Be With Jesus: Spiritual Hunger (Def) FASTING: intentionally going without food to awaken our dependence on God. Matthew 6:16–18 (NLT) And when you fast, don’t make it obvious…But when you fast, … WHAT FASTING DOES Fasting your true dependencies. Matthew 6:16–18 (NLT) …comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private… Fasting reveals what controls us. ~ John Mark Comer Fasting you to say no. If you can’t say no to food, you’ll struggle to say no to sin. Fasting deepens your for God. Matthew 4:4 (NLT) But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Fasting reorders our loves. WHY FASTING MATTERS TODAY Fasting pushes back against all of our culture’s prevailing values. “I am not a slave to my appetite” “I don’t need instant gratification” “God is enough” What Now? Challenge your thinking – are you an “if” or “when” thinker ? Continuing the Conversation 1. When you think about skipping a meal to spend time with Jesus, what resistance do you feel—and what might that reveal about what you depend on most? 2. During times when you’ve felt closest to Jesus, what was different about your pace, habits, or level of distraction compared to your normal life? 3. What would it look like for you this week to replace one meal with intentional time being with Jesus—and how will you structure that time so it’s not just empty, but meaningful? 4. If fasting could reshape your desires, what is one area of your life where you want Jesus more than comfort, control, or convenience?