I’ll never forget the day our son-in-law, Matt asked us if he could marry Anne. As very-nervous-Matt stammered out the words after a few minutes of small talk, this thought went through my mind: “Oh my goodness, this the young man I’ve been praying for for 22 years!” I’d prayed for Matt while nursing Anne, through her grade school years and into high school. I’d continued praying for him as she settled into college life. I didn’t know his name, but I knew he was out there somewhere and that the choices he made before he met my daughter would someday impact her life. My intercession would make a difference!
Prayer is powerful. It changes things that we can’t see and makes a difference in our world that we can see. It purifies our heart, changes our perspective, and keeps us in a right frame of mind. Praying gives us strength. It allows us to hear God. It opens our heart to God’s perspective and voice.
I’ve spent alot of years praying while I do laundry, while I’m driving, while I’m doing dishes, while I’m carrying out my everyday mothering responsibilities. While I’m comfortable praying, I haven’t really done much with fasting.
The Bible tells us to fast and pray. In fact, there are over 80 examples of fasting in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Jesus, our #1 example for life fasted (see Matthew 4). And Matthew 6:16 says, “When you fast…” not if you fast.
Anything that controls us in some way is something we can fast from. When we feel hunger pangs, it is a reminder to pray. When we are tempted to pick up the habit that we are fasting from, it is a reminder to pray and focus on God’s truth.
Today is a first for Hearts at Home. Our leaders have set aside today as a day of prayer and fasting as we pray for direction for the ministry and for the moms and the families we encourage. Because my blog is a Hearts at Home resource, that means we’ll be praying for you today.
I invite you to join me in setting a day to “practice the presence of God.” it is sure to move you closer to Him.
Maybe you can join us in some way today. Maybe you can ask God if there is anything that is controlling you in some way that would be good for you to fast from. Maybe you can just pause this morning and pray for your spouse. Or your children. Or your child’s future spouse.
Because prayer does make a difference.
How is God challenging you to take a step closer to Him?
Love this post! Our pastor has had sermons similar to this over the years. He has a horrible migraine condition and if he doesn't eat, the migraines put him in the hospital. There are plenty of things we can fast from in order to focus more on God 🙂