Fasting together: Just keep doing good. Here we go! I know today’s title is not proper in its grammar, yes I know it should read “Just keep doing well” or even “Just keep doing right”. But sometimes you have to break the rules (smile) and today is one of those times!
Are you winding down your fasting? Are you yet to get started? Fasting the 21 day Daniel Fast or just a meal or two here or there? However you decide to input a fast into your spiritual walk, then do it unto the Lord. You can read our previous posts here.
Evil is joining in agreement with someone else to cause harm or to slander another. This breaks the heart of God.
Evil is always sin but is sin always evil?
Evil is preconceived sin; planned sin, even conniving sin.
The Bible says we were “born into sin”, it is inherently in our nature. But through the cross we now have forgiveness of sins, an advocate in Jesus Christ the Righteous! We can go before Him when we sin (and we will) and receive His mercy.
Why didn’t God do away with our sinful nature when Jesus was nailed to the tree? Why, when we are buried with Him in baptism and our sins are washed away, do we continue to sin, even unwillingly or unknowingly? Jesus could have taken that sinful nature from us and made us perfect, obedient creatures, couldn’t He?
“God created things which had free will. If a thing is free to be good it’s also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.” C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity
We must serve Him and love Him with our FREE WILL. We love Him for what He has done for us and out of hearts of gratitude and thankfulness; not because we are forced to do so. That wouldn’t be love!
So we are in the world. An evil world. We cannot change it, for the most part, and must walk in it each and every day. So, what to do about it?
Prayer, coupled with fasting, strengthens us and gives us boldness and power in the Holy Ghost to withstand the evil that is in the world.
The prophet Nehemiah fasted when he heard that his beloved city of Jerusalem had been reduced to ruins. You can read it here.
Nehemiah was heartbroken at the news he had received of his homeland.
He sat down.
He cried.
He mourned.
For days.
He fasted.
He prayed.
He asked for mercy when he went before the king. He also humbly asked for permission, for caution and wisdom. Then he headed to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls!
While rebuilding the walls of his beloved Jerusalem he wouldn’t stop for anything, even when they were being attacked by evil! In Nehemiah 4:17, we see how Nehemiah continued doing good in the midst of a battle, “…The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.”
He just kept on doing good.
- Have the walls of your life been broken down?
- Does the enemy of your soul lie to you and torment you on every turn?
- Are you filled with anxiety, fear and dread every day?
Weep, mourn, fast, pray, ask for caution and wisdom. Then what?
Start rebuilding the walls!
Put your faith and confidence in the One who delivers, heals, restores and brings peace to a troubled mind. Let Him give you the strength to put one stone upon another and rebuild the walls in your life.
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21.
Evil will remain in the world until Satan is bound. But we do not have to let evil overcome us or become a part of us.
Jesus prayed for God to keep you from the Evil One. Today, through prayer and study of His Word, through relationship, Christ IN you, He has left you with the power to live an overcoming life!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
God answers prayers of sacrifice, desperation and commitment. What are you praying for today?
The Daniel Fast, A Devotional, is a great tool for ANY fast that you choose as a sacrifice to the Lord. 21 days of devotions and recipes too. Available in Kindle or paperback!
Love knowing that Jesus prayed not just for his disciples and people he met back then – but even for us here today.
Hi, Nannette! 🙂 I’m stopping by from Grace and Truth this week. What a comfort to know that Jesus prayed for us and continues to intercede even now. I will have to read more about Nehemiah’ s story. I think it might be encouraging to my husband, a minister, who has been facing opposition lately. Thanks for sharing with us! 🙂
This post was a comfort to me tonight…just knowing Jesus Christ Himself prayed for me…what a thought! I have also had the verse very much on my heart where Jesus told Peter that satan had desired to have him that he might sift him as wheat, but Jesus said, “I have prayed for you.” I wonder how often He has to do that for us? He is ever interceding on our behalf. Thank you for this reminder! It was a blessing to me.
Just the title of this post encouraged my heart. What a great reminder of those things Jesus prayed… for me!! Thank you for sharing and linking at Grace and Truth.
Thank you so much Dawn! Blessings to you on your journey with the Lord ♥
Thank you Marquitta for taking the time to comment! Just so glad for Jesus, for salvation, for the fact that He paid the price so we didn’t have to. Blessings!
Love that, “I choose the gift of salvation”! Amen! I admit I have asked that question myself many times…seems like life would have been easier but would we have all been robots?? I choose free will so that I may love Him with my heart ♥ thanks so much for stopping by and giving your perspective!
Yes, it should give us a lot of confidence to know that Jesus prayed this prayer for us! I loved what you wrote here. Thank you for the encouraging words.
Hi Nannette! I saw your link-up on Grace & Truth. I enjoyed this article very much. I thought it was an interesting perspective that really had my wheels turning. 🙂 I’ve never thought about sin & evil from that stand-point, but I agree with Ann, it makes sense. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi, Nannette. I followed your link-up over at Fellowship Friday. I hadn’t considered the difference between sin and evil before, but it makes sense. I come across a lot of people who ask the question you posed…”Why didn’t God do away with our sinful nature when Jesus was nailed to the tree?”. It’s often hard for us humans to grasp God’s choice to give us all the free will to choose to serve Him or not, when perfection was an option. I, for one, am thankful for the freedom to choose and the gift of salvation through His blood! Thanks for sharing!!