Focus Verse: And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:28-29 (NKJV)
I was cleaning my shower one day and had to pull out my shower cleaning brush. This brush is not used every time I clean my shower. However, when I need to do a deep clean and get to the hard to reach places in my shower, the places that a towel or regular scrubber can’t reach, I grab my brush. These are the places that are mostly neglected, however, is the home to a lot of the soap scum and germs in our showers; the corners of the shower where two walls meet, under the soap dish, around the knobs of the hot and cold temperature valves. If neglected, bacteria, mold, and other unwanted germs begin to grow.
Our spiritual lives are like our showers. If we neglect to give attention to the hard to reach places in our lives, the corners where our past meets with or future, under our soap dish of issues that we aren’t ready to turn over to Christ yet, and around the knobs of the hot and cold temperature valves where we continue to find ourselves trying to turn sin on and off in our lives.
Just like with our showers, we have to be willing to get to those hard to reach places in our lives. Those places that our regular routine just doesn’t seem to touch. Our focus verse validates this point. There are some things that only happen when we intentionally seek God’s face through prayer and fasting.
We can’t continue to neglect those places that we know God is calling us to give attention to. Much like in our physical bathrooms, when we neglect these places in our spiritual bathrooms, strongholds are formed, deep-rooted generational curses are carried on, and new demons are exposed to our spirit, see Matthew 12:43-45.
Are there places that you know God has been calling you to give attention to in your life, but you have continually overlooked them thinking they will eventually improve over time? I strongly encourage you to consider prayer and fasting.
Prayer: Father, what an amazing God You are! Thank You so much for being so concerned about my spiritual well-being. I know there are places that You want to take me and things that You want to expose me to, but there are still some areas that I need to give attention to in my life. Father, I ask You to forgive me for neglecting those places and give me courage as I begin to give attention to those hard to reach places in my life. As we walk together on this journey, I will give You the glory now, for the testimonies that will come because of it. It is in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!
Disclaimer: If you are new to fasting, I strongly encourage you to consult your physical physician before starting any type of dietary fast.