Day 15: Human Zeal
What is on your heart for this fast? Define your reason if you haven’t already and write it down. Do not continue this fast with human zeal but with God’s power. You cannot do God’s will with human zeal anymore than you can effectively chop down a huge oak tree with a dull ax. Most of the time you will cause more damage than good by not waiting upon the Lord for His way, His direction and His anointing. Take the time to sit down and work on that ax and sharpen it. That is what fasting does in your life. It helps you get your edge back.
It takes work to get your flesh under submission. Paul explained that the flesh wars against the Spirit—and the Spirit wars against the flesh. So you need to ask yourself: Which one are you empowering? Which one are you giving access to control your life?
I go through all kinds of extremes during an extended fast. One thing I notice is mood swings. One minute I am eager and confident about the fast, and just a few hours later thoughts like, “What’s the use? This is crazy!” start filtering through my mind. After a few more days I move into “the grind” mode. Fasting grinds on your flesh. As many times as I have fasted, it never fails that at some point I become overwhelmed with the feeling of uselessness. In fact, the enemy raises his ugly head to drive that point home as he whispers, “What good is it really doing? Give up.” That is when I remind myself that I’m sharpening my ax, I’m regaining my edge and I’m going to take him out!
By now you may not be able to hear God speak over the sound of your stomach growling. You can’t focus on morning devotions for thinking about cookies or steak. You want to read the Word but you have a headache, you are cold and probably tired from the toxins still being filtered out of your body. You might feel like you are just physically falling apart, but stay the course and don’t let your flesh or the devil short change your reward!
Quiet yourself. Get still by turning off the crazy distractions of this life and press in to God’s presence. Open God’s Word and devour it. God will speak to you through His Word. The Bible contains the answer to every dilemma you face, and if you will read it as you fast, God will speak to you.
There are two powers as you are fasting right now: The human will and the supernatural power of God. When you decide to exercise your will and put your flesh under submission to the Spirit of God, His supernatural power kicks in and helps you fast according to the level of the commitment that you have made. You can do far more in the anointing of God than you can in human zeal. God’s anointing is not for thrills—it is for battle. When you go into battle, you fight to win. The anointing that comes through fasting and prayer gives you a fresh strength to fight for your family, for your kids, for your marriage and win!
January 20, 2013 | Permalink42 Responses to Day 15: Human Zeal
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Reshan says:
NOT for thrills, But for BATTLE!!.. wow. Well said Ps. Franklin. God Bless You
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Matilda says:
God Bless You Sir!
I was already feeling like I should give up and eat already! ! !
But I have chosen to empower the Spirit instead. I look forward to sharing my testimonies.
Matilda – Nigeria -
pat says:
I needed this so much today my son did something were I was so disappointed in him. I got so angry and did not handle things well. And the first thing I thought was I am fasting why did I not handle things better and I thought what is the use. But praise God for the holy spirit speaking through you I will not give up or quit or fear but believe that God is working all things for my good….. amen let the fast continue…..
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Kondana K says:
I started my fast a bit earlier, Jan 2nd so i am on day 19 and it has never been harderd. I come here everyday to get encouragement from the posts but also from other people’s experiences. The zeal of the first days is gone. The devil keeps whispering to me that this is is useless, what am i achieving from this. I am craving food food that even off the fast i do not usually crave, i get thoughts like if God did not want you to have that why would he have given you the ability to be able to have it and even that choosing not to eat is like being an ungrateful brat because there are others out there starving with nothing to eat at all. But i am being steadfast, i will fylfil the promise i made to God on day 1, my 21 days shall be completed. I have recieved some miracles on this fast, i will not stop now bcoz i know there is so much. U want it written down today that i have made a steadfast decision to wait on the Lord and all His goodness!!
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Juju says:
Amen!!! I am with you, i will fulfill my promise that I made at the first day that i started fasting. I am waiting for some miracles to happen soon, and I believe there is more, much more!!!
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Titilia says:
Once lasting become a lifestyle the body respond, the flesh surrender and the devil gives up. Keep our eyes on Jesus and anchor our life on Him.
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Sorry it was meant to read as “Once fasting………….”
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Nomsa says:
Amen! Glory to his Name forever more!
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elizabeth says:
Lord give me the strength to fight for my family my children and grandchildren.
Please pray for my 3 month old grandson who has reflux and dermatitis. -
Jacquie says:
Thanks so much. You sure got my number! I’be got to press on and get the victory over my flesh.
