Day 6 of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Devotional: 

Hello friends. Welcome to Day 6 of our prayer and fasting this January. Our theme is “Treasure Hunters” and I want to encourage all of us to focus on The True Treasure today. Hebrews 11 is the great Hall of Faith chapter, listing heroes of faith and what they experienced as they followed God. Each ran their race with endurance so they could finish well. Then we come to Chapter 12, which should inspire all of us to follow suit. Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV – 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, I’ll stop there for today’s devotional. I believe the witnesses are those listed in Hebrews 11 but also others who aren’t mentioned who have inspired us. Your list of witnesses can be different than mine. I think of people God has put in my life that have encouraged me to keep running my race with joy. I look to them and thank God for their impact on my life. However, we need to look to the true Treasure as our best example and source of greatest encouragement. Looking unto Jesus. “Looking” is a powerful word that doesn’t carry the full force of meaning in the English language. The Greek word is ἀφοράω [aphoraō] and means “to view with undivided attention by looking away from every other object; to regard fixedly and earnestly, to see distinctly. I like to define looking as fixating. Disregard everything that distracts you from seeking (and finding) the true Treasure. Setting aside time to pray without distractions will produce much fruit in our lives. Let’s feed our spirits and deny our flesh so that we become more like the Treasure we are fixating upon. This is a prime purpose for fasting. Remember the Fruit of the Spirit, which has these wonderful characteristics: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Take time today to fixate your full attention on Jesus.

Questions:

1. What is Jesus saying to me?

2. What does He want me to do?

3. Am I putting away all distractions so I can fixate on Jesus, my true Treasure?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You are my Treasure! My exceedingly great Reward. Help me set aside distractions so I can effectively run my race with endurance. Make me more like Jesus. Use me as a witness of your power and grace in order to help others overcome obstacles. Be glorified through my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen!