In Part 1, we looked at the ultimate three-strand cord: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—God Himself, perfectly united, strong, and unbreakable. That’s our foundation.
But here’s something amazing: Jesus didn’t just show us God’s power and strength; He also gave us a practical way to walk in that same power and strength in our daily lives. He handed us a spiritual blueprint—a three-strand cord that we can weave into our faith to make it stronger, steadier, and ready to withstand anything life throws our way.
That three-strand cord is prayer, fasting, and giving.
Prayer keeps us connected to God’s heart. It keeps us close to Him and in constant communication with Him. Fasting helps us quiet the noise of our flesh and tune in to His Spirit. Fasting is an effective way of killing the flesh. Giving stretches us to love like God loves and bless others with what He’s given us. It is truly a blessing to be a blessing.
Each of these is powerful on its own, but when meshed together, they become a force that cannot be easily broken. Just like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in perfect unity, so do these three practices. Together they build a lifestyle that is spiritually unshakable and rooted for an abundant life.
Why These Three?
In Matthew 6, Jesus taught His disciples about three key practices or disciplines:
“When you pray…” (v. 5)
“When you fast…” (v. 16)
“When you give to the needy…” (v. 2)
Notice He didn’t say if you do these things—He said when. That means He expected them to be a normal part of our lives as His followers. Each one is powerful on its own, oh but together, they are a force to be feared.
Strand One: Prayer
Prayer is your lifeline to God. It’s not about fancy words; it’s about honest communication. It’s about telling a loving Father the things that concern you and listening to His response. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Some of the most powerful prayers are whispered throughout the day.
At work – before you step into a stressful meeting or a hostile environment, whisper, “Lord, give me peace and wisdom right now. Allow Your Presence to saturate the building”
At home – when your kids (or family) are testing your patience, step into another room and pray, “Father, help me to love with Your patience. Help me to see my family as the blessing You see them as”
On the go – while driving, instead of blasting music, talk to God: “Thank You for keeping me safe on this road and protecting me from dangers seen and unseen.”
Prayer invites God into our situations. It reminds us we’re not fighting battles alone. Prayer brings peace, clarity, and intimacy with the Father. Prayer is less about posture and more about presence. When prayer becomes a lifestyle, not just a Sunday activity, you’ll see God’s hand in even the smallest details of your day.
Strand Two: Fasting
Uh Oh! We don’t like this inconvenient one. Lately, I personally have found this discipline to be very challenging for me. But fasting is so necessary for spiritual growth and to deepen discernment. We loathe the fact that fasting requires us to skip our favorite meals but fasting the biblical way from food and or water is more than turning your plate over. It’s a sacrifice and show of obedience. Fasting is about turning off the noise of the flesh so we can hear the Spirit more clearly. Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:16-17). Don’t walk around announcing you are fasting to the world in a pious way. Done correctly, no one will even know you are fasting as your appearance should be the same or even more pleasant than before.
Don’t think of fasting as a diet either. It is a devotion. It’s saying, “Lord, I desire You more than I desire food.” Isaiah 58:6 says fasting looses chains, breaks yokes, and sets people free. When combined with prayer and giving, fasting becomes a powerful tool for our arsenal against the enemy.
Strand Three: Giving
Giving to the poor reflects God’s heart. Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.”
When we give, we reflect God’s generosity. Jesus also told us not to give for show but to give quietly and sincerely (Matthew 6:3-4). Be authentic with your giving. All of social media does not need to know every time you give a dollar to someone. I do understand we live in a world of content creation. I get that. However, check your motive each time you share a giving opportunity you’ve been involved with. Are you sharing the fact that you have donated to charity to bring more awareness to the charity and encourage others to donate to the charity as well or are you being a proud head? The short-lived social media oohs and wows are the only reward a proud head will get. That person should not expect anything from the Father.
Giving not only blesses others—it positions us to receive blessings, too. Give in private and receive your reward openly. Our Father requires us to give from the heart. He doesn’t care about the amount. Remember the widow giving her last lil change? Mark 12:41-44 Luke 21:1-4
Every act of giving reflects the heart of God. Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Giving can be as simple as:
Buying groceries for a struggling neighbor – it may feel small to you, but to them, it’s a miracle.
Paying for the person’s coffee behind you – it’s unexpected kindness that brightens their whole day.
Donating time – volunteering at a local shelter, helping an elderly person with yard work, or babysitting for a single mom for free.
Go Ahead And Live This Thing Out
Want to see change in your life? Try weaving these three together this week:
Set aside time daily to pray. Even 10 minutes of honest conversation with God makes a difference. I’ve found if you don’t know how to pray, read a favorite Scripture and pray it. God is attentive to His Word.
Pick one day to fast. It could be a lunch, 4 hours, a day. You decide the space to create for God.
Bless someone in need. Whether it’s money, a meal, or your time, give in a way that reflects God’s love. Jesus says if you give to the least favorite of people, you have given to Me. (interpretation mine) Matthew 25:40
Prayer, fasting, and giving are not just religious “to-do’s.” They’re God-given disciplines that make us spiritually sound and mature. Like that three-strand cord, they hold us steady in life’s storms and open the door for breakthrough and miraculous things to manifest in our situations. When you live with all three woven into your faith walk, you’ll discover strength, freedom, and blessings you never thought possible.
I pray you have enjoyed Part Two of A Three-Cord Strand. It’s been a pleasure sharing it with you. If you don’t mind, would you share it with someone else? It’s free and just may be the Word he or she needs to hear. With that being said I love you, thanks for being here, and remember a blessed soul is A Well-Fed Soul.