FAITH, PRAYER AND FASTING

Texts: Matthew 17:14–21; Mark 9:17–29

These Scripture passages reveal a powerful lesson on faith, prayer, and fasting. In the first account, Jesus’ disciples could not heal the epileptic boy because of their lack of faith. Although they had been given authority before, their spiritual capacity at that moment was not sufficient for the challenge before them.

The second account gives us deeper insight into the heart of the boy’s father. When Jesus Christ asked him if he believed, the man responded, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Though he professed faith with his mouth, he was honest enough to admit the weakness of his faith in his heart. He cried out to Jesus for help, and mercy met him. Jesus responded to his sincerity, and the boy was healed.

After the miracle, the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked why they could not cast out the demon. Jesus explained that their failure was connected to unbelief and spiritual deficiency. In Mark 9:29, He said: “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” This teaches us that some challenges in life do not yield to casual faith or shallow spirituality. There are dimensions of victory that only respond to a deeper walk with God. Prayer and fasting sharpen our spiritual sensitivity, increase our dependence on God, and strengthen our faith.

Whenever our confessions are backed up with prayer and fasting, we align ourselves with God’s power. Such spiritual discipline provokes heaven into action. And when we receive tangible answers to our prayers, our faith is strengthened even more. Testimonies are faith-builders; every victory becomes fuel for greater confidence in God.

The Lord also reveals the power of fasting in Isaiah 58:6, “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?”

God’s will for us in this season of prayer and fasting is not only spiritual exercise but spiritual transformation. Through genuine prayer and fasting, God loosens the bonds of wickedness, lifts heavy burdens, sets the oppressed free, and breaks every yoke of limitation and captivity.

Therefore, as we engage in prayer and fasting today, God will strengthen our faith, deepen our spiritual capacity, and release His power into every area of our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, every chain shall be broken, every burden lifted, and every yoke destroyed. Amen.

Prayer

1. Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” O Lord, have mercy on me in this season of fasting and prayer. I receive mercy, I obtain favor, and I find grace in You, in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” In this fasting program, let my supplications provoke heaven into action in the name of Jesus Christ. Let the hosts of heaven not rest until I receive answers to all my supplications in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. O Lord, strengthen my faith more than ever before. Ignite the fire of my faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
4. I refuse to be discouraged. I refuse to be distracted. I will remain focused to the end in the name of Jesus Christ. Psalm 34:5, “They looked to Him and were radiant,
   And their faces were not ashamed.”

1. As I behold You, O Lord, bestow Your glory upon me, my business, my career, and my household. We will not be put to shame in this year 2026 in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. Isaiah 8:10, “Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us.” Any event or program orchestrated from the pit of hell to bring shame and reproach to my household in 2026, scatter by fire in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. Matthew 8:17, “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.’” Isaiah 53:4, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” No sickness or deadly infirmity will hinder me from fulfilling the purpose of 2026, in the name of Jesus Christ.
4. I decree and declare: every opposition against my breakthrough and success story in 2026, catch fire now in the name of Jesus Christ. Esther 6:6–10, “6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head.
   9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.” O Lord, as You used Haman to announce Mordecai’s promotion unknowingly, use my determined enemies to announce my next promotion in 2026, in the name of Jesus Christ.
5. Esther 6:1, “That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” O Lord, let those You have ordained to make way for me to the top not sleep until they fulfill what You have ordained to do for me in this year, in Jesus’ name. Let the book of remembrance be opened for my sake in the name of Jesus Christ.
6. Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” O Lord, make this season of fasting and prayer a season of remembrance for good things in my life and household, in the name of Jesus Christ.
7. 2 Samuel 9:1, “Now David said, ‘Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’” O Lord, raise someone who will show me kindness in this year in the name of Jesus Christ.
8. 2 Samuel 9:2, “And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’
   He said, ‘At your service!’” O Lord, raise for my sake a facilitator like Ziba, who will connect me to the palace, in the name of Jesus Christ.
9. Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.” By the everlasting covenant of the sure mercies of David, let me enjoy unending favor in the sight of men, in the name of Jesus Christ.
10. 1 Samuel 16:18, “Then one of the servants answered and said, ‘Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.’” In 2026, O Lord, use unknown people to take me to the top, in the name of Jesus Christ.
11. Genesis 41:14, “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.” O Lord, put Your divine signature upon me that will take me to my place in life and destiny. From obscurity to limelight, in the name of Jesus Christ.
12. Daniel 5:11–12, 11 “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God… 12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel…” O Lord, make me relevant to all men throughout my lifetime. I will not fade away; I will not become a thing of the past.
13. I receive all it takes to remain relevant all the days of my life. I possess spiritual capacity, mental capacity, emotional capacity, social capacity, and financial capacity in Christ Jesus.
14. Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” O Lord, help me to discipline myself in this perverse world. I will not be corrupted by the things of this world in the name of Jesus Christ.
15. I release the Holy Ghost fire, the consuming fire, to consume every veil in the realm of the spirit and every physical covering hindering my glory from shining, in the name of Jesus Christ.
16. 1 John 5:14–15, 14 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Thank You, Lord, for answered prayers, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.