Be impactful Part 3, by Aije Barnes, Jan 2 Issue 1 Vol 5

As a Melting Agent

If you have ever been stuck in snow and needed to get to important places you would understand just how important a role, salt plays in making this possible!

How effect are you in being a melting agent in removing barriers? How might you do this you may ask? By prayer and sometimes combined with fasting.  There is power in prayer  in removing barriers and strongholds, on its own and even more so when combined with fasting.

Let us learn from the account of queen Esther in the bible, how she used this melting agent to help secure the preservation of her people from annihilation as shown in the scriptures. Her actions of fasting and praying on her own and collectively with her people, before she approached her husband the King, is a great example of how effective prayer and fasting is as a melting agent and a preservative. See the book of Esther chapters 3 to 9 inclusive. It is a powerful story!! 

Here, prayer and fasting, gave her favour before the king  in a situation where to attend the king's courts without invitation could have resulted in her death. In addition to this, more grace was granted to her to request from the king anything up to half of his kingdom. The prayers and fasting also removed Haman, the wicked man who plotted the annihilation of the Jews (her people), promoted her uncle Mordecai so that he became next to the king in status and brought more grace, peace and protection for the Jews. There is so much power in prayer and fasting - it changes the destiny of individuals and nations for the better!

Also, Jonah's obedience in bringing God's word to the people of Nineveh contributed to God's preservation of their lives and land following their response to God's message by their act of repentance. 

The consequences of not praying can allow the righteous judgement of God to have its way brought on as a result of  the build up of sin, which is detestable to God. This is  shown in the following scripture:

“I (The Lord) looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22‬:‭30‬ NIV)"

Here the people of Israel were not spared as there was no one to stand in the gap for them.  They therefore were subject to God's righteous judgment because of their sins.  If someone had stood in the gap for them in prayer and fasting, I believe it would have acted as a melting agent and they would have been persevered or spared from the judgement that befell them. 

Consider your world today. Look at your life, family-both near and far, workplace, community, country, nation and world. Are there any barriers, strongholds, bottlenecks or anything that troubles you in any way whether directly or indirectly and wants to take away your peace or hinder your progress in life or growth in God? You have got what it takes to overcome. Through prayer and fasting, when you approach God's throne of grace, you will obtain mercy and find find grace to help in your time of need not just for yourself but for the world the Lord puts on your heart to pray for. 

Let us make use of what God has made available to us, to effective a positive impact in our world and lives. 

Shalom