Two-minute read.

“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed”

Acts 14:23

Appointed Leaders

Going out of their way, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch to strengthen the churches and appoint leaders. The apostles encouraged the congregations to persevere in the faith when trials came because they would come. Suffering and persecution happen, but we find victory in Jesus. Once Paul and Barnabas appointed leaders, they fasted and prayed for the new elders, committing them to the Lord.

Studying today’s passage convicts me to fast and pray for pastors. The weight they carry as spiritual guides for the church requires God’s intervention. The Lord has high expectations for elders:

“Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable. He must not drink excessively or be a violent person but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money. He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way. For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, so that he won’t become arrogant and fall into the Devil’s condemnation. He must be well thought of by outsiders, so he doesn’t^] fall into disgrace and the trap set for him by the Devil.” 1 Timothy 3:2-7

Church leaders need the Lord’s help, and we must pray for them. As we know, all fall short of the mark, all sinners, including pastors and elders. Temptation falls their way, just as it does ours. Pride takes root quickly and can cause much destruction. Supporting and praying for spiritual leaders commits them to the Lord, strengthens ministries, and helps them persevere through life’s trials.

As you pray for the elders in your life, ask God to give them eyes to see and ears to hear His direction. Ask the Lord to protect leaders from the Devil’s attacks as they serve Him.  Pray for financial blessings for the church and sound budget management. Express gratitude for their willingness to serve you, sacrificing their lives for others. Petition the Lord to bless the work of the elders’ hands as they strive to grow God’s kingdom, one person at a time.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• What leaders do I need to fast and pray for today?
• What specific prayer requests do my spiritual leaders have?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for placing elders in our lives to help us learn about You and teach us to share Your love with others. As we come before You today, we ask for Your blessing on the elders in our life and their ministries. Please give them a clear vision and direction for their purpose. Protect them and their families from the Devil’s ploys. Strengthen Your appointed leaders for the battle ahead, and plant in their hearts the victory they have in You.  IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

Acts 13:3

Hands on.

When Barnabas and Saul received divine instruction on their next mission, the congregation laid hands on the men before sending them out. Commissioning the men by physically touching them, the group requested God’s blessing on the apostles as they left to minister to the Gentiles.

Throughout the pages of the New Testament, Jesus uses touch to heal people. Christ raised the ruler’s daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:18), healed the sick (Mark 6:5, 7:32, 8:22-25), and straightened the disabled woman (Luke 13:13). Jesus also blessed the little children by laying his hands on them (Matthew 9:13-15, Mark 10:16). Physical touch transfers energy from one person to the next. I feel the instant connection when I touch my husband’s hand; warmth exudes up my arm as our two bodies connect.

Laying hands on people shares your energy with them, strengthening and healing them. Physical touch stimulates the body, releases oxytocin, the “feel good” hormone, reduces anxiety and stress, boosts the immune system, and lowers blood pressure. Babies deprived of human touch fail to thrive and potentially die without physical love.[1]  In God’s grand design, we need touch.

“That’s the only hug I had all week,” a friend said to me at church after I greeted them. As a hugger, I typically wrap my arms around people in greeting and sharing God’s love. We don’t know what other people’s lives look like. Gratefully, I receive hugs often, but some people don’t. Even though that event happened years ago, I still think of it in amazement. How could someone go all week without a hug? But they do. And we should not forget that fact.

Laying hands on people and praying over them gives them power. Sharing our physical energy with others helps them find strength. Fasting and praying, then laying hands on people, brings a whole new level to the practice. As the congregation did, tapping into the Holy Spirit’s power gives divine help to those who receive the blessing. Partnering with God always leads to success, His will done on Earth as in heaven.

Barnabas and Saul enjoyed success, powered by the Holy Spirit, supported by the church, and spread the good news to the Gentiles, a ripple that has never stopped thousands of years later.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• How has someone’s physical touch helped you?
• Knowing Jesus healed through physical touch, how does it encourage you?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us strength through physical touch. Please help us share our strength and energy with others by laying on of hands. As we fast and pray, give us opportunities to encourage others with a hug, a pat on the back, or through laying on of hands as we pray for them. Let us share Your love with the world, now and always, one person at a time. IJNIP. Amen

---

[1] https://www.wvdhhr.org/birth23/raunewsletters/RAU7_Summer2018_PPNewsletter.pdf

Two-minute read.

