Daily Devotions

Today's Scripture: "'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your hearts and not your garments.'" Joel 2:12-13a, ESV 

Theme: Fasting isn't a formula to make God respond—it's a physical expression of our hearts' desire to return to Him. 

Today’s Scripture: “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” Matthew 4:4, ESV 

Theme: When we fast, it helps us to remember that our lives depend on more than food as Jesus recalled when He was fasting. 

Today's Scripture: “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:11-13, (ESV)   

Theme: When we fast, may our prayers reflect Jesus’ own example when He asks God to provide for us both spiritual and physical “bread” and for deliverance from evil.   

Today’s Scripture: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matthew 6:9-10, ESV 

Theme: When we fast, our prayers need to begin with a focus on worship and recognition of God for who He is, not on what we want.

Today's Scripture: “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24, ESV  

Theme: Denying yourself is physically and mentally difficult but leads to a closer walk with God, abiding in Him, and experiencing spiritual blessings.