| THE HABIT OF PRAYER AND FASTING |
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11:1 A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is] his delight. 11:2 [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom. 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
PROVERBS 11:1-3 THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE HABITS OF THINGS LIKE BIBLE READING, CHURCH ATTENDANCE, SOUL WINNING, HARD WORK AND EVEN PRAYER; BUT LITTLE IS HEARD ABOUT THE HABIT OF PRAYER AND FASTING! THE WORD"INTEGRITY" IN PROVERBS 11:3 IS TALKING ABOUT OUR CHARACTER OR OUR HABITS. IN MATTHEW 17:21, JESUS TOLD SOME POWERLESS DISCIPLES WHO COULD NOT SEE AN UNCLEAN MAN MADE WHOLE: " HOWBEIT THIS KIND GOETH NOT OUT BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING." LET'S STOP FOOLING OURSELVES INTO BELIEVING WE ARE GOING TO PRAY AND FAST WITHOUT ENDEAVORING TO MAKE A HABIT OF IT.
ONE THING THAT MAKES UP THE HABIT OF PRAYER AND FASTING IS THE REGULARITY OF IT. I WALKED THROUGH A SECTION OF A PARK THE OTHER DAY THAT HAD GROWN OVER WITH TALL WEEDS. ALONG THE EDGE OF THE TREE LINE WAS A PATH FORMED IN RECENT DAYS BY PEOPLE TRAVELING THAT WAY REGULARLY.
ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES UP THE HABIT OF PRAYER AND FASTING IS THE SECLUSION OF IT PSALM 91:1 SAYS, "HE THAT SWELLETH IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY." THAT WORD "DWELLETH" IMPLIES STAYING SOMEWHERE FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESIDING THERE!
ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES UP THIS WONDERFUL HABIT IS THE SERENITY OF IT. JUST IMAGINE HOW SERENE AND AT PEACE A GOLDEN EAGLET MUST FEEL IN THEIR GIANT NEST PERCHED THOUSANDS OF FEET UP IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH THEIR MOTHER'S EIGHT FOOT WINDSPAN SHADOWING OVER THEM. WE CAN ENJOY THIS PSALM 91:1 KIND OF SERENITY BY SPENDING TIME WITH OUR GOD.
I BELIEVE MORE AND MORE CHRISTIANS MUST FORM THIS HABIT IN ORDER TO SEE OUR NATION TURNED BACK TO GOD. SHE IS WORTH IT!
BY PASTOR DALE SCHWARZ, HARBOUR LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH, ORANGE, CT. |
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