Day 21 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RESURRECT 

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” 

When Jesus rose from the dead, the same resurrection power that raised Him from the dead became available to every believer in Christ. 

This was not only resurrection life after we die, but resurrection power while we are alive. 

Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that we can walk in newness of life because of the Resurrection of Jesus. 

Just as Christ died and was raised from the dead, our old nature died when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we are raised into newness of life through that same resurrection power. 

Because of God’s resurrection power in us, sin shall no longer have dominion over us. There is a greater power at work in us than the power of our natural bias to sin and we no longer need to give in to what our sinful nature urges us to do. 

We are new creations, with a new nature, living by a new power. 

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (Rom 8:11) 

God’s resurrection power is in our spiritual DNA. 

Whoever has died will live again. 

Whatever has died can be raised to life again. 

God is the God who breathes new life into all that has died, so that He can raise all that is dead to life again, better than it ever was before. 

“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” (Romans 8:15-17 Message) 

May we experience God’s resurrection power in every area of our lives this year and may God do exceedingly abundantly, above and beyond we could ever ask or imagine according to His mighty power that works in us in 2019!

Day 20 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REQUEST 

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10) 

Jabez prayed a simple prayer that transformed his life and his world. He asked God to bless him, extend his territory, to be with him in all that he did and to keep him from evil and causing pain. 

And God granted what he requested 

God not only heard Jabez’s prayer, He answered his prayer. 

God not only answered Jabez’s prayer, he was waiting for his prayer. 

God is waiting to hear our prayer. His ear is inclined towards us, waiting, listening, attuned to our requests. 

The Psalmist wrote, “Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:2) 

God is waiting to answer our prayers. 

James says, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2) 

He goes on to say, “Ask in faith, without doubting….” 

Whether its salvation of our family or friends, wisdom, peace, healing, provision, protection, reconciliation, whatever our need, God is listening and waiting for us to ask and He will give generously to all who ask in faith. 

Paul writes, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6) 

Let’s make our requests made known to God this year, knowing that not only is God waiting for us to ask, but that it is His good pleasure to answer the prayer of faith we lift to Him. 

May it be said of us, as it was said of Jabez, “So God granted him what he requested”

Day 19 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REAWAKEN

 When Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau, who was seeking an opportunity to kill him, he went to sleep in the desert with a rock for his pillow.

 During the night he had a dream of a ladder between heaven and earth with angels ascending and descending on it.

 The Lord spoke to Jacob from the top the ladder and reiterated the promise He had given to his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac.

 God would give him the land he had laid down to sleep on, his descendants would be like the dust of the earth and in his seed, Jesus, all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

 God told him, “I am with you, I will keep you, wherever you go, I will bring you back to this landand I will not leave you until I have done what I promised”

 Jacob awoke from his sleep and said “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”

 Jacob was asleep in the desert, a fugitive and an exile from the land and  inheritance that was his.

 He had forgotten who he was, Jacob had become a schemer, a deceiver and it was only when he had a revelation of God and awoke from his dream that and began to remember his true identity.

 This was more than an awakening, this was a reawakening to God’s presence, purpose and plan for his life.

 Jacob’s encounter with God was a defining moment and turning point, he was reawakened, and would never be the same again.

 He called that place Bethel, meaning “house of God”, which had previously been called Luz meaning, “separation or departure”

 God turned a place of separation and departure into a place where He met with Jacob and reawakened him to His purpose and plan. 

 God turned Jacob’s sleep in the desert into a place of reawakening to God’s awesome presence.

 God’s purpose has forever been that His house would a place of awakening and reawakening.

 Whatever desert we may be in, whatever may be dormant in our lives, whatever deviation our journey may seem to have taken, wherever we may have lost our way, God is a God who can awaken and reawaken every area of our lives and His house will always be central to that.

 May God’s House this year, be for each one of us, a place of awakening and reawakening, just as it was for Jacob all those years ago. May our declaration be like his,  “Surely God’s presence is here, how awesome is this place!”  

