Day 17 - Posture - 2 Timothy 1:2

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

If you have participated in 21 Days of Fasting, you know at this point you are on the home stretch. You have learned that food doesn’t satisfy, and your source of strength comes from God. In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy that the Spirit does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Another way to say this would be, The Spirit of God gives us a posture.

Posture is how one carries themselves. Standing upright with your shoulders squared or standing slumped with your hands in your pockets reflects a posture of confidence or timidity. God has given us a posture. We take on this God-posture when we surrender to Jesus entirely.

1. You have power through the Spirit of God! God has give you power to overcome, power to change, and power to make a difference. Square your shoulders, stand up straight, and put on that posture of power.

2. You can love through the Spirit of God. God has given you the power to love. You can love your spouse and children. You can love your neighbor as your self. You can love other people. You can reflect the love of God through Christ Jesus! You can love. Put on that posture of Love.

3. You can be self-disciplined through the Spirit of God. You can control your tongue, your habits, your routines, what you eat and don’t eat. God has given you self-discipline. Look sharp. Put on that posture of self-discipline.

Be blessed - and, How’s your posture today?

Day 16- What Moves Your Emotions- Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah 1:4

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Throughout this season of prayer and fasting, you have become more sensitive to the whisper of the Holy Spirit. At times, that whisper comes through an emotional response when you witness the plight of other people. Like Nehemiah, it will invoke tears or anger, and this is passion. Passion is what moves your emotions, and that passion is what God is calling you to act on. Today, it is easy to become a social media warrior, and post all of our anger and compassion, and tears for the world to see that we have responded to the latest tragedy in the world.

The kind of compassion Nehemiah experienced wasn’t a cry so that everyone could see him. Rather, his passion was a launching pad to act.

What plight of other people causes an emotional responses in you? Write it down.

Now pray through that emotion, and ask God to help you act. If he has given you a passion for it, He can also empower you to act!

Day 15 - Hold to Hope - Hebrews 10:23

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Jesus is both the foundation and center of the faith. When you trust in Jesus, you can be sure that your hope is not misplaced. The other end of the spectrum is false hope. False hope is an expectation that is unlikely to be satisfied, and false hope ends in disappointment. It’s no wonder that people become mistrusting, because for a life time their hopes have been crushed after being placed in unsure things. False Hopes.

Jesus is not a false hope. We are encouraged her to hold tightly to the hope that is in Christ Jesus. Here is the hope that we affirm in Christ, and will hold to:

• There is salvation in no other but Jesus.

• There is healing for our body and mind in Jesus.

• There is restoration in Jesus.

• Jesus loves people regardless of what state, what sin, or what sickness they find themselves in.

• Jesus loves me.

• Jesus is returning for His Church.

• Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

I am going to hold on to Hope without wavering.

Day 13 - He Will Finish It! - Philippians 1:6

Philippians 1:6

"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Be Confident- You can pray, and God does hear you!

He - It starts and ends with Jesus. He created you, and he created you for and with purpose!

Began a Good Work - You are not an accident! He started a good work in you, and will finish that good work. The good work in you is salvation that he has graced us with. The good work is the the gifts and talents God has given us to bring glory His name. It is a good work.

Will Complete it - Until Jesus comes back for His church, He will be completing that good work. That means never stops working on me! Thank God that He never gives up!!!

Pray confidently today, that Jesus sees you, He loves you, He is doing a good work in you, and He will complete it!

Day 12 - Let's Do It! - Hebrews 10:22-23

Hebrews 10:22-23

So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.

You have made it to day 11. By this time, you are starting to get some clarity of mind and spirit. Your ears are tuned to the whisper of the Holy Spirit. As you hear God, respond. And in the words of Hebrews,
”Let’s do it!”

How do you respond to God?

1. Full of belief. don’t allow doubt to steal your confidence or your blessings. Fully believe that God can do what he said he would, and that YOU can do what God has called you to do. If yo are struggling with belief, pray “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”

2. Confident that you are presentable to God. When you were born again, you were made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. When you were baptized, old things passed away and all things became new. Be confident that God sees you as a son or daughter, and He loves you. You are presentable to Him! There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:1). You are acceptable to God!!!! Praise God for saving you.

3. Hold to God’s Promises; He keeps His Word. There is uncertainty everywhere around us. God’s word is sure. His promises are sure. You can build your life on them. He will keep his word. So, today, hold to God’s promises. Open God’s word, and regardless of the doom and gloom around us, build your life on His promises!

Day 11 - No Words.. Romans 8:26

Romans 8:26 - “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

I must confess, there have been times I’ve sat in prayer meetings, prayer groups, and gatherings not really knowing what to pray or say, because the words wouldn’t come out. It’s like my heart and mind were a blank slate unable to form thoughts or words. There are other times, when I have felt like I could pray all day about one thing.

There will be moments in prayer that nothing seems to come out. There are no words to say. It is not because you witnessed an event that left you speechless. It is not because you are having a bad day or good day. Sometimes, there are just no words. These moments present opportunity to rely on the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit will make intercession, or pray through you. As Romans says, the Holy Spirit will make intercession with groans that cannot be uttered. No words. No utterance.

Don’t be discouraged, but allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you and intercede for you. If you are having a moment like I am, when the words are few, then rely on what Psalms 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted in the heaven, I will be exalted in the earth.” Be still and know. In John 14, Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter. When you are speechless in prayer, allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you as He prays through you.

Finally, be encouraged today. God loves you. His Holy Spirit is for you….so, have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? (Acts 19) Allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you. It’s one of the reasons we fast and pray - less of me, and more of God.

Be Blessed, and be filled with the Holy Spirit!

Day 10 - From Presence to Power - Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In seasons of fasting and prayer, you can’t help but experience the presence of the Holy Spirit as you seek God and draw close to him. It is an amazing time of clarity and a keen ability to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. His presence is tangible and invigorating.

In fasting and prayer, we experience God’s love and presence that is affirming. And, the affirmation from our Heavenly Father feels amazing. Beyond affirmation is action. Action, or doing what God has called us to do and affirmed us for, is where we find fulfillment. Let’s not waste the presence of the Holy Spirit, the affirmation of God. Let’s do what he is calling and commanding us to do.

What is God calling and commanding you to do today? Is it to forgive? to reach out to your neighbor? to clean your room? Fulfillment is found when we receive affirmation, and respond in faith to action.

Take that step. God’s power will meet you there!

Day 9 - Don't Give Up, Take a Step

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

With so many sources to get information, faith often succumbs to our opinion and locks us into a life of fear, bondage, and never ending cycles. When we take steps toward God, he always meets us with provision and grace. I have never taken a step toward Jesus and been disappointed. This may seem difficult because often faith steps go against what is cool…but it’s in taking faith steps that Jesus meets us.

So today, examine your life. Where do you need to take a step of faith. Maybe it’s forgiving and letting go of an old offense. Maybe its committing to Jesus through the local church - it’s a step of faith. Whatever it is for you today, take a step of faith toward God!