Jan 30th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

God Answers Desperate, Persistent Prayer

I’m convicted. Convicted about my lack of persistence and travail in prayer. It all came about through revisiting past blog posts here and compiling the post about David Brainerd. If you teach Sunday school or serve Christ through serving others, I’m sure you’ve noticed that you receive more than you give. You’re the one who receives the blessing. That’s what happened... read more

Jan 30th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

300+ Names, Titles, and Attributes Of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

This post is part of an ongoing series putting the focus on God—fixing our eyes on HIM and praising Him for who He is. 300+ Names, Titles and Attributes of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Abba, Father Abiding Able Abounding and Abundant Adequacy Adonai, Lord and Master Advocate All All-knowing All-powerful Almighty God Alpha and Omega Amen Ancient of Days Anointed of God Answer Architect and... read more

Jan 29th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

David Brainerd: Missionary, Man of Prayer, Mighty Spiritual Influence

David Brainerd was a missionary to the Indians in his 20’s. Although he died when he was 29, and his years as a missionary were brief, his ministry has dramatically impacted the lives of many—and continues to impact believers today. Brainerd was born in 1718, the year that John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards turned 14, Benjamin Franklin turned 12 and George Whitefield 3. He was 21 years old when... read more

Jan 29th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

From the Archives: Fasting Day 18

    Fasting Day 18: The Calvary Road, Part 1 In A Hunger for God, John Piper describes the correlation between fasting and Jesus’ victory over Satan: “It must not go unnoticed that Jesus triumphed over the great enemy of his soul and our salvation through fasting. “It seems to me that this story should shake us. Here is Jesus, standing on the threshold of the most important... read more

Jan 28th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fasting: Clean Slate by Jentezen Franklin

As believers, at times we need a clean slate spiritually. Why? Because we’ve become like the disciples in Matthew chapter 17. We’ve become faithless and perverse—too disconnected from God (faithless) and too connected to the world (perverse). Fasting and prayer is a remedy for this problem. Through fasting we disconnect from the world and through prayer we connect to God. Feeding Faith... read more

Jan 28th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

From the Archives: Fasting Day 17

    Fasting Day 17: Breaking Negative Emotional Habits (The Elijah Fast) Do you have a habit of being negative – a habit of seeing the glass half empty? Are you plagued by frequent despair and despondency? Are you so focused on yourself and your problems that you can’t see what God is doing in and around you? Don’t feel condemned; you are joined by one of the greatest prophets in the old... read more

Jan 27th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

From the Archives: Fasting Day 16

    Fasting Day 16: Fasting Is … (Part 3) Fasting is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons believers can utilize. Below is a list of twenty-five quick definitions for fasting. Fasting is… 1. Fasting is telling God: I want You more than food. I want to be with You more than I want to spend time with other people or engage in other activities. “I want to be sanctified and... read more

Jan 27th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

More Quotes About Fasting

Sometimes a quote or excerpt from someone can impact us more than volumes of books on a topic. So I thought I would share more quotes this year in the event they inspire you as you fast. Martin Luther (German reformer who lived 1483 to 1546) [From a sermon on Matthew 4:1ff. in 1524] Of fasting I say this: it is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body. For when the stomach is full,... read more

Jan 26th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Waiting Expectantly: Praying in Hope When Times Seem Hopeless

I’m sitting in my car in a small, quiet parking lot near an arboretum. I wanted to steal away and pray a few moments this afternoon. It’s cold (in the 30’s), so I’m drinking lots of hot herbal tea to stay warm. The main thing on my heart was praying and asking God what He wanted to say in today’s post. But first I had to pray through some major frustrations from the day and... read more

Jan 26th 14 Posted by Natalie Nichols

From the Archives: Fasting Day 15

    Fasting Day 15: Fasting is Waiting Fasting is waiting upon God, expressing confidence and hope in nothing around us except God Himself. He promises to bless those who wait for Him. ______________ Fasting is waiting — waiting on God. When King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast for all Judah, he prayed “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (2 Chron. 20:12). In a similar... read more