A Fast that is unto The Lord

Transcription

1 A Fast that is unto The Lord Prayer and Fasting - A Definition Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. It s a discipline of simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and needed wisdom, instead of focusing on what your flesh desires and what your own ingenuity can produce. Prayer and fasting is a spiritual principle (one of many spiritual laws that are highest in rank or importance) that will move the individual into a spiritual realm of faith and power by denying our fleshly desires. What Prayer and Fasting is not: The focus of fasting and praying is not to be on the abstaining from food. Instead, the purpose of Biblical fasting should be to take our eyes off the things of this world and focus our thoughts on God. The losing of weight should not be the primary goal in a season of spiritual fasting and prayer. To have weight loss as a goal makes your fast a diet plan, not a time of genuine fasting and prayer. If losing weight is your purpose in fasting, you will be missing out on the full reason for fasting, and you likely will be concerned only with what you don't eat rather than with what you are led to pray. It is not a religious activity performed in order to influence God It is not tool to win an audience with God It is not the giving up of meals and making a sacrifice so that God can speak to us or bless us It is not an exchange of a sacrifice or punishing yourself in order to obtain God s blessings It is not a way to manipulate God into doing what you want him to do God is always ready to speak to us, to help us and to bless us. Fasting and praying is for our sake to tune ourselves to God s wavelength in order to hear from him and effectively walk with him. The Principles of Biblical Fasting A fasting program should include increase prayer, intercession, reading of God s word, worshipping him with songs of praise on multimedia or personally, listening to or watching sermons can also be edifying. Setting our minds on things above demands forsaking things below o These include most secular programs, music, magazines, books, certain places, certain forms of entertainment and activities, and so on. One cannot partake of things below and expect to effectively hear from God and fulfill his will. o For instance, watching secular films only contributes to increased spiritual deafness. It only opens the individual s spirit to the many voices and images of the world which easily crowd out God s voice. Whatever we give our attention to takes charge of our hearts.

2 Food List for the 21-Day Daniel Fast All fruits are considered good to eat during the 21-day Daniel Fast. Frozen and canned fruits are allowed if they contain zero amounts of preservatives or added sugar. All vegetables qualify as permitted foods for the Daniel Fast. For best results, steam a variety of vegetables or eat them raw. Canned or frozen foods are permitted if no additional sweeteners or artificial preservatives are added. Fruits and vegetables can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Basically you can eat any type of fruit or vegetable on The Daniel Fast, including fresh, frozen or canned, as long as they contain no artificial flavoring, coloring or added sugar. Whole grains such as grits, plain oatmeal, brown rice and wild rice can be consumed on the Daniel Fast but refined grains, such as enriched flour or most cereals, are not allowed on the Daniel Fast. You can drink only water and fruit/vegetable juices containing no added sugar or other ingredients during The Daniel Fast. That means no teas, coffee, milk, soft drinks or alcoholic drinks allowed. You may have distilled, filtered or spring water. During The Daniel Fast, you cannot eat any meats, including poultry, fish, eggs or dairy products. Alternate sources of protein include soybeans, nuts, legumes, beans and seeds. Examples of these foods include kidney beans, black beans, lentils, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and almonds. Check the nutritional labels to ensure your nuts or seeds contain no added sweeteners or artificial preservatives. No processed or refined breads are allowed, whole grain flatbreads or breads made without yeast, available in health food stores, can be eaten. You can also eat unrefined brown rice, barley, oats and other whole grains. No processed foods that contain additives are allowed on the diet. Allowed oils include high-quality oils such as canola, coconut, grape seed, olive, peanut and sesame oils. You cannot have butter, lard, margarine or solid shortening. No dairy products are allowed. You may have peanut butter or other nut butters that are made without preservatives, sugars, sweeteners or other additives not on the approved list. Herbs, salt, pepper and other natural seasoning are allowed, as long as they contain no disallowed ingredients such as artificial preservatives, sugar, sweeteners (natural-honey, cane sugar, stevia, agave nectar; artificial-nutrasweet, Splenda, sweet & low etc.), artificial colors etc. Tips- Keep cans of beans and vegetables (check label for no added preservatives usually organic will do) and brown rice and/or whole wheat pasta in your pantry, keep cooked brown rice/whole wheat pasta on hand in the refrigerator or freezer for quick meal options along with frozen veggies. Heat cooked brown rice with raisins or dates for a quick breakfast or cook oatmeal in microwave with fresh or dried fruit. Heat canned beans and/or veggies eat over cooked brown rice/whole wheat pasta for quick lunch and dinner options. Keep potatoes handy for baked potatoes, mashed potatoes or oven roasted potatoes (peel potatoes cut into wedges or French fry cut toss with olive oil, season with salt and pepper cook in oven 400 degrees F on baking sheet lined with foil coated with olive oil about 20min. turn half way through, for variety try sweet potatoes peeled and cut, coat with melted coconut oil instead of olive oil season with salt and pepper after baking sprinkle cinnamon on top). Keep nuts and raisins or fruit handy. Avoid snacking as much as possible but if you are unable to eat a full meal have nuts with raisins or fruit already prepared in snack bags. Having food already on hand and prepared will help to keep the focus off what you are or are not eating and keep your focus on the main reason for the fast and that is communion with The Holy Ghost.

