Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries
EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
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Topic: The Hidden Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Opening Scriptures (KJV)
Matthew 6:16–18: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
Isaiah 58:6–9: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.”
Ezra 8:21–23: “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.”
Memory Verse
Joel 2:12: “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
Praise and Worship
Begin today by worshipping God and surrendering yourself completely to Him. Thank Him for salvation, mercy, grace, strength, protection, and the privilege of seeking Him through prayer. Do not begin by concentrating only on your problems. Concentrate first on God.
Worship Him because He is holy, faithful, merciful, powerful, and worthy of your devotion.
Pray sincerely: “Father, teach me to seek You with the right heart. Let my fasting and prayer never become empty religious activity. As I deny myself, draw me closer to You, expose what needs to change within me, strengthen my spiritual life, and help me live in obedience to Your Word, in the name of Jesus.”
EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL: August 26, 2026 – The Hidden Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Fasting is the deliberate abstinence from food and, in some cases, water for a specified period to seek God through prayer, repentance, worship, and spiritual discipline.
Fasting is not merely staying hungry; it involves separating yourself from physical distractions so that you can devote greater attention to God.
When fasting is combined with sincere prayer, it strengthens your spiritual sensitivity, disciplines the flesh, deepens your intimacy with God, and helps believers seek divine direction. However, fasting without prayer is simply hunger strike.
The spiritual power of fasting is found in humbling yourself before God, studying His Word, praying fervently, and surrendering your will to Him.
Biblical fasting is practised in different ways. Esther and the Jews abstained from both food and water for three days (Esther 4:16), while Jesus fasted for forty days (Matthew 4:2). Daniel also observed a partial fast by avoiding certain desirable foods (Daniel 10:2–3).
Therefore, the nature and duration of a fast may differ, but its primary purpose must always be to seek God sincerely. In the Bible, Jesus did not say, “If you fast”; He said, “When you fast” (Matthew 6:16). This shows that fasting should be part of the believer’s spiritual life.
Jesus Himself fasted for forty days and forty nights before beginning His public ministry. Afterward, the Bible says that He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). If Jesus recognised the importance of fasting and prayer, believers should not treat it as an outdated or unnecessary practice.
One hidden benefit of fasting is that it helps bring the flesh under spiritual control. The human body has appetites and desires that continually demand satisfaction. If those desires are never disciplined, they can begin to control a person’s decisions.
Paul said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Fasting teaches you that your body must not rule your spirit. When you temporarily deny yourself food and water to seek God, you are training yourself to say no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit.
Beloved, do not wait until there is a crisis before you fast and pray. Make it part of your spiritual discipline according to your strength, health, and responsibilities. Some people remember fasting only when they are in problem or looking for marriage, employment, children, healing, money, or deliverance.
Beloved, fasting and prayer are powerful spiritual disciplines, but many believers do not fully understand their purpose. Some people think fasting is simply staying away from food for a moment. Some believe the longer they remain hungry, the more God is obligated to answer them.
Others only remember fasting when they are facing serious battles. Fasting does not make God love you more. Fasting does not make God answer all your prayers. It does not even purchase miracles. It does not force God to obey your desires.
It is not spiritual hunger strike where you refuse food until God gives you what you want. Biblical fasting is an act of humility, devotion, repentance, dependence, and concentrated seeking of God.
Jesus said, “When thou fastest,” not “If thou fastest.” This shows that fasting should be part of a believer’s spiritual life. However, it must not be done to impress people or prove that you are more spiritual than others. God looks at the heart, and the fasting that receives His approval is carried out with humility and sincerity.
During your fast, do not spend the entire day counting the hours the fast will end so you can eat. Set aside specific periods for prayer, Bible study, worship, repentance, and quiet meditation.
You have to reduce unnecessary conversations, social media, entertainment, and activities that brings distraction. If you abstain from food but feed continuously on these things, you may finish the fast physically hungry but spiritually unchanged.