Day 18 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RESIST 

When Paul wrote to the Ephesian church he said “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” he continued, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” 

As followers of Christ we have a spiritual enemy with a mission to “kill, steal and destroy.” In order for us to stand resolutely in our faith we need to be strong in our relationship with the Lord and to be filled with the mighty power of His Holy Spirit. 

Paul warns us not be ignorant of the enemy’s devices and exhorts us to put on the armor of God so that we may be equipped to resist every form of spiritual opposition we face. 

Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. (Ephesians 6:13) 

The belt of Truth – To keep us secure in Christ 

The helmet of salvation – To protect our minds 

The shield of faith – To extinguish the fiery arrows of the enemy 

The breastplate of righteousness – To protect our hearts 

The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God– To defeat the lies and work of the enemy 

“Put all of these on so that you may successfully resist and stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.” 

The good news is that when we know the authority that we have in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit the enemy will not be able to prevail against us. 

Jesus said “I give you authority over all the power of the enemy” 

James writes “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) 

Paul exhorts us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” 

When Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days, his prayer was heard by God on the first day, but the Angel that was dispatched by God to visit Daniel was obstructed by a demon, “the Prince of Persia”, until the Archangel Michael came to his aid. (Daniel 10:11-13) 

Prayer is an activity that the devil hates because he knows the power of the prayer of faith and he will do everything in his power to distract us, hinder us or obstruct our prayer. 

So let’s pray and fast, putting on the armor of God, strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, praying in the Spirit with the authority we have in Jesus’ name, knowing that as we resist the devil he must and will flee.

Day 17 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REJOICE 

When Ezra read the word of God to the tribe of Judah on their return from 70 years of exile in Babylon, they wept. 

The Temple and the city walls had been rebuilt but they did not know God’s word and they said to Ezra and Nehemiah “we are in great distress.” 

They wept because of the realization of how far they their hearts had moved from God and His ways and of how they had neglected His Word. 

Nehemiah stood up and said, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah writes that “the people went away to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.” 

Nehemiah proclaimed the powerful truth that joy gives us strength. 

The book of Proverbs says, “A joy-filled heart is curative balm, but a broken spirit hurts all the way to the bone.” 

Joy is like a healing balm that not only gives us strength also brings joy and strength to others. 

Nehemiah’s words highlight that it’s the joy that comes from God, that we find in Him, that is our strength. 

The source of our joy is often found in our circumstances or our situation but God is a limitless source of Joy. 

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) 

Jesus was saying “You will find joy in My words and My joy in you will be a source of great strength” 

Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!” (Phil 4:4) 

We may not feel like we have a lot to rejoice about, especially when we are going through difficult seasons, but God’s word shows us how many reasons we have to Rejoice. 

Here are just a few: 

Rejoice that our names are written in Heaven 

Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God 

Rejoice in the Truth 

Rejoice in the Lord 

Rejoice in our confident hope 

Rejoice that Christ is preached 

Rejoice that we do not run or labor in vain 

Rejoice in persecution for great is our reward in Heaven 

Rejoice in hardship and trials because our faith is being refined and is more precious than gold 

1 Peter 1:8 

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

May the Joy of the Lord be our strength in 2019!

Day 16 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RE-CREATION 

The Apostle John writes about the birth of Jesus, “And the Word became 

flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) 

When Jesus was born, His incarnation was the embodiment of God in human form. Jesus was both God and man at once, so that He could bring us back to God. 

The purpose of the Incarnation was Re-Creation. 

Jesus was born not just to make things better, not just to improve us or our world, He was born to make all things new. It was to make us new creations, to give us a new nature, created in God’s image. 

Paul writes to the Ephesian church “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” We were spiritually dead but Christ made us alive and gave us a new nature. 

You can’t improve or make what’s dead better! Jesus came so that we who were dead could be born again and become new creations. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17) 

Paul writes: 

“Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) 

In other words, stop trying to improve your old nature, put off your old nature and put on your new nature created in the likeness of God. 

We are born again and we become new creations when we received Christ as our Lord and Savior, however the process of our transformation is an ongoing process. 

