21 Days of Fasting and Prayer - Heaven Come Downনমুনা

In Genesis 18:22-33, there is a fascinating story about prayer. In the preceding verses, God gave Abraham insight into His plan to bring judgment on the city of Sodom, which was one of the most wicked places in history. Then Abraham responded by asking God to relent His judgment if there were fifty righteous people in the city. Once Abraham received God’s grace, he asked for just a little more, and a little more, until finally he got down to just ten. God once again granted his request: if there were ten righteous people in the city God would not destroy it.

Yet, in the end, Sodom was still found lacking morality, even in the face of the most gracious standard of righteousness, and the city received the full measure of judgment.

It is such an interesting story about prayer and the fate of Sodom. But what if this story was never about changing the fate of Sodom, but increasing the faith of Abraham? God brought His plans to Abraham not because He wanted Abraham to understand the wickedness of Sodom, but because He wanted Abraham to understand His nature. In fact, the whole key to this story is what we read at the end of verse 22 and the beginning of verse 23: “Abraham still stood before the LORD. Then Abraham drew near…” (ESV). It is interesting that the thing which stopped Abraham in his tracks was the same thing which caused him to draw near.

We often think prayer is about deliverance from problems rather than drawing near to His presence, but God sees it as both. He is a God who answers prayer, to be sure! In this passage alone God said yes to Abraham’s prayer six times! He loves partnering with us in prayer, and He delights in answering our requests!

But it is in the process of drawing near to Him that we receive so much more from Him.

In this fast, there is probably a list of things that you are praying for personally. Yet those things which have stopped you in your tracks are the very things which are drawling you into His presence. This fast is about so much more than getting a response from Heaven; it’s about cultivating a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

God is going to answer your prayers, and in that process He is going to show you His character. Because you have chosen to draw near, you will never be the same!