dennis martin papp

Day Fifteen

Day fifteen. We've been praying and fasting for fifteen days. The goal is twenty-one, not fifteen, but twenty-one.

It is possible as this new week begins that our strength is fading. We are starting to have internal conversations about quitting. We do not call it quitting. We re-label it in a more positive fashion. One way we do this is to convince ourselves that we have accomplished what we hoped to get out of the fast. Maybe our long-held prayer has been answered. Maybe we've experienced a significant spiritual break-through. Maybe we have a sense of peace and satisfaction that has not been present for a long time, and we feel content.

I love Philippians 1:6. It has been a guiding verse for me since I was in my teens.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. He, not me. We are not the primary workers in our fasting and prayer. Our Trinity God is the worker, and we are cooperating with His good work. He's not done yet. He has more work to do.

The biblical impetus for a twenty-one day fast is found in Daniel 10. Daniel receives a disturbing vision. To understand the vision, he fasted and prayed for three weeks.

Daniel 10:2
At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

Three weeks into the fast an answer came through an angel. The angel reveals the activity of spiritual beings taking place beyond the veil:

Daniel 10:12-14
Then [the angel] continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” 

His prayer was heard on day one, but the answer was held up by an evil being for twenty-one days. Is it possible that we still have a response from the heart of God on the way? How do we know what God plans to bring to pass on days nineteen, twenty and twenty-one? We will only know if we stay strong. 

Another verse that has guided me since I was young is found in Galatians.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

You have come so far. A little more than two-thirds of the fast is behind you. Stay strong!

Today's Prayer Focus 
Speaking of thinking about quitting, so many people are quitting on marriage. They are quitting on their spouse. They are quitting on their vows. They are quitting on their family. They are quitting on themselves. This includes those who call themselves devoted Christ followers. Marriage is under satanic attack and for good reason in the enemy's eyes. The covenant bond of a man and a woman in marriage stands at the picture on earth of Christ and His Bride, the Church. it is also a picture of the perfect community that exists between Father, Son and Spirit. If you hated God and His plan, as satan does, would you not be intent on destroying that picture?

So today our prayer has many parts:

1. Pray for those soon to be married. Pray that they would enter marriage with eyes wide open. No delusions. Pray that God would prepare them for the hardest thing they will ever do. In our church you can specifically pray for Amechi and Francesca (Frankie), Bryson and Julia, Jacob and Lorelai who will all be married in 2024. 
2. Pray for those whose marriages are floundering. Maybe you know someone who is ready to give up. Pray for them by name. Pray that they would push forward with real love and devotion. Pray that God would lead them to people and resources that will help them to stay true to their vows.
3. Pray against the enemy of our souls. Pray against satan. Pray that he would be thwarted at every turn as he tries to destroy marriages. Pray against Him in the power and blood of Jesus! Pray for his defeat here and now. Pray that he would be ineffective in destroying marriages at SouthField.
4. Pray about what God wants SouthField to do to strengthen marriages. This has been so heavy on me. What is God calling us to do to help marriages to do more than survive? I've been married to Kim since 1985. Marrying her was the best decision I ever made. Every day is a real gift from God. I want everyone to know what it is like to be married and love it! God, what is your dream for us in ministering to marriages?
5. If you are married, pray for your spouse today.
6. We've talked about praying for people as God brings them to mind. Let the Sprit guide your heart to a couple for whom you will pray. Pray earnestly for their marriage today.

Days Thirteen and Fourteen

Almost every day for over a month I have listen to the song Good Plans by Red Rocks.

Check out the lyrics:

The Lord is my shepherd
And He is everything I need
So, I will not worry
I will not fear the enemy
He said that He loves me
He said that He's with me even though
I walk through the valley
Of shadow and death and still I know

 

He has good plans
He has good plans for me
So, I will take heart in deserts and gardens
He has good plans
He has good plans for me
If I know my Father
I know my Father has good plans

 

Do you believe that? Do you believe God has good plans for you?

 

I guess it really depends on our definition of good. 

 

Most of us think of good as getting what we want, yet for the Christ-follower, true goodness is receiving what He wants.

 

Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Whatever you want I want God...

 

This walk is a journey of constant surrender, of letting go to receive what God wants.

 

Is there a verse that God has brought to you during this fast?

 

For me, it is the message of Isaiah 43:1 

 

But now, this is what the Lord says...

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are Mine.

 

He has good plans.

 

We have no reason to fear. He has redeemed us. He has called us. We are His.

 

Weekend Prayer Focus

Just enjoy being with Jesus. No asking. Just be with Him. Live in the truth of being His. Embrace the reality that His plans for you are good plans.

 

 

Day Twelve

No two fasts are alike.

No two fasters are alike.

Ok, maybe some are, but hopefully you get the point.

In prior posts I have been relaying the way I am experiencing this fast. It has been emotional, intense, and meaningful. It was just the kick-start my walk with God needed! It's been a real difference maker. 