Gods character can only formed in us as we put off our old nature, let God’s Spirit renew our minds and put on our new nature, created to be like God. 

As we Reset, Reframe and Renew let’s put off our old nature put on our new nature, be renewed in our minds and live the life God created and re-created us to live!

Day 15 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REDEEM

 In the midst of his affliction Job made this declaration of faith, “I know my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will rise and take His stand on the earth.”

 Job knew that despite all of the suffering and hardship that he was going through, God is a Redeemer and that his hope and trust was in the God who would bring redemption to him and be known to all the world.

 Job was able to find a redemptive purpose in his trial even though he didn’t fully understand what was happening and his friends were not able to help him.

 The Hebrew verb for to Redeem, "gā’al" means "to regain possession of by payment" or "buy back something that was lost."

 God said to the nation of Israel after 400 years of slavery “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” and He goes on to say “Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God”

 Jesus came to Redeem us from the curse of sin, so that we could be adopted as His children.

 What was lost is been restored because Jesus paid the price for our redemption through His blood

 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ”

 Our Redeemer lives and He came to redeem every area of our lives, body, soul and spirit

 The author of Psalm 55 writes:

 “Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me”

 God hears our prayer in the midst of our trial, He hears our cry in the midst of the battle and He has a redemptive purpose in everything that happens in our lives and in our world.

 May our declaration morning and evening and noon, be like that of Job and the psalmist, “I know that my Redeemer lives” and “I know that He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle that is against me.”

Day 14 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Fasting & Prayer

REBUILD 

When the city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians, the temple, the city and the city walls lay in ruins for 70 years. 

Although the Temple and the city were in ruins God had a plan to rebuild that which had been broken down, He had not forgotten His people or His plan. 

When the time came for the Temple and the city walls to be rebuilt God stirred the spirit of both Zerubbabel and Nehemiah to initiate the rebuilding program. 

Cyrus the Persian King allowed them to return and asked the Jewish people “who is there among you who will return to rebuild the city” 

The temple was rebuilt in 22 years and the wall remarkably in only 52 days. 

God is a rebuilder of that which has been broken down, of all that lies dormant in ruins. 

When the Spirit of God moves on anything that lies in ruins, whether it’s the life of an individual, a group of people, or anything that has been birthed by Him, He will take the rubble of the past and rebuild what has been broken down. 

God can take the rubble of our past and through His grace build something beautiful out of our lives. Brick by brick, stone by stone, God’s grace can make something beautiful out of even the most painful things or events in our lives. 

God is the Master builder and when He works rebuilding our lives He not only rebuilds every aspect of our lives but He engages us in rebuilding with Him. 

God says; “Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In” Isaiah 58:12

Day 13 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RESTORE

 David said in Psalm 23 “ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul”

 David penned this Psalm knowing what it was to take time to be still, to rest and allow God to restore his soul.

 Many of David’s early years were spent tending his father’s flocks and he knew the importance of allowing his sheep to lie down in green pastures, by the still waters so that they could be refreshed and restored.

 Time and again David went to God in prayer and meditation asking God to restore his soul.

 When he was discouraged he encouraged himself in the Lord, and God restored courage in Him.

 In one of his darkest hours David cried out to God, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12)

 David knew that God is a God of Restoration. Whatever has happened, or is happening God can restore that which has been lost. 

 Speaking of the restoration that God was bringing to Judah, Joel likened the destruction they had experienced to the destruction caused by the swarming locust. God was about to restore wall that they had lost.

 “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied” (Joel 2:25-26)

 God continues in His message to Judah, “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. Zech9:12 NKJV

 God is a God of restoration and His promise is that He will restore us when we turn to Him.

 What is it that we need to be restored and reset as we enter this New Year? 

 Whether it’s our first love for God, the joy of our salvation, our strength, our health or our soul, let’s pray that God will do what He promises in His word, “Even today I declare that I will restore double to you!”

