I Fasted, Now What?

Published on 6 February 2025 at 17:03

Many of you kicked off the year with fasting and prayer.

I want to encourage you to continue with that practice. Fasting periodically strengthens your faith and brings great benefits to your spirit. Praying the Word of God brings you to a closer relationship with your Creator.

If you have done the fasting, the praying, acting on the Word, and living your life for God and for others, you may be saying to yourself, “Now What?”

It's time for Testimonies. It's time for Breakthroughs. It's time for Hope. It's time for Expectancy.

Hebrews 10:23

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful.”

Philippians 2:16 tells us to “Hold firmly to the Word of life”. This is holding on to and praising Jesus Himself.

Joshua 22:5

“Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

There may be times when our attitude and emotions are not on the Word. Instead, we can have a mentality of Me-Me and My-My.

We can combat those feelings of Self, by staying in the Word. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we submit to God, He gives us peace (see Job 22: 21-22).

When we have peace, we can trust and love God the way HE wants us to.

The key is holding fast, but what does that look like for you and me?

The author of Hebrews tells us to “hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering.” (see Hebrews 10:23). This verse is a command to live out one’s faith in Jesus Christ. We hold fast to the faith by focusing on God as our Father and our Creator, and by abiding in His Word. Holding fast also means we are to stand firm and unshakable. Yes, there is a lot going on in our world and even in our personal lives, but we focus, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (see Hebrews 12:2).

We also can hold fast by being invested in what God is doing in our lives. We should not be sitting on the sidelines halfhearted.

During my time of fasting and prayer, God reminded me why I was doing these things, and why I was sowing seeds of faith. He put me in remembrance of a scripture verse in Isaiah, verse 31.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

At that, I had a thought. To want to give up in the flesh, in this natural world, is normal. Yet, God reminds me that I am not called to normal, to the world’s way. I am called to a supernatural life.

Proverbs 13:12

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”

Sometimes things that we are praying about or waiting on God to fulfill don’t come how or when we want them to.

Katie Nicole’s song “Hold On” shows us more on this:

Hold on just a little bit longer

I know it’s gonna be okay

These days are gonna make you stronger

You’ll find purpose in the pain

Hold on just a little bit longer

Deep down there’s a well of faith

Let hope arise as you’re lifting up My Name

And just hold on

Just hold on, hold on

https://youtu.be/fxjofrjnfXU?si=OxXIanx_DGnpkgYx

Stay in Faith. Stay in Hope, and you will combat DISCOURAGEMENT and DISAPPOINTMENT.

These are two of the D’s the devil likes to dish out. Be aware of these attacks from the enemy. He is trying to devour anyone he can (see 2 Peter 5:8-9), BUT we have a God that will destroy all sorrow and pain forever (see Revelation 21:4)

Psalm 42:11

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-my Savior and my God!”

Romans 10:11

“As Scriptures tell us, Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.”

When we have times of disappointment, we can be firm in our faith and trust in God, because we know that He will never leave us or forsake us (see Deuteronomy 31:8).

Psalm 94:19

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”

Romans 15:13

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When faced with doubt or discouragement, put your hope in God. He will meet your every need.

God gives hope to the needy (Psalm 9:18)

Hope gives us confidence (Psalm 25:3)

God blesses those who hope in him (Psalm 25:5)

Hope is available to those who wait for God (Psalm 62:5)

Put your hope in God's Word (Psalm 119:43, 147)

Christians should always have hope (Romans 8:28)

Jesus' resurrection gives us hope (1 Corinthians 6:14)

We have hope in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:19)

I will leave you with this important and vital truth:

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-2