TO DRAW NEARER TO HIM
Daphne Powell
Today's Scripture: “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:14, ESV
Theme: God asks us to fast for various reasons. Primarily, fasting refocuses our attention on God and helps us hear from Him.
FOOD
Many have turned fasting into a diet fad called “Intermittent Fasting,” but that type of fasting concentrates on weight loss. The true spirit of fasting is not about our weight but drawing nearer to Him. Jesus is our example. He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, demonstrating His reliance on God. He wanted to show the Father His full dependence on and obedience to Him.
FINANCIAL
Matthew 19:24 (ESV) says, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Fasting isn’t just food. We spend money on worldly items, and it is easy to fall into the trap of making money our idol. Fasting financially is not spending money on anything but the essentials for living. We draw closer to Him when we see how God can be depended upon to provide for us. This type of self-denial can show us how the money spent on ourselves might be a blessing if spent on those in need.
HOW LONG?
So how long should you fast? You just start. Maybe it’s just one day, but that one day shows you God's will and your need to be closer to Him. But after that, you should be able to extend the time longer, as God leads you. When you fully embrace fasting, you will see how you will draw nearer to Him.
Make It Personal: Fasting can seem hard when you concentrate on what you don’t have or can’t do. But then I think about how Jesus is our example. Every time He wanted to be closer to His Father, He went off to be alone, He prayed, and He fasted.
Pray: Dear Lord, I pray that my time in fasting draws me nearer to You. Give me strength and a willingness to follow You. Amen
Read: Matthew 6:16-18, Daniel 10:3, Psalm 69:10
Weekly Memory Verse: “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