Day 12 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RESOLVE 

Psalm 112 speaks about the blessings of those who honor God. Their hearts will be steadfast, they will trust in the Lord, they will not succumb to fear and their resolve will be firm. 

When the nation of Israel was about to enter the promised land God said to them: 

Don’t waver in resolve. Don’t fear. Don’t hesitate. Don’t panic. God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win.” (Deuteronomy 20:4 Message) 

When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church he said: 

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2 NIV) 

The word Resolve means to make up one’s mind, to make a firm decision about something. 

Resoluteness means to have a fixity of purpose. 

There is no doubt that without Resolve or Resoluteness we will never be able to enter into the blessings, the promises or the inheritance that God has for each one of us. 

Anything of real value will always require resolve and a fixity of purpose to attain. 

Jack Nicklaus said, “Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation.” 

He became one of the greatest golfers of all time for precisely that reason, he resolved never to give up. 

Let’s have that same resolve and fixity of purpose as we Reset, Reframe and Renew at the beginning of this new year, so that we are steadfast, unwavering and resolute in all that we do!

Day 11 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REPLENISH

For I [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.” (Jeremiah 31:25 Amplified)

 God spoke these words to Israel and Judah, while they are in captivity in Babylon, in exile from their homeland because of their disobedience and unfaithfulness to God.   

 Despite this, God promises to bring His people back to their land and to replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.

 The word “replenish” is the same word used in God’s first command to Adam, “be fruitful and multiply and “fill” (replenish) the earth” 

 It also means to “fill up again, to restock to a former level or condition”

 God’s tells His people that those who were scattered will be gathered together, the land will be replenished, He will give them rest and He will refill their souls with joy and gladness.

 God says, “I will watch over them to build and to plant,” ““I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 

 God promised this not on the basis of what Israel or Judah had done but on the basis of who God is, a God of mercy and compassion.

 God wants us to know that whatever has become depleted can be refilled, whatever has not been fruitful can become fruitful and whatever is drained and empty can be replenished and full.

 As we pray and fast, take time to Reset, Reframe and Renew, let’s remember God’s faithfulness and willingness to replenish every area of our lives so that we can fulfil our purpose and potential in 2019!

Day 10 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RELATE

 “Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (Luke 5:16)

 In these times Jesus would talk to His Heavenly Father. 

 The night before He chose the twelve Apostles, Jesus went up to a mountain and prayed to His Father all night.

 Jesus said that whatever His Father told Him to do He did. It was in these times of prayer that Jesus talked to His Father and His Father talked to Him. 

 Jesus drew His strength from His relationship with His Heavenly Father.  

 Prayer is a time when we draw closer to God and He draws closer to us.

 James writes, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8)

 Prayer is the secret place we find, where our relationship with God grows.

 We must never forget that the enemy came to kill, to steal and to destroy and one of his greatest strategies is to put distance between us and God. 

 Whether it’s through the distractions and cares of this world, through difficulties and challenges or through the neglect of daily disciplines, his goal is to put distance between us and God.

 The more important the relationship, the greater his efforts.

 Therefore, not being ignorant of his devices, we should be all the more intentional to do what Jesus did and make time to withdraw to places of solitude for prayer.

 Prayer closes the gap, prayer draws us closer to God and He will draw closer to us.

“Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Hebrews 5:16)

Day 9 - RESERT / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REVIVE

The writer of Psalm119 says, “Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord, revive me”

 He lifted his voice to God, confident that He heard him and that out of His lovingkindness God would revive him.

 The Hebrew word for “Revive” has within it the meaning, “to revive in fullness of life and God’s favor.”

 God hears our prayer and we can also be confident that He will revive us so that we can know fullness of life and His Divine favor.

 No matter what is happening in our lives, howeverimpossible our situation, however weary or tired we may be, God not only can, but promises that He will Revive us.

 The psalmist states the reason for his confidence in other verses in this Psalm.

 He prays: “Revive me…

 according to Your word (verse 107)

 according to your promise (v 154)

 according to your justice (v156)

 according to Your lovingkindness (v159)

 His confidence is in his knowledge of God and understanding of His nature.