“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.”

Acts 13:2

Set apart.

Luke, the author of Acts, describes how the Holy Spirit directs Saul and Barnabas’s ministry. Worshipping God in Antioch, fasting, and praying, a divine revelation gave the apostles a new mission. Luke doesn’t tell us the details of the special ministry, but the missionaries’ actions afterward show us they spread the good news to the Gentiles. The congregation joined together, laying hands on the two men and sending them on their way. The author remains adamant the Holy Spirit sent Barnabas and Saul on their way, no one else.

Seeking God through fasting and prayer does reveal things. As we set aside things of this world and focus on the Creator, we become more tuned into the Holy Spirit, able to hear the still, small voice and find direction. If we don’t quiet our souls and tune out worldly distractions, we can’t see the guidance God has to offer.

Fasting allows us to tune out the world. When we receive a strong Wi-Fi connection on our phone, songs flow effortlessly from the speakers, easy to hear and understand. However, when the signal weakens, the music stops flowing as our phone searches for a signal, trying to re-establish a connection. Fasting and praying strengthen the Wi-Fi connection between us and God, making it easier to hear and discern the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

If you don’t know what to do, fasting and praying will help you find direction. Dead ends create opportunities for miracles. In our limited vision, we see limited options. But the Lord always has a plan and a way out.

Tune into God and let Him show you the way out. Ask the Lord to open doors for You, closing the ones He doesn’t want you to go through. As you fast and pray, ask Jesus to show you the next step, then the next one, and the next one.

We don’t need to know the entire journey; we only need to know the next step we should take. Seeking the Lord through fasting and prayer will help us take the right steps at the right time. Our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s promptings will heighten as we dial into God and let go of worldly distractions.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• What area of your life do you need direction in today?
• How do fasting and praying help you tune into the Holy Spirit?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us direction through the Holy Spirit. As we fast and pray, let us tune into Your promptings. Strengthen our connection with You as we tune out worldly distractions and focus on You.  Help us continue to become more like Christ as we practice Your word and obediently follow You.  IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”

Ezra 8:22-23

Honest admission.

Ezra backed himself into the proverbial wall.  Proclaiming to the king God’s faithfulness in protecting and caring for his children, Ezra didn’t feel like he could ask the ruler for military help.  Praying his proclamations would come true, the nation fasted and prayed to the Lord, receiving divine intervention.

Boldly telling others about God’s power can seem daunting.  The devil lurks around, whispering doubts in our ears.  “God won’t protect you.  He doesn’t love you…” On and on the lies go.  When we call on the Lord, He listens and answers.  We may disagree with His response, but God always replies yes, no, or wait.

I’ve heard one of my favorite “Come to God” stories more than once from different people.    Oliver Anthony, the singer/songwriter whose song “Rich Men North of Richmond” spiraled him to fame, has one such story.  Anxious and depressed, he hit rock bottom and told God he couldn’t do it anymore. The singer gave his life to the Lord.

“We all sin, and we all do stupid things; we’re all just people.  Nobody’s special or righteous.” Christopher Anthony, a.k.a. Oliver Anthony[1]

Over the years, I have heard versions of the same story as Oliver’s.  People at the bottom of the pit ask God to give them a sign that He exists.  Something happens in that moment that convinces the person the Lord heard and answered, confirming His reality.  Life changes instantly as they begin to follow Jesus and discover new life in Him.

