December 30 – Benefits Of Fasting

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.” Joel 2:15

Fasting has far greater benefit than physical weight loss. It is aggressive spiritual warfare that better positions you for miracles from God.

1) Fasting increases your power over TEMPTATION, power to resist the devil’s lies as Jesus did when he fasted forty days in the wilderness. (Luke 4:2)

2) Fasting is a cure for UNBELIEF, as referenced by Jesus in Matthew 17:21. He told the disciples that their power to command the devil would increase through prayer AND fasting.

3) Fasting heightens your DISCERNMENT. Fasting feeds the spirit as food feeds the flesh, bringing vision and revelation. (Daniel 9:3)

4) Fasting starves out STRONGHOLDS, both spiritual and physical. Bondages such as alcohol, drugs, and nicotine addictions can be starved out as the flesh is brought under subjection. (I Corinthians 9:27)

5) Fasting changes God’s mind and moves His heart of compassion, as happened with Ninevah. (Jonah 3:10)

PRAY: “Father God, I want my prayer life to grow. Give me the will to declare a fast that is pleasing to You. Feed my spirit with Your love. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

December 28 – Flesh Versus Spirit

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9

There is a spiritual battle going on inside of you every day.  It is good versus evil, the devil versus the Lord, or the flesh versus the spirit. The decisions YOU make every day determine the victor.

Your flesh is carnal and usually anti-God. Your flesh will tell you that you are too tired to go to church this Sunday. It is your regenerated spirit that motivates you to be obedient to God’s Word and desire to please God.

Here is the best part. If you have a genuine heart’s desire to obey God, then you are “walking in the Spirit.” That means that the Spirit of God Himself is helping you fight that battle. His Spirit is spelled with a capital “S” because He operates in the SUPERNATURAL. Your carnal flesh nature is no match for the supernatural power of the Spirit of God.

So, in the battle between your flesh and your spirit, you can say with the Apostle Paul, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

PRAY: “Powerful Lord, Your Holy Spirit is my Source of strength, and You cause me to triumph in all things. I will submit my carnal nature to the leadership of Your Spirit. Amen.”

December 26 – A New Day

    “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”  I John 3:8b

Christ is born and a New Day has dawned. The plan of God is unfolding, from the birth of His Son, to His death on the cross and glorious resurrection! And all for this purpose…to DESTROY the works of the devil; meaning, to destroy the works of SIN!

Scripture indicates that before ascending to heaven, Jesus descended to hell to “lead captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8-10) and strip the devil of “the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:18).

Today, God’s work of redemption is finished. You have been ransomed…redeemed from the devil’s slavery and adopted into the family of God. You are a son (or daughter) of God and God does not appreciate the devil messing with His children!

Take your authority today and stand against the works of the devil in your life. Send him a strong message. You can write it on the bottom of your shoe because, through Christ, you have put all things under your feet. (See Ephesians 1:22.) Once you were a slave to sin; now become a slave to RIGHTEOUSNESS! (See Romans 6:19.)

PRAY: “Redeeming Lord, You have paved the way for my eternal freedom from sin and death.  I am grateful. I will faithfully follow You today. Amen.”