Fasting also increases spiritual sensitivity. The voice of God is not always absent; sometimes our minds are simply too occupied to recognise it. God is speaking to us. Fasting period enable us to identify and connect to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Because during fast, there will be less distractions.
Another important benefit of fasting and prayer is spiritual strength. There are battles that cannot be confronted with casual prayers and an undisciplined spiritual life. In Matthew 17:21, Jesus taught about the importance of prayer and fasting in confronting stubborn situations.
Fasting does not replace our faith, holiness, obedience, or the authority of Christ, but it can strengthen the believer’s devotion and persistence in prayer.
Fasting and prayer can also bring divine direction. Before making major decisions, the early believers prayed and fasted. Acts 13:2–3 says, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” Their fasting created an atmosphere of worship, surrender, and spiritual attentiveness. Through it, they received clear direction concerning their ministry.
Fasting also teaches dependence on God. Human beings naturally depend on what they can see, touch, control, or afford. But during fasting, you deliberately remind yourself that your life does not depend on food alone.
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Food sustains the body, but the Word of God sustains the inner person.
When you fast, you are saying, “Lord, I need You more than I need physical satisfaction. I value Your presence more than my appetite. I desire Your will more than my comfort.” This attitude of dependence honours God and weakens our pride and ego. It reminds you that your strength, wisdom, provision, protection, and future come from Him.
Fasting and prayer are also powerful during seasons of repentance and restoration. In Joel 2:12, God said, “Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
Genuine fasting allows you to examine your heart before God. It is a time to confess hidden sins, abandon wrong habits, forgive those who have offended you, and restore your relationship with God.
There is no spiritual value in fasting while deliberately continuing in sin. You cannot be fasting and still be lying, cheating, committing immorality, keeping malice, oppressing people, or refusing to forgive.
Isaiah 58 reveals that God rejected the fasting of people who appeared religious but continued to behave unjustly. True fasting must produce humility, compassion, righteousness, generosity, and obedience.
Do not fast while quarrelling with everyone around you. Do not abstain from food while using your mouth to insult, condemn, gossip, or spread falsehood.
God is interested not only in the food you refuse to eat but also in the life you choose to live. Your conduct during and after the fast should show that you have genuinely encountered God.
Fasting can also prepare you for a new season or assignment. Moses fasted before receiving the commandments. Jesus fasted before beginning His public ministry.
The believers fasted before sending Barnabas and Saul on their missionary assignment. This shows that spiritual responsibilities should not be entered casually. Preparation in the secret place often gives you room for results.
Before you begin a new ministry assignment, business, marriage, journey, leadership role, or major project, spend quality time with God.
Ask Him to purify your motives, reveal hidden dangers, connect you with the right people, and give you the wisdom required for the new season. Public success without private spiritual preparation can lead to avoidable failure.
One of the most neglected benefits of fasting is that it exposes what controls you. When food is removed, other hidden attitudes may begin to surface like anger, impatience, pride, lust, fear, irritability, or excessive attachment to comfort.
This does not mean that fasting created those problems; it means the discipline of fasting revealed what was already present or hidden in the heart.
Instead of becoming discouraged, use such revelations as an opportunity for prayer and transformation. Ask the Holy Spirit to uproot every attitude that does not reflect Christ in you.
Fasting should not merely make you hungry; it should make you holy. It should not only reduce your food intake; it should increase your love, patience, humility, faith, and obedience.
Bible in One Year
2 Chronicles 29, 2 Chronicles 30, 2 Chronicles 31
Romans 15, Romans 16
Psalm 74, Proverbs 24:15–16
Prayer Assignment (Morning)
Prayer Focus: The Hidden Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Scripture Meditation: Isaiah 58:6–9; Joel 2:12; Ezra 8:21–23; Matthew 6:16–18; Psalm 35:13.
1. Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of this new day and for the privilege of seeking Your face through fasting and prayer, in the name of Jesus.
2. Father, have mercy upon me for every sin, disobedience, and spiritual carelessness in my life, in the name of Jesus.
3. O Lord, cleanse my heart and make my life acceptable before You, in the name of Jesus.
4. Father, give me the grace to seek You sincerely and not merely because of what I want to receive from You, in the name of Jesus.
