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by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"They declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow." ( Jonah 3:5)
Do you believe a repented person’s fasting and
prayer can change God’s mind?
Fasting and prayer are the two legs of human beings to stand straight and fight
against the dark forces of this universe, the Satan, and his deceptions. Satan
and his evil kingdom is a reality. All the evils - sickness, greed, war,
negative thoughts, natural calamities immoral-unethical cultural trend setting -
of the earth are his works residing in the human body. The only solution to this
dark rule is fasting and prayer. All evil kingdoms will spin and fall to dust by
the onset of fasting and prayer. "Evil spirit can be cast out only by prayer and
fasting" (Mark 9:29). Jesus commanded to do that when he left earth, "The groom
(Jesus) will be taken away from them, and then they will fast" (Mathew 9:15).
Queen Esther gathered people to a 3 day fast - no food or water - before she
went to see the king. Jesus fasted for 40 days without any food and water. "The
results of fasting are far reaching - bands of wickedness are cut, heavy burdens
are lifted, the oppressed go free, health springs forth speedily, and the Lord
guides us continuously" (Isaiah 58:6,7).
Dr. Bill Bright (1921-2003), founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ
did fasting and prayer regularly and had made it mandatory for all the workers
in the ministry. Campus Crusade for Christ is the world’s largest Christian
ministry. Serves in 191 countries with 26,000 full time workers and 225,000
friend volunteers. The committed youths get power from fasting and prayer. In
1996, Bright was Presented with the prestigious Templeton Prize for progress in
religion, worth more than $1 million. The Templeton Prize is the largest
financial annual award. Bright donated all of his prize money to causes
promoting the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayer.
"26 days of fasting and prayer saved my sister-in-law’s family from spiritual,
financial and physical break down."
When there is no remedy, when there is no natural hope, God still has a working
prescription. "Blow the trumpet in Zion, gather the people, and call a fast"
(Joel 2).
Jesus, let us fast and pray for our good. Let us free from the clutches of Satan and his evil works. We pray for those who are in prayer and fasting. Let the world of Satan tremble and fall by the sound of fasting and prayer. Let this 3 day Nineveh lent be a life experience for all those who fast. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen
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