The Whole Story: A Life in God's Kingdom, Part Oneနမူနာ

Daily Reflection: As Christians, we grow closer to the Lord as we block out the everyday noise of the world and lean in closer to the voice of the Father. We block out these daily distractions by doing as Jesus called each of us to do in Luke 9:23: “and he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’ By taking up our cross daily, we are putting down the weighty things of this world that act as distractions, picking up what God has called us to bear, and following where he leads. With every distraction, we can easy to slip into “autopilot” in our relationship with God. However, we were never meant to have a passive, neutral relationship with God. In our walk with Christ, we can significantly benefit from hitting the pause button on our daily routine and, instead, hitting the refresh button in our spiritual lives. One of the best ways to reset and refresh our spiritual lives and relationship with God is to set aside time to seek the Lord through fasting and prayer. Fasting often reveals the raw state of our hearts. As we read in today’s daily reading, fasting should be done in humility – not in a self-serving manner. Fasting should always be about God.

The purpose of fasting is not to lose something, but to gain something; a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. Fasting can be done in various ways. The most common way people choose to fast is by fasting food, which can be achieved through a few methods. The first type of fast is called a dry fast. This type of fast consists of no food or beverages for a period of time. With a dry fast, it is essential to consult a doctor before beginning, as it could present or worsen specific health issues. Water fasts are when a person only consumes water, no food or other drinks, for a while. A partial fast is when someone refrains from eating a particular food or food group. Liquid fasts are when solid food is not consumed, just liquids. Ultimately, it is crucial to seek the Lord about what particular kind of fast He is asking you to choose.

Daily Demonstration: Today begins the beautiful process of seeking the Lord through prayer and fasting for the next 21 days. To help start this journey, we have provided some quick tips below in addition to the information provided above. Always keep in mind that this fast is about God, and with a specific purpose in mind, the next 21 days have the potential to change your perspective on the world around you and your relationship with God. Don’t forget – we are in this together! Take some time today to…

• Pray. Be in faith as you prayerfully and thoughtfully step into this season of fasting. Fasting is more than merely going without something. It is supplementing the absence of something that feeds your flesh with prayer to feed your spirit.

• Commit to a fast. Do not decide on a day-to-day basis. Commit before the fast, and be determined. Fasting options include water only, liquid only, one meal only, or traditional fasts (sun-up to sun-down, Monday through Friday).

• Plan Your Calendar. Limit physical and social activities during the fast, conserve energy, and spend more time in prayer and reading the Bible. Remember to continue to engage The Whole Story reading plan throughout the fast. We will be reading scripture and discussing various prayer points throughout the next 21 days.

• Consult a physician, if needed. If your situation does not allow you to fast food, determine an alternative that will work best for you. Such circumstances include pregnancy, a physically demanding profession, and medical conditions.

• Ask friends and family to be your prayer partner throughout the fast and join with them together in the prayer points in this guide. Consider doing the fast within the benefits of community rather than in solitude.