3 For more recipe options go to ultimatedanielfast.com, dish.allrecipes.com/recipes-kick-start-daniel-fast and Pinterest. Amazon Kindle also has books with Daniel Fast recipes. Day #1 A Hunger for God Exodus 33:13,18(NKJV)-13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in your sight, show me now your way, that I may know you and that I may find grace in your sight. And consider that this nation is your people 18And he said, Please, show me your glory. Too often our busyness has taken over and has replaced and even superseded our love for God Moses had been faithful in the business of leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, but the work for The Lord could not replace his hunger for The Lord. It was his hunger for The Lord that caused Moses to ask God to show him his ways. Moses had seen enough in dealing with the business of God to know that God does not function like the world and the world does not function like God. Moses recognized that in order for him to continue to progress he would have to know the ways of God. The Children of Israel did not recognize their need to know the ways of God and as a result they turned the blessings given to them by God for the purpose of glorifying God (all the gold given to them by the Egyptians when they left Egypt) and used it to make an idol that they could worship. Basically they started worshipping the gold they had acquired instead of God. Deuteronomy 7:6 (NKJV)- For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. God s chosen people are a special people not because of wealth or power, but because of his son Jesus who we are a part of. God has a great love for his own above all other people and our actions ought to reflect that we are chosen by God and are special to him. It is because of knowing the ways of God that we are not acting like and hungering after the same things as the world Our attitude should not be one of conceit; instead we should be overflowing with thankfulness to God. Lord, forgive me for the times when I allowed my life to become so busy that I placed you on a back burner and allowed the cares of life take precedence over my relationship with you. Forgive me for even allowing the taking care of your business become busyness and I put more time and effort into that than I spent with you. In this coming year help me to see where I allowed other things have my worship, a worship reserved only for you. Bring me back to reverence for you and you alone, that I may see your glory.

4 Day #2 Know the Ways of Our God Jeremiah 5:4(NKJV)-Therefore I said, Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they do not know the way of the Lord, the judgement of their God. Hebrew definitions of way and judgement: o Way- 1 manner, habit, of course of life (fig.) moral character of (fig.) o Judgement-proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan, timing All who do not know God and his way are poor and foolish regardless of how much money or worldly wisdom they have. It s of ultimate importance to know God and thankfully he helps us to know him. Matthew 6:33(NKJV) But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Believers must bet understanding about Gods Kingdom and how he has set it up especially in the area of operating in it. We need to know what our King has set in place and how he does things. Before we were saved, we were a part of a different kingdom, Satan s kingdom, and the operation of that kingdom is much different than the operation of God s Kingdom. The laws, ordinances and governing principles in the two kingdoms are very different and we cannot operate in God s Kingdom the same way we operated in the kingdom of Satan. In the name of Jesus I decree that this year will be a year of going after God s way even the more. I will be watchful of the tricks of Satan to try to influence me to do the opposite of God s character and God s will. Lord, I know that when I set my heart to go in your direction, your Spirit will help me, will teach me, will encourage me and our relationship will become even stronger. I will not be poor and foolish not knowing the way of my Lord and of your judgements. Instead I will be named among the wise and understanding because I have set my heart to know your ways. In Jesus name, Amen!

