“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” - Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV).
Does prayer and fasting pay? Possibly every follower of Christ has wondered. Fortunately the Bible is abundant with examples where God’s children fell on their knees, prayed and fasted, and God opened doors. One of those that comes through is Queen Esther.
Upon getting to know that there was a plot to annihilate her people the Jews, Queen Esther sent word, “Go gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maid will fast as you do. When this is done I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish. I perish (Esther 4:15).”
And what were the results! Not only did King Xerxes receive Esther with favor but yielded to her request, that spared the lives of the Jews! Possibly here we may wonder if Esther’s petition would have yielded as much result without prayer and fasting. We can’t tell for sure. But what we clearly see is that God opened door through prayer and fasting.
It is a good thing therefore in our lives when a matter is heavy on our hearts, never to hesitate but to bring it to God in prayer and fasting. It works.
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Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, may I in times of need never hesitate to drop everything and come to you in prayers and fasting.
Related upcoming events
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20/04/2024 - 21/04/2024 All day“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor 16:13)
Tourists who happen to visit Bukingham palace will be expected to notice the King’s royal guards. Dressed in colorful often red uniforms and adorning tall black helmets they stand on guard and no one dare cross them. Elsewhere in life we find guards in all manner of places quite firm on deterring any intruder wherever they may be.
For us Believers being on constant guard is a calling we must permanently observe. And why? Once in the course of his work, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mathew 16:23). Peter had just protested that he would not deny Jesus only to be sported out!
There is something for us to note here. Satan had penetrated the ranks of Jesus and was going through his closest disciple. It is clear that Peter was not even aware that he was being used. Anyway, he found his target, Jesus, was on guard. Immediately Satan was sent packing.
No Believer is immune to attacks from Satan. After all when once the Lord asked Satan his whereabouts: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7). Clearly the guy is out there 24/7 looking for whom to devour. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you have warned us to be on “guard” help me ever to be on the watch out for the attacks of the enemy and with your word rebuke Satan, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
