Open My Eyes: A 21-Day Fasting Devotional from Jentezen FranklinSample
Fasting Day 17: We Win! Over And Over
Welcome to Day Seventeen of the 21-day Fast! By now, depending on how closely you stuck to the fast, you should actually feel bursts of energy and incredible mental clarity. It is amazing what the brain can do when the body rids itself of toxins and the digestive system has been given rest. You have probably lost weight which has other positive health benefits. But don’t think for a second that you are above temptation. Stay connected to others, especially now when you are so close. We’re believing for God to do great and mighty things in your life today. I want to encourage you to ask God for any and everything that your heart is full of.
Knowing the Battle has Already Been Won Should Affect How You See the Problems and Challenges You Face
It always amazes me to see people get so worked up about the evil that exists in the world. Don’t get me wrong, the Bible says that we are to hate evil…and I do, but not as one who lives in fear that evil might win. The victory for all time was won at Calvary and the deal was sealed with the empty tomb. The end result has never been in doubt in God’s eyes. That’s a perspective far too many overlook. If you will allow the Lord to open your eyes to what’s true about the enemy Satan you will see a desperate being who knows his time is short and his final end is near.
Knowing you are in a fight where the outcome has already been decided should change the way you carry yourself when difficulties arise and when discouragement comes knocking at your door. You carry an extraordinary mantle of victory and the banner of the King’s child into every situation you encounter. If we ever really understood who we are and knew that we would always win we would carry ourselves very differently in every situation. Victory doesn’t always look like victory in a particular moment but every war has its battles and one battle does not win the war. We win when setbacks do not leave us feeling at a loss. We win when we truly model with our countenance that we are victorious because the battle has already been won. We need to act like we really believe that because we did – He did.
Prayer:
Lord, in the final few days of this fast, we submit everything to You, knowing we are victorious already because the battle has been won! We humbly ask for Your will in all we do with the time we have here on earth. You are sovereign, God, and we trust You, even when we don’t understand everything. We completely surrender to You. Take out of us the will to try to control and play God, because You are God and we are not. And so, Lord, we submit all things to You in prayer and fasting today. And I know Your will is going to be done and Your will is always right. So, God, we bless You. In Jesus’ name we commit and submit all things into Your hand. Amen and Amen.
About this Plan
What an incredible journey these twenty-one days will be as we fast, pray, and grow together. Fasting has a way of bringing every part of your life into focus in ways nothing else can do. If you will allow your moments of hunger and cravings to serve as reminders to stop and pray, you will find a closeness with your Heavenly Father like you have never known.
More