Fasting the Flesh to Fill Your Spirit
Father, we shout with joy to You, we worship You with gladness, we come before You with joyful songs. You Lord are our God. You made us, we are Yours. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. We enter your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise. We acknowledge Your goodness Lord, Your love endures forever, Your faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5)
Father we come to You today in prayer, requesting that You disconnect us from the distractions of the world and connect us to the power of your presence. Please show us what you want us to fast from, what things in our lives are drawing our full attention away from real relationships in our lives, from our children, spouses, family, friends, neighbors, You. What addictions have we developed, what idols have we created for ourselves, that cause our souls to battle our spirits, the carnage of which shows up in our flesh in the form of sickness and stress, anxiousness and uneven emotions. Reveal to us Father the things in our lives that are harming us and our relationships. Please help us to fast from them and draw nearer to You. Heal us oh Lord and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for you are the one we praise. (Jeremiah 17:14)
Good, good, Father, as You free us from the earthly things that enslave our souls and flesh, please nourish our spirits to maximum fullness. Please fill us with Your love, inexpressible and glorious joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Please saturate us with hope, power, justice, courage, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and revelation through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Micah 3:8, Exodus 31:3) Father please help us to emerge from this 21 day journey having put off our old selves, with a new attitude of our minds, putting on new selves, created to be like You in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24) We offer up these requests as Your beloved children in the name of our advocate, Jesus Christ. Amen
