Becoming Like Jesus: Fasting and Abstinenceনমুনা

What to do when you need direction

Have you ever needed wisdom for something? Maybe you were looking for direction on a decision you had to make. Maybe you didn’t know how to handle a particular situation or relationship. Fasting and abstinence can help us quiet distractions and find clarity.

Pray…

Heavenly Father, thank you for being near to me today. Thank you that when I need help or guidance, all I have to do is ask you. Jesus, thank you for repairing my relationship with God. Holy Spirit, thank you for being my guide. I want to hear from you and follow you today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. Daniel 10:1-3 NLT

Consider…

Daniel was a guy who, ever since he was a teenager, lived in close proximity to really powerful people. He had a lot of natural smarts, but he had something even better than that—wisdom from God. How did he get this wisdom? God gave it to him.

We have all been in situations where we needed help figuring out how to deal with something difficult. The good news is that the same wisdom that helped Daniel navigate crazy circumstances in the courtrooms of kings is available to us today. All we have to do is ask.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6 NLT

It’s that simple: We ask our generous God. But just because it’s simple, doesn’t mean it’s easy. When we are faced with a problem, our natural tendency is to try and figure it out on our own. To weigh the pros and cons. To ask our friends. To freak out and make an impulsive decision based on what feels good in the moment. To be clear, not all of those are bad things. Thinking critically and asking for guidance from friends can be really helpful. But, when those things distract us from going to our Heavenly Father, then we’re missing out on the deep wisdom He offers.

This is what made Daniel special. His default response was to remove distractions and ask God what to do. To do this, he often practiced fasting and abstinence. He gave up food and other things to help him focus on God and what God wanted to say.

Practice…

Let’s take a cue from Daniel and develop disciplines to help us have a different default.

When it comes to navigating tricky situations, what is your current default? What distractions could you eliminate to help you look to God and ask Him for wisdom first?

Journal your answers and make a plan of action. Next time you need wisdom, what will you do?

Listen…

Find a comfortable place where you can continue to be alone with God. Maybe a cozy chair, a closet, or even sitting outside on a porch. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes. Next, ask God to speak to you. When you get distracted, consider it an opportunity to come back to Jesus by praying this short prayer that He taught us:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

When the timer ends, thank God again for the time you got to spend with Him, then head into your day looking for opportunities to better serve Him and love others.