Something we all love to see is an over-the-top gift to a person who didn’t expect it and didn’t earn it. Viral videos of extreme generosity are some of the most watched on YouTube. Oprah’s 2004 extravagant act of generosity has become so etched into the fabric of our society that nearly 20 years later, the phrase, “You get a car, and you get a car!” has become part of our normal American vernacular.

We love to see people get a gift they don’t deserve; there is something fun about it. Generosity sparks joy at the very core of our being because we were created by an abundantly generous heavenly Father. He delights in giving good gifts to His children, and when we see undeserved generosity, it reflects the very heart of God.

While it would be incredible to be one of the few who have been given $10,000 or a new car, God has something so much better planned for us! God desires to give us a gift that would not only change a part of our lives but transform the very core of who we are. Jesus said, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:11-13).

God delights in giving amazing gifts to His children, and the best gift any of us could ever be given is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is in His presence we find joy, peace, wisdom, and access to His endless power! It is through the Holy Spirit that God not only answers our prayers but changes us to become more like Him. As we seek Him, the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts so that God not only changes our situation, but He changes us.

The amazing part is that this promise isn’t for the lucky few who happen to be in the right place at the right time but for all who would ask. His presence is not something we can earn or that we deserve, but a gift our wonderfully gracious God desires to give us!

As we approach the end of this fast, rest in the fact that God is good, and He desires to give good gifts to His children. He is changing you and working in every situation because He is a generous God who gives over-the-top blessings to all.

Scriptures

Luke 11:11-13 (NIV)
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Yesterday we looked at how the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is essential for every believer if we are going to be the most effective in what God has called us to accomplish. Today, we look at the prophet Isaiah who records a captivating vision in Isaiah 6 where he sees angels surrounding the Lord on His throne, continually crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

As he’s standing in the presence of the Lord, Isaiah immediately recognizes his own guilt and sin. One of the angels brings a hot coal from the altar and places it on Isaiah’s lips declaring his sin atoned for. With his sin forgiven, Isaiah would be asked a question that the Lord continues to ask us today: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? “And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ He said, ‘Go and tell this people…’”

Isaiah has an incredible encounter with the Almighty God, but that experience was never intended to stay only with him. God asks Isaiah a question that He still asks His people today, “Who will go for us?” Who will go and tell people about the forgiveness God offers? Who will go and tell people there is freedom in Jesus? Who will go and tell people that there is a God who loves them and wants to transform their lives?

Isaiah passionately responds – “Send me!” Through this time of prayer and fasting, God is doing a deeper work in us. But the truth is what God does in us through this fast is not meant to stay only with us; He wants us to go! As we fast and pray, God is empowering and increasing our boldness to share with people His love and power that can completely change their lives.

Let’s look and pray for opportunities to “Go and tell this people…” about a God who has done a powerful work in our lives and wants to do that for so many more as we pray and believe for a Great Awakening in our land!

Scriptures

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

At this point of the fast, you understand just how significant and powerful it is when you fast and pray. This fast has not only served as a means to draw closer to God and seek His guidance, but it has also created the space for us to be more sensitive and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In the beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. So, today we will look at the spiritual discipline of fasting in relation to Acts 1:8 and how it can strengthen our spiritual journey as Christians.

Jesus tells His followers in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This verse emphasizes the transformative nature of the Holy Spirit, empowering believers to share the message of Christ’s love and salvation with the world.

But the question is: How does fasting relate to this promise of power?

Fasting involves abstaining from food and certain activities for a specific period, dedicating that time to prayer, meditation, and seeking God’s presence. It is a spiritual discipline that allows us to detach from worldly distractions and focus on deepening our relationship with God. In doing so, we position ourselves to become more aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit, leading us to a greater understanding of God’s will and empowering us to be effective witnesses for Christ. It helps us tune our hearts to God’s voice, heightening our sensitivity to His leading and guidance, and it opens our lives to the reality of His power at work through us.

The power promised in Acts 1:8 becomes more tangible in our lives as we yield to the Spirit’s leading, and fasting positions us to receive that power through a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit – empowering us to live out our faith boldly, to overcome spiritual obstacles, and to impact our world for Christ. And the exciting thing about this power from the Holy Spirit is that it isn’t temporary or confined just to this time of fasting. This power is to be available and can be at work throughout your life each and every day as you continue to be open and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Recognize the significance of where this fast has positioned you and the power that is available to you. By denying your physical cravings and dedicating time to prayer and reflection, you are continually positioning yourself to receive divine wisdom, discernment, and power to do what you never could on your own. So, let this fast become so much more than just a physical discipline. Allow it to be the catalyst that facilitates a continual spiritual posture where you are open and hungry to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to reach as many people as possible for the Kingdom.

Scriptures

Acts 1:8 (NIV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We are living in an unprecedented time in history. Because of technology, within seconds, we can be on a video call and see the face of a friend or loved one, even though they may be halfway around the world. We have the ability to know what is going on in the lives of friends and family we have not personally seen in years through social media, and there are countless other wonderful benefits of living in the technological revolution.

However, despite all of this technology, we are becoming more socially disconnected and dissatisfied than ever before. In a report published this year titled, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, the U.S. Surgeon General said, “Across many measures, Americans appear to be becoming less socially connected over time… A fraying of the social fabric can also be seen more broadly in society. Trust in each other and major institutions is at near historic lows.”

Our need for community is not something new. We were designed for relationships from the very beginning. The first thing in all of creation which God said was “not good” was that man was alone (Gen. 2:18). This is a foundational statement about the way we were created. God made us to be social beings in community with one another.

That is why the writer of Hebrews wrote, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

There is an inherent power in being a part of the church, and not just in attendance, but engaged in meaningful relationships with one another. It’s hard to “motivate one another to acts of love and good works” when you aren’t connected to a life-giving body of believers.

This is why being in a life group or small group and volunteering on serve teams at church are so critical for us not only individually but also for the Church corporately. The Church is strong, but it is always stronger when we are all involved!

God has established that there is spiritual blessing when we live in community. The Psalmist wrote, “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony…And there the Lord has pronounced His blessing, even life everlasting” (Psalm 133:1,3).

We were made to be in relationship with one another, and there is blessing and power in the community of believers!

Scriptures

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Ingrained in each person is a deep desire for our lives to have significance. We all want our time on earth to count for something, to know that we made a difference with the time we were given. We all want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

This desire is universal, and it supersedes cultures and time. The annals of history are filled with stories of people who fought, and often gave their lives, for a cause that surpassed their own life. The reason we see the need for significance as such a universal desire across humanity is because it was placed into the heart of mankind by God.

The Apostle Peter addressed this when he wrote, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

This passage gives us two incredible truths. First, we have been chosen by God to be a part of His family! God has brought us from our old life of sin and darkness into His amazing family! The simple fact that the creator of the universe chose us and brought us into His family gives our lives value and purpose.

Secondly, we are not only a part of the family, but we have been given a mission that has eternal significance. We are God’s special possession, and the reason He has chosen us and brought us into the family is so that we “may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (v.9b). Our value is ultimately found in reflecting the goodness of our Heavenly Father to a world which desperately needs Him. We live out that truth every time we share what He has done for us, how He has healed, saved, restored, and delivered us. We have been given His mercy so that we can show others the goodness of God.

Your life makes a difference, and your prayers are changing things!

Scriptures

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”