Devotionals for the Heart: How fasting and prayer helped me land a new job

How Fasting and Prayer Changed My Life
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”—Mark 9:29 (KJV)

“Effective next month, your job will be eliminated.”

I did not hear anything else my boss said after she uttered those words. I was under the impression that I would be in that particular position at work until I decided to leave, but in this case, my job was leaving me.

I started praying very earnestly about what to do and I began to complete applicatiaons and send resumes to available positions on-line. Even after all of those efforts, nothing seemed to work. No one was returning my calls, no one was responding to my emails, and no one seemed interested in my resume.

At the same time, a friend of mine who did not know anything about my circumstance approached me about fasting. There were people already doing it on Mondays and I was asked to join them in this exercise of faith. At that point in my life, I had never tried fasting for a whole day. The thought of it was unappealing to me so I declined, but something kept tugging at my spirit. I was in a desparate situation and nothing else was working. I felt like Heaven was locked in silence. I just wanted to do something to get God’s attention, so I decided to try fasting without telling anyone, including the friend who invited me to do this on Mondays.

After the first Monday of fasting, I had a meeting with someone who I thought would be able to assist me with finding a job. Unfortunately, that person could not help me, but she set up another meeting for the following Tuesday with someone else who could. I fasted the Monday before, praying for a good outcome from that meeting. When I finally had the meeting, I was instructed to send my resume. I was not thrilled at the idea because I had been sending resumes everywhere with no results. I sent the resume anyway and by that Friday, I received a call from a recruiter who scheduled an interview with me and a hiring manager for the following Tuesday.

On the Monday before the interview, I fasted again in preparation for the interview on Tuesday. By the time I was done with the interview, I was invited to a second interview that Friday over lunch. By the end of lunch, I was offered a position with higher pay and benefits, and a start date in June—the same date that my current position would be eliminated.

It's easy to look at this situation and automatically believe that fasting was the reason why my prayers were answered. However, it is important to understand that fasting and praying are not intended to manipulate God into getting our own way. Instead, fasting and praying aligns us with God’s will for our lives and prepares us for the work He is getting ready to accomplish in our lives. By fasting and praying, I thought I was getting God’s attention, but He was One who was getting my attention.

The exercise of fasting was more than just self-discipline for me. It allowed me to stretch my faith by just being open. I was introduced to a greater spiritual focus as well as a more profound experience of God’s presence in my life. Through fasting, I cultivated a deeper and more intimate relationship with God, and I built a stronger and more resilient faith.

I will never forget how God showed up for me in that moment. I truly believe that some things in life can only come about by fasting and prayer. This testing of my faith allowed me to overcome obstacles and achieve breakthoughs in areas where progress seemed impossible. I encourage you to be willing to do what God impresses you to do in order to reach that next level of faith in your relationship with Him.

Let’s Pray: Father, I believe that You can do all things, and these things will happen in Your time. Help me to exercise more faith and to be open to whatever is required of me so that I can have the level of intimacy that You desire. I give You my heart and my mind. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “When God’s People Pray” by Wayne Watson. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She is currently working on another devotional book.

This is Angela’s fourth year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where her words were featured in a book, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy, that was published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was featured in Living Unbroken, which is another publication produced by Proverbs 31. Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

Angela is a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She works to help them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April of 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: The value of caring and loving people like Jesus

Give a Care
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” –Proverbs 28:27 (KJV)

My wife and I have been married for 39 years. I thought that it was my responsibility to closely manage our money. She said I was a cheapskate and a skinflint. In retrospect, she was right.

As our finances and credit score improved, I relaxed a little. However, I did remain penurious. Even though I tithed and gave a liberal offering at church, I was not philanthropically oriented, until I had an experience that prompted me to pray for a giving spirit. God has grown me!

Here is an example of how God has helped me want to be more giving: One day, I was in my car. As I approached a corner, the light at the intersection turned red. I stopped. As I looked around, I noticed a lady walking up the line of cars. She was holding a sign with a message in English and Spanish. The sign said that she was a mother of two and was unemployed. The sign asked for donations. Had the light remained green, I may not have noticed her. But I did notice her, and our eyes met. In my penurious years, I might have averted my eyes and ignored her. But not that day! In that moment when our eyes connected, the verse above (Proverbs 28:27) reverberated in the core of my soul.

