Post by Obasoto Obafemi (@Obasoto)

The Key Devotional

Thursday | July 16 | 2026

MORE THAN FAITH

Matthew 17:19-21 KJV
[19] Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? [20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. [21] Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Laziness is a habit of the flesh. The flesh does not like to be stressed at any time. It likes to eat and drink or enjoy rest. Whenever there is a demand to stretch the flesh a little, there is always a rebellion. This is why it fights against the ways of the spirit because flesh does not have any glory before God.
1 Corinthians 1:29 KJV That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Jesus told the disciples that their faith was a challenge for their inability to handle the sickness of a demon possessed boy that was brought before them. He went further that the case of the boy is peculiar that they need something beyond faith to heal him. He said they needed prayer and fasting. As much as every believer understands that the power and anointing of God can be provoked by prayer and fasting, it is the most difficult thing for people to do. This is because the flesh is dragged in the place of prayer and fasting. The flesh is pruned and subdued in prayer and fasting while the spirit is strengthened for rulership. Many people can dance to music in Church without praising or worshipping God for hours because it has been turned to the activity of the flesh and not the spirit. You must learn never to be so used to activities that do not stretch the flesh.

Jesus said faith is needed but with fasting and prayer. This is because, if you are not careful, faith can become the activity of the flesh when prayer and fasting is not involved. There are lots of people who find it easy to stand and wait on the Lord in faith because it does not stretch their flesh. This is why most of the faith exercised does not produce results because the flesh is not stretched through prayer and fasting. When you include prayer and fasting in your faith, you are making your faith purely spiritual and not works of the flesh. This is why James said that there must be works added to faith so it's not dead. It means what is meant to be spiritual can become dead when it lacks prayer and fasting. Jesus told Peter that his faith will fail in the absence of prayer. It was not that Peter was lacking faith but prayer which when absent leads to failed faith.
Luke 22:32 KJV
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Beloved, you need to go beyond faith and add prayer and fasting to make a mountain become plain and make a valley become smooth.

Daily Task
Mention five ways to strengthen your prayer and fasting life.

Prayers
1. Father, I receive grace to pray better.
2. Lord, help me to strengthen my faith.

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