It’s Day Nineteen of the Fast. By now, you’re craving a hamburger, you’re craving some steak, you’re craving a lot of things. For some people these past 18 days have just been normal days. The question is: Will the normal days do for them what these 18 days of sacrifice did for you? Will putting God first for this season of your life, and this year of your life matter? What will it do for you?
His Word says in Matthew chapter 6, “If you seek me first, I’ll add all the rest that you will ever need.” And that’s exactly what we’re believing for.
Today, I just want to challenge you to submit the choices and the decisions that you have to make to God in prayer and in fasting. That in every decision, moment, and every crossroads you come to, His will will be apparent to you. Even when you have to make a quick decision, you don’t have to do a lot of praying because you have been with Him – and His will reveals itself to you in a way that brings peace and confirmation.
The Bible says in Proverbs 3 to “Acknowledge Him in all of your ways, and He’ll direct your path.” What we’re doing on this fast is saying again and again “Lord, lead me.”
God Has a Plan for Your Life – and Total Surrender is the Quickest Road to Your Future
You may have heard the comment that if you want to make God laugh, make plans. There is actually more truth to that than meets the eye. There is a plan and a purpose for your life, whether you can see it right now or not. Here’s another shocker. Even if you have a dream you see out in the future, more often than not, what lies ahead is far greater than you even imagined. I believe there is an assignment on every life and yours is the one requiring your DNA. Imagine Moses or David…Peter or Paul. Could they have ever even imagined the directions their lives would go once they committed to walking with Christ? No way. And neither can you.
I have a challenge for you. If you truly want to give God permission to do anything with your life He wants, then simply proclaim these three simple statements: I’ll go anywhere. I’ll go anytime. I’ll do anything. There is no telling all the Lord will do with the person who says those three things.
Today's Bible Reading
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me 1 with all your heart.
I Corinthians 2:9
9But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
John 4:23-24
23But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Romans 12:1-2
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Galatians 2:20-21
20I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
James 4:1-12
1Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Humility Cures Worldliness
7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Do Not Judge a Brother
11Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
I Peter 5:6-10
6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Prayer:
And Father, I pray today for every decision that we will face this year. We need Your wisdom, Lord. We need Your divine help. We need Your direction. We submit to You today in fasting and in prayer. Guide our steps. Lead our children and our children’s children to the right schools, to the right people, to the right friends, right choices, right voices, right decisions. In Jesus’ mighty name.