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Paula Benjamin says:
Praise the Lord, Everyone
I appreciate this word this morning. It is good to hear that the anointing is for battle and not for thrills. God has anointed us for battle. We all know that the battle is raging against us, our families, our nation, etc. I am past the point of being hungry, and I thank God for that. The stomach growling is getting louder. lol!
I am asking for your prayers for my grandchildren; especially my granddaughter – Deijah. It is alright if you do not pronounce it correctly when you cry out to God for her. God knows! The devil cannot destroy her young life. I decree and declare that he is defeated in her life, and God’s will for her life will prevail.
Thank You Pastor Franklin, and all of my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
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Antoinette G. of Round Lake, IL says:
Amen! Amen! and Amen!
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Leda Castillo says:
Thank you for reminding us that when we feel weak, we need to focus on sharpening our ax so that we can take Satan out.
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Makisha says:
Amen!
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Petal says:
thank you pastor this was really encouraging for me at this point thats exactly how i was feelin praise God forall He’s doing and will do
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This is so encouraging to me. God’s Word promises us that when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of The Lord will set up a standard against him. That is why this enlightening post from Pastor J is so important to me right now. As I was tempted by the enemy this morning I was urged on by the Holy Spirit to come to this site for encouragement and wisdom on how to respond or react to satan’s attempt to throw me off of what God is having me to do, complete this fast. But I thank God that I came here where other believers/fasters are instead of falling for the enemies wiles and traps. I am being nurtured by the Spirit of God and encouraged by His children! If I had chosen the other path/reaction I would have missed all of this. I know my God is too good and too faithful and trustworthy to allow the enemy to devour His very own. He led to a life yielding spring to drink instead of deep dark hole to fall into. I will complete this fast and I will receive the Promise in this life and the next. My husband, my children, my grandchildren and generations that are yet to come are all depending on it! Their very salvation and lives are all depending on it! I will not let them down! I can’t afford to let them down! So I press on to the mark knowing that God is faithful and that what He started in me He will also complete it in me as well!!!!!!! Hope this also encourage other believers to press on to the mark and complete it with the Holy Spirit’s help!!!
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Bev says:
I too, feel like my generations are depending on this fast. My kids and grandkids are living in a mediocre to “out there” life style right now, even tho they were all raised in a Christian home and church. My grandbabies are not getting the training in the Word yet. That hurts me, and I feel like the only thing I can do is fast and pray for them. I appreciate your encouraging words.
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Thank you Bev! Keep on pressing on to the victory that God has in store for you, your children, and your grandchildren. God is using us just like He used Moses to be a light and a beacon for our families and loved ones! Stay strong in the faith!!
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Dear Sis and Bro in Christ, Please pray for my aunt who has a heart disease and is dying in hospital. I am far away from her, the only thing that i can do for her is to fast for her. I pray God can bring her back and heal her, and I pray this miracle to happen! Amen!!!
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Susann Belflower says:
Dear Juju, I will keep you and your aunt in my prayers. May God give you the peace of mind which you need right now!
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Bernice says:
Thank you…I neded to read this because yesterday I wondered if something was wrong with me. I have been diligent and faithful in my fasting for the past two weeks yet when I awoke yesterday, in the midst of my prayers, a feeling came over me of helplessness and that I am doing this for nothing. I cried and asked God if I am doing this for nothing….I asked Him what is the sense of continuing. I wanted to eat and be done with it. I then asked God to help me. After a while the feeling left, I went through the day eating nothing from sunup to sundown…I had my vegetables later and felt great. The peace is still with me. PRAISE GOD. He will not fail us or forsake us.
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grace says:
Thank you God for your word, thank you pastor for the reminders, that God is still on the throne.
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Taneisha says:
Wow! I thought I was the only one that kind felt like Blah!! But in my prayers I told god no matter how the devil tries to make feel I’m still going to fast and not give up! I asked god to show me the power of this Daniel Fast! So I’m looking forward to sharing my testitomny
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lystra says:
This is so on Point, we have to keep forging ahead no matter what it looks like. Put our blinders on and just keep looking to Jesus and not get distracted. We are on the Home Run Stretch, keep moving people…
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I have felt like such a failure lately I have been thinking I was the only one because we are 2 weeks into this and I am feeling “whats the point” ” I havent made any difference” this word today has spoken exactly to what i needed to hear, thank you
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Christine says:
When we let God into our lives, He will do superntural things. But, as I have done many times, I try to do everything with my human thinking. This has created trouble for me, that if God did not come to my rescue, I would be crying daily.
