The Power of Prayer and Fasting

I have been in meetings the last couple of days and have not been able to blog any. Tomorrow, the men encounter leadership team begins our three days of fasting and prayer. I am really looking forward to my time with the Lord during these days. I believe in the power of fasting and prayer. First, I love what God does in me during a fast. He makes me so much more focused and tuned in to the spiritual realm. My mind is clearer and crisp. My thinking is sharper. During my fasts as I join with others that are fasting, I begin to see the fulfillment of Isaiah 58 (see below) in my life and in others.

"The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. "Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. "If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry." - Isaiah 58:7-11

Jesus said that there are some demons that can't come out but by prayer and fasting. I really believe that. I think that if we as God's people would pray and fast we would see all kinds of things happen in our lives that we only dream about because of a lack of fasting. Encounter weekends are powerful because of fasting and prayer. I was in a meeting today with Pastor Mitch Maloney of North Cleveland Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, and he was speaking about how he has seen many lives changed in his church through encounter weekends. Just imagine what we could see happen avery Sunday in our churches if God's people would just pray and fast? You really don't have to wait for an encounter weekend.

Have a wonderful day!

-Pastor Randy