5. O Lord, teach me the true purpose and spiritual value of fasting and prayer, in the name of Jesus.
6. Father, deliver me from fasting without prayer, Scripture, repentance, and obedience, in the name of Jesus.
7. O Lord, let every period of fasting draw me into deeper fellowship with You, in the name of Jesus.
8. Father, as I seek You, reveal every area of my life that needs correction, in the name of Jesus.
9. O Lord, search my heart and expose every hidden weakness working against my spiritual growth, in the name of Jesus.
10. Father, reveal every unhealthy appetite that has gained too much control over my life, in the name of Jesus.
11. Every power of the flesh resisting spiritual discipline in my life, lose your influence over me, in the name of Jesus.
12. Father, give me grace to bring my body and appetites under godly discipline, in the name of Jesus.
13. O Lord, strengthen me to say no to every desire that is contrary to Your will, in the name of Jesus.
14. Father, break the influence of every sinful habit that has repeatedly defeated my good intentions, in the name of Jesus.
15. Father, deliver me from spiritual laziness and restore discipline to my prayer life, in the name of Jesus.
16. O Lord, revive my prayer altar and give me fresh hunger to seek Your face, in the name of Jesus.
17. O Lord, open my understanding as I study the Scriptures and help me apply Your truth to my life, in the name of Jesus.
18. O Lord, expose every distraction consuming the time and attention I should be giving to my spiritual life, in the name of Jesus.
19. Father, give me discipline over social media, entertainment, unnecessary conversations, and every activity wasting my time, in the name of Jesus.
20. O Lord, remove every spiritual dullness preventing me from recognizing Your correction, in the name of Jesus.
21. Father, sharpen my spiritual discernment and give me wisdom to distinguish truth from error, in the name of Jesus.
22. O Lord, as I pray concerning my circumstances today, show me anything that must first change within me, in the name of Jesus.
23. Father, uproot pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, anger, greed, lust, and selfishness from my heart, in the name of Jesus.
24. O Lord, give me a broken and contrite heart that responds quickly to genuine conviction, in the name of Jesus.
25. O Lord, wherever I have wandered spiritually, draw me back into closer fellowship with You, in the name of Jesus.
26. Father, give me clarity concerning every important decision before me, in the name of Jesus.
27. O Lord, order my steps and lead me in the right way concerning my family, relationships, work, business, ministry, and future, in the name of Jesus.
28. Father, as I fast and pray, strengthen me to resist temptation and stand firmly upon Your Word, in the name of Jesus.
29. Every recurring temptation assigned to weaken my spiritual life, I receive grace to overcome you, in the name of Jesus.
30. O Lord, strengthen me in every area where I have repeatedly fallen, in the name of Jesus.
31. O Lord, release fresh grace, wisdom, and power for every assignment You have given me, in Jesus’ name
32. Father, let every hidden work of darkness against my life and family be exposed and destroyed, in Jesus’ name.
33. Every stubborn battle resisting my prayers, bow to the authority of Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ name.
34. Father, open the right doors and connect me with people who will support Your purpose for me, in Jesus’ name.
35. Father, separate me from anything or anyone drawing me away from You, in Jesus’ name.
36. Father, strengthen me to resist the devil and overcome every temptation, in Jesus’ name.
37. O Lord, purify my motives and bring my desires into agreement with Your will, in Jesus’ name.
38. Father, revive my passion for Your Word and help me meditate on it continually, in Jesus’ name.
39. Every spiritual dryness in my life, disappear by the fire of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
40. O Lord, give me genuine repentance and the grace to forsake every sinful habit, in Jesus’ name.
41. Father, give me the grace to fast and pray with the right motives, in Jesus’ name.
42. Every appetite competing with God’s place in my heart, be brought under control, in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Assignment (Night)
Prayer Focus: The Hidden Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Scripture Meditation: Isaiah 58:6–9; Joel 2:12–13; Matthew 6:16–18; Psalm 139:23–24; Ezra 8:21–23.