I am learning every day to let God “take the wheel”. He knows where I am supposed to go before i know it myself. When He is in charge, no accidents will occur because He has already cleared the road and He will drive on the clear road. Praise be to God forever and ever. -
Michelle says:
Amen!!!! Praise the Lord…thank you Pastor Franklin for such a power message.. To God be the Glory!!
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guibithja says:
We are fastin to get back our Edge,Fasting grinds on your flesh.Please remind ourselves that we are sharpening our ax, we are regaining our edge and we are going to take the ennemy out.So Please continue the course and don’t let our flesh or the devil short change our long term reward. Glory to God for HIS Presence and HIS Word that fill in our heart and The Anointing of God is not for thrills—it is for battle. When in the battle, we fight to win. The anointing that comes through fasting and prayer gives us a fresh strength to fight for our family, for our kids, for our marriage and win.
Thank you Lord for victories in all aspects of my life,my family and my ministry.I know now that the mood may change but the word of God will not change for our good and our blessing.I’m pressing on to see the Glory of God in my marriage, my situations that I explained last time and Glory to God to be winners in this fasting in Jesus’s Name.Amen. -
Mary says:
Praise God for will power. God is my strength, yesterday I was at a birthday party and was sooooo tempted to eat all the wrong food and get off the fast to honor and celebrate the birthday girl. When it was time to have the birthday cake and ice cream I found myself being giving plate after plate of cake to serve to the guest, with every plate that I passed out all I could think of was how good it would taste. I succeeded in bringing my flesh under submission and had a salad. PRAISE GOD!
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Lidiana Howard says:
Praise be to the LORD for all of his goodness, HE is at work even do we do not see it let us trush a believe HIM. I am seen things comming to past in my children and i will not give up. satan his puting a lot of obstacules in my way but with JESUS i shall have the victory. if GOD is with us who can be against us. nothing can impeded us. let us not yeeld to what our enemy wants but press on to give the LORD all the honor an the glory. from san andres island trough the world. amen…….
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jeff says:
Blessings to all on this the LORD’s day ! [ as are all others ]…Another PRAISE report my son he has had another break thru with his eating situation..Praise GOD !..Looking forward to hearing about all the miracles GOD’s done in your lives this week …Let’s PRAY more, read the Bible more and stay steadfast in our Fasting this week..Thanks to everyone that has shared it has helped me lots. Have a GREAT week !
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The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
Thank you Father for Your Holy Spirit, Your Mighty Name, Your precious Blood and Your Cross of Victory!
Thank You, because it is not by mind, not by power but, by Your Holy Spirit.
Thank You for, I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.
Thank You for, everything will pass but, Your Word will be forever.
Thank for You are in me, and You are greater than the one who is in the world.
Thank You for, thousands will fall on my side, ten thousands on the other side.
Thank You for, if You are with me, who can be against me?
Thank You for, You watch over me.
Thank You for, You are with me, Who shall I fear?
Thank You for, You haven’t give me the spirit of fear but,
of Sound Mind & Boldness.
Thank You for all Your promises.
Thank You for, with You, it YES & AMEN!
Thank You for, it is well with my Soul!In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
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Therese Dominick says:
Thank you Pastor Franklin for your encouragement. Yes I have been at the point asking myself why am I doing this fast. Will it make a difference. When I start to allow my mind to go there just as one of the previous writers said the enemy comes in like a flood. I remind myself that the “Lord raises up the standard”. We are spirit, soul and body. It’s time the body and soul line up with the Word of God”. I find my mind wanders here and there and I go to thinking if I could just have a little something. Then again I remind myself I am not starving and there is a purpose to denying self. Be encouraged, brothers and sisters, we are not alone, we have one another, we have Jesus who fasted regularly. The end of the story is, we win!, If we press in and allow the Holy Spirit to help us, spend time in the Word and renew our minds and press into thinking about God and desiring more of Him.!