5 Day #3 Kingdom Principles/Precepts Psalms 111:7-10(NKJV)-7The works of his hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure. 8They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9He has sent redemption to his people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. Verity-1: the quality or state of being true or real 2 : something that is true: a fundamental and inevitably true value Justice-the quality of being just, impartial, or fair: the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action: the administration of law-the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity Precept-1: a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action 2: an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official All kingdoms and governments of the world have a trait that is taken from the Kingdom of God and that is all have precepts and principles (laws) that its citizens are to follow and obey. The difference is that the laws of the Kingdom of God are true, upright, sure (will bring about the intended outcome) and will stand forever. The laws of the Kingdom of God supersede all other laws whether they are natural laws (i.e. law of gravity) or governmental laws established by various governments upon the earth. Spiritual laws (Laws of the Kingdom of God) are of highest rank and importance. Lord, bless me with a good understanding. Bless me to be one who recognizes your precepts supersede all others including those precepts that I have developed and may have lived my life according to in times past. I stand before you recognizing that you are the authority and I your subordinate. Please forgive me for the times I placed my will above yours. Holy Spirit, continue to instill truth in me so that my life comes forth as one of wisdom and understanding, as one who has been redeemed, as one who is a partaker of the covenant the will endure forever and one who will praise your holy and awesome name forever.

6 Day #4 Jesus s Words John 6:63-71(NKJV)-63It is the Spirit who gives life: the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray him. 65And he said, Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by my Father. 66From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. 67Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away? 68But Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve. Vs 63 The Spirit gives life -The words that Jesus gives are spirit and life therefore the information given by Jesus are of great benefit to his people. Jesus is teaching us about his teachings. Making known that his words are unlike the words of any natural person. His words are full of life not only at that time when he was physically on the earth but are also full of life in our time even though he is not physically on the earth. His words are eternal and do no cease pertaining to a time period. Jesus s words are of the Spirit of God therefore his words are spirit and they are life. Vs 67 Jesus is basically asking his disciples if they believe. To exercise faith in God is to do what the Word of God says to do. It is to carry out God s instruction with the expectation that God will back up his word. We often will read or hear The Word but go no further and never put it into action. We think because we know The Word with our mind it is the same as having faith in God. Jesus knows when belief is in the heart because belief causes an individual to trust and stay with Jesus and continue to follow, obey, submit and put self out of the way for his way. This is why Jesus states to the twelve that one is a devil. Jesus knew real belief was not in the heart of Judas and later Judas s actions made known that belief was not in his heart. Jesus, I believe your words are Spirit and life and are of eternal life. I may not understand all that you are saying to me, but I believe your Holy Spirit is able to bring about understanding; therefore until then I will continue to do and not back down because I know everything you say is of great benefit to me and you are faithful to back up your word.

7 Day #5 The Getting Of It (Understanding) Proverbs 4:5,7(NKJV)-5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 7Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Wisdom is the accumulated knowledge or learning gained over time Understanding is clarity, discernment, knowledge and the ability to judge (make distinctions between good and bad or even between good and better or best) Luke 24:32,44,45(NKJV)-32And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us? 44Then He said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. 45And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. A person may have natural knowledge and still not have spiritual understanding (clarity, discernment or the ability to make good judgements). The disciples had gained information about the Scriptures while Jesus was with them during the three and a half years of his ministry, but they did not gain understanding/clarity. Jesus himself had to open their understanding. We as believers cannot obtain understanding without the help of Jesus. We can read the Bible and literature written about the Bible and Bible principles and still not obtain understanding. This is why Proverbs tells us to get wisdom but make certain we get understanding, and understanding will only be obtained by being in the presence of Jesus by communing with The Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Christ with us on the earth today. Otherwise we will only be gaining a natural understanding but never spiritual clarity and without clarity our ability to make wise judgements will be hindered. Holy Spirit, thank you for making known to us what things we are to be going after; both wisdom and understanding. And fortunately for us we don t have to search very far because both come from you and you stand ready to give the very things you told us to get. I thank you that you don t even make it difficult to get, all that is required is for me to be in your presence and allow you to teach me. Just as the disciples were in the presence of Jesus as he taught them the Word of God. Help me to value the time I spend with you and not try to rush through as if trying to accomplish a dreaded task or make our time together merely infrequent visits. Help me to be as those disciples on the road to Emmaus, who enjoyed the presence of Lord and his teaching so much that they constrained him and asked him to stay longer. Help me to recognize when you allow wisdom to come my way in the church or outside the church or from my Pastor or the Elders or Godly men and women you place in my path and I pray that the wisdom you allow them to impart to me, you take it and open up my understanding give me clarity, discernment and the ability to make good judgements. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

