Double Circle. This is my confession – I have never completed a fast! Today is all about doubling down with both prayer and fasting. If you have ever felt like you are at your wits end, when a disease is not healing or a marriage is at its brink, when you feel God is not answering or paving the way, this is the perfect time to double circle.

When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked Peter and the disciples to keep watch. The Lord knew His time was coming and had asked for one hour of prayer; yet they all fell asleep. Imagine if we prayed for one hour, along with fasting from sunrise to sunset. What windows, if not barn doors would swing open! Jesus cuts to the chase but saying undeniably, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Truer words have never been spoken.

I have all sorts of good intentions to commit to a fast, usually the first of the year or during the 40 days of Lent. My problem has never been my intention, but my lack of follow through. The reason that fasting is so important for me and you is it gives us extraordinary power to lean into prayer, grow in our faith and become more disciplined. Fasting provides us the physical and mental fortitude that is required to access spiritual power!

Next time you have a prayer session with God, consider circling it with fasting. The bigger the circumstance, the more likely that we need to be doubling down with double the circling. If you are in need of more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control, tap into your inner circle and double-up! Praying and fasting is not just something different to do, but it can actually be what moves the needle from here to there. Doubling up on prayer and fasting may just afford us a double blessing! And can’t we all use more blessings? I know I’m all for that!

“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬ ‭