Week one

Prayer and Fasting April 2021

Week 1 5th April to 11th April

5th April

From today until 2nd May, Turning Point Church will be following a period of Prayer and Fasting. Our morning readings throughout the 4 weeks will be a collection of thoughts, scriptures and prayers bringing us into the presence of God and seeking His will for us.

To begin this period of Prayer and Fasting we will be concentrating on the spiritual battles which each of us are engaged in as followers of Christ.

(We are thankful to Neil Anderson of Freedom in Christ Ministries for the basis of this week's notes and prayers)

We begin today’s devotion with the words of Ephesians 5:8

"You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

This verse describes the essential change of nature which occurs at salvation. It doesn't say you were in darkness; it says you were darkness. Darkness was your nature, your very essence, as an unbeliever. Nor does it say you are now in the light; it says you are light. God changed your basic nature from darkness to light. The issue in this passage is not improving your nature. Your new nature is already determined. The issue is learning to walk in harmony with your new nature.

So we begin our devotions and prayers each day this week like this:-

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvellous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today. Give me the strength needed to do this on  daily basis. In Your Name. Amen”

We read from Ephesians 6:10-12

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:10-12)

(Pause for reflection)

A prayer:

“Lord, please help me to be strong in the power of Your might and not my own. Help me to put on the whole armour which You have provided. In Your strength and by the power of Your Holy spirit give me victory this day. In Jesus' name. Amen”

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6th April

Until 2nd May, Turning Point Church will be following a period of Prayer and Fasting. Our morning readings throughout the 4 weeks will be a collection of thoughts, scriptures and prayers bringing us into the presence of God and seeking His will for us.

We begin again today by reading the verse from Ephesians 5:8 and praying the daily prayer:-

"You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvellous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today. Give me the strength needed to do this on  daily basis. In Your Name. Amen”

Why do you need the nature of Christ within you? So you can be like Christ, not just act like Him. God has not given us the power just to imitate Him. He has made us partakers of His nature so that we can actually be like Him. You don't become a Christian by acting like one. We are not on a performance basis with God. He doesn't say, "Here are My standards, now you measure up." He knows you can't solve the problem of an old sinful self by simply improving your behaviour. He must change your nature, give you an entirely new self the life of Christ in you which is the grace you need to measure up to His standards.

We read from Ephesians 6:13

"Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:13)

(Pause for reflection)

List some things you know you will be faced with today and then pray this prayer claiming His victory over them…

“Lord. Thank You for assuring me of victory today if I follow Your battle plan. So by faith I claim victory over _______________.  All praise to You in Jesus’ name.”

(Pause for reflection)

“Thank You, Lord God”

7th April

Until 2nd May, Turning Point Church will be following a period of Prayer and Fasting. Our morning readings throughout the 4 weeks will be a collection of thoughts, scriptures and prayers bringing us into the presence of God and seeking His will for us.

We begin again today by reading the verse from Ephesians 5:8 and praying the daily prayer:-

"You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvellous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today. Give me the strength needed to do this on  daily basis. In Your Name. Amen”

(Pause for reflection)

Jesus said in His message in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’: "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). The Scribes and Pharisees were the religious perfectionists of their day. They had external behaviour down to a science, but their hearts were like the insides of a tomb, reeking of death. Jesus is only interested in creating new persons from the inside out by infusing in them a brand-new nature and creating in them a new self. Only after He changes your identity and makes you a partaker of His nature will you be able to change your behaviour.

We read from Ephesians 6:13

"Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth" Ephesians 6:14a)

(Pause for reflection)

A prayer

“Lord, to prepare myself for the battle ahead, by faith I put on the belt of truth. The truth about You, Lord - that You are a sovereign God who knows everything about me, both my strengths and weaknesses. Lord, You know my breaking point and have promised not to allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. The truth about me, Lord is that I am a new creature in Christ and have been set free from the power of sin. As Your child I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who will guide me and warn me when danger is near. I am Your child, and nothing can separate me from Your love. The truth is that You have a purpose for me this day – someone to encourage, to share with, to love.”

(Pause for reflection)

“Amen”

8th April

We begin again today by reading the verse from Ephesians 5:8 and praying the daily prayer:-

"You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvellous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today. Give me the strength needed to do this on  daily basis. In Your Name. Amen”

(Pause for reflection)

Today we read Ephesians 6:14

"Stand therefore...  having put on the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesian 6:14)

(Pause for reflection)

“Lord I want, by faith, to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Through my heart and emotions will be guarded. I will not allow my heart to attach itself to anything that is impure. I will not allow my emotions to rule my decisions. I will set them on what is right and good and just, I will live today by what is true, not by what I feel. In the Name of Jesus.”

(Pause for reflection)

“Amen”

9th April

We begin again today by reading the verse from Ephesians 5:8 and praying the daily prayer:-

"You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvellous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today. Give me the strength needed to do this on  daily basis. In Your Name. Amen”

(Pause for reflection)

Our armour for today is from Ephesians 6:15

"... as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:15)

(Pause for reflection)

“Lord, this morning I put on the sandals of the gospel of peace. I am available to You, Lord. Send me where You will. Guide me to those who need encouragement or  help of some kind. Use me to solve conflicts whenever they may arise. Make me a calming presence in every circumstance in which You place me. I will not be hurried or rushed, for my schedule is in Your hands. I will not leave a trial or tension and apprehension. I will leave tracks of peace and stability everywhere I go.”

(Pause for reflection)

“Amen”

10th April

We begin again today by reading the verse from Ephesians 5:8 and praying the daily prayer:-

"You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvellous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today. Give me the strength needed to do this on  daily basis. In Your Name. Amen”

(Pause for reflection)

We read today about another piece of spiritual armour:

"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; "(Ephesians 6:16)

(Pause for reflection)

Our Prayer:

“Lord I now take up the shield of faith. My faith is in You and You alone. Apart from You, I can do nothing. With You, I can do all things. No temptation that comes my way can penetrate Your protecting hand. I will not be afraid, for You are going with me throughout this day. When I am tempted, I will claim victory out loud ahead of time, for You have promised victory even now because I know there are fiery darts headed my way even as I pray. Lord, You already know what they are and have already provided the way of escape.”

(Pause for reflection)

“Amen”

​

11th April

We begin again today by reading the verse from Ephesians 5:8 and praying the daily prayer:-

"You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvellous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today. Give me the strength needed to do this on  daily basis. In Your Name. Amen”

(Pause for reflection)

Let us continue putting on the parts of God’s armour for us from Ephesians 6:17

"... and take the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:17a)

(Pause for reflection)

Our prayer

“Lord, by faith I am putting on the helmet of salvation. You know how Satan bombards my mind day and night with evil thoughts, doubt, and fear. I put on this helmet that will protect my mind. I may feel the impact of his attacks, but nothing can penetrate this helmet. I choose to stop every impure and negative thoughts at the door of my mind. And with the helmet of salvation those thoughts will go no further. I elect to take captive every thought that is good and right and pleasing to You. For Your sake and for Your glory.”

(Pause for reflection)

“Amen”

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