WHAT IS FASTING?

“The bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days...” (Luke 5:35)

There is only one way to God and it's through Jesus, but in Jesus, there are many ways to connect with God. The month of January, we are focusing on connecting with God through FASTING. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that calls us to deny the desires of our flesh and fill ourselves up with God, His Word, and His presence. Through this 7-Day devotional, our goal is that you would walk away understanding why we fast and be equipped with the tools to connect with God through fasting. Before engaging in a fast, we must first understand what it means to fast. Throughout scripture, fasting has been used as a tool in times of…

• Preparation (Matthew 4:2)
• Mourning (2 Samuel 1:12)
• Cultural Reformation (Esther 4:16)
• Intimacy with God (Matthew 6:17-18)
• Repentance (Joel 2:12-17)
• Consecration (Daniel 1:8-14)
• Gaining Self-Control (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Fasting is…

1. Fasting is the denial of your flesh by refraining from eating food and/or drink.
2. Fasting is a spiritual discipline where we decrease and God increases, as we pray, humble ourselves, and grow in endurance.

Fasting is not a twisting of God’s arm so that He’ll answer our prayers. Rather, fasting is sign of humble submission to His will. In fasting, we shift our priorities by declaring that His will is more important than even our most basic physical needs. We must also remember that fasting isn't just about getting clarity on a big decision. Fasting is a way to connect with God!

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, I welcome You. Teach me to fast. Open my eyes to see fasting the way You see it. I pray less of me, more of you. Amen.

APPLICATION

Read through the scriptures today and ask the Lord to reveal His heart for fasting.