Over these past 21 days of prayer and fasting, we have set aside our comfort to seek something more valuable. It is impossible to spend time calling on God, asking Him to bring Heaven down, and there be no change because God is faithful, and His Word promises that He responds to the prayers of His people.

Throughout these past few weeks, God has shown up and moved in an extraordinary way. People have been saved, set free, and miraculously healed. There’s so much to celebrate, but the exciting reality is that this is only the beginning. There is still more that God wants to do!

In Ezekiel 47, we see an interesting story. The prophet Ezekiel has a vision where he sees a river flowing from God’s temple. As the water flows from the temple, it grows deeper and deeper. It starts ankle-deep, then becomes knee-deep, then continues to deepen until it is uncrossable. On either side of the river, there are many trees, and in the water, there are swarms of fish. The most extraordinary part is that at the place where the river reaches the Dead Sea, the salt water becomes fresh water. The place that was once dead and unlivable was changed so that it was fresh and full of life.

This story serves as a beautiful illustration of what we can expect in the days ahead. This season of prayer and fasting has been incredible and full of life, but the water is only ankle-deep. We have seen only the beginning of God’s work, not the end. There are more miracles that God wants to do. There are more people that God wants to save. As we have fasted and prayed, we can have confidence that Heaven is coming and our best days are still ahead!

Scriptures

Ezekiel 47:1-12 (NIV)

The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.

As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Whatever you are seeking the Lord about during this time, be careful about only coming to Him with a narrow perspective of just wanting your needs met. Instead, come to the Lord with the kind of faith and passion to see your prayers answered in a way that ultimately brings glory to God and has Kingdom impact.

A great way to help shift your perspective on this is by taking the time to pause and reflect on the goodness and richness of God.

In the book of Psalms, you find at various times the word “Selah.” This term means to slow down, pause, and recognize the moment. We see in Psalm 67:1 that the writer inserts this word right after stating a very powerful and significant request – a prayer for the Lord’s grace, blessing, and favor.

Psalm 67:1, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah”

And after this Selah – this time of reflection – we find a shift in perspective and the motive behind such requests in the following verse. Psalm 67:2 says, “that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.” The psalmist desired the favor and blessing of God so that many others would know of God’s power for themselves.

The psalmist realized that our God is powerful and personal, and what He does is never supposed to be kept private. Believing in God’s favor in your life is significant, and the Lord’s goodness and blessing are not only on display for others to see but also must be declared for others to hear.

Your testimony is powerful, so let your story be known. Talk to others about the goodness of God in your life. When you do, it not only brings glory to God for all He has done but also builds faith in those who hear it. Your testimony could be what God uses to spur someone else to believe for breakthrough and ultimately experience the miracles God intends for them to have.

Scriptures

Psalm 67:1-2 (ESV)

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah  that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

There is nothing quite like going to a large family gathering or family reunion. You get together and reconnect with cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family members that you may not have seen for years. There is also the occasional moment of not knowing who certain individuals are, but you still know that they are family. No matter who is there, you know that because of relationship or bloodline each person is family – gathered from different locations, with different physical traits, different names – yet all part of the same family.

The same can be said for your spiritual life. Because of relationship through Jesus, each and every believer is grafted into the amazing family of God. Romans 8:14 puts it like this, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

What an amazing reminder! When we surrender our lives to Christ, it’s as if God says, “Welcome to the Family!” and His Spirit comes to live in us and unite us with the body of Christ.

This family we are part of, just like your physical family, is filled with different personalities, perspectives, and giftings, but what we all have in common is the fact that we are all led by the same Spirit. The Spirit who is at work in us and through us to do more through us united than we could ever accomplish on our own.

As you continue in this fast, pray that your hunger to be led by the Holy Spirit outpaces your physical appetite. Be reminded today that many others in your spiritual family – your brothers and sisters in Christ – are right there with you, desiring and pursuing the same. As we are seeking God together, He is going to work powerfully in our lives and in His church to change the world around us!

Take some time today in your fasting and prayer to remember those that are a part of your spiritual family. Let them know that you are praying for them and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in what to pray for them.

Scriptures

Romans 8:14 (ESV)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV)

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

John 1:12 (ESV)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

According to a recent study, the average person will spend five years waiting in lines. Six months of that waiting is at traffic lights alone! So, that means, in your lifetime, you will spend nearly 2,628,000 minutes waiting. With the high value our culture places on speed and time management, the idea of waiting is often considered time wasted.

Biblically though, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, waiting could be considered a spiritual discipline vital to one’s growth and maturity when utilized well. Psalm 62:1-8 recounts a waiting period King David experienced while fleeing his son, Absalom, who had stolen the allegiance of many in Israel.

During this incredibly challenging time, King David provides helpful direction when in a season of waiting:

Psalm 62:1-8, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. So many enemies against one man all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”

Two times King David says he waits quietly before the Lord. The Hebrew word could also be translated as rest. It’s the idea that although his situation is chaotic, his spirit is at rest. But how is that possible? The next verse tells us how: “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.”

King David immediately turns his focus to God’s nature. His hope is not in a dwindled army or the fact that he’s the true king, but rather is anchored in the truth that God is his rock and salvation, and nothing will shake him to ultimate despair.

In times of waiting, the focus of our thoughts and words will create either a fortress of fear or a fortress of faith. When you choose to make the characteristics of God the center of your focus, you will find your faith strengthened during your season of waiting. This turns waiting into a weapon that will thwart the plans of the enemy.

Whether you’re waiting for healing, that financial breakthrough, or the salvation of a loved one, utilize the weapon of waiting, which will transform your prayers into powerful arrows against the enemy.

Scriptures

Psalm 62:1-8 (NLT)

I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. So many enemies against one man all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.