Ezra didn’t know how the Lord would respond to their fasting and prayer, but he never doubted God would answer.  Backed into a wall, only with the Lord’s intervention would they survive the journey ahead.  None of us can face a day with God.  We may not acknowledge His presence, but the Lord never leaves us; always present, always working.  Wherever life takes you, whatever path you follow, God goes with you, guiding and directing.  To follow Jesus closely, we must seek Him.  Fasting and prayer deepen our connection with the Savior as we humble ourselves before Him and seek His will.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• What happened that caused you to give your life to Jesus?
• How has life changed since you began following God?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for never leaving us and answering our desperate cries for help.  As we fast and pray, give us eyes to see and ears to hear You.  Guide and direct us on the path You want us to take, and help us fulfill our divine purpose.  Let Your power and glory shine through our lives, illuminating the world with Your presence.  May our actions honor You in all we do.  IJNIP. Amen

---

[1] https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2023/08/30/oliver-anthony-gets-emotional-telling-joe-rogan-about-how-god-changed-his-life-i-didnt-have-anything-left-in-me-i-feel-so-empowered/

One-minute read.

“A world without a Sabbath would be like a man without a smile, like summer without flowers, and like a homestead without a garden. It is the most joyous day of the week.”

Henry Ward Beecher

God created the world in six days and then rested on the seventh. The fifth commandment tells us to keep the Sabbath day holy. The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which means “to stop” or “to cease.”

Find a way to stop and cease from everyday life today. Attend a church service, take a leisurely nap, and spend time praying and seeking God. One of my favorite Sabbath practices involves praying over my calendar for the upcoming week. I love to write out my meetings in my journal and lift them to the Lord, asking for His blessing and favor on them. Trusting God’s guidance, I ask Him not to let me miss any divine appointments and to make any changes He wants to my schedule.

Make today the most joyous day of the week as you take a break from fasting and rejoice in the Sabbath.

Two-minute read.

“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.” 

Ezra 8:21

Safe journey.

We meet Ezra at the beginning of a 900-mile journey to Jerusalem with the Jewish nation, returning from exile after Nehemiah repaired the city wall. Before the descendant of Aaron begins the long trek, he proclaims a fast for safe passage. Since Ezra testified to the king about God’s goodness and power, he didn’t want to ask for a military escort; instead, he trusted the Lord for safe passage. God didn’t disappoint; he answered Ezra’s call.

Ezra seeks protection for the children because of their vulnerability during wartime. The vast treasures they possessed made the group a target for robbers. Only with divine protection could the nation pass unharmed on the long journey. Pursuing God first gave them the security they needed to move boldly forward and return to their home.

Seeking God through prayer and fasting before a long journey helps prepare the way. Like Ezra, I often ask the Lord for smooth passage, asking Him to take care of any obstacles and challenges for us, whatever the journey. Anxiety and fear try to stop me, but with God, I find the strength to take the first step.

“Lord, remove my anxiety and fill my heart with excitement,” I prayed in preparation for my latest trip. Fasting sugar and gluten, anxiety plagued me as I thought about the 400-mile journey home to Pennsylvania in the middle of winter. What if it snowed? What about black ice? What if something happened to Ron in my absence? The anxiety-ridden thoughts plagued my mind, but when I turned them over to the Lord, he replaced them with excitement and anticipation for the trip.

Taking the first step on any journey requires courage; doing it afraid defines bravery. Both require divine assistance, whether physically taking a trip or starting a transformational voyage. When we decide to move from one place to another, seeking God’s guidance and protection will make the journey easier. 

Decide what journey you want to take. Fast and pray, seeking the Lord’s divine assistance. Don’t take the first step until you consult God and find His direction. Trusting the Lord to provide, protect, and lead you will fill your heart with anticipation and excitement for the journey, no matter how difficult the terrain.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• What trip do I want to take this year?
• What divine assistance do I need from God to make the journey?

 

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for bending down and listening to our prayers. As we seek You, let us find You.  Go before us and smooth the way for our journey. Guide and direct us safely to our destination, whether physical or transformational. As we take the first steps, bless our efforts and encourage our hearts. Let us honor and serve You well as we follow You.  IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“That your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:18

Secret fasting.

During a fast, keep it secret. Don’t go around bragging.  The Pharisees, religious leaders, proudly shared their holiness, wanting human recognition. When they fasted, everyone knew it. Fasting for God privately receives a heavenly reward not seen by man.

