What it Looks Like to Pray and Fast for Change - Your Daily Bible Verse - July 26

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BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “And we know that in all things God works for the good those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” –Romans 8:28

What it Looks Like to Pray and Fast for Change
By Lynette Kittle

It was so upsetting as a mother of four with husband and kids in tow, to drive past dozens of suggestive billboards on our route from South Florida to various attractions near Orlando. One after another, a certain surf shop presented sensual messages on the public roadways.

With all the families vacationing in Florida, why would this company advertise in such a manner? Didn’t they realize their inappropriate imagery and messages meant to woo customers to their store, was actually keeping family-friendly shoppers away?

Unable to just ignore it every time we ventured out, my thoughts turned to 1 John 5:14, which encourages me to have confidence in approaching God with my requests. So I began to pray about the situation, asking God to change the billboards’ to family-friendly marketing or remove them entirely.

Next, I wrote the company’s executives asking them to please reconsider their marketing approach.

With no response, I started writing to the state highway offices and the Governor, asking to have this company remove or change their billboards on the public highways. All the while, I prayed and fasted for a change, taking comfort in verses like Psalm 145:18 reminding myself that “the Lord is near to all who call on Him.”

Nothing seemed to budge the billboards. Still, I continued to pray, fast, and seek ways to bring a positive difference to the area. My fervent pursuit to transform the highway landscape seemed to fit the description in Isaiah 50:7 as, "I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed."

Then one day after years of on-going prayers and efforts with seemingly no results, Hurricane Wilma blew through Florida with a fury. While enduring 12 days of no-electricity, our family decided to take a weekend away in Orlando where we could enjoy warm water, cool rooms, and hot food.

To my surprise the roadways revealed a storm result I hadn’t expected. Billboard after billboard had been blown away.

In my wildest dreams, I hadn’t imagined this scenario. After years of writing letters, praying, and fasting for the billboards to be changed or removed, through one hurricane my prayers were answered.

In seeing the new landscape, Romans 8:28 came to mind reminding me that, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Months later the company’s billboards were replaced with family-friendly marketing. Our family cheered as we drove past each one, appreciating and amazed at how God had worked it all together for good.

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

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