 God will revive him because of the promises of His word, because He is a God of Justice and because of His lovingkindness.

 As we pray and fast, we can be confident that God not only hears our prayer but that He will answer. He answers not because of what we have done or what we may do, but because of who He is and because of what He has done through the finished work of Christ.

Day 8 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REFILL 

Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were filled with power from above so that they could be witnesses for Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 

Jesus was speaking about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was about to take place on the day of Pentecost. 

Pentecost was the Feast of Weeks when the nation of Israel celebrated the anniversary of the day God gave them the Law at Mt Sinai. 

It was significant that God chose this day on which to pour out His Spirit. 

God had given Israel His laws but they were incapable of keeping those laws without breaking them. 

The Apostle Paul who was an expert in the law made this clear when he said: “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” Rom:7:19 

He went on to say, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 7:24-25 

The Holy Spirit came like a rushing mighty wind so that we could be filled with a higher power and live a higher way. 

Paul said: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom 8:2 

The Old Law that had been in place for 1500 years was superseded by a higher law, a higher power. 

God sent His Spirit so that we could be filled with His power and live in a way that would be impossible to live in our own natural strength. 

Paul encourages us, “be filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly guided by Him.” (Ephesians 5:18) “Be filled” is also translated, “keep on being filled.” 

He reminds us that we all need to be filled and continually refilled with the Spirit of God. 

Let’s keep on being filled and refilled with the Holy Spirit so that we can live by a Higher power and a Higher way in 2019!

Day 7 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REFLECT

On the 7th Day of Creation God rested from His work. God never tires or gets weary. He not only has infinite energy, He is the source of all energy so He never needs to rest.

The word Rest in Hebrew means to “Desist or Cease.” God ceased His work and then spent the 7thDay contemplating and reflecting on His creation.

Reflection is therefore an integral part of God’s creative process and should be for every one of us.

The reality is that the faster the pace of life, the harder it seems to be to find time for reflection.

A sociological study was conducted in which 50 people over the age of 95 were asked: “if you could live life over again, what would you do differently?” The three most common answers were, “I would reflect more, I would risk more and I would do more things that would live on after I am gone”

We don’t lose time when we take time to reflect, in fact the latest research confirms the teaching of God’s word that Reflection improves our quality of life and our productivity.

Psalm 1:2-3                                                                                             His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season

David’s Psalms are referred to in The Amplified Translation as “A skillful song, or didactic or reflective poem of David”

The Hebrew word “Selah” is used 71 times in the Psalms and one of its meanings is: “Pause.” Pause and calmly reflect on what you have just read.

Prayer gives us the opportunity to reflect on God’s word, love and goodness. Let’s make these 21 Days a time of reflection so that we can be like the tree in Psalm 1, planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in season.

Day 6 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RECALIBRATE

To Recalibrate means, to make small changes to an instrument so that it measures accurately or to make changes to the way we think and do things for optimum living.

In a constantly changing, fast moving world it is necessary for us to constantly recalibrate so that we can stay on track with our desired purpose or destination.

 We all have to navigate external factors beyond our control, which require us to recalibrate the way we view and approach our world. 

 Everything that is left to itself will inevitably move from order to disorder, everything that is not continually recalibrated will tend to drift.

 Whether it’s our relationships, our vision, our mission, our culture or our values, drifting is a reality we all face.

 Our spiritual life is no different and times of prayer and fasting enable us to recalibrate our spiritual life.

 When Jesus found the disciples asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane in His hour of greatest need He said to them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into (be overtaken by) temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 Jesus was saying, we need to watch and pray so that we can calibrate our lives to the Spirit of God rather than our human weakness. 

 The Author of Psalm 119 said, “I thought about my ways and turned my feet toward your instruction.”

 He recalibrated his life and turned himself towards God’s word and God’s way.

 Let’s follow his example in these 21 days of prayer and fasting. 21 days to recalibrate as we watch and pray!