Years ago, I did a ten-day fast because of a relational issue.  At my wit’s end, I turned to fasting and prayer to help me find victory.   What happened during the ten days didn’t change others but transformed me.  The Lord humbled me and showed me areas I could work on to improve the situation.  About halfway through the fast, I felt a breakthrough in my Spirit. “Great, I can stop fasting now,” I thought.  Immediately, the Holy Spirit responded, “Do you want a partial victory or a full victory?” I knew at that moment I needed to complete the fast to obtain a total transformation.

Over a decade later, God’s work in my life during those ten days still stands strong. Finishing the fast and allowing the Lord to transform me from the inside out softened my heart, changed my attitude, and improved my life. All done in secret, no one else knew at the time what I did.  But the Lord knew, and He honored my efforts and helped me become more like Christ, a journey that continues today.

Trying to explain the benefits of fasting doesn’t compare to doing it.  Discovering a deeper intimacy with God only happens when we put into practice His teachings.  Expecting us to fast, Jesus teaches us how to receive the most benefits from depriving ourselves of worldly temptations and focusing on things of the spirit.

“For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Experience God’s greatness by fasting in secret.  Draw closer to your Maker as you replace things of this world with time with Him.  Transform your life and become more like Christ through fasting and prayer.  Developing a regular practice of fasting will help you discern God’s will for your life and discover life to the fullest, fulfilling Jesus’s desire for you.  One hour at a time, one day at a time, one fast at a time, discover new life in Christ.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• What challenges you about fasting in secret?
• How can you make fasting a regular part of your life?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for fasting publicly.  Thank You for teaching us the importance of fasting in secret.  As we attempt to fast, help us do so in private, trusting You know the desires of our hearts and will bless our efforts. Reveal truths to us, expose lies, and purify our hearts as we earnestly seek You.  In all things, we give You the glory.  IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,”

Matthew 6:17

When you fast.

Jesus uses the word “when” in His explanation of fasting. In other words, God expects us to practice fasting regularly. The expectation Christ sets for fasting makes it an essential practice for anyone who follows Him.  Fasting focuses our attention on God. Eliminating something from our diet or life reminds us to seek the Lord for sustenance. Saying no to fleshly desires says yes to a spiritual connection with God. Focused on Jesus, we seek His attention, not the world’s.

Fasting food means feasting on the word. Jesus refers to food when He talks about fasting. Because we need calories to sustain us, like Christ when the Devil tempted Him in the desert, we can find nourishment from God’s word when hunger pangs strike:

“It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

Instead of indulging in lunch, we substitute the time by reading God’s word. I wrote my first book when I fasted from television. We can fast from anything that affects our relationship with the Lord. For me, watching T.V. had become an idol. To break the bondage, I gave it up for a period. Traveling for work, I remember sitting in my hotel room, wondering what to do since I couldn’t turn on the T.V.  Opening my Bible, I found a scripture that inspired me to begin writing. By the time I finished my fast, I’d written a book. God does amazing things when we intentionally seek Him.

Fasting from food or a worldly temptation puts God first in your life. Abstaining from a fleshly desire tells the Lord, I want more of You and less of me. Intimacy with God develops as we pursue Him wholeheartedly. Relying on God to help you overcome your dependence on things of this world will draw you closer to your Creator. You will begin to find God’s goodness as you seek Him.  Bonds will break, freedom will come as you deny yourself, and tune into the Lord on a deeper level.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• What worldly obsession hinders my relationship with God?
• How can I make fasting a regular activity in my life?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for instructing us on fasting. As we begin to practice abstaining, strengthen us and give us the tools to overcome the world’s temptations. Help us draw closer to You as we seek You.  Bless our efforts and help us transform our lives through prayer and fasting. Give us victory over our challenges; let Your peace reign in our lives. IJNIP. Amen.

Two-minute read.

 

Lent begins today.

