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). He “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 will deteriorate if husband and wife are never alone together, so also, our relationship with Christ will fail if our spiritual life does not include any time spent alone with Him. In this age of distraction, time alone with God has to become a priority.

How to Be Alone With God
1. Set aside specific times of 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)

3. Spiritual Praying 
There are two types of praying:

• Mental praying and
• 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)

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. 

Benefits of Being Alone With God

• Secrets would 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)

• You will be empowered

When you spend time alone with God, you not only gain renewal of physical strength, but you 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 give you power and strength.

• You will be filled with the Holy Ghost

"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 totally influenced by the Holy Spirit.

• 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)

• 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.