The Daniel Fast – Day 8 & 9

After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” – Acts 27:21-26 (NIV)

In this passage from the book of Acts we read of the account of Paul’s journey on the way to Rome by sea. Paul had already known of the potential danger ahead and had warned the sailors that there would be great loss ahead, but they refused to listen to him. Even as the storm they were in got worse, Paul was still at peace, because he was still listening to God. As long as there is one man with a divine connection in any situation, God will be there in it. Paul’s purpose in God’s eyes was more important and God graciously spared the lives of those on the ship in order to see it come to pass. Our being connected to God is not only important for us but can affect the destiny of others. Paul must have been in prayer throughout the storm as the angel declares that God ‘graciously’ gave him the lives of all those on board the ship. He is then able to boldly tell them that not one life will be lost.

As we continue in our walk with God let us take our priestly role seriously and understand that we can petition God for the lives of others. It takes a closer walk with Him to get to the point where He can respond to such requests knowing that we serve him. Since beginning this fast I have observed prayers being answered even to requests from people thousands of miles away. Prayer knows only as many boundaries or limits as those that God has. The good news is He has none!

Be blessed!

Prayer point: Pray that God will give you the faith to stand in the gap for others even when you are also in the midst of the storm.