Easter Fasting Devotionals - Christ Connect Church

Day 1 – The Power of Prayer and Fasting

There is incredible power in the biblical practice of prayer and fasting. Jesus told a story about how it can help us find the spiritual breakthrough that we are seeking.

Mark 9:14-29 tells us about a time when the disciples were unable to cast a demon out of a boy. When Jesus arrived, He cast out the spirit, and the boy was set free and healed. His disciples did not understand why they had power to perform some miracles but not this one: “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So, He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

God doesn’t need anything from us to move in the world—God can do anything. But for some reason, God chooses to invite us to partner with Him—He calls us to pray and fast. And He moves on our behalf and increases our faith when we do.

Fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual reasons. Fasting draws us closer to God. There are two biblical types of fasting. The first type is called the absolute fast or the dry fast. This is the fast where you go without food and without water. Moses went on this fast for 40 days. Also, Paul fasted like this after his first encounter with the Lord (Acts 9:9). This fast should not be undertaken for more than three days. And it should be only done when you have a clear directive from the Lord.

The second type of fast is called the normal fast. This fast is when you don’t eat food but you only drink water. This is the most consistent fast with a biblical definition.

The third and fourth type of fast are not biblically outlined as a fast. It is added by believers around the world. The third type of fast is called the partial fast or a “Daniel fast.” It is when you abstain from certain foods (no meat, no dairy, no other pleasant foods) only soups, fruits, and vegetables.

The fourth type of fast is called non-food fast. It is when you abstain from certain pleasant things, activities, entertainment, gratifying pleasures other than food.

Private fasting should be done in secret. Public fasting can be proclaimed by leaders (1 Samuel 7:6; Esther 4:16; Ezra 8:21-23; Jonah 3:5; Acts 14:23). Let us examine our hearts that our fasting is noticed by the Lord and not by men. When you are burdened by the problems in the world, pray and fast. When the greatness of the problems in the world overwhelms you and when you see the brokenness of the world around you, let the urgency lead you to a desperation for God to move. Let it lead you to seek Him in an even greater way. When you are hungry for more of God, pray and fast.

The amazing thing about the gospel is when you receive Jesus, you are satisfied like you have never been before and yet you will always be hungry for even more of God.

Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8). He had a hunger to know God more every day. Sometimes we are so hungry for God we will fast if it means we can experience Him more.There is something about that experience that opens our hearts to receiving more of God’s presence in our lives. It can happen in the middle of the fast even when we feel weak and frail. It can also happen after fasting—even in the months or years following a time of fasting, we will see the strong results of seeking more of God.

When you need a breakthrough, pray and fast. Author and pastor Ronnie Floyd writes, “Fasting is the gateway to breakthrough” in our lives. When he was enduring personal trials, including his wife’s cancer diagnosis, he set aside special seasons of prayer and fasting and saw God do greater things than he had ever seen before—in both his own life and that of his church.

There is something about this discipline that breaks strongholds over the things we have been praying for. God moves in an even greater way.

When you sense God is preparing you for something new, pray and fast. God will give you a greater desire to pray and fast when He is about to move in bigger ways in your life. Author and pastor Jentzen Franklin says, “God calls us to fast when He’s preparing us for something new He is about to do, something that’s ahead.” We need a special grace from God to do so. The Bible tells us that God desires obedience from us more than sacrifice. He is not looking for us to be radical or intense, but obedient and faithful to what He is stirring in us to do.

While fasting seems to be a forgotten discipline for many believers, there is recently a growing hunger and desire for it.

I believe God is giving His people an increased desire to fast because He is about to move in greater ways in our lives, churches, and the world. When we see God beginning to move, we should set our face with prayer and fasting for the fulfilment of what God has shown He wishes to do. God’s promise is not an excuse for inactivity; it is a provocation to prayer. Now therefore, says the Lord “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning.” So, rend your heart and not your garments; return to the Lord your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness and He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:12-13)

PRAYER POINTS:

• The Church to develop the spiritual discipline of regular fasting
• The Church to become deeply in love and devoted to Him and His wills and live a life of obedient and of fervent prayer. Develop a deep intimacy with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and earnest desire for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit every day.
• The Church to have true repentance that produces the fruit of godliness, a renewed mind and transformed lives.
• The Church to consecrate our lives to do the will of God and live holy
• The Church to live out God’s plan & purpose for our lives.
• Pray for divine, even miraculous healing for our loved ones, family, and friends – Bro Bobby Morales, Pastor Roslyn, Sis Mary Ann, Sis Dorothy, Sis Imelda, Sis Vilma, Sis Malou, and young Ada
• The Church to experience genuine and transformational revival for each family, the global church, and the world.
• The Church to experience real deliverance from spiritual bondages and strongholds.
• The Church to have a hunger, a thirst for and a desire to meditate upon and apply God’s Word
• The Church to have a boldness to share the gospel and to make disciples of the nations and participate in the prophesied “Great End-Times Harvest of Souls.

𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝙏𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙊𝙁 𝙂𝙊𝘿’𝙎 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝘿: Open your Bible, read, and meditate on JOEL 2

DAY 2 DAILY DEVOTIONAL – A NEED TO REPENT

Read Passage – Nehemiah 13:1–9

What does it mean to repent? It is one thing to feel sorry that you did wrong, it is another thing to truly repent. As Martin Luther said, “To do so [to sin] no more is the truest repentance.”

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (LUKE 5:32)

After all the repentance, the joyful worship, and the hard work that Nehemiah and the rest of God’s people had done, it seems they all too quickly returned to business as usual. They turned away from the Lord and compromised their relationship with Him and with one another.

Tobiah is the one of the book’s primary antagonists. He had consistently opposed Nehemiah and the efforts to rebuild Jerusalem. We watched as Nehemiah stood up against him and remained faithful to the Lord. However, when Nehemiah left, the people did not remain steadfast.

Eliashib was a priest responsible for caring for the Temple and ensuring proper worship of the Lord. He was also Tobiah’s relative, and his loyalty to Tobiah outweighed his loyalty to the Lord. In fact, Eliashib took one of the rooms that should have been used to store the gifts and offerings people brought to the Temple and turned it into a nice living quarters for Tobiah!

We will soon learn the likely reason the room had been empty, but today simply take note that what had been intended for the flourishing of the Temple and its attendants was now being used for one of the primary enemies of the restoration. Things had quickly fallen apart! Clearly God’s people had not changed their ways with true repentance.

>> Is there an area of your life that should be reserved for the Lord, but you have been using it for something else? Maybe it is your money? Or perhaps it is your time? Spend some time in confession today asking God to show you His truth and to restore you to the right path before Him.

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (PSALM 51:2)

PRAY: “Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (PSALM 51:10)

Lord, I come to you boldly in prayer of confession. Usually, I am my own greatest stumbling block in honouring You, Almighty God. Please convict me of areas in my life that I have not submitted to You. Forgive me of my sins of pride, rebellion, disobedience and purify me from all unrighteousness, worldliness and from all idolatry. Grant me mercy and joy in true repentance. In Jesus name, Amen.

PRAYER POINTS:

MEDITATION OF GOD’S WORD: Open your Bible, read and meditate PSALM 51

DAY 3 DAILY DEVOTIONAL – BECAUSE HE IS THE WAY, I AM MADE NEW

Throughout the Bible Jesus made clear statements about who He was. There was no ambiguity about His life, His mission, and His purpose. God has always been clear with His people that He is love, and He is all we need. In Exodus 3:14 God says to a nervous and apprehensive Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” – He is filling Moses with confidence and assurance for the journey ahead.

Still today, in times of uncertainty, in Jesus we find a clear statement of Truth. These declarations of truth are about more than Jesus declaring His identity, these declarations shape our identity.

The more we discover about who He is, the more we will discover who we truly are. Jesus’ declarations were statements of fact. His “I AMs” becomes our truth. Who He is shapes who we are.

Let us make it personal by bringing it into the first person, read these declarations aloud:

Because He is the Resurrection, I am alive.

Because He is the Bread of Life, I am made whole.

Because He is the Way, I am made new.

Because He is the Lamb of God, I am saved & redeemed.

Jesus’ journey to the cross and His crucifixion was the fulfilment of His purpose on Earth – He was making a way for us to have free and intimate relationship with God. He had referenced this moment many times, declaring that He was the gate through which every person could be saved. He is the only way to salvation.

In John 14:6 Jesus declared, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” then through His sacrifice on the cross He made a way for us to experience this Truth.

Through a rugged cross and an empty tomb, we discover that we are made new. Today, let us remember that who Jesus is has a deep and lasting impact of who we are.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away behold all things have become new.” (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17)

QUESTION TO CONSIDER: Which of Jesus’ “I AM…” declarations do you need to take into your heart today?

PRAY: Jesus, I thank you for who you are. I thank you that when you died on the cross it was for me. Today I know that I am a new creation because of who you are and the price you paid on the cross. I am so thankful. I choose to remember You today.

PRAYER POINTS:

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD: Open your Bible, read, and declare Psalm 145!