8 Day #6 What Kind of Ground am I? Matthew 13:19-23(NKJV)-19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles (KJV is offended). 22Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understanding it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixth, some thirty. Jesus depicts the word of God as a seed that gets sown into the heart of the hearer. Jesus also makes known four different types of hearts that the word gets sown into. It is important for us as believers to look at each of these types of heart to see exactly where we ourselves are pertaining to The Word of God and not where we may profess to be or where we know we should be but yet may not be. 1. The wayside hearts-hearers of God s word but will do not strive to get an understanding of what has been said. These will not seek to study, meditate nor commune with The Holy Spirit for clarity, discernment nor the ability to use what was sown (spoken) in order to make good decisions. Because there is no understanding the enemy has no problem coming and taking the word that was sown. 2. The stony hearts-these hearers receive and understand God s Word and are filled with great joy. But when the application of the Word brings about an experience that is hard to bear either from other people or from within oneself (i.e. changes that the soul or flesh won t want to make or pride that won t want to admit the current way of doing things is not according to God s word) the person stumbles. The attitude of joy because of the word changes to offence and there is now a change from doing what the word says to ceasing in doing and many times will come up with excuses for why the doing has ceased to convince self that the reason the doing has stopped has nothing to do with being offended by the Word. 3. The heart with thorns-these hearers receive, understand and will find themselves starting to apply God s word to their lives, but will allow the cares of this world (family, friends and circumstances) and/or the deceitfulness of riches (jobs, money, bills, material gains or losses) slow down and eventually halt the production of God s word in their heart. They will find themselves putting more and more emphasis on the cares and the riches than on God s word eventually choking God s word right out of their heart. These will often use excuses also such as God knows I need money, God understands that I have to work or God is the one who gave me these children/spouse to convince themselves that they are in line with what God desires for them and are not putting other things before him. 4. The good heart-these hearers receive, understand and apply God s word. They don t allow difficult experiences halt them or the desire for worldly things choke God s word out of their heart. But instead will find God s word producing more and more in them out of their continued seeking The Holy Spirit for greater clarity and discernment of the Word sown in their heart. Holy Spirit, help me to see my heart as you see it. Forgive me for allowing word to be snatched away from me because I failed to gain understanding. Help me to overcome difficult experiences by increasing my faith in you and in your word. May pride be brought down and my heart submitted to

9 your way. May every idol in my life be brought down and you the true and living God be the only God that sits on the throne of my heart. Help me to cherish your Word and the understanding of it. May your word produce and continue producing in me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Day #7 In the Beginning was the Word John 1:1,4-5 (NKJV)-1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Jesus s words are from the eternal mind of God and have neither beginning nor end. His words are also so powerful that demonic forces can t hold them back. John 8:26-28(NKJV)-26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but he who sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him. 27 They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father taught me, I speak these things. The words that Jesus spoke were taught to him by the Father and Jesus taught his disciples how to speak those same words. Jesus is now teaching us through The Holy Spirit how to speak words that are Spirit and life and are of eternal life. All too often our speaking is not spirit and life but is full of negativity and defeat. Our words never line up with the words of Jesus and we experience defeat instead of the victory that Jesus has won for us. We must recognize and stop operating in things that are not working and also stop being satisfied with having things that can be obtained by the world. James 4:17 (NJKV)-Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. Sin is unprofitable to God and not doing what we know to do cause us unprofitable and unproductive in the Kingdom of God. Thank you Jesus for this mighty weapon you have given your people, the ability to speak your word. It s no wonder Satan tries to come against our speaking because when we do we are operating just as you did when you were physically on the earth. This is another area that we can utilize and find ourselves looking just like you. Help us to grow and mature in our conforming to your image by simply opening our mouths and speaking your word.

10 Day #8 Speaking Gods Word Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)-This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. God is talking to Joshua telling him to meditate upon the Word of God day and night. Meditate-to utter, to murmur, to speak, to plan, to plot-engaging the mind God is telling Joshua never to stop speaking the Word of God. Our mouth plays a major part in our ability to experience victory. As we speak God s word we are speaking words full of faith. God s words are not empty words but instead God s words give understanding of the victory that he has given us, it gives us to see ourselves as he sees is, it gives us understanding of the many benefits and blessings he has already given to us and are available to us and God s word gives us understanding of his plan for us to prosper and succeed. Meditating (speaking Gods Word) day and night causes faith to be built up, allowing us to paint a picture of ourselves that God himself sees so that we can come forth just as he pictures us coming forth. Satan will strive to have us speaking words that contradict God s paining. This will cause us to come forth in ways other than the way God s word is saying. Observe to do-doing is about obedience If Joshua was compliant with God s instructions in Joshua 1:8 then his words would have been filled with faith and faith brings about obedience (a doing of the things spoken) which leads to prosperity and good success. Where there is a lack of faith there will be disobedience which leads to defeat and no experience of the victorious life. This was true in Joshua s time and also in our present time. Lord, thank you for your instructions. I understanding that these instructions were not only for Joshua s benefit but also for my benefit and if I follow your instructions and speak your word from my mouth, then my words will be full of the faith of God that brings about obedience and my way will be prosperous and I will have good success. Amen!

