MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2019 – THE MYSTERY OF FASTING AND PRAYER

TOPIC OF MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER IS “THE MYSTERY OF FASTING AND PRAYER.”

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Fasting and prayer are great keys believers should use often to unlock and access spiritual power. The flesh is the major obstacle to receiving and retaining the power of God. Fasting and praying helps to mortify the flesh and conquer the carnal human nature. Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights. Elijah and the Lord Jesus Christ also fasted for several days. Apostle Paul, revealing some of the secrets of his spiritual greatness, said, “in fasting often.” Jesus once told His disciples that they would not be able to confront, conquer and cast out some demons unless they first engage in serious and long fasting and praying.

When you fast and do not set aside time to pray, you won’t get the best results or reward for your fast. Avoid hunger strike. When you fast, you should also set aside time to read and meditate on the word of God. The time of fasting and praying should be seen as great opportunity to hear from God. Fasting and prayer help to sharpen your reception. When you fast, you discipline your body and become more receptive to God’s Spirit. As you fast, your spirit man is made ready to receive the guidance and direction that God is giving you.

Acts 13 (our Fire Scripture for today) reveals that fasting and praying were parts of the secrets of the exploits the apostles performed in their days. Fasting and praying was a lifestyle for them. On one occasion, these men of God gathered to fast and pray to the Lord. Acts 13:2 says that as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said to them, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” That divine instruction came to them while they were fasting and praying.

The apostles continued to fast and pray and with their increased anointing and grace, they laid hands on Barnabas and Saul and released them to go on their missionary journey. Are there important issues of your life you need to hear from God clearly about? Do you want to know the will of God concerning a matter that is crucial in your life? You can’t afford to leave such matters to guess work or commit them to someone else (especially a person you are not sure of his salvation). I encourage you to set some days aside to fast and pray about the matter. The good Lord will speak to you and give you the right direction to take. As a New Testament believer, it will do you a lot of good if you can set a day or two aside to fast and pray every week. Be wise!.

A fast is not a hunger strike. Fasting submits to God’s command. A hunger strike makes God submit to our demands.

Your prayer bullets shall meet target.

MORNING

1. Father, give me the grace to observe the spiritual discipline of fasting and prayer, in the name of Jesus.

2. Holy Spirit, teach me and help me to profit greatly from fasting and prayer, in the name of Jesus.

3. As I mortify my body and empower my spirit through fasting and prayer, O Lord, help me to be more receptive to Your Spirit, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING

4. Father, empower me to hear You clearly, in the name of Jesus.

5. Father, let the discipline of fasting and prayer make me a spiritual giant and fruitful Christian, in the name of Jesus.

6. Father, catapult me to the mountain top spiritually, in the name of Jesus.

7. Father, let every stubborn problem in my life, bow and die, in the name of Jesus.