[clickToTweet tweet=”Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do.”” quote=”Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do.””]
We form habits but then our habits end up forming us.
Most people have uphill hopes and downhill habits.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Everything worth-while is uphill.” quote=”Everything worth-while is uphill.”]
If you will take steps towards these habits, God will help you.
Three things we want to you to have:
- Hope for your future.
(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- Repentance from the past.
(Philippians 3:13 NLT) No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
- Formation of uphill habits.
(Romans 12:2 MSG) Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Habit #1:
- Come close to God.
(James 4:8a NLT) Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
(Psalms 73:28 NLT) But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.
- Come close to God with your heart.
(Isaiah 29:13 NKJV) Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
One of the best ways to draw close to God is through fasting.
(Matthew 17:19-21 NKJV) Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” (20) So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (21) However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
- Prayer connects is to God.
- Fasting disconnects us from the world.
Fasting is not trying to prove to God how much you love Him.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Fasting does not change God. Fasting changes you!” quote=”Fasting does not change God. Fasting changes you!”]
21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
- Have a purpose for your fast.
(Acts 13:2-3 NIV) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (3) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
- Declare our dependence on God. (first things set the priority)
- Ask for forgiveness.
- Refocus on the spiritual.
- Invite the presence of God in our lives.
- Believe God for answers to specific needs.
- Decide what you will do.
Make a commitment and stick with it!
Resources about fasting are located HERE on our website.
- Expect results.
(Isaiah 58:8-9 NIV) Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. (9) Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I…