Day 01: 40 Days Fasting & Prayer

"O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!" (Psalms 63:1-3 NLT)

Are you serious about following Jesus?

He “often withdrew... and prayed” (Luke 5:16) and “went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23). How did Jacob, the deceiver, become “Israel, a prince with God”? (Read Genesis 32:28). The Bible says, “he was left alone, and a man (the Angel of the Lord) wrestled with him till daybreak” (Genesis 32:24).

Just as a marriage deteriorates if a husband and wife are never alone together, so too will our relationship with Christ weaken if our spiritual life lacks time spent alone with Him. In this age of distractions, making time alone with God a priority is essential.

How to Be Alone With God:

1. Set aside specific times for prayer.

Daniel had the habit of praying three times daily: "Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Daniel 6:10).

During this fasting period, ensure that you spend quality time alone with God in prayer and fellowship. Jeremiah wrote, "I sat alone because your hand was on me" (Jeremiah 15:17).

2. Worship and Praise

We are encouraged to enter into God's presence with thanksgiving and praise. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4).

In worship, we acknowledge God’s sovereignty and goodness, lifting our hearts above our circumstances. Praise shifts our focus from our needs to God’s greatness, fostering a spirit of trust and gratitude even during our fasting and prayer.

3. Spiritual Praying

There are two types of praying:

1. Mental praying and

2. Spiritual praying.

Mental praying is when you are praying with your understanding and mind, while spiritual praying is when you are praying in tongues. "For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand." (1 Corinthians 14:14-15 NLT).

Spiritual praying allows us to connect with God beyond our intellectual limits, fostering a deeper spiritual intimacy during fasting.

4. Study and Search the Scriptures

When you read the Word, you are in direct fellowship with God. The Word is God, and the experience of reading the Word of God is similar to having a one-on-one conversation with God in person.

Immersing ourselves in Scripture not only aligns our thoughts with God’s but also equips and strengthens us spiritually. In times of fasting and prayer, let the Word be your sustenance and guide, illuminating your path and enriching your spiritual journey.

Benefits of Being Alone With God

1. Secrets Will Be Revealed

God is all-wise and all-knowing. You can't spend time alone with Him and remain ignorant. "He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though He is surrounded by light" (Daniel 2:22).

2. You Will Be Empowered

When you spend time alone with God, you gain not only a renewal of physical strength but also enjoy spiritual refuelling and refreshment. Isaiah 40:31 says, "Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

According to Psalm 68:35, the God of Israel is "He who gives strength and power to His people." Spend time alone with God, and He will empower you with strength.

3. You Will Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). When you are filled with the Spirit of God, your life will be profoundly influenced by the Holy Spirit.

4. The Anointing During Your Time of Fellowship with God Will Break Demonic Yokes

"It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil" (Isaiah 10:27).

5. You Will Be Transformed into God's Image

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Give God your whole heart as well as some quality time. These are the two major conditions for going deeper with God.

Repeat every prayer missile till it comes from your heart. Only then move on to the next prayer missile. (Repeat it, personalise it, do this with each prayer point for a minimum 1 minute)

1. Lord, have mercy upon me in every way that sin has drawn me away from you. (Psalm 51:10)

2. I pull down every weight of sin affecting my relationship with God in Jesus' name. (Hebrews 12:1)

3. I cast down errors, lies, doubts, and fears that are warring in my mind in Jesus' name. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

4. Father! Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law in Jesus' name. (Psalm 119:18)

5. I receive grace to be restored to fellowship with my heavenly Father in Jesus' name. (James 4:6)

6. Oh, Lord! Empower my spirit man. (Acts 1:8)

7. Anything draining my spiritual strength is destroyed in the name of Jesus. (John 10:10)

8. I pull down every deceitfulness of riches designed to pull me away from the things of God. (1 Timothy 6:10)

9. Father, cause me to grow in your love and your knowledge in Jesus' name. (2 Peter 3:18)

10. Lord, cause me to grow in wisdom, stature and favour with you and with men in Jesus' name. (Luke 2:52)

11. Lord, fortify my faith to overcome all challenges and stand firm in Your promises. (2 Timothy 4:7)

12. Father, let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Day 01: 40 Days Fasting & Prayer

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