Forward: 21 Days of Fasting and PrayerSample

LIVING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT

A common practice amongst elite athletes is visualisation. Visualisation is a technique used to prepare and condition themselves to perform at their peak. They rehearse their performance in their minds and envision themselves emerging as the winner of the race. In fact, scientific research shows that athletes stimulate the same region of their brains during visualisation as they do when they perform the actual physical actions. That’s the power of our minds!

The Holy Spirit gives us the right focus. When the Holy Spirit is absent from our lives, our focus soon becomes fixed on what may be valuable to the world, but of no worth in God’s eyes. Our vision becomes fixed on what is fleeting and temporal. The Holy Spirit is our source of wisdom, and He will help us to see the things in life that have eternal value and please God. These things become the focus of our time, energy and resources. Soon, our perspective begins to look like God’s perspective - what matters to God becomes what matters to us!

Today, make a decision to allow the Holy Spirit to control your thoughts and determine your focus. We do this by yielding to the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit and resisting our fleshly impulses. As we do so, we find ourselves pursuing the things that matter to God - things that possess eternal value. 

Reflect:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the things that are temporary and fleeting that you have allowed to become your focus.
• What are some things that are of eternal value and are pleasing to God that you want to focus on this year? (Such as discipling and helping a new believer to grow in their walk with God.)

Prayer

Dear God, I choose to fix my eyes on things that are eternal and turn away from everything else that is of no worth. Holy Spirit, I surrender my thoughts to You. Come and take control and help me to focus on the things that please You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.