Prayer and Fasting During Chaos- Trust Not in Men

When I grew up in the American church, things were much, much different than they are now. When people studied Revelations they would ask, “Why isn’t America in Revelation?” They couldn’t imagine all the events taking place described in end times prophecy with an American presence in the world. Why? Because we underestimated the power of sin to overthrow a nation and the how easily the human heart can be deceived and turned from the Lord. 

Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in horses, some trust in chariots, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” 

Are you putting your trust in the Lord, or are you trusting in the strength of a nation? If you are trusting in a person, a leader or the strength of a nation, you probably are living in a great deal of turmoil right now. People fail us. Nations can turn from the Lord into sin. But, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

Read the rest of Psalm 20- It is very encouraging.

1May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
    may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and grant you support from Zion.
³ May he remember all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.^[b]
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed.
⁵ May we shout for joy over your victory
    and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

⁶ Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,
    but we rise up and stand firm.
⁹ Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call!

We rise up and stand firm. Those who kneel before the Lord will rise up and stand firm. What does this mean? It means to look only to the Lord for your source of stability and help. To know that God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon circumstances.

It’s hard to trust in God when you can’t see him in physical form, but all you see around you is chaos. Jesus had an answer for that-

John 9:13-15 “Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

When you can’t see the bridegroom – it’s important to fast. Jesus says that his followers will fast when he leaves. Fasting is New Testament bread for the children of God.

Whether you fast a meal today, two meals or all day long, join us in praying for God’s movement and deliverance today.

Prayer- “Father, in Jesus’ name I worship you and praise you, because you are enthroned in heaven, high and lifted up. You are great and mighty, yet you love us- all of your children. You love us not based on our goodness or how much money we have or our race or nationality. You love us because you are love and you are good. You love each of your children and we all belong to you- part of the family of God- as each person who trusts in Christ is a child of God. Today I ask for your kingdom to come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Send your angels to enact your will. Command your angels concerning your church, oh God. Command your angels concerning me and my family, Lord.

Establish them around my home and my loved ones, in Jesus’ name. Give us what we need today. Open your Word to fill me up- fill me with the knowledge of your will with all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit brings. Provide for my daily bread. I trust you for my financial needs and for my physical needs. Bring healing to those in my life who need healing in the name of Jesus (name them individually).

Forgive me of sin in my life, Oh God. Reveal to me anything in my life that doesn’t please you. Speak to me and give life to my bones. Strengthen what is weak, Oh Lord. Create in me a clean heart, Oh Lord. Give me a heart after your own heart. Give me a love and compassion for others, so that even when others hurt me and offend me I can forgive. Also, teach me to not be easily offended or hurt. Strengthen my heart in you. I forgive those who have sinned against me. I release them from my judgement, in Jesus’ name. I pray for my enemies – those who seek to destroy my life. I ask that you will save them and deliver them from their own evil. Save them, the way you have saved me.

Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. Lord, today I stand against every plan of the enemy in my life. I declare that no weapon formed against me shall prosper, in Jesus’ name. I cancel and break every curse of the enemy and every hex of evil spoken against me in the name of Jesus. Lord, send confusion into the camp of the enemy. Send confusion into Satan’s ranks. Blind the enemy to your work and your plans. Shelter your people from his evil, by your Spirit and the blood of Jesus.

Bind your church together in unity. May we stand together in love in Christ. Tear down the Devil’s tactics to bring divisiveness and confusion. Build my family and my church – my community and nation up in the love of Christ. May we not stand in rank by color or social status, but let us stand side by side in Jesus- united in his love.

Remove hatred and anger from our hearts, Oh Lord. Fill us with your love, compassion and forgiveness, in Jesus’ name. Amen.