All of us will have battles in our lives. The question is, how will we respond in the face of these battles? In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat was confronted with a “vast army” who had the power to devastate his kingdom. He knew that he and the people needed to devastate his kingdom. He knew that he and the people needed to fast. In response to the people fasting, the Lord encouraged Jehoshaphat by saying, “Do not be afraid or discouraged by this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

Whatever you are facing, we serve a God who wants to fight our battles! When you depend on your Heavenly Father, He is faithful to go before you.

Verse 21 tells us that “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out to the head of the army, saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for His Love endures forever’.”

Before any sword was raised, praise was lifted up for the victory that the Lord was going to bring. Praise preceded the battle. The chapter goes on to say that “As they began to sing and praise” the Lord began to defeat their enemy. Jehoshaphat’s position of praise released God’s power over the battle that he was facing!

As we fast, one of the most important things we can do is spend time thanking and praising God. Don’t just pray about the problem but praise God knowing that He is a God who solves problems. Whatever battle you are facing, the Lord is faithful to fight for you as you look to Him and praise His name.

• 2 Chronicles 20:2-3; 15-17; 21-22; 25
• Psalms 34:9

Todos nosotros tendremos batallas en nuestras vidas. La pregunta es, ¿cómo responderemos frente a estas batallas? En 2 Crónicas 20, el rey Josafat se enfrentó a un “gran ejército” que tenía el poder de devastar su reino. Sabía que él y la gente necesitaban devastar su reino. Sabía que él y la gente necesitaban ayunar. En respuesta al ayuno del pueblo, el Señor animó a Josafat diciendo: “No temas ni desanimes ante este gran ejército, porque la batalla no es vuestra, sino de Dios” (2 Crónicas 20:15).

¡Lo que sea que estés enfrentando, servimos a un Dios que quiere pelear nuestras batallas! Cuando dependes de tu Padre Celestial, Él es fiel para ir delante de ti.

El versículo 21 nos dice que “Josafat puso hombres para que cantaran al Señor y lo alabaran por el esplendor de Su santidad mientras salían a la cabeza del ejército, diciendo: ‘Den gracias al Señor, porque Su amor es para siempre’.”

Antes de que se levantara espada alguna, se elevaba la alabanza por la victoria que el Señor iba a traer. La alabanza precedió a la batalla. El capítulo continúa diciendo que “cuando comenzaron a cantar y alabar”, el Señor comenzó a derrotar a su enemigo. ¡La posición de alabanza de Josafat liberó el poder de Dios sobre la batalla que estaba enfrentando!

Mientras ayunamos, una de las cosas más importantes que podemos hacer es pasar tiempo agradeciendo y alabando a Dios. No solo ore por el problema sino que alabe a Dios sabiendo que Él es un Dios que resuelve problemas. Sea cual sea la batalla que estés enfrentando, el Señor es fiel para pelear por ti mientras lo miras y alabas Su nombre.

• 2 Crónicas 20:2-3; 15-17; 21-22; 25
• Salmos 34:9

The story of Nehemiah is a vibrant example of the favor that comes with denying ourselves for the purpose of drawing near to God. Nehemiah worked for a powerful pagan king — one that did not worship the God of Israel. When Nehemiah heard how the city walls in his hometown of Jerusalem had been burned and left in ruins; he knew that he had to do something about it.  The problem was that the king Nehemiah served had issued a decree that Jerusalem not be rebuilt. How would the king ever be convinced to not only change his mind, but pay for the wall of Jerusalem to be restored?

Nehemiah’s solution was to fast and pray. He asked God for favor in his situation and denied his stomach for the purpose of showing that his desire and need for God’s help was greater than his desire and need for food. Nehemiah’s fast paved the way for God to give him favor with the pagan ruler that changed the course of history.

You may be facing a situation that is testing your courage and your strength — believe God is going to use this fast to bring His favor into your life.

• Nehemiah 1:3-4; 11
• Nehemiah 2:7-8

La historia de Nehemías es en ejemplo vibrante de favor que supone negarnos a nosotros mismos con el fin de acercarnos a Dios. Nehemías trabajaba para un poderoso rey pagano — uno que no adoraba al Dios de Israel. Cuando Nehemías escuchó que las murallas de su ciudad natal, Jerusalén, habían sido quemadas y dejadas en ruinasm, supo que tenía que hacer algo al respecto. El problema era que el rey al que Nehemías servía había emitido un decreto para que Jerusalén no fuera reconstruida. ¿Cómo se pordría convencer al rey no sólo de que cambiara de opinión, sino de que pagará por la restauración del muro de Jerusalén?

La solución de Nehemías fue ayunar y orar. Pidió a Dios que le propósito de mostrar que su deseo y necesidad de la ayuda de Dios era mayor que se deseo y necesidad de comida. El ayuno de Nehemías preparó el camino para que Dios le diera el favor con un gobernante pagano que cambió el curso de la historia.

Usted puede estar enfrentando un situación que está probando su valor y su fuerza — crea que Dios va a usar esta ayuno para traer Su favor a su vida.

