Day 16: Troubled Times
It doesn’t take long for anyone to lose their edge looking at the condition of the U.S. economy these days. Kids today have watched their moms and dads lose their jobs—and many have lost their homes to foreclosure—all at record rates. People have seen their savings run out and their investments plunge almost overnight in some cases. My heart has been heavy as I’ve witnessed the economy in America sink deeper into crisis. But I want to encourage you—now more than ever—to believe God for His provision. I see evidence throughout Scripture that the men and women of God who pressed in with fasting and prayer flourished, even in difficult times. God provides. He provides because He is faithful to His Word. He promised:
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
—PSALM 92:12-15
I don’t know about you, but I take much more comfort and place much more faith in the promises of God than I do in the promises of any government!
Sometimes it seems like life is nothing but one big transition. Just about the time you get good at something you’ve been doing for a while, a shift takes place and suddenly you are facing brand new territory and unchartered waters. Life throws scenarios at you that you could never plan for or dream up. Change is a difficult process. But when transitional storms come, they test and strengthen your root system. Without spending time waiting on God when the skies are cloudless, many are completely unprepared to handle the storms of life when they come. Paul said he had learned how to be content no matter the circumstances. That is a goal we should all set our hearts to attain! He knew how to hit bottom and be content, and to soar on the heights and still be content.
Spending time in fasting and prayer—regardless of your circumstances—is what will help you be rooted and grounded in your faith, ready to weather any storm of the economy, your health, your family or your job. God can cause you to flourish even during transition, and people who flourish in troubled times have been used to change destinies.
You must be still and wait on Him during good times and bad. “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Is. 64:4).
The other part of a fast is repenting and seeking His face. We need to assemble, to consecrate ourselves from worldly distractions, confess our sins and the sins of our nation, dig deeply into God’s Word, and worship Him with passion and praise!
January 21, 2013 | Permalink
27 Responses to Day 16: Troubled Times
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Mrs. Smith says:
AMEN!!!! AMEN!!!!!!!!
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Kelly says:
Our church is meeting at 6 am to seek Him. You encourage me, thank you. As I fast and pray I am thankful for others who do so and have gone before me.
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Becky says:
Although I have limited my TV during the fast, I had not eliminated it. Yesterday during prayer, I knew I was to turn off the TV. For this last week, there will be no TV in the house, only music. Turning off the distractions of the world and the worldly ways. Thank you for your word, reinforcing!
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elizabeth says:
Hebrews 6:15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Psalm 130:5-6 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.-
Beejai says:
Thank you for these encouraging scriptures. They spoke to my spirit tonight. God bless you.
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Dani says:
Woe! Glory to God! Sure needed that!
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nansik says:
Having applied for admission,I have been trusting God for admission into graduate school.some deadlines have passed yet I choose to hope in the Lord.I a
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Maria says:
Amen. God is faithful. He will never laeve us nor forsake us
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Vickie says:
God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in times of trouble. The all powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. We live in the world but we are not of the kingdom of this world we are in the kingdom of His dear Son. Therefore we are more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
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PAUL OYEBODE says:
thank You Sir.
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Yemmy says:
Thank you Pastor Franklin for this great teaching. This really made my day, i woke up this morning tired and saying No to the devil with all temptations that i started this fast and am completing it because my strenght and Joy is in the lord. I have been out of job several times and now my contract ended and the company did not plan to renew. But i am positive that this change is for something big from the lord. I have no doubt that the lord doors of supernatural abundance and limitless favour is about to open.
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Beejai says:
Amen! Saints, please pray for me. Since posting last night, symptoms of a sinus’ infection are visible today. I am believing God to finish this fast with a pure and clean spirit, body and soul and not have to take any more medication other than the over the counter I’ve taken. God is my healer! I need other believers to stand with me so that manifestation will come now! Thank you. I shall finish this fast in the power of my Lord Jesus Christ.