11 Day #9 Faith That Produces Obedience Comes By Hearing the Word of God Romans 10:16-17(NKJV)-16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Vs 16-Gods will was not obeyed by the children of Israel because of lack of faith. They did not believe the report of the Lord. Belief is a conviction of truth that causes an individual to live out their life based on the truth that they believe. When something is said that is not believed no real action will be taken. V 17-The basis for belief for the Christian is the Word of God. God s word is alive and has a voice that speaks. As we hear the voice of God s Word faith comes to the believer. This faith is the faith that comes from God and causes obedience. Faith Comes means that faith has the ability to continually come or increase as we continue to hear. Hear-listen, attend, obey, observe what is commanded We must place ourselves into a position where we re not only hearing God s but we keep hearing God s word. Father, you have made it known that without faith it is impossible to please you, you make known to us that faith comes by the hearing of your word and you have provided your word that I may hear. You let me know what is needed and provide what I need. I must have faith, the faith that comes by hearing your word in order to observe what is instructed in your word. Help me to recognize when faith is not operating in my life and when I do not believe the report of The Lord. Holy Spirit, help me to position my life so that I m not only hearing but I m continually hearing. Help me to prioritize the hearing of your word as first priority and how to place everything else in its proper place behind that.

12 Day #10 Grow in Faith Mark 11: 13,14(NJKV)-13And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14In response Jesus said to it, Let no one eat fruit from you ever again. Jesus cursed the tree because it was nonproductive. It was an unprofitable tree. God desires his creation to be profitable, a blessing to others. It is possible for believers to be just like that fig tree, bright and leafy (looking good) and yet at the same time unproductive/unprofitable in The Kingdom. Mark 11:22(NKJV)-So Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. The word have means to possess. We cannot have/possess anything in God that is not of God. Meaning that this faith is not produced or developed out of our own selves, but it originates with God and is given by him. This faith gives us to trust in the unseen. That which cannot be perceived with our natural minds or our five senses. The disciples were surprised to see the tree that Jesus cursed the day before now withered away. Jesus did not need to stay at the tree to wait and see if the tree was going to wither. The faith that comes from God gives a knowing that even if something does not happen immediately, there is still an expectancy that it will happen regardless of what things look like at the present time. Believers often mistake The Faith of God for what is actually a great desire or need for something and a hope that God will do or provide. This is not The Faith of God. The Faith of God comes from God at salvation for the purpose of believers living our life and coming forth in our living like God, like sons and daughter of The King and joint heirs with Christ. Hebrews 12:29(NKJV)-Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus can be seen in the Bible. As we read and study our Bibles we should be looking to see Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. It is impossible to develop The God kind of Faith, The Faith that belongs to God, without looking unto Jesus. The more we operate in this faith the more it will grow and mature. Lord Jesus, thank you for providing all that I need of to live a productive life, a life that is profitable to The Kingdom of God. You have given me a measure of faith, the faith that can only come from God, and with the help of the Holy Ghost I will look to you for the perfecting and finishing of it. As I read the word of God Holy Spirit help me to see Jesus clearly, so that I can walk in the same faith he authored and also walked in and as a result God the Father is well pleased in him. So shall my life be one that is productive and profitable and the Father is well pleased in. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