You may be reading what I'm writing about my experiences and thinking, "That's not me!" You have not felt deep emotion. You may be feeling great resistance...it has been a hard slog, or maybe it feels so smooth you wonder if you made it hard enough. As you read my experiences, and they do not parallel your own, you may wonder if you are doing it wrong, or you may wonder what is wrong with Dennis!

Let me repeat:

No two fasts are alike.

No two fasters are alike.

Our fasting journeys are impacted by so many factors: age, stage of life, stage of spiritual growth, current life circumstances, the parenting journey, and so many more.

This twenty-one-day tool is intended to move you from where you are to YOUR next step. Your next step is different than mine. The things I am experiencing will be different. I offer details of my journey as an example, not as the perfect model that you must duplicate. 

I feel sure that if you have been taking prayer and fasting seriously, God is doing something significant in you. Can you identify the something?

We are over the half-way mark. Perhaps what you expected or hoped has not happened yet. Be patient, God is not finished with us yet!

Why not take a few moments today to assess. Write it our if it helps. How do you sense this sacred season has impacted you?

Today's Prayer Focus
Pray for you today. Seriously, pray for yourself. Pray about this experience. Ask God to continue His good work in you. Ask Him to reveal, if He desires, what He is up to in you. Beyond that, think of someone else you know who has engaged this journey. Pray that God will use these twenty-one days to move them closer to being like Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Day Eleven

Are you ready to pray a prayer of deep trust? Pray the words Jesus taught us to pray:

Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done.

Pray these words without reservation, hesitation or qualification. 

This is a prayer of complete surrender. Every time we pray these words we let go. We acknowledge the reality that God is God, and we are not. We own the truth that God is in control and we have no control. We join our hearts with His heart and express our desire for Him to have His way, and we agree that His way is best.

It is also trust-filled because we are in no way expressing what we think should be done. Have you ever been given total freedom on a project, only to be given a ton of suggestions on how to do it right or better? God wants to hear our desires, but sometimes our desires feel more like instructions. What trust and surrender we express when we say, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done." Period. 

Prayers of surrender are not easy prayers. They may be easy words to mouth, but they are not easy words to mean. Imagine some of the most difficult, frustrating, maybe heartbreaking issues you are facing in this season. How easy is it to say, "God, whatever You want. Whatever You think is best, do it." Whatever includes many things we do not want. Can we really say, "Even that God. Even the thing I don't want...you know best."

Such a prayer reminds me of Paul's landing place in 2 Corinthians 9:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God thought it was best for Paul to receive a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass him, to keep him from becoming conceited. Read those words again. A messenger from Satan! God thought this was best for Paul. Paul did not start out praying, "Your will be done." No, he prayed for God to take it away, three times. Ultimately He arrives at the place of trust: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.

Whatever You think is best God, do it. Jesus, I trust you.

Today's Prayer Focus
Fix in your mind on a situation over which you have a clear opinion on the best possible outcome. Choose an area where you have repeatedly asked God to take it away, to change it, to do it this way instead. With stedfast resolve and complete surrender, say it: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. How about a specific topic that is even more difficult to surrender: God, whatever you want for my child, I want it too. Pray these prayers with opened hands. Let go. Release control to God.

Day Eleven

Are you ready to pray a prayer of deep trust? Pray the words Jesus taught us to pray:

Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done.

Pray these words without reservation, hesitation or qualification. 

This is a prayer of complete surrender. Every time we pray these words we let go. We acknowledge the reality that God is God, and we are not. We own the truth that God is in control and we have no control. We join our hearts with His heart and express our desire for Him to have His way, and we agree that His way is best.

It is also trust-filled because we are in no way expressing what we think should be done. Have you ever been given total freedom on a project, only to be given a ton of suggestions on how to do it right or better? God wants to hear our desires, but sometimes our desires feel more like instructions. What trust and surrender we express when we say, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done." Period. 

Prayers of surrender are not easy prayers. They may be easy words to mouth, but they are not easy words to mean. Imagine some of the most difficult, frustrating, maybe heartbreaking issues you are facing in this season. How easy is it to say, "God, whatever You want. Whatever You think is best, do it." Whatever includes many things we do not want. Can we really say, "Even that God. Even the thing I don't want...you know best."

Such a prayer reminds me of Paul's landing place in 2 Corinthians 9:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God thought it was best for Paul to receive a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass him, to keep him from becoming conceited. Read those words again. A messenger from Satan! God thought this was best for Paul. Paul did not start out praying, "Your will be done." No, he prayed for God to take it away, three times. Ultimately He arrives at the place of trust: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.

Whatever You think is best God, do it. Jesus, I trust you.

Today's Prayer Focus
Fix in your mind on a situation over which you have a clear opinion on the best possible outcome. Choose an area where you have repeatedly asked God to take it away, to change it, to do it this way instead. With stedfast resolve and complete surrender, say it: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. How about a specific topic that is even more difficult to surrender: God, whatever you want for my child, I want it too. Pray these prayers with opened hands. Let go. Release control to God.