Feb 4th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Should We Stop Asking Jesus Into Our Hearts?

Have you seen the YouTube video in which David Platt says that accepting Jesus in your heart is superstitious and unbiblical? (See below.)   The Basis for This Concern The concern at the core of this issue is that many people with a background of cultural Christianity — people whose lives lack evidence of genuine conversion — are deriving assurance from words spoken, not from a heart... read more

Feb 1st 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Tired of Not Evangelizing But Too Afraid to Change?

  Do you struggle with evangelism? Have you made a commitment to be a better personal evangelist this year? Perhaps you made this commitment as you engaged in fasting and prayer with Pursuit 21. Below is an excerpt from an encouraging post I recently read. Not Alone The day before the fast began, I got on my face before the Lord in prayer, led by the Spirit to ask God what goals He wanted me to set... read more

Jan 30th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

The Fasting Archives (Updated)

  Each fasting post written this year contains a bulleted list of that day’s fasting post from previous years. (For example, the Fasting Day 1 post contains a bulleted list of links to previous years’ Fasting Day 1 posts.) You can access the archives this way through every post, or by searching the fasting category. However, there are now over 100 fasting posts on this site — quite a... read more

Jan 29th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fasting Day 21: A Closing Prayer

First, A Note of Thanks Thank you for giving me the privilege of walking through this season of fasting with you. It has been a sweet blessing to pray for you and your needs daily. Thank you also for your gracious feedback and words of appreciation. You may not know it, but you encouraged me in a moment when I needed it most. Some have also prayed for me in a comment or sent a message saying you’re... read more

Jan 29th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fasting Day 21: How To Successfully End Your Fast

Congratulations! You made it! You’re on the very last day of your fast! Did you ever think it would go by so quickly?! I’m proud of you for persevering to the end. I’ve received a few messages from fasters who struggled and contemplated throwing in the towel. But God reminded them this is a marathon, not a sprint; if you fall, you can get back up and run to the finish line. And... read more

Jan 28th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

The Calvary Road, Part 3: Sustaining a Soul Satisfying Vision of God

What we need above all else is to see and savor the glory of God in Christ Jesus. More than financial provision, more than physical healing, more than mended relationships, more than success on our job, more than success in our ministries – we need to see and treasure God’s glory in Christ. After all, it was as we beheld the glory of God in the gospel that we were saved (2 Cor. 4:4,6). Beholding the... read more

Jan 27th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fasting Day 19: The Calvary Road, Part 2

As Part One of this series discussed, after Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit’s first act was to lead Him into the wilderness where He would be tempted by the devil. Jesus was led of the Spirit to fast these forty days. It was God’s will that the Son of God be tested on his way into the ministry and that Jesus triumph in this testing through fasting. In A Hunger for God, John Piper shows the relationship... read more

Jan 26th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fasting Day 18: The Calvary Road, Part 1

Jesus began his earthly ministry with a forty-day fast. According to Matthew 3:16, after Jesus was baptized, when He came up out of the water, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove.  The Holy Spirit had always been with Jesus. (Luke 1:35, 2 Cor. 3:17) When the Spirit came on Him, it was preparation for what was to come and assurance of the Father’s guidance and help. God... read more

Jan 25th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

The Gospel of Prayer by Leonard Ravenhill

Leonard Ravenhill was one of Britain’s foremost outdoor evangelists of the 20th century. An author, he is well known for his book Why Revival Tarries, which has sold over a million copies worldwide. (Other related books include Revival God’s Way and Revival Praying.) Ravenhill was born in Leeds, in Yorkshire, England. He was educated at Cliff College in England and sat under the ministry of... read more

Jan 25th 13 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Desperate Prayer: Sermon by Leonard Ravenhill

Leonard Ravenhill illustrates from Hannah’s travail how intercession is likened to spiritual pregnancy and birth. As travail precedes the birth of a child, so birth pangs of desperate prayer precede revival. In the same way, travail in prayer precedes a work of God in our personal lives. Ravenhill draws upon the heroic exploits of prayer warriors Rees Howell, John Hyde, Praying Payson, E. M. Bounds,... read more