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Juju says:
It is true that you must be still and wait on Him during good times and bad. That’s what i learned from my past, but today I still need God to give me the strength so that I can wait upon him during difficult days and not lose faith in Him. I believe that he has purpose for my life and He has a good plan for me, a plan to prosper me,not harm me! I want to give Him my mind, my soul, my heart to Him, as without Him, my life has no meaning! I love you, my heavenly father! Please bless all the bro and Sis who are fasting for you and willing to sacrifice for you too!Amen!!!!
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Lidiana Howard says:
Father a mids my circunstances, I put my trust in you has the psalmist said, i will flourish. Nothing the enemy does will prosper. Thanks for this reflexion its build me up today am passing true dificult moments. pleace pray for me.
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gail Ali says:
yes I am encouraged as we come to the last leg of this 21 days fast. We must prayer for our nation/ world that the word of God will continue to influence those in authority for the sake of the church. The believer has all security in Christ Jesus. He has already given his promises which are yah an amen. Be Blessed.
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grace says:
Thank you Lord for your mercies and your goodness. Amen
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guibithja says:
MY GOD, Blessed be YOUR NAME and GLORY to the ALMIGHTY GOD and FATHER of all nations,This word came on time and in this moment,let me Father be still and waiting on YOU because I know MY GOD is ETERNAL and will Amize me shortly.It is not the economy of this world that we change what my GOD has promised and spoken on me.Pressing forward in our fasting and prayer so that GOD flourish us and see GOD’s wonderworks,Favors and grace fill up our Lives in Jesus Name. AMEN AMEN AMEN.
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Insane says:
WoW!!!!
I am in transition, and all is well, GOD is faithfull, I never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed beggin for bread, GOD is my provider!!! I am without a Job today, but in the midnight GOD is going to turn it around for me, it will work in my favor, i will be offered a position with Washington University or BJC. because of the blood of JESUS! I believe and I will receive by FAITH in my Lord and Savor, J.E.S.U.S.!!!!!! -
Forgive us Lord, forgive us our sins of abusing children; physically, emotionally, mentally, sexually,,,destroying their future.
The blood of the innocents cry out loud for justice,
Father, hear the cry of the victims, hear them Lord, come and set them free. We pray for justice O’ Lord, speak Father, only one word and they will be heal!
Open up the windows of Heaven as we’re tapping on.
Let Your Power strike down on Earth, in the heart of those we abused and are still abusing.
Set them free, declare them free O’ Lord!
As Your Word says; ‘Who the Lord says he’s free, is free indeed’In Jesus Mighty Name, you are declared FREE my friend, my sister, my brother.
Thank You Lord for Your Mercy!
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anointedchild says:
I agree that this is a time to wait on the Lord in fasting and prayer as the economy and or land rage with uncertainty, challenges and troubles. We need to be alert through God’s eyes and ready ourselves for Him to move with healing, salvation and deliverance. We must stay on one accord in repentance and consecration before the Lord.
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Paula says:
Thank You Pastor Jentenzen Franklin for the inspiring message. I am not one of those who are not excited about the return of Jesus. I will be glad to leave this world. I know that there is much work to do while we are here. We will not be as effective as we should be if we do not fast and pray. Thank you for your leadership in this time of fasting and prayer.
Paula
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Christine says:
God is the author and finisher of our lives. He is the one who says yes and no. So if we call upon His name, He does not consult anyone. He comes with everything that we have asked for in Faith.
Let us not limit our God, but let us see His power and greatness and long to tap on that power. Gods power can catapult you from nothing to everything in the blink of an eye. He is Jehovah jireh.
Every knee (no matter who you are) shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is lord. Praise be unto His name. -
Carl says:
Wow!Thats so profound-Thanks for sharing Pastor!
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Susan Gachomo says:
Praise be to God that we the righteous can flourish during troubled times!!
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Florent says:
Amen Amen
AMEN !!