13 Day #11 Levels of faith 1. Romans 12:3 (NJKV)-For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. The measure of faith given is not to all mankind but only to each Christian believer. 2. Matthew 6:30(NKJV)- Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Little Faith deals not with the size of faith but the use of faith. This person is saved but allows the cares of life to hinder them. This type of believer is not using faith to its full capacity. They have difficulty trusting God to meet needs. They may profess with the mouth but their life shows the true fact of underutilized faith. 3. Romans 4:19(NKJV)-And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah s womb. Consider-to perceive, to observe, to understand, to consider attentively, to fix ones eye or mind upon Persons of weak faith will take into consideration their own abilities or contribution in determining whether or not God s promises will be apprehended in their life. A person of strong faith will not consider their own abilities pertaining to God s promises. No matter how long it may be before the promise is manifested these will continue to live their life as if the promise is true. 4. Matthew 8:10(NKJV)-When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Those with great faith are able to take God at his word. Once God speaks they live life as if that which God spoke is already so. At times sinners can receive from god that which should be for the people of God. Sinners, with the help of god, can experience great faith for a specific thing i.e. physical healing. This should be the level of faith all covenant believers should be living or striving to live their lives out of. 5. Acts 6:8 (NKJV)-And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Full of faith pertains to working in the supernatural. A believer must take in the Word of God that has been studied and truly live it out. Not only must God s word be lived out but the believers focus will not be on self-desire, but will be on the desires of God s heart. 6. James 2:5(NKJV)-Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? The poor of this world who belong to Jesus have the ability to constantly rely and trust God to provide for basic needs. These are the ones who will use their authority as heirs of the kingdom and decree and declare things that are not as though they are and experience God s power backing their declaration. Lord, thank you for showing me in your word where my level of faith truly is and help my heart not to be content with just having faith but stir up a desire to grow and mature in my faith. Holy Spirit, help me to

14 cry out just as the disciples did and say Lord, increase my faith. I desire my life to be one that others can see you not only in what I say but how I live, by the faith of God. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Day #12 The Measure of Faith, Now Do Something With It! Romans 12:3 (NJKV)-For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. The measure of faith given is not to all mankind but only to each Christian believer. This measure of faith is from God therefore it is God s faith. God s will is that the measure of faith that he has given be developed and built up. Faith is developed by use. As we use God s word faith becomes developed so to the point that not only the believer him/her self will see it but others will notice it as well. Heb. 5:13-14 NKJV-13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.14but solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Everyone who partakes only of milk-those who only hear the Word of God but do not put it into use James 1:22 & 25(NKJV)-22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 25But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If we only hear and do nothing with it, it does not benefit us. Some believe they have faith or have a developed faith because they have heart the Word of God, but James and Hebrews gives us to know that real faith will only mature or develop by doing. Acting on the Word that God gives us is to our faith what exercise is to our muscles. Time and effort are needed to develop body muscles and time and effort will be needed to develop spiritual muscles or faith. If time and effort are not given natural muscles will atrophy. That is a person will lose what they once had. The same is true for faith. If time and effort are not given the measure of faith will be lost. The measure of faith must be protected! We need a constant flow of God s word to keep our faith fresh. If we are not careful we will find ourselves trying to operate on yesterday s faith. We must be cautious of giving to much attention to secular things. Even though those things may not be sin they will take time and effort from developing our faith because God s Word will get neglected. Natural muscles can be developed through resistance training. Faith can also be built up by resistance training. Sometime God will allow circumstances to affect us in such a way that we must use our faith to press against or resist it. The more we resist the more muscle/faith we develop, but if we give up there can be no development. We must always remember God himself is backing our resisting and he won t allow that thing to defeat us as long as we are using his word.

15 Thank you Lord for the measure of faith that you started me with and now I know your desire is for me to develop it. I will protect what you have given and keep it fresh with a constant hearing from you. You gave it and only you can keep it fresh. Give me wisdom in knowing when and how to apply so that I mature and develop in faith and strength me when pressures of life come help me to take full advantage of opportunities to do resistance training and not back down but stand firm in your word knowing you ve got my back! Day #13 Living the God Kind of Life Luke 17:3-5(NKJV)-3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. 5And the apostles said to the Lord, increase our faith. Jesus was teaching his disciples that part of living the God kind of life included forgiving an individual seven times in one day if need be. This type of attitude is not optional and not a suggestion but mandatory for citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. The disciples realized they could not live out this teaching from Jesus. They did not have a conviction to be able to do as Jesus taught. The disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. Knowing that the faith that comes from God produces the ability to do what Jesus says to do. It produces the ability to live the God Kind of Life. This faith that is God given cannot be produced out of our own selves. The disciples realized this and asked Jesus for their faith to be increased. As we see our faith not at the level needed to live as kingdom people, we need to do like the disciples and go to the Lord and ask. This is not the time to move farther away from him or even think he will increase out of his love for us. We must seek him in our communing with him and ask for faith to be increased. Holy Spirit, it is you that teaches me how to live the God kind of life I know that much of what you have taught me I m not able to live out, but help me so that I might come forth just as the disciples did and not allow pride, stubbornness, laziness, slothfulness or any other work of flesh or the devil keep me from coming to you, the one who provides the faith I need to live the victorious life. Help me so that I don t allow my short comings keep me from experiencing all of the abundant life that you purposed for me to live, but instead come to you my loving Father and receive the help that I need, the help you are glad to give. Thank you Lord