• Nehemías 1:3-4; 11
• Nehemías 2:7-8

Have you felt distant from God? Maybe as you read this you feel as if you are in a spiritual desert. You are calling out to God, but it seems as if your cry is falling on deaf ears. You might even be thinking, “Why isn’t God responding?” The better question is, “What is blocking the voice of God in my life that I am not hearing what He is saying?”

The constant distractions that surround our lives can so easily block our ability to hear God’s voice. Everything from the TV, to smartphones, to social media can distract our attention and keep us from clearly hearing from the Lord. Seasons of fasting help to quiet our hearts so we can hear from God.

There is a unique spiritual sensitivity that comes through prayer and fasting. If you are struggling to discern God’s voice, one of the best things you can do is fast! Scripture is clear: God is speaking.

• Exodus 34:28
• Matthew 4:2
• Acts 13:2

In March Chapter 9, a father brought his son to Jesus’ disciples. The boy was demonized an an epileptic, and even though God had healed people through the disciples before, nothing happened when they prayed for the boy to be healed. When the disciples brought the boy to Jesus, the boy was healed. Later the disciples asked Jesus this question, “Why couldn’t we do it?” Jesus answered in verse 29, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”

There are some things that God will do in our lives but only response to our spending additional time in His presence combined with fasting. Fasting breaks strongholds, liberates people, and moves us into a realm of realizing God’s power in our lives. The more time you’re spending with God, the more you’re going to se the hand of God in your life in an extraordinary way. Maybe there’s an obstacle that you have been facing for a long time.

Perhaps you have prayed and prayed, and you don’t understand why you are not making any headway in the situation. You might be thinking, “Will God ever give me victory?” Jesus’ response to the disciples is His response to you — some things only come by prayer AND fasting.

• Mark 9:14-29
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
• Psalms 144:2

Praise the Lord!

What do you do when you’ve exhausted all your options when you believe you know God’s will but you can’t see how in the world it will come to pass?

When God’s people fast and pray, the supernatural happens! What are you needing God to do through this 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer? What are you looking for?

Take time to write these needs down. Look at them daily as you pray.

Whenever hunger grips your stomach or the cravings for coffee come, read your list and be reminded that your fating is for a purpose. Through your fast, God will answer! But don’t just focus on the battle or the pain — Scripture promises there is fullness of joy in God’s presence and there are pleasures at His right hand.

Delight yourself in pursuing Him, and you’ll know the joy of seeing Him in your life.

• Psalms 37:4
• Psalms 27:1

¿Qué haces cuando has agotado todas tus opciones, cuando crees que conoces la voluntad de Dios pero no puedes ver cómo en el mundo se hará realidad? Cuando el pueblo  de Dios ayuna y ora, ¡lo sobrenatural sucede! ¿Qué necesitas que haga Dios a través de estos 21 días de ayuno y oración? ¿Por que esté estás orando? Tómate el tiempo de escribir estas necesidades. Míralas diaramente mientras oras. Cada vez que el hambre se apodere de tu estómago o que los antojos de café lleguen, lee tu lista y recuerda que tu ayuno, Dios responderá. Pero no te concentres sólo en la batalla o en el dolor: las Escrituras prometen que hay plenitud de alegría en las presencia de Dios y que hay placeres a su derecha. Deléitate en perseguirlo, y concocerás el gozo de verlo obrar en tu vida.

• Salmos 37:4
• Salmos 27:1

Praise the Lord!

As we continue into Day 2 of our fast, it’s important to understand that we have entered into a spiritual battle. Part of the spiritual battle is fought as the body adjusts to the rigors of fasting. For most people, there is more than just a little detoxing happening in our bodies. But the battle is more than physiological; as we fast, a spiritual battle is being waged. Things are happening in the spiritual realm that we neither perceive nor understand outside of God revealing them to us.

Fasting is more than just missing a meal. Powerful seasons of fasting are experienced when we propose to spend additional time in God’s presence during the fast. As well, every hunger pain, every feeling of fatigue, and every caffeine headache will be a reminder to call on God in that moment and to cry out for those things you are seeking Him to do in your life. David Mathis writes, “[Fasting] is a desperate measure, for desperate times, among those who know themselves desperate for God.”

• Psalms 16:11
• Hebrews 12:16

Praise the Lord!

As we start this Week of Fasting and Prayer, we want to strengthen you with daily encouragements & scripture highlights that join us in thinking about these next three weeks as more than just going without food… or a spiritual battle… or a discipline to get what you need from God.  All of those things will certainly be aspects that we will encounter, but there is more.

This is a spiritual journey, think of it as a spiritual pilgrimage. A pilgrimage may lead you to a new place physically but primarily leads you to a new place spiritually.

In Psalm 84 the Psalmist is writing about those people who had their heart set on making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Listen to how he writes about those who are making the journey:

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house . . . Blessed are those whose strength is in you.”

The person making the journey is blessed, they have joy, they receive strength, in fact, they go from “strength to strength.”

You’re not making this journey alone, the God who loves you more than you can imagine is calling you to a new place, a new season, a new experience of His glory.

This journey is going to be life-changing, I can’t wait to see all that God is going to do.

God Bless You,
Pastor Gabriel Guerra

• Psalms 84:1-12
• Matthew 6:33