A Life Of Fasting and Prayer
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

This morning as I was in the prayer room reading the book of Matthew I was again apprehended by the value of sowing in prayer and fasting.

I was reading chapter 17 and the story of the father who brought his son to the disciples for deliverance "jumped off the pages" to me.

In verse 19, the disciples question is "Why could we not cast it out"? Jesus' answer was simple enough, "Because of your unbelief". He goes on a little later and says, "However this kind (of demon) does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

It seems clear to me that this demon came out of the boy not because Jesus was God, but because he was walking in an authority available to us in God. He did not suddenly call a fast and a prayer meeting when faced with this situation.

Did you ever notice that when the "storm" is upon you, it is time to move in authority, not prepare! What Jesus was saying was that he had already established himself in the place of prayer and fasting and was equipped for this situation.

We still have time to give ourselves purposefully to a life of prayer and fasting. However, the longer we are casual about these disciplines in our lives, I fear we Will miss many opportunities to bring deliverance to those we cross paths with.

Lets give ourselves as individuals, as churches and as a city to be known as men and women of authority, birthed in prayer and fasting!

Go for God!

posted by Chad at 10:30 AM