16 Day #14 Spiritual Blessings Ephesians 1:3(NKJV)-Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Blessed by the God this denotes the disposition that every believer should have, one of constant thankfulness toward God. Who has blessed us makes know to us that it is God himself who has blessed believers and he has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. Believers need to understand that all blessings come from God, spiritual and material blessings and we are to express thankfulness to God for all his blessings. While thankful for all blessings we must not get caught up on the material blessings because they are short term. They have an expiration date and are not meant to be long lasting. Whereas spiritual blessings are eternal. They do not expire and are meant to be everlasting. Satan will often deceive believers into a false assumption that material/tangible blessings are of greater worth and power than spiritual blessings. He will try to keep believers operating in the material. He knows that spiritual blessing are like God himself and just as he can t come against God, he can t come against spiritual blessings. Spiritual blessings come from God to those in Christ by The Holy Spirit. Jesus was sent by God so that the blessings formulated in heaven could be obtained by men and women on earth. They are communicated by The Spirit of God into the regenerated spirit of believers and cannot be obtained by any natural or earthly means. These blessings belong to all believers. The blood of Jesus has sealed them for us. But not all believers will be able to operate in them due to a lack of understanding the value of spiritual blessing and/or under appreciation of spiritual blessings resulting in the blessings God has given never being accessed. Lord, I thank you for every blessing for you truly provide every good and perfect gift. Help me to discern between the gifts that are eternal and those that will expire. And when disappointment comes because the material blessing has expired help me to remember and rejoice because the spiritual blessings will still be in effect in my life and will never fail. Holy Spirit open my understanding so that I will appreciate what God has so graciously given and what Jesus suffered on the Cross so that I might have and operate in. Produce in me a great hunger not only for the spiritual blessings that can only be communicated to me by you, but also a desire to commune with you and The Word of God so that I will know in my spirit what they are, what they look like, how they operate and how to apply them to my life. Bless us here that we not allow what God has given to go undervalued, unappreciated and never accessed. In Jesus name, Amen!

17 Day #15 Consequences of Failing to Adhere to Spiritual Laws Ester 1:12,13,15,18 (NKJV)-12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him. 13Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king s manner toward all who know the law and justice,15 What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs? 18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the King s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath. Queen Vashti was instructed to appear before the king at a feast he was hosting, wearing her royal crown. The Queen was also hosting a feast that coincided with what the King was doing and refused to stop what she was doing to appear before the king as instructed. Often time s believers get so caught up in doing work for the Lord that we fail to adhere to God s spiritual principles/laws. We feel that the work we are doing will make up for the principles we fail to live by. Or we fail to get an understanding of Spiritual Laws and their importance as a result they do not become a part of our lives. God loves his people and has provided the very best for us. But his love for us cannot override his justice and righteousness. He has established spiritual laws to govern his people and our failure to obey them (i.e. laws of love, forgiveness, faith, giving, sowing and reaping, fasting and prayer just to name a few) not only cause us to miss out on what he has for us but there is also a ripple effect to our disobedience, it will cause others to follow in our disobedience. Ester 2:1 (NKJV)-After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Even though the king loved his wife and was upset over what had happened to her, his love for her could not undo the consequence of disobedience to the law. When we fail to obey God s Spiritual Laws we tie his hands and we end up losing out on blessings that are tied in with those particular spiritual laws. Sometimes we are asking God to bless us with things that are tied to a Spiritual Law that we are not in obedience with and until we become obedient to that Spiritual Law we will remain without in that area. This does not bring glory to God neither does this please him; God wants us to have life and life more abundantly it s His desire for us. He does not want us lacking in anything that his son, Jesus, has secured for us by his victory on the cross and his triumphant resurrection. Dear Lord, I m so very glad to be a part of your Kingdom, and as a citizen of your Kingdom I understand that there are Spiritual Laws that you have established that govern your kingdom and its citizens. Help me to understand your principles and their importance so that I won t find myself disobedient to the things you have put in place that should be in the lives of all your citizens. Help me that I don t take you love for granted and fall for the misconception that I can live however I choose because you love me. I thank you that because of your love you make known your precepts and

