Scriptures for Lent Pilgrimage From March 6th - April 20th: Part Two

The Benefits of Spiritual Fasting:

For those of us who long for spiritual intimacy with the Father, fasting and prayer affords us the opportunity to do so. Here are four spiritual benefits fasting can bring. Know that the sacrificial elements of fasting always incurs eternal benefits. There are those we want to win for Christ this year. Our temporary physical discomfort has spiritual rewards.

1. Ease Your Way into a Fast:

If you’ve never fasted before, begin slowly through prayer and daily meditation to help you keep your focus. For those with dietary constraints, fast from social media or other comforts unrelated to food. Begin by skipping one or two daily meals; replace food with prayer and petitions. You can also write the names of loved ones who you’re fasting for in a journal or on prayer card, to remind you how important this fast is. Come out of a fast gradually by eating broths and vegetables; don’t consume rich or heavy foods immediately. Celebrate spiritual breakthroughs when they arrive; trust that God sees and hears your earnest prayer and sacrifice.“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” Matthew 6:17–18 (NIV).

2. Fasting Leads to Greater Intimacy with God:

We deny our carnal nature in order to fulfill the desires of God. What He wills for our lives can be found through fasting and prayer. Our spirit and soul experiences joy because of fasting. It’s a decision to momentarily die to our flesh to fulfill the greater things of a mighty God who seeks us. “But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast” Mark 2:20 (NIV).

3. Surrender Personal Comfort to Gain Spiritual Clarity:

In this 21st century culture, it can lead us to becoming numb and uncaring to what matters to God, in which praying through a fast challenge and sharpens our spiritual discernment. We can use this fast to help us rid toxic things that come through social media, television, food, even a negative mindset. Keeping in mind that we can fast so that we can surrendered to Christ what we have concerns about that affect our local church our families and our neighborhoods. We also can gain wisdom and guidance through fasting, which will enable to discern the will of God through fasting and deep concentrated prayer life. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” Romans 12:2(NIV).

4. Opens The Heart For Spiritual Renewal,

Restoration and Revival:

When we open our heart during fasting, it gives us an opportunity to receive spiritual renewal and restoration as the Holy Spirit bring to revive our inner man. It will help us to kindle the Holy Spirit fire as we fast and pray. We become changed moral agents and intercessors for the broken and hurting during a fast. Our hearts are now revived and refreshed spiritually because of us allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our path of life.

Empowerment flows when we pray and fast, so we are much more capable to press into the greatest commission of our calling and purpose in Christ Jesus in order to gain souls for an eternal harvest. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV).

5. Prayer and Fasting Breaks Satanic

Strongholds:

Prayer and fasting helps us break free from demonic oppression, evil emotional barriers, Satanic stronghold and spiritual shortcomings. Jesus expressed to the disciples that they were unable to deliver a young boy of an evil spirit, because the lack of faith and they weren’t prepared spiritually. “He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer” Mark 9:29 (NIV). Praying while fasting positions us victoriously, as we are now equipped to be overcomers in Christ Jesus. Through deep prayer we can combat spiritual opposition and satanic strongholds. When difficulties arise, believers must understand that they have the ability to harness the potential of the Holy Spirit through fasting and prayer. Our barren hearts are refreshed and revived when we fast and pray. We are better equipped to dealing with the momentary trials we’ll face on earth because we’re aligned with God, his angels, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are equipped with “dunamis” might or strength to combat the enemy’s opposition. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke” Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)? Never forget that fasting and sacrificial prayer will not go in vain, nor your prayers will to unheard. It will always benefit those in your immediate circle and in the lives of believers in your community. Let God be good to you through fasting and prayer in this new season of your life. The Bible declares it all to be true, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him ” Psalm 34:8 (NIV).

Day 21 – March 29th:

“This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,”declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NIV).

Day 22 – March 30th:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” Matthew 5:6 (NIV).

Day 23 – April 1st:

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” Matthew 6:16–18 (NIV).

Day 24 – April 2nd:

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” Psalm 100:1–3 (NIV).

Day 25 – April 3rd:

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28–29 (NIV).

Day 26 – April 4th:

“Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered” Matthew 16:9–10 (NIV)?

Day 27 – April 5th:

““I have the right to do anything,” you say —but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive” 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV).

Day 28 – April 6th:

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” Matthew 19:26 (NIV).

Day 29 – April 8th:

“Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” John 4:33–34 (NIV).

Day 30 – April 9th:

“Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything” Acts 9:8–9 (NIV).

Sunday -March 31st (Non-Fast Day:

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”” Mark 2:23–28 (NIV).

Sunday – April 7th (Non-Fast Day):

““If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” Isaiah 58:13–14 (NIV).

Day 31 – April 10th:

“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust” Acts 14:23 (NIV).

Day 32 – April 11th:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” Romans 12:1–2 (NIV).

Day 33 – April 12th:

“Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered” Matthew 17:18–21 (NIV)?

Day 34 – April 13th:

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31–32 (NIV).

Day 35 – April 15th:

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV).