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Are You Missing What It Takes To Resist Sin?
I don't care how much you go to church or read yourbible sometimes no matter how hard you try to resistsinning you end up finding yourself giving in to itanyway. I know first hand because this has happen to me oncountless occasions. I've found myself gettingfrustrated and even questioning my own salvation. One time I even tried to give up, of course, the Lordbrought me back to repentance, but the point is Ididn't know what was missing from my life that couldhelp me stay on the right track for good. Jesus said to His disciples. Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not intotemptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but theflesh is weak." But sometimes deep in your heart you feel the need todo more than just pray. Perhaps because you feel thatyour prayers are falling on deaf ears. You try to putyour finger on what's missing but just can't seem tounderstand what it is. Well I'm here to tell you that missing element in yourprayer life is fasting. Yes, fasting in combination with prayer will help tobring about the true repentance and a humbleness ofspirit that you need and seek. By fasting, you are able to turn fully toward the Lordin your hour of great need. Do you have times that make you feel the need to seekthe face of the Lord in a stronger more, profound way?In your darkest hour do you even know what yourgreatest need is? Fasting and praying brings the Lord's comfort and theprayers you pray while fasting get surprisingly fasteranswers. There is absolutely no debate Jesus expects us tofast. Matthew 6:16 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as thehypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfiguretheir faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." When one is crying out to the Lord with all of theirheart and soul, it can do no less than touch the heartof the very Lord we pray to because fasting is thetruest form of prayer. Which type of prayer do you think God desires to hear?The gut wrenching, deeply sobbing passionate type thatcomes from a real heart full of sincerity, or the offhanded casual prayer? The self denial of physical needs, for a period ofspiritual fasting is the key to producing deepspiritual growth because a person can get in touchwith their inner self when they sacrifice their bodiesphysical need for food. Serious prayer requires deep concentrated effort onthe part of an obedient servant and that's why when aperson concentrates their thoughts on the Lord ratherthan on food God's will and desires become known tothem in a supernatural, profound way. A person desiring to use the gifts of God with moreHoly Spirit power and authority should fast, pray andget as deeply into the Word of God as possible. EatHis Word instead of food. Spiritual Fasting can bringgreat joy and blessings to your life. Acts 13:2-3 "While they were worshiping the Lord andfasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for meBarnabas and Saul for the work to which I have calledthem. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placedtheir hands on them and sent them off." Fasting also enables a person to resist the devil.Sometimes temptations become overwhelming and the onlyway to fight them is to go into a Spiritual Fast withheavy prayer. Especially if you tried regular praying and still findyourself giving in to temptation. What is the right reason to fast? Fasting shouldalways be for spiritual purposes. The early churchfasted, worshipped and prayed. That is the key tofasting. It should be a voluntary, private, worshipfuland prayerful time between you and our HeavenlyFather. What's a bad fast? When you fast for the wrong reasonor the wrong attitude in your heart. Whatever you planto do, the main thing is to keep your mind uponspiritual growth. I've personally experienced the greatest spiritualgrowth in my life when I fasted. My favorite fast is a 7am-3pm fast in which I pray andread my bible for one hour during my regular lunchtime. This fast has helped me to stay focused on God's wordand keep His commandments and not give in to thetemptations of the devil. When I do this fast I usually go 40 days in honor ofJesus' fast in the wilderness. Matthew 4:1-2 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit intothe wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when hehad fasted forty days and forty nights, he wasafterward an hungred. It is interesting to note that 'The Heavenly Man'(Christian Book of the Year for 2003) contains theaccount of how Brother Yun in China endured a totalfast (i.e. no food, no water) for 75 days. This soundsimpossible but surely, with God, all things arepossible. David Hopkins is a "Christian Article Writer" whospecializes in helping people remember to glorifyGod in everything that they do, so they don't missout on any of His wonderful blessings. Visit Daily Word Of God Group to read additionalarticles and to sign-up for a free newsletter to learn everything you need to know about why you should be putting God #1 in your life.
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