21 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 4
Hey church! We are mixing it up today. I wanted to share some of my thoughts from last night that I taught at our prayer night. Thank you, to all those who made the drive out, God really showed up at our first in-person gathering of the year.
Jesus’ Keys to Prayer and Fasting
Digging into Matthew chapter 6, we learn from Jesus how to walk out the powerful practices of prayer and fasting. If you read the passages you’ll notice it’s not if you pray and fast, but when. Jesus makes it clear these aren’t optional; they’re meant to be part of the lifestyle for every believer.
Matthew 6:6 - “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Not every prayer we pray is in private, but all of us should have a private prayer life; one for just us alone with God. It’s stepping into that secret place, trusting that even though you can’t see God, He sees you.
It takes faith to go to prayer in a place of need, pray to an unseen God, and believe He will go to work.
What we do in private, God rewards us personally and publicly. One of the rewards is grace for what you are facing. Private prayer time is humble communication, and prayer with humility fuels our life with grace. It’s the oil that keeps us going, even through the challenges of life.
Think about Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. He prayed about his thorn in the flesh, and though God didn’t remove it, He gave Paul the grace to endure. That’s one of the rewards of prayer —it strengthens and sustains us.
Fasting is equally transformative. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus says, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.” Fasting isn’t about drawing attention to ourselves. Instead, it’s a time of priority, sacrifice, and should be a celebration for us as we disconnect from the world and connect more deeply with God.
In Matthew 17, the disciples are contending for a deliverance miracle, but it’s not happening, Jesus responds in Matthew 17:21, Jesus says, “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.” Fasting breaks through barriers to the miraculous. It disconnects us from worldly distractions while prayer connects us to God. Together, they address the challenges Jesus mentioned—fasting deals with the pull of the world, and prayer strengthens our faith.
As you go through this season, remember the power of prayer and fasting. They’re not just actions but life-changing rhythms. In Jeremiah 33:3, God says, “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Prayer unlocks the mysteries of God’s will for our lives. So start your private prayer life today, or raise the intentionality of getting in your secret place with the one who knows you and loves you. Couple that prayer with some level of fasting, and you will have a reward of God’s voice speaking, His ear listening, His hand moving, and His grace pouring out to lead you into your 2025.
Let this be a year where you step into the secret place, disconnect from distractions, and lean into God’s abundant grace. He’s waiting to reward you!