“He rewards openly.”
That truth anchored our hearts on Sunday as we gathered as a church family on Day 14 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. It was more than a teaching — it was a reminder of who God is and how He responds when His people seek Him sincerely.
We’re not fasting to impress God.
We’re not praying to twist His arm.
Prayer and fasting are a holy invitation — not for God to move, but for God to move us.
Prayer and fasting realign us with God’s assignment
Ps Larry reminded us that prayer and fasting are not religious rituals; they are acts of faith that bring alignment. When we pray and fast, we intentionally silence the voice of the flesh so the Holy Spirit can speak with clarity and authority.
Jesus Himself modelled this.
Luke 4:1–4 (NKJV)
“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit… was led by the Spirit into the wilderness… And Jesus answered him, saying, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Jesus didn’t fast because He lacked power — He fasted because He was already full of the Spirit. Fasting didn’t weaken Him; it positioned Him to walk in authority.
Luke 4:14 (NKJV)
“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit…”
That’s what happens when prayer and fasting are done God’s way. Our appetites are reordered and souls are realigned. Our lives come back under heaven’s direction.
Fasting is about intimacy, not deprivation
One of the most freeing truths we heard was this: fasting is not about what we lose — it’s about what we gain.
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
When we fast, hidden dependencies are exposed. Distractions loosen their grip. Prayer becomes focused. Intimacy deepens. We discover again that God is enough.
Prayer and fasting disconnect us from the world’s system and reconnect us to God’s supernatural system — where direction is given, clarity is released, and faith is strengthened.
The fast God chooses
Isaiah 58 became the foundation Scripture for the message — and it’s impossible to read it without conviction.
Isaiah 58:6 (NKJV)
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free…”
God’s fast is not about performance. It’s about transformation.
Ps Larry unpacked the powerful Old Testament picture from Deuteronomy 18, where specific parts of the sacrifice were brought to the priest — the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. Each one speaks deeply to our prayer and fasting journey.
The shoulder — our burdens
The shoulder represents the weight we carry: family pressure, finances, guilt, shame, and responsibility. Fasting is an act of bringing those burdens to Jesus.
Isaiah 58 tells us that God’s fast undoes heavy burdens. We were never meant to carry them alone.
The cheek — offence and hurt
The cheek speaks of offence and emotional wounds. Unforgiveness poisons the soul. Fasting helps us release bitterness, choose forgiveness, and restore spiritual health.
Luke 6:29 (NKJV)
“To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.”
The stomach — appetites and desires
The stomach represents what we hunger for. Fasting exposes misplaced desires and restores spiritual hunger.
When we seek fulfilment in temporary things, Scripture warns of “leanness of soul”. But when we hunger for God, He fills us completely.
Taking up our cross in a self-centred world
Jesus never promised a comfortable faith — He promised a surrendered one.
Mark 8:34–35 (NLT)
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
Our culture tells us that self-care leads to abundance. Jesus tells us that surrender leads to life. If we refuse to take up our cross, we will still suffer — but we will lose the eternal reward that obedience brings.
He rewards openly
God never ignores obedience.
Isaiah 58 lists the rewards of God-honouring fasting, and they are breathtaking:
- Spiritual insight — seeing through God’s eyes
- Healing — physical, emotional, and mental
- Protection — righteousness going before us and God’s glory guarding us
- Answered prayer — God saying, “Here I am”
- Influence and favour — light rising in dark places
- Guidance — God leading us continually
- Provision — strength, sustainability, and fruitfulness
- Heritage — rebuilding foundations for generations
- Joy — deep, unshakable joy in the Lord
Isaiah 58:14 (GNT)
“Then you will find your joy in the LORD…”
When we seek God privately, He rewards openly.
Day 15 — don’t stop now – He rewards openly
If you’re feeling tired, hungry, or tempted to ease off — let this encourage you. We are more than halfway through, and God is working far deeper than we can see.
Prayer and fasting are sowing spiritual seed for the harvest we’re trusting God for in 2026 — not for our purposes, but for His.
As we continue this journey as a church family and step into deeper alignment with the 3C network, learn more about the heart, vision, and leadership of 3C.
A prayer for today
Father God, we thank You that You see what is done in secret and that You reward openly.
On this Day of prayer and fasting, we humble ourselves before You again. Where our desires have been misaligned, realign us. Where burdens have been heavy, lift them. Restore spiritual hunger in us. Strengthen us to finish well. Let our lives bring You glory, and let Your will be done in us, through us, and for generations to come.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
