RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY, 28TH DECEMBER.

THEME: PRAYER AND FASTING.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29).

Sometimes as Christians, we miss God’s order of things. God is a God of order, and order gives meaning to things. For example, all around the world, people tend to confuse the order and say, “fasting and prayer,” instead of “prayer and fasting.” Prayer comes before fasting in the Scriptures.

Not understanding the right order may account for the reason many people fast without praying, which is largely a waste of time and effort. The emphasis should be on praying. It’s a call to prayer, and because you’re praying, you’re consciously staying away from eating. The fast is on, because you’re praying, not because you’re not eating.

Acts 13:2 says, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said….” Notice the order: they ministered to the Lord and fasted. How do you minister to the Lord? It’s in worship, prayer, praise and thanksgiving. The focus was on ministering to the Lord, and because of this, they fasted. Then the Lord spoke to them after they had prayed.

The New Year is just around the corner, and in preparing for it, you must spend time to pray and fast. Pick the days, or if such days have already been designated in your group or in your local church, be sure to participate fully, bearing in mind the purpose of the fast: praying; ministering to the Lord.

Some people occupy themselves with various irrelevant activities during prayer and fasting, so they don’t feel the hunger until it’s time to break the fast, no; it’s not that way. Aside from praying, the only activities you should indulge in and encourage are such that would further inspire you to pray, such as studying and meditating on the Word.

Take your Bible and some Christian books to read, and messages to listen to or watch on your devices. Put the TV off, and cast the newspapers and magazines aside. Possibly, put off your phone or turn off the network; you don’t need any distraction.

If you desire specific outstanding results in the coming year that only the anointing can produce, you need to do this: Spend quality time to speak in tongues and position yourself for achievements and significant exploits, not just in the coming year, but in the years ahead.

PRAYER
Blessed Lord, I thank you for all that you’ve prepared for me in the coming year. My spiritual antenna is raised to hear and receive your instructions, guidance, and wisdom that’ll propel me in the path of greatness that you’ve ordained for me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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FURTHER STUDY:
Daniel 9:3-5 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Revelation 19:11-21, Zechariah 9-11
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 4:23-37, Ezra 7