Lifeline
“But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
On way to declutter and deep clean our hearts is through fasting. But why is it that prayer is so essential to fasting?
You see, the purpose of fasting, as we touched on in our last devotion, is for us to break a routine and allow God to disrupt our lives through a season of fasting. But we don’t do this with the intention to hurry through the season so that God will give us whatever we’ve been praying for. That’s manipulation. You can’t bribe God for a blessing.
You’re giving up something in the natural so that you become more aware of Him working in the supernatural. How does this happen? Through prayer.
When Jesus began teaching His disciples about spiritual discipline, He began with prayer. We so often forget the power of prayer, and in Christian culture, it can become so monotonous and mundane—so routine—that it loses all meaning.
What is prayer? It’s more than asking things of God; it’s more than saying what we know we should say but not really meaning it. “Dear Lord, thank you for x,y,z…bless this day, bless this food, help us to be more like You…amen.” Pass the biscuits. Where’s the power? Where’s the passion?
We don’t have to blow the windows out every time we say a prayer, but there’s a difference between praying because we should and praying because it’s our lifeline. It’s different when we realize that prayer is our doorway straight to the Father, and we feel like we’re going to burst at the seams just to know what He wants to say. I’ve got to know what You’re saying, Lord. I’ve got to be near You. How many times have we been that desperate for Him?
Prayer is communication with the Father. It’s where we learn His heart, and when we learn His heart, we begin to care less about what’s in His hands. Fasting then becomes less about the blessing and more about pursuing your Father. Prayer and fasting—you can’t have one without the other.
On way to declutter and deep clean our hearts is through fasting. But why is it that prayer is so essential to fasting?
You see, the purpose of fasting, as we touched on in our last devotion, is for us to break a routine and allow God to disrupt our lives through a season of fasting. But we don’t do this with the intention to hurry through the season so that God will give us whatever we’ve been praying for. That’s manipulation. You can’t bribe God for a blessing.
You’re giving up something in the natural so that you become more aware of Him working in the supernatural. How does this happen? Through prayer.
When Jesus began teaching His disciples about spiritual discipline, He began with prayer. We so often forget the power of prayer, and in Christian culture, it can become so monotonous and mundane—so routine—that it loses all meaning.
What is prayer? It’s more than asking things of God; it’s more than saying what we know we should say but not really meaning it. “Dear Lord, thank you for x,y,z…bless this day, bless this food, help us to be more like You…amen.” Pass the biscuits. Where’s the power? Where’s the passion?
We don’t have to blow the windows out every time we say a prayer, but there’s a difference between praying because we should and praying because it’s our lifeline. It’s different when we realize that prayer is our doorway straight to the Father, and we feel like we’re going to burst at the seams just to know what He wants to say. I’ve got to know what You’re saying, Lord. I’ve got to be near You. How many times have we been that desperate for Him?
Prayer is communication with the Father. It’s where we learn His heart, and when we learn His heart, we begin to care less about what’s in His hands. Fasting then becomes less about the blessing and more about pursuing your Father. Prayer and fasting—you can’t have one without the other.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God
February
Freedom from LabelsFaithful Before the AppointmentLabels Don’t Define YouPut Off the ArmorRun Your Own RaceA Champion, Not a ContestantThe Story’s Not OverWhat Really MattersWinning the Battle WithinYou Are Positioned for a PurposeYour Worth Is SetYou Are EnoughTake Off the MaskOn Purpose, For a PurposeKnown. Loved. Enough.What Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Trying to Hide?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?What Are You Chasing?Stop Faking ItAre You Living in Fear?Stop Hiding Behind Fear
2024
January
One Step at a TimeTrusting in the UnseenThe Path of True RepentanceThe Consequences of SinWhen Are You Going to Change?Short-Term Satisfaction vs. Long-Term RewardsWhat Has God Called You to Do?The Danger of Ignoring God's CallingThe Abundance Beyond ObedienceResting in His RhythmLetting God Work While We RestFaith Under ConstructionThe Purpose in WaitingAgainst the GrainNot of This WorldGuidance in ConflictEmbracing Grace in RejectionEternal InvestmentsImpatient Choices, Lasting ConsequencesGod's Timing in RelationshipsDivine Delays in CareersIn Pursuit of God's TimingIn His ImageAnchored in God's VerdictImmersed in His LoveA Heart Full of ThanksPerspective ShiftStrength in UnityExpressing SelflessnessGoing All In on God's Calling
February
Exceedingly, Abundantly BeyondUnraveling the Strength Within WeaknessBeyond Human StrengthUnfailing FaithfulnessIgnoring The SignalsBlessings in Obedience to God's WillWhen God's Plans Are Different Than YoursTrusting the Unseen PathDivine ConnectionsPurposeful Impact in Others' LivesAnswering the Call to Show UpFinding All You Need in GodValor in the Face of FearObedience Over ComfortAnswering God's CallTrusting God One Step at a TimeTrusting the Omniscient Guide
1 Comment
Thank you Pastor Ed. This verse I held on to tightly in a serious time of trouble for me. I was so worried about not being sincere with God. My motives can easily take over when others see or hear what I am praying for. With this I learned that no matter who is watching or listening I can go in my secret place and be real with my Father. In a way I have been fasting for a long time now. Even still at one point I fasted from something and prayed for someone a couple years ago for a week. This was only done because I was directed to by the Holy Spirit. I made it like 5 days but He answered my prayer. First He told me she was gonna be ok and then a couple months later I found out her stage 3 cancer was completely gone. I’m still trying to quit vaping but I’m not doing very well. My motive I think is the problem because I just want to do it because our church is doing it. Love you guys. I will keep praying about it.