. Disappointed, we give up. But have you ever tried prayer in combination with fasting? You see, because of sin, our bodies and our souls are at odds. What pleases the spirit is hard on the body, and what pleases the body is poison for the soul. There is no way, while alive, that our bodies and our souls can be in perfect accord with one another. One is always dominating the other. Therefore, when we fast, our soul lets our body know that our only true food is God and we only depend on Him for survival. We are actually learning and practicing sole reliance on God. When this happens, the body is dominated and the soul grows stronger. When the soul grows stronger, we are way more connected to God and are more open to receiving His blessings. Things can't knock us down that easily either. Our faith becomes solid. That's why there are some things, things that require a lot more strength, faith, and determination on our part, that can only be achieved by the soul of a person that has dominated the flesh and is at peace and union with the will of God. And fasting doesn't mean not eating for an entire day, it could be having a smaller portion of a meal or skipping dessert.

If there are tough issues in your life - a disease, a failing relationship, financial issues - you know what you need to do. As Jesus told His disciples, there are things that can only be accomplished through prayer and fasting.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, teach me how to only depend on You for my existence. In the same way You conquered Your flesh, help me do the same so that my soul can attain unity with You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

You Are Not a Slave

"Then, no more fear: you did not receive a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit that makes you adopted children and every time we cry, 'Abba! Father!' the Spirit assures our spirit that we are children of God." - Romans 8:15-16

Do you have a weakness right now that you feel you can't overcome? Are you tied to something, someone that's not good for you? Maybe you're in a bad relationship or are fighting an addiction, and you can't let go as much as it's hurting you. You, yourself can't let go because your sin is bringing you down. The devil keeps you down by telling you that you are weak and you can't make it through, but stop letting yourself be lied to. You are much stronger than you could ever imagine if you let the truth of God come into your life. You did not receive a weak spirit. You are not a slave to that circumstance or that addiction because YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD and there is no weakness or evil that your Father in Heaven cannot overcome for you if you ask. Do away with the fear! Do away with the self pity because you were meant for much higher things because with love the Lord Almighty has planned to prosper you, fill you with hope and give you a future. So lift up your trembling hands and lift up your eyes to your Father in Heaven. Be confident in His Word and know that He is much bigger, much more powerful than any weakness, any evil, and any negativity that wants to bring you down.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I lift my eyes up to You because I am Your beloved child. You did not make me a slave to my weaknesses but gave me power to overcome any obstacle in the Name of Jesus Christ. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Transform Me

"I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I shall remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26

Maybe once we did walk with God and let ourselves stray away or maybe we never walked with Him at all and find it impossible that we ever will. Hearts of stone are those that fail to be moved under any circumstances and also those that know better, but allow sin to creep in. Since there is no good in us, in our flesh, the Lord Almighty is the only one that can create a new heart within us and melt away all the coldness we have let into our hearts and spirits. In His mercy, because we hear that small voice inside us and choose to listen to it, He will wash away our former lives and move us to be more like Him and all our acts will be of true love and compassion, and here there is no longer room for sin.

Today's Prayer:
Oh my God, have mercy on me for my heart is cold. I don't do as You please but I realize that I am nothing and I need You to come into my heart and soften it. Come into my heart My God and make me as You want me to be. I need You in my life God and I need You to transform me. In Your Name we pray, Amen.