In 325 AD, the Council of Nicea met for three months to reach a consensus on Jesus’s divine nature and His relationship with God the Father.  Historians believe the practice of Lent came from that meeting. Initially, the fast applied to new converts to the faith as an opportunity to repent and reflect before entering the baptismal waters at Easter.  Some churches did 40 days, including weekends, while others did not.  Some fasted on Sundays, others didn’t.  Everyone did the same fast, whatever the structure of the days:  one meal a day after 3:00 p.m., with no meat, fish, or dairy.  Pope Gregory I (590-694) officially made the fast 46 days, starting Ash Wednesday, not including Sundays. Observed by Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans, Episcopals, and Methodists, Lent has participants from all walks of faith.[1]

As for me, I learned of Lent as a child and loved it.  Fasting before Easter helps me keep my eyes on Jesus and His work on the cross.  Giving up something for Lent helps break bondages, and I fast different things each year.  Sugar, an addictive food for my sweet tooth, usually makes the list.  In the last few years, I have also tried to add a positive habit into my routine, like getting 10,000 steps a day or adding evening devotional time to my schedule. 

People fast social media, Television, food, activities, and other things.  Typically, people choose unhealthy things that they want to eliminate from their lives.  Replacing it with a healthy habit, like daily Bible readings, helps them transform their lives as they prepare for the sacred holiday.  If you decide to fast from social media, you can sign up for emails of my daily devotions at honestreflections.net.

Prepare your heart by centering it on Jesus through intentional sacrifice.  Whenever temptation comes upon you, use it as a reminder to pray and seek God.  For instance, when I fast sugar, and someone tempts me with a sugary delight, I silently pray, “Lord help me resist.”  When we fast, we shouldn’t brag about it but do it privately as a spiritual activity to draw us closer to God.  Fasting takes connecting with God to a whole new level.  For the next 40 days, excluding Sundays, we’ll look at fasting from a Biblical perspective as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

Join me on the journey of a closer relationship with God through fasting and prayer.  Only the Lord knows what the next forty days will bring, but all things become possible with Him.

Journal Questions:

• How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
• What could I fast over the next 40 days?
• What could I add to my life to draw me closer to God?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Jesus and the opportunity to grow closer to Him.  Show us what we should fast over for the next forty days to help us prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.  Strengthen us for the coming days as we submit our will to You, seeking Your guidance and direction.  IJNIP. Amen

---

[1] https://groundworkonline.com/blog/a-short-version-of-the-long-history-of-lent

Two-minute read.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Love remains.

When this life ends, love remains. We will no longer need faith or hope because we will reside in God’s perfect love for eternity. As we close out two weeks focused on becoming a better lover of God and people, remember, “the greatest of these is love.”

Wherever life takes you, fly on the wings of love. Before you speak or act, ask yourself, “Am I doing this in love?” If not, don’t say the words or do the actions. Couching everything in love means stopping and thinking before doing anything else. Slowing down and considering the situation will help us have healthier relationships and better outcomes.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30- 31

Jesus summarized the commandments into four words: love God and love others. We can only accomplish our divine purpose by remaining bonded to the Lord. If you genuinely want to become a better lover of Christ, spend time with Him daily. Make a relationship with Jesus a top priority over all others, even spouses and kids. If you prioritize God, it will affect every other relationship you have for the better.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”[1] Determine today to plan to love. Take what you’ve learned and turn it into a lifestyle of love. Find ways every day to do one act of love toward someone else. Maybe give grace, overlook an offense, and spend time with someone who needs company—maybe cook a meal for your friends or family. You can find many ways to love people when looking for them.

Respond in love in every circumstance. Sometimes, the most loving thing to do means doing nothing; other times, you must roll your sleeves up and get to work. The situations God brings into our lives become opportunities to grow and become more like Jesus, who exemplified a lifestyle of love.

In Christ, we can do all things. We can love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable, and become new creations, one day at a time.

Receive the love God offers, renew yourself daily by spending time with Jesus, and share it. Turn the world upside down with love, just like Jesus did!

Love Challenge:

Keep the love going. Decide to do one loving act a day, every day. Change the world by sharing God’s unconditional, for everyone, love.

---

[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/460142-if-you-fail-to-plan-you-are-planning-to-fail