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LENT IS FOR FASTING
DAILY PRAYER REQUEST: Lord, deepen our focus on you.
DAILY THOUGHT: FASTING BEFORE GOD ALONE
In our Bible passage Jesus encourages us not to draw attention to ourselves when we fast. Don’t look morbid and sad when we fast, he says, so that others notice. Instead he tells us to “put oil on your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6: 17). In other words, “Take a shower and fix yourself up. Brush your teeth, put on deodorant and some nice clothes, so that no one else will know that you are fasting.” What’s the reason for this counsel? Jesus does not want us to fast in order to show how religious or devout or “good” we are. He wants us to fast in order to fix our focus on God and to strengthen our personal experience of God’s resources. Real fasting is always between God and us.
DAILY PRACTICE:
Pray the prayer request for the week. Read again the Bible passage for this week, paying special attention to the advice that Jesus gives for fasting. Can you think of any other reasons that Jesus may have had in mind when he gave his advice about not deliberately drawing attention to ourselves when we fast? Today commit yourself to go without food in between your meals. When you think about having a snack, direct your attention towards God and ask for his help in staying faithful to your little fast. Don’t talk about it with anyone else.
DAILY PRAYER REQUEST: Lord, deepen our focus on you.
DAILY THOUGHT: FASTING BEFORE GOD ALONE
In our Bible passage Jesus encourages us not to draw attention to ourselves when we fast. Don’t look morbid and sad when we fast, he says, so that others notice. Instead he tells us to “put oil on your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6: 17). In other words, “Take a shower and fix yourself up. Brush your teeth, put on deodorant and some nice clothes, so that no one else will know that you are fasting.” What’s the reason for this counsel? Jesus does not want us to fast in order to show how religious or devout or “good” we are. He wants us to fast in order to fix our focus on God and to strengthen our personal experience of God’s resources. Real fasting is always between God and us.
DAILY PRACTICE:
Pray the prayer request for the week. Read again the Bible passage for this week, paying special attention to the advice that Jesus gives for fasting. Can you think of any other reasons that Jesus may have had in mind when he gave his advice about not deliberately drawing attention to ourselves when we fast? Today commit yourself to go without food in between your meals. When you think about having a snack, direct your attention towards God and ask for his help in staying faithful to your little fast. Don’t talk about it with anyone else.
Scripture
About this Plan
Lent is a time when we prepare ourselves for Easter. Lent Journey consists of 47 devotions to accompany us on this journey. We are invited to the undertake the journey with Jesus and thereby prepare ourselves for the two big events that are the pillars of our belief system - the crucifiction and the resurrection.
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We would like to thank Mosaiek 2016 for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://www.mosaiek.com/