Immediately, I reached into my pocket, rolled down the window and gave her 25% of the cash that I had in my pocket. Her face radiated appreciation, affirmation and admiration. She said, “One day, I will give to others as you have given to me.”

Benevolence is a spiritual virtue. It is also the conduit of grace that insures the flow of blessings and grace. Benevolence (doing something good for someone else, just because), is an antidote for selfishness. Selfishness is really fruit from the tree of fear that you do not have enough.

According to Mark 14:7, we will always have poor people among us. The wise writer of Proverbs 28:27 shares a key that can unlock the divine storehouse where blessings are waiting to be dispensed. Kindness is like a catalyst for miraculous expansion of shared resources. Giving does not cause scarcity; being stingy does.

I am encouraging you to try an experiment today. Look for someone who needs some help and help them. Here are five reasons to do so:

Reason #1: Giving and helping are virtues that Jesus extolled and demonstrated.

Reason #2: Many people are in need through no fault of their own.

Reason #3: Poverty is not a sin. It is a circumstance.

Reason #4: Kindness and brotherly love are more valuable to God than worship.

Reason #5: Kindness suspends judgement and can be transformational in the life of the recipient.

Two years ago I had dinner with a multi-millionaire. I paid for the dinner. He told me a thumbnail sketch of his life story: He was an orphan in a country far from America. He, along with some other children were selling pencils on main street in a big city when a woman passed by him. She looked at him as she handed him some money. He stood up, thanked her, and extended a pencil. She declined to take the pencil and walked away. A few moments later, she came back and asked him where his parents were. He told her that he was an orphan. That day, she began the process of adopting him.

Today, he is a scientist. He has created and patented several world changing innovations. He is a brilliant and humble man. Yet, he says that had that woman not followed the prompting of God and shown kindness to him, he would likely not be who he has become. Now, he is wealthier than his original benefactor.

Make an investment in yourself by investing kindness in someone else. When it becomes a habit, goodness and mercy will follow you. Your humanity, caring eye contact, and gift may change one life and many others in turn. Please do not shirk an opportunity to care.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, as we move through this day that you have blessed us with, please help us to be blessings in the lives of other people. Give us opportunities to give, share and care about someone or several people. Guide us into divine appointments where our sacrifice of money, time, and interest will be meaningful and transformational for the persons we help and ourselves. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps. 

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address, psanderson75@gmail.com.

Thankful Thursday: Be Encouraged

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for this song "Encourage Yourself." Listen via the video below before reading what I have to say...



Beautiful song, isn't it?

It speaks to my reality. Since being laid off from my day job two years ago, I have struggled to find another day job that provides me with a steady and sufficient income. My hunt for a new day job has not landed me in a new career...yet!

I say "yet" because I know that God is in control of my real life story and He will lead me to where He wants me to be.

But some days, the weight of everything related to not having a day job really discourages me. I shared these thoughts with a friend today and as we were talking, God brought this song to my mind and I realized that now is the time for me to encourage myself.

So instead of lamenting over defeat, I'm going to speak victory.

Instead of worrying about my human (and therefore finite) timeline for my own life, I'm going to trust God's Divine (and therefore infinite) timetable for my life.

Instead of rehearsing the difficulties in my mind, I'm going to be still and know that God is God, as He advises me in Psalm 46:10, and use that energy to pray more to Him.

Instead of complaining about the big size of this mountain, I'm going to tell this mountain that my God is bigger and He can move it for me.

Ultimately, I'm going to work on encouraging myself and trusting in God's perfect timing.

If you too are experiencing defeat in any area of your life, I challenge you to bring your concerns to your Creator (God), pour out your heart to Him then listen to this song again and practice the art of encouraging yourself in the Lord.

Know that I'm praying for you too!

God bless your dear heart.

Love,

Alexis