18 principles to me through the studying of your Word and through Godly men and women you have anointed to teach. You have also enabled me by the Blood of Jesus and the working of The Holy Spirit to walk accordingly, and for all of these precious expressions of your love, I say thank you in Jesus name, Amen. Day #16 Remember God in Your Heart, Be Encouraged and Stand Lamentations 3:21-24(NKJV)-21This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22Through the Lord s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portions, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him! Even in the midst of things not going the way they should be going, whether it is in our lives or even in the church (local and/or global). Don t allow discouragement to set in; instead remember God in our hearts, be encouraged and stand! Vs 21: o recall-to cause to return or to bring back- Sometime we can loose heart by the things we observe or experience and at those times we must bring back to our remembrance (into our hearts/our inner man). We must have an inner possession of God s Word because a mental knowledge only will not keep us in difficult times. o Verse 21 is basically stating This I bring back to my heart (my inner man), therefore I have hope (because of an inner knowing of God I can bring back to my remembrance things pertaining to God that gives me hope). Vs 22: o The first thing Jeremiah brings back to his heart is God s mercies. o God s mercies-god has an inclination to show kindness especially to his own people. God is inclined to be kind. It is in God s nature to show kindness. o Compassion- the seat of the emotions of the mind. God is mindful of his people. This goes beyond and awareness of us but He is active in our lives with a tender affection. o God s compassion does not fail to be there for us, he does not fail to be active in our lives nor does he fail to be interactive as counselor, provider and protector. We can count on God. Vs 23 o Jeremiah also brings back to his heart that God s faithfulness is as the mornings that God himself instituted in the beginning. There has never failed to be a morning, and God s great (sure, steady and unmovable) faithfulness will never fail. o We must also understand not only is God s faithfulness unfailing, but also that his faithfulness is to his word. We must not be deceived into thinking that God is faithful to me because he loves me or because I m his, but God s faithfulness is to his word. We experience God s faithfulness because of his word not because of anything we produce. Lord I thank you for the inner knowing of you, produced by The Holy Spirit and your Word, and when circumstances develop that cause things to appear in disarray I can truly say The Lord is my portion from within my inner man, and that which comes out of me is hope in you and not an improper response or reaction to a circumstance. This hope is not merely a mental thing but this Hope is active. I can experience it and others can see it working in my life. Holy Spirit, continue to help me to

19 remember God in my heart, be encouraged and stand even in the midst of opposition or difficulties. Thank you Lord, Amen! Day #17 It is Not Good for Man to be Alone Ephesians 5:17-21(NKJV)-17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not be drunk with whine in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Sprit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another in the fear of God. God designed mankind in such a way that other people are to be a part of our lives. Not only other people in general but also specific others (community of local believers, spouses, family and coworkers) It is Satan s desire that constant friction be in place between us and the other people who are in our lives. At times this friction can be between others in general but usually between the specific others that are in our lives, but God gives us instructions in his word on how to decrease the risk of friction and experience life and life more abundantly with fellowship with other people as well as with God. Vs. 17 makes known that what is being taught is the will of The Lord and it is of utmost importance to us to understand these truths. Vs. 19 speaking to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs deals with how to speak to one another. In the book of Psalms, many of the psalms were written during times of great distress or difficulty, the psalmist poured his heart out to God but with great reverence and respect. This is how we are to address each other especially when we may not see eye to eye about a matter. We are to address the matter with reverence and respect for the other and also with a joyful heart. Not with anger, pride, jealousy or any other negative disposition, but with singing and making melody and giving thanks for all things to God in our heart to The Lord even when not seeing eye to eye with another especially the group of specific others in our lives. Lord, You designed me and you know me better than I know myself and out of your knowing me and loving my you gave instructions that I may live the abundant life and in this abundant life other people will be a part of it. Not only is this how you designed me and purposed me to live, but you also know my adversary, the devil, who is always trying to frustrate my life so that your purpose won t be fulfilled in me and you have given me a powerful weapon against him, your Word. Your Word makes known to me just how valuable other people are to my life and how to halt the enemy in his tracks when he tries to come in with friction between myself and the other people who are in my life. This that you have given is powerful and when I apply it that which the enemy is trying to produce will always fail. Thank you for providing me with such powerful weaponry. Strengthen me to be skillful in the use of it. Not being afraid to use it but bless me with confidence to know that it will always work. You have given it in abundance of it so I can use it freely and never worry that wear out or run dry. Thank you Holy Ghost for a constant supply of speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and singing and making melody in my heart to the Lord in Jesus name Amen.