1. Father, thank You for preserving me throughout this day and bringing me safely to this night, in the name of Jesus.
2. Father, thank You for the strength, mercy, grace, and provision You gave me today, in the name of Jesus.
3. O Lord, forgive every sin I committed knowingly or unknowingly today, in the name of Jesus.
4. Father, cleanse my heart from every thought, word, attitude, and action that displeased You today, in the name of Jesus.
5. O Lord, search me tonight and reveal anything within me that needs correction, in the name of Jesus.
6. O Lord, revive every area of my prayer life that has become weak, in the name of Jesus.
7. Father, restore consistency, discipline, and sincerity to my walk with You, in the name of Jesus.
8. Every spiritual laziness fighting my desire to pray, lose your influence over me, in the name of Jesus.
9. Every unnecessary distraction consuming my spiritual time, I receive grace to overcome you, in the name of Jesus.
10. Father, give me discipline over my phone, social media, entertainment, unnecessary conversations, and every activity stealing my attention from You, in the name of Jesus.
11. O Lord, reveal every unhealthy appetite that has gained too much control over me, in the name of Jesus.
12. Father, strengthen me to bring my body and desires under godly discipline, in the name of Jesus.
13. Every sinful habit that has repeatedly defeats my good intentions, I receive grace to overcome you, in the name of Jesus.
14. O Lord, teach me to say no to anything that is contrary to Your Word and purpose for my life, in the name of Jesus.
15. Father, let fasting teach me discipline that continues even after the fast has ended, in the name of Jesus.
16. O Lord, uproot pride from my heart and clothe me with humility, in the name of Jesus.
17. Father, remove bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness, greed, lust, anger, and selfishness from my heart, in the name of Jesus.
18. O Lord, reveal every offence I am carrying that is disturbing my peace, in the name of Jesus.
19. O Lord, where I have wronged others, give me humility to make appropriate corrections, in the name of Jesus.
20. O Lord, while I ask You to change my circumstances, change everything within me that needs to change, in the name of Jesus.
21. Father, while I ask You to expose wrong people around me, expose every wrong motive within me, in the name of Jesus.
22. O Lord, while I pray for open doors, prepare my character to handle the doors You open, in the name of Jesus.
23. Father, while I pray for financial increase, give me wisdom and discipline to manage what You provide, in the name of Jesus.
24. O Lord, while I pray for favour, help me develop the character to sustain favour, in the name of Jesus.
25. Father, while I pray for breakthrough, give me wisdom concerning the responsibilities that come with breakthrough, in the name of Jesus.
26. O Lord, let my spiritual growth become one of the greatest testimonies of my fasting and prayer, in the name of Jesus.
27. Father, give me clarity concerning every important decision before me, in the name of Jesus.
28. O Lord, expose every wrong decision that could bring unnecessary pain into my life, in the name of Jesus.
29. Father, deliver me from desperation that makes wrong doors look like divine opportunities, in the name of Jesus.
30. O Lord, give me patience to wait when waiting is wiser than rushing, in the name of Jesus.
31. Father, order my steps and lead me in the way I should go, in the name of Jesus.
32. Every confusion surrounding my next step, give me wisdom and clarity, O Lord, in the name of Jesus.
33. O Lord, bring the right Scriptures to my remembrance whenever attacks comes, in the name of Jesus.
34. Father, show me practical steps I must take concerning the things I have been praying about, in the name of Jesus.
35. O Lord, deliver me from using prayer as an excuse for avoiding responsibilities, in the name of Jesus.
36. O Lord, help me continue praying when the urgent problem has been solved, in the name of Jesus.
37. Father, help me continue studying Scripture after I receive my answer, in the name of Jesus.
38. O Lord, do not allow answered prayers to reduce my hunger for Your presence, in the name of Jesus.
39. O Lord, deliver my heart from entitlement and constant complaining, in the name of Jesus.
40. Father, let gratitude increase in me as I learn to deny myself temporarily, in the name of Jesus.





