Fasting... is one of the most effective ways to draw nearer to God.
DAY 5 | EMPOWERED TO SURRENDER
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42 NIV
Devotional: Jesus modeled the greatest act of surrender in human history when He knelt in Gethsemane just hours before the cross. He would soon be mocked, beaten, and crucified for sins He did not commit. His words were raw and real: “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me.” Jesus was not resisting His mission but revealing its weight. The burden pressed so heavily that “his sweat became like drops of blood” (Luke 22:44). Yet, in that moment of agony, He declared: “Not My will, but Yours be done.” This was not defeat. It was divine strength. Jesus was not giving up - He was giving over. In God’s Kingdom, surrender is not losing power but stepping into it. Jesus wasn’t forced to the cross; He chose it, empowered by the Holy Spirit - the same Spirit given to us. Surrender is not weakness; it is courage. On the other side of surrender lies
God’s solution for life’s toughest struggles. What is God asking you to place in His hands today?
Prayer: Father, help me follow the example of Jesus. When life feels heavy, give me courage to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Empower me to surrender, not in fear, but in faith. I trust that Your plans are to prosper me, not to harm me - to give me hope and a future. Strengthen me to let go of my plans, my dreams, and my fears so that You can have Your way in my life. Today, I surrender my family, my finances, my dreams, and every concern. Teach me the freedom of resting in Your outcomes, not my own. Have Your way in me, Lord. In Jesus’ name.
DAY 6 | EMPOWERED TO RECEIVE HIS PEACE
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Devotional: Paul reminds us that peace is not something we can manufacture through control, avoidance, or striving. True peace is a gift of the Spirit, freely given and divinely sustained. We are empowered to receive it because the Spirit of God dwells within us. The pathway is clearly laid out. Do not be anxious. This is more than a suggestion - it is a command that comes with empowerment. We cannot stop worry from trying to intrude, but through Christ, we are enabled to resist. Instead of rehearsing fear or dwelling on what-ifs, we are invited to release our concerns through prayer. Every detail of life - whether small or overwhelming can be placed in God’s capable hands, because He is faithful and trustworthy. Paul then adds thanksgiving. Gratitude is not optional; it is a powerful shift of perspective. We shift our focus from what we lack to His proven faithfulness. Thanksgiving unlocks a greater awareness of His presence and steadies us in His promises. What follows is God’s promise; the peace of God which transcends all understanding. This peace is more than an emotion, it is an active defense, like a sentinel, surrounding our hearts and minds shielding us from fear, doubt, and discouragement. It steadies our emotions, calms our thoughts and anchors us in His love. To be empowered to receive peace means that peace is not earned, but embraced. Our role is to surrender - laying down anxiety, lifting up prayer, and covering it with thanksgiving. God’s role is to release His supernatural peace, a peace beyond comprehension, to guard and keep us secure in His unfailing love.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for being near. Today I lay down every anxious thought at Your feet. I bring my needs, my worries, and my desires before You, trusting that You care for me. Fill my heart with gratitude for what You have done and for what You are still doing, even when I cannot see it. Let thanksgiving rise within me as I remember Your faithfulness. I receive Your peace that surpasses understanding - guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus, and keep me resting in the security of Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY 7 | EMPOWERED TO WALK IN HIS STRENGTH
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Devotional: To walk in the strength of the Lord is to surrender our need for control and allow Him to lead. We acknowledge that our human strength runs out, but His strength is unending. When we choose to lean on Him, He not only carries us through difficulty, but He also empowers us to rise above it. His strength becomes the firm foundation under our feet and the steady hand that guides us forward. As Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: …”They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Just as an eagle depends on the wind to lift and sustain it, so must we depend on God to renew and uphold us. The eagle does not create the wind - it simply positions itself to ride it. In the same way, we cannot create strength apart from God; we receive it as we wait on Him and trust His timing. When we remain deeply connected to God, His Spirit renews us. He protects us under His wings and gives us courage to face trials with faith instead of fear. Our weaknesses become opportunities for His power to shine through us. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Walking in His strength means living in confidence, not because of what we can do, but because of who He is within us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being my constant source of strength. When I am weary, You lift me up. When I feel faint, You renew my hope. Help me to soar above shame, pain, and fear, and to walk in the victory Christ has secured for me.. I am grateful to be called Your child - chosen, loved, and forgiven. Empower me to walk daily in Your strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.