Day 5 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

REVIEW 

Taking time to Review our lives is essential if we are to keep growing and moving forward in our God given purpose. 

Reviewing our priorities, our activities, our successes and our failures is vital for healthy growth. 

Even God took time to review the work of His creation. 

Gen 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. 

God reviewed what He created and we must do the same. To Reset we must take time to Review. 

“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioning ability of man to evaluate his life by a conscious endeavor” Henry David Thoreau 

Our 21 days of prayer and fasting gives us the opportunity to take time to Review the last year and make the necessary adjustments to bring healthy change. 

Let’s take time to ask the Holy Spirit to show us what and where we need to change. 

What do I need to do that I have not been doing? 

What do I need to stop doing that I have been doing? 

What do I need to adjust, prioritize, plan that will Reset my year? 

Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes, there’s “a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones. A time to gain, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to throw away” Eccl 3:2-6 

Now is a time for us to Review with the help of the Holy Spirit so that we will know what we need to plant, uproot, gain or lose, keep or throw away and Reset for a fruitful 2019!

Day 4 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

RENEW 

Renewal is an essential part of our natural and spiritual life because all of us will inevitably become weary and at times overwhelmed. 

Isaiah writes, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall” (Isaiah 40:30) but he continues with the good news that God not only can but will renew our strength as we spend time with Him. 

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. 

Even Jesus grew tired and weary and would withdraw from the demands of His day to renew His strength. 

"While others still slept, Jesus went away to pray and to renew His strength in communion with His Father. He had need of this, otherwise He would not have been ready for the new day. The holy work of delivering souls demands constant renewal through fellowship with God." Andrew Murray 

The Apostle Paul taught that true Transformation can only take place through the renewing of our minds and through the renewing work of the Holy Spirit. 

Rom 12:2 NIV 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Eph 4:23-24 NLT 

Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 

As we wait on God at the start of this year may our strength be renewed, may we mount up on wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint and continually be renewed in the spirit of our mind.

Day 3 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

The word of God tells us that the worlds were framed by the Word of God.

 Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 

 God created and framed the universe by the Word of His mouth.

 A frame around a work of art determines what becomes the focal point and what our eye is drawn to.

 The frame either enhances or detracts from the picture or the painting

 The way we look at our world is like the frame around a painting. It shapes what we see.

 We see the glass half full or half empty. We focus on what we do have or we focus on what we don’t have. We see problems everywhere or we see solutions everywhere.

 That’s why two people can look at exactly the same situation and see two completely different situations.

 Winston Churchill said, “"The pessimist looks for the problem in every opportunity, the optimist looks for the opportunity in every problem"

 It’s all in the way we frame what we see.

 Jesus came to reframe our world. When we frame our world with God’s Word it changes everything. A hopeless situation is filled with hope, the impossible becomes possible, disappointment becomes an opportunity for a better God appointment, what is lifeless is filled with life and what we see is transformed by God’s Word.

 As we focus on God in our prayer and fasting let’s not allow our circumstances to frame our vison for this year but let’s frame our world with God’s word and see it filled with light and hope for 2019! 

Day 2 - RESET / REFRAME / RENEW - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

It’s been said that it takes 21 days to make a habit and 21 days to break a habit.

 These 21 days of Prayer and Fasting give us an opportunity to Reset, so that we can make new healthy habits and break old negative habits.

 We can ask ourselves the important question, “What do I need to Reset in my life as I enter this New Year?”

 We all know that our electronic devices need to be reset from time to time for optimum performance and we are no different.

 To be on course with our God given destiny we need to be constantly assessing and realigning ourselves with God’s word and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

 Aviators know that for every 60 miles flown one degree off course, the aircraft will land one mile off its intended destination.

 Even a one degree positive change or Reset will have significant impact on our lives over time.

 King David said “Search my heart Lord” because he knew how easy it is for all of us to get off course.

 As we pray and fast we can ask God to speak to us, to search our hearts, to show us what we need to Reset so that we can be better aligned to Him and His purpose for our lives

 Prov 3:6

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions.
With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make