At the end of last year, I fell ill. I was coming off a very busy season at work and was overwhelmed with everything; I was exhausted. To top it off, I contracted one of the worst colds I’ve ever had. My flesh was screaming, and I sought distractions, wishing I could just fast-forward through those weeks.

The sickness knocked me down. I was not only physically weakened, but it also further drained me emotionally and spiritually.

All I could do was cry out to the Lord for help. I pleaded, “I need help… Take me out of here, have mercy on me… Do not leave me like this.” And I wasn’t talking about the sickness; I was referring to the state of my heart and soul.

I even questioned myself back then, “When did that happen? When did my heart start to grow cold? one week? two weeks? longer?”

I was still recovering when my church started fasting. We do it every year. So, I joined in for a 21-day Daniel fast with my congregation.

Truth be told, I struggled in the initial days. I felt I wasn’t observing the fast with the diligence it required.

Nevertheless, God proved His faithfulness and deepened my understanding of His covenant during that time. He also reminded me of Gideon (gui·dée·uhn), maybe through one the Pastor’s Pat sermons.

The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

Judges 6:14

We fasted, we repented, we war against the enemy, we prayed together, in unity as a church for 21 days. We’ve had online meetings for 21 days, and we’ve seen miracles, healings, deliverances, and the glory of God being manifest.

You can’t imagine how much I felt the change in atmosphere. I literally started feeling as if heaven had opened up completely. There have been only a few moments and places in my life where I have felt like that. One of those was when God led me to Dallas, Texas in 2021 for a life-changing 5-month Kairos period (story for another time).

Bear in mind, all of this happened just last month. You can probably anticipate how the story concludes, right? He came to my rescue, He saved me, He provided deliverance, He healed me. He reinstated His peace within me, eradicated the confusion, fortified me, and established me firmly in Him. And now, here I am, bearing testimony.

In hindsight, I can see that last year was actually a good year. I fought for my family, got to minister people, invested in the Kingdom, and witnessed the fruits of some of these labors. Yes, it felt non-stop, and I felt like I was falling short – a feeling I now recognize as a ploy from the enemy.

Back then, my focus was solely on my shortcomings, my failures, and what didn’t go so well. But giving it a due assessment, I also see the victories, the rewards, the seeds, and the fruits. There are so many testimonies from that year that I could share.

That year was also marked by numerous periods of consecration. God had placed upon my heart the call to live a life of consecration. He is a jealous God. The importance of consecration can’t be overstated.

We read on Leviticus:

Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:7

Do you need to see a breakthrough in your life? Ask God to show you what you need to do. Consider fasting. Consider living a life of consecration.