Love and Blessings from Washington, PA
T -
kelly says:
Hello Everyone,
I started after you all so today is my day 10. I’m going to start by asking for prayer for myself as I am arranging my fast as such; mon-fri is the Daniel fast and weekends is water only. It’s a little tough on the hunger pangs but that’s ok, Jesus is seeing me through it. One of my battles is when I have to prepare meals for others as I am fasting alone, but praise the Lord He is getting me through this. I failed at this last year but He is keeping me sane this time around. In todays message when pastor Franklin said that Jesus’ 40 day fast was to call attention to the 40 years the israelites spent in the wilderness, I felt led to extend my fast to 54 days as I am 54 years old. If you feel like the devil has looked up your address, you are not alone. I have a diseased liver (due to a food addiction) that has been detoxifying throughout this fast so, it seems like he whispers in my ear 24/7. I’ve read where some say that they don’t feel like anything is happening. Don’t believe that lie (the old man in our flesh is trying to make Jesus out to be a liar and make us think he doesn’t love us). IF…”faith is the evidence of things not seen” then your fast IS that evidence. Jesus says “draw near to me and I will draw near to you”. You are just experiencing your FAITH working patience when you stay committed. I hope this helps someone. Love Kelly
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Beejai says:
Thank you Pastor J for this encouraging word. This week I had to really battle. Some sick persons came into my office and infected me. My sinuses were so inflammed my nostrils closed. I called and texted people for prayer as I spoke the word over myself. I was set against taking any meds because of the lack of anything to cushion my stomach. In spite of the prayers, and home remedies The Lord comforted me and instructed me to take the over the counter to prevent infection. I felt like a failure, surely I could be healed of a virus during this fast, but as I type this I’m still fighting. Thank God for you praying Saints. I’m not giving up, I will finish in Jesus name and strength.
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Florent says:
Amen
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kuthi says:
Wow. I thank God for he has given me grace to continue to seek Him. I had planned to do 10 days of fasting but still going on.. I feel like nothing else will do. I just God. More of him in my family and church. God has even used me to get my colleague to fast.. I cant wait to see how stronger they will be in their relationship with God and all that God has in store for them!!! PRAISES TO OUR GOD AND KING!!!! CLOSER AND CLOSE TO HIM…I CAN JUST GO ON
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Thank you for these encouraging words. I feel like I have LAYERS peeling off, like an onion. At the beginning of the fast I was in denial about some of the things God was showing me about myself. Then slowly, day by day, I accepted His Word, confessed, gave myself up to Him, and He peeled off another layer of ME, my flesh. I didn’t realize how dull my axe was. In fact, I think the head of the axe was missing! I could not have cut the bark off a dandelion, much less an oak tree. But I love it, when He is so patient to take my hand, gently remind me that I have another layer He wants to help me with, and He walks me through it. After 2 weeks of fasting, I still don’t feel like I am where I need / want to be. I haven’t even smelled the onion yet. I just got the dirt and papery layers off. I have felt His annointing, but I feel I have not yet been broken open. So, I am going to keep going. I want more of Him.
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renee says:
well i must say i was feelin the”whats the use ” yesterday..i have carried alot of strife in my heart towards people over past situations in my life..and we know as a body of believers strife is not a good thing to have..so i had been prayin god empty me of all this strife put love ur love back in my heart…well sometimes he dont do it like we think he will..i was put in places yesterday where my strife was very much alive and im like god i dont want this in my heart i been fastin and prayin to get rid of this..its not doin no good…and towards the ends of the service god moved on me thru testomony and confession..and by the end of my testomy and confession i was apoligizin to the body of believers and expressing my love…i thank god his ways are not our ways..i feel great this morning i have been set free from that which was weighin me down…so this word came just on time i am a witness to it..yes keep fastin keep prayin it shall come to past especially when ur tryin to line up with gods word!!! thank u jesus that we get the privalidge of fastin..may not feel good to the flash but my my how good it feels to the spirit when breakthru comes!!!! be encouraged god bless all!!!!
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Susan Gachomo says:
less you Pastor Jentezen for this message of hope. i thank God for the knowledge of ‘the anointing is not for thrills its for battle!’ I thank God for giving us the victory!!!!
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EM says:
What do you do as a student who has a test coming up. I’ve agreed to fast for four days ( full fast) just drink water… because Im desperate but I have a test and there are others with me doing it… so I know its a special time as to where if I fasted by myself for days I just dont think it would be the same… any thoughts??
LORD, I thank you for the victory on
this fast for me and victory for the other
believers on this fast with me —- all in Jesus Name! AMEN