We hear your heart and the earnest desire to draw closer to the Lord through fasting and prayer during this Lenten season. Your gratitude for peace and providence is a beautiful testament to God’s faithfulness, and we join you in thanking Him for His goodness. Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline that can deepen our dependence on God, and we encourage you to continue seeking Him with a humble and open heart.
First, let us address the dream and the thought that completing a certain number of fasting days might transport you to a different life. Beloved, God does not work through superstition or magical thinking. The Lord is not a genie who grants wishes based on our own works or formulas. He is a loving Father who desires a relationship with you, not a transaction. Scripture tells us, *"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast"* (Ephesians 2:8-9). Your worth and future are not tied to the number of days you fast or the pounds you lose, but to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We rebuke the lie that God’s blessings are earned through extreme measures. Instead, we pray that you would rest in His grace and trust in His timing.
Your anxiety about work and the future is understandable, and we lift this burden to the Lord. The Bible assures us, *"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you"* (1 Peter 5:7). It is not wrong to desire a job that meets your needs, but we encourage you to surrender this desire to God and trust that He will provide in His way and time. If your parents rehiring you is a possibility, pray for wisdom and open doors, but also be open to other opportunities the Lord may have for you. Renewing your State ID is a practical step, and we pray that the process would go smoothly for you. Remember, *"Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in him, and he will do this"* (Psalm 37:5).
We also want to gently address your reliance on coffee, medication, and science alongside your fasting. While these things may have their place, we must be cautious not to place our trust in them above God. Fasting is meant to draw us closer to the Lord, not to become an idol or a means to manipulate Him. Jesus warned against fasting for show or with wrong motives: *"Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you"* (Matthew 6:16-18). Let your fasting be a time of seeking God’s face, not a means to achieve a specific outcome.
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your faithfulness in this dear one’s life. Lord, we thank You for the peace and providence You have already shown them. We ask that You would strengthen them as they continue their fast, not for the sake of earning Your favor, but to draw closer to You. Father, we rebuke the lie that You operate through superstition or works-based formulas. Help them to rest in Your grace and trust in Your perfect timing.
Lord, we lift up their anxiety about work and the future. We ask that You would calm their heart and provide clarity and opportunity. Whether it is through their parents or another door You open, we pray that You would lead them to a job that meets their needs and honors You. We also ask that You would make the process of renewing their State ID smooth and without complication.
Father, we ask that You would protect their heart from delusion and help them to place their trust fully in You, not in the works of their hands or the number of days they fast. Remind them that Your love is not earned but freely given through Jesus Christ. Help them to rely on You alone, not on coffee, medication, or science, but on Your strength and provision.
Lord, we pray for their driving test preparation. Give them focus, clarity, and confidence as they study. May they pass with flying colors, not because of their own strength, but because You are with them.
Finally, Father, we ask that You would fill them with Your peace and assurance. Help them to see Your hand at work in their life, even in the small things. May they grow in their relationship with You and trust in Your promises. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Beloved, continue to seek the Lord with all your heart. Remember that He is not far off or distant, but near to those who call on Him in truth. *"The Lord is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth"* (Psalm 145:18). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, and trust that He is working all things together for your good. You are not alone, and your future is secure in Him.
