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Day 13: Building, Binding, and Birthing

The trifold practice of prayer, fasting, and giving yields the powerful fruit of godliness in our lives. However, sometimes believers focus on one of the three over the other two. For example, they fast constantly, but they do not practice prayer and giving. They are all as equally important.

An example of someone who practiced all three is Cornelius. He lived a life of prayer, giving, and fasting, and that caught God’s attention. If you notice, Cornelius lived this godly lifestyle even before salvation. Salvation is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. So, I must make this clear once again: fasting does nothing for our standing with God. It does not earn us salvation or extra points with Him; instead, it is a means of self-denial.

Prayer, fasting, and giving build the inner man; they increase our sensitivity to the Lord’s presence and His awesome character. The way to grow our spiritual man is by abiding in God’s Word, talking to the Father in prayer, and giving graciously.

Prayer, fasting, and giving bind the flesh. Fasting helps us subdue the desires of the flesh to the desires of the spirit. The only way to defeat the flesh is death to self, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “…I die daily.”

Prayer, fasting, and giving will birth breakthrough. When we surrender and humbly seek God, He will bring divine encounters into our lives.

God wants to birth something in you and through your life to reach those around you.

Let's Pray:

God, I know there are areas in my life in which I have not let You lead me. Break down my pride and independence during this fast. Strengthen me, build my inner man, and help me to die to myself daily to see You move in my life.