The life that was inconsistent with the character of God has passed away. You no longer hold on to your past. Instead, you consider the life that you have in Christ.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
There is a temptation to think that every day after the 40 days of prayer and fasting will feel the same. But the truth is that the intensity you experienced in that season will not continue indefinitely.
The point of that season was to create for you a new atmosphere in your everyday living. The goal was to come out of the fast as a different person, and for that difference to show in the ordinary patterns of your daily life.
You have just stepped into a new way of life, a pattern that contrasts with the one you put off during the season of prayers and fasting. The regular Tuesday morning that you would usually wake up to with no prayer in your agenda, no care in the world for Bible study, and no drive to speak to anyone about God as you go about your day cannot be the same anymore.
Your new normal requires something more from you. It requires a constant yearning for the presence of God, a regimented commitment to your devotion, more time spent reading and studying the Word of God, a desire to see those lost in the world coming to the knowledge of Christ, obedience to the instructions of God, a desire to bear more fruits of the Spirit, and to see the fulfilment of every other thing that your destiny requires.
2 Corinthians 5:17
New King James Version
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The Bible says that old things, the life that was inconsistent with the character of God, have passed away. You no longer hold on to your past. Instead, you consider the new life that you have in Christ. You align your life with everything that God has revealed to you in His word. You know to seek the counsel of the Lord, as His way is the best for you. You do not rely on your own understanding because you have learned to put your trust in God and allow Him to direct your path. Fellowship with the Lord has become a delight for you, and it is bound to remain this way as you remain faithful in your devotion to the Lord. This is your new life.
If you long to maintain the atmosphere you have experienced in the 40 days of prayer and fasting, you must be intentional in your approach to sustaining it. It is possible to continue praying every day. It is possible to continue reading your Bible every day. It is possible to keep your mind fixed on God at all times. And all of these can get better as the days go by.
What you must do is to create a system to achieve this. If you can maintain the same prayer time you did during the season of the fast, do that. If you think you need to change the time, do that. The important thing is that you must keep up the fervour in prayer every day.
For your Bible reading, did you have an accountability partner to keep you on track? Great! Continue in this way until it becomes a habit. If you think getting an accountability partner will help you, go for it. Make sure that you do everything it takes to treat your consecration to God with great care. Do not leave it to chance. Have a time and place to carry out your devotion. Get people involved to keep you accountable.
There will be so many distractions and noise in different shapes and forms which come from the world, especially after coming out from such a prolonged season of consecration. These distractions will attempt to slowly pull you away from your devotion. And sometimes, the situations will be valid.
The way to renew your mind and maintain the level of consecration that you have stepped into is by setting your mind on things above, consciously and constantly meditating on the word of God. Not on the things of this world. Remember that although you may be in the world, you are not of it. You are of God.
John 17:14-16
New King James Version
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Settle it in your heart today that God has transformed your life. You are no longer the same person. There is an improvement in your devotion, and it only gets better from here. Your better days will always be ahead of you, and you will not experience decline from now henceforth.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for the journey of the 40 days of prayer and fasting. I commit myself to the structures that keep my devotion in check. I will experience progress in my devotion, and I will continually receive your help in Jesus' name.
