Scripture:
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3)
Reading:
Our loved one was digging a pit deeper into the darkness. This person’s mindset and situation had grown to such a degree that I no longer believed change was possible with our help.
Heartbroken, I surrendered to the reality that this was out of our control. We continued to pray, yet I could not shake the unction to fast and pray. The idea seemed to repeatedly float to the surface of my thoughts. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)
My loved one’s freedom and inner healing were my heart’s constant cry. I knew deep in my core that the promises in the following verses of Isaiah 58 were the Lord’s intention. I yielded to God and committed to fasting and praying.
I chose a day of the week to fast from sundown to sundown. As I had breaks in my day, I locked myself in a room with a list of scriptures I prayed aloud specifically for my loved one – week after week, month after month. I want to make clear that others had been praying over the course of the year as well.
‘Breakthrough’ is too simple of a word to express what happened one gray December afternoon. I had said goodbye to my loved one, and experienced such anguish over their direction that the carpet under my knees was wet with tears. Within the hour, they unexpectedly appeared at my door after what can only be described as a move of God on their behalf. Within 24 hours, a complete shift began unfolding.
Much time has since passed, and my loved one is experiencing the goodness of God for themselves – freedom and inner healing. The trajectory of their life is moving in a completely different direction to God’s glory. To say the least, my thanksgiving has not ended.
By committing to an intentional time of fasting and praying scripture I also found personal relief. The repeated surrendering to the Lord, allowing Him to minister to me as well during those beautiful breaks with Him yielded more than I could ask or imagine.
As we begin this new year, I feel a renewed call to fast and pray for a multitude of situations and dreams. Perhaps you too are sensing an invitation to withdraw from the world to be with God. My prayer for you is to be renewed through fasting and praying, and to see a breakthrough flowing from His throne of grace. “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” (Isaiah 58:9)
Application:
1. Do you have a repetitive thought about fasting and praying? What is it?
2. Commit to that action for a period of your choosing. Ask the Lord to minister to you, and to move on behalf of the people and situations that are of concern to you.
Prayer:
O LORD, in the morning You hear my voice. I look around and ahead with expectant faith. Lead me, Lord, and make Your way straight before me. I take refuge in You and rejoice. It is in Jesus’ powerful name I pray. Amen. (Psalm 5)