Matthew 11:28-30 MSG “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” WHAT IS FASTING Fasting = eating very little or absolutely no food at all for a determined period of time either from necessity or desire. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that invites believers to draw near to God, creating dependency on Him as their source of strength and nourishment, transforming hunger for food into hunger for the things of God. Matthew 6:16-18 NLT And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair[a] and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Jeremiah 29:13 NIV You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. When was the last time you felt a deep hunger for God? WHY SHOULD WE FAST To seek God’s guidance (Acts 4) To gain victory (Judges 20:26) To express grief (1 Samuel 31:13) To seek deliverance or protection (2 Chronicles 20:3–4) To repent and return to God (1 Samuel 7:6) To humble yourself before God (1 Kings 21:27–29) To minister to the needs of others (Isaiah 58:3–7) To overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God (Matthew 4:1–11) To express love and worship for God (Luke 2:37) 2 Corinthians 12:10 VOICE I am at peace and even take pleasure in any weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and afflictions for the sake of the Anointed because when I am at my weakest, He makes me strong. WHY DO WE RESIST IGNORANCE FEAR WE GET FILLED UP ON OTHER THINGS “If we don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because we have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.” – John Piper RESULTS OF FASTING Matthew 5:6 VOICE Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled. can restore the loss of that “first love” you had for God enables Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, which brings brokenness, repentance and transformation the Bible comes alive in new ways you hear God more clearly can transform your prayer life into a richer, more personal experience Isaiah 58:8-9 VOICE Then, oh then, your light will break out like the warm, golden rays of a rising sun; in an instant, you will be healed. Your rightness will precede and protect you; the glory of the Eternal will follow and defend you. Then when you do call out, “My God, Where are You?” The Eternal One will answer, “I am here, I am here.” HOW TO FAST Determine your WHY Determine your METHOD Determine your LENGTH Determine your WHEN Determine your FOCUS Determine your WHERE Determine your ABILITY Determine your END Determine your PARAMETERS EAT THE BIBLE Matthew 4:4 NLT People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Luke 4:2 VOICE For 40 days, the Spirit led Him from place to place in the desert, and while there, the devil tempted Jesus. Jesus was fasting, eating nothing during this time, and at the end, He was terribly hungry. John 6:35 NLT Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” What’s on your plate today that you need to set aside? Is it a meal, a habit, or a distraction? What would it look like for you to present an empty plate to God this week? Joel 2:12-13 VOICE Even now, turn back your heart and rededicate yourselves to Me; Show Me your repentance by fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rip the wickedness out of your hearts; don’t just tear your clothing. Now return to the Eternal, your True God. FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Join in the online Bible Reading devotional this week: cty.lc/bibleapp Here is a link to a worship song on YouTube called “Breathe” by Hillsong Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5w7MgTgVVs Questions to meditate on: When you feel empty or restless, what do you do to try to fill the emptiness? What does this tell you about your heart? What is your attitude toward fasting or self-denial? In what ways do you currently deny yourself? What has the experience of fasting been like for you?