Our church is starting 2020, this new decade, with 20 days of prayer and fasting. I am super excited to reap the blessings and rewards of fasting. I know God wants to do great things for us in 2020 and fasting and prayer will propel His plan. I wanted to share with you some of the things we can expect from fasting. 

6 Rewards of Fasting with Prayer

1. Fasting will bring healing quickly!

Verse: Isaiah 58:8 - …thine health spring forth speedily (when you fast).

Thought: When you fast your healing comes quicker. God’s desire is to heal you. Jesus went about healing everyone who asked Him.  Acts 10:38 says that Jesus went about doing good healing all (who asked Him). It doesn’t matter what you have done, Jesus will heal you if you ask him. 

Praying: "I speak to my body to be healed in the name of Jesus. Sickness you must leave. Pain you must stop. The power of Jesus will flood my body right now. All disease must go. I speak peace to my body. Jesus died for my physical healing. Jesus loves me. Jesus healed everyone who asked. Jesus is full of love and mercy for me. Jesus is my great physician. Jesus is my healer. I declare my body healed and I have strength for today! I declare 1 Peter 2:4, "By His stripes I am healed!" I will proclaim all day, "I AM HEALED AND LOVED BY GOD!""

2. Fasting breaks oppression, injustice and addictions!

Verse: Isaiah 58:6 - Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Thoughts: I love these verses of scripture, God is promising us four areas of victory and breakthrough. One: to loose the chains of injustice against you, your family and friends. Two: Jesus will untie the cords of the heavy burdens of finances or a family disagreement. Three: He will set the oppressed free, the devil oppresses you with anxiety, fear and anger and God will set you free and give you peace. Four: Jesus will break every yoke - of depression, defiance of children, drugs, alcohol, bad habits or weaknesses. God is powerful, able and ready to break off of your life oppression, injustice and addictions!

Prayer: "God, I am thankful you break off every oppressive thought and injustice. You will loose me from chains of addictions. You break every strong hold off my life. I am free from witchcraft, generational curses and spells. I am free to enjoy my life. Thank you, God for giving me peace, I have beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for heaviness.  I am happy and free from depression, anger, and anxiety." (Now pray this for each one of your family members).

3. Fasting brings answers to your difficulties!

Verse: Ezra 8:24 - So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Thought: God's desire is to answer our prayers. In a Bible story, God told Daniel as soon as you prayed I sent the answer but there was a war in heaven between a demon trying to stop the answer and an angel trying to release the answer. Maybe your prayer is being stopped up by demonic activity. It took Daniel 21 days of prayer and fasting until the angel broke through and the answer came. Fasting and prayer will help break that demonic interference. 

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, I thank you that you hear my prayers. Jesus you said in John 11:42 “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me.” I proclaim that you always hear my prayers too and will answer me. I understand the warfare and I will continue to pray until I see the breakthrough. The victory is mine, it is on the way and the demonic forces trying to stop it are defeated now in Jesus name." 

4. Fasting brings huge rewards!

Verse: Matthew 6:17 - But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Thought: God wants to reward you and bless you. God’s greatest desire is to be close to you and show you value, love, acceptance and purpose. God gives us everything for our rich enjoyment. Fasting represents sacrifice and humility. In fasting we humble ourselves and sacrifice food and pleasant things for a short time. Because Jesus humbled and sacrificed himself we humble ourselves and sacrifice. Through the sacrifice and humility we build character. When we exercise good character, we become ready to handle the blessing and the powerful rewards. 

Prayer: "God, I want to thank you for giving me value and love. I am fasting to humble myself and sacrifice. Please give me Your character of love, kindness, peace, patience, joy, long suffering and self-control with my family.  Jesus humbled himself and sacrificed himself on a cross for me. Jesus grew from the things he suffered. Help me to grow in character during times of pain and suffering so I can handle the reward."

5. Fasting brings you brilliant thoughts! 

Verse: Joel 2:12 - Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, (minds) with fasting …

Thought: Fasting will help you think clearly, help you make good and wise decisions. God wants your heart (just give it to Him). Relax and ask God what more can I give you? The Bible encourages us as we turn to God in fasting and prayer, God will change our heart and minds. God will give you wisdom.

Prayer: "God search my heart and change me. I want Your thoughts to light up my brain, let me hear the truth spoken by the Holy Spirit to my mind. I want to think like you and have my thoughts lined up with the word of God. God show me any area that is not in line with your purpose. I pray You will give me brilliant thoughts and ideas."

6. Fasting brings clear direction for your purpose!

Verse: Acts 13:2 - While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Thought: God wants you to fulfill your God given purpose. God designed you on purpose for a purpose. Fasting will reveal to you your divine purpose. The Bible says to seek God and He will answer you. God answers those who seek him with prayer and fasting.  Matthew 7:8, "...the one who seeks finds." You will find God’s great purpose for your life if you seek Him and keep on asking.

Prayer: "Father, I know you love me. I know you created me for great things, will you lead me step by step? Will you help me trust you day by day? By your grace I can live a powerful, purpose fulfilled and happy life!"

I know God wants to do great things for us in 2020 and fasting and prayer will propel His plan. What great things / rewards have you experienced during a fast? Share with us. 

Tami McKinney