Answer These:
Pray This:
Father, you are good and provide everything that we need. Thank you that we can come to you with all things. Help us create space to be present with you. Help us know what distractions are keeping us from our time with you. God, we repent of the things we have placed before you. Amen.
Biblical fasting is done for a spiritual purpose. Fasting is not simply going without food, there must be a spiritual motivation for a fast. Today, you will look up multiple passages in scripture that model fasting. In a journal or on a piece of paper, write down what you believe the purpose of the fast was in that particular verse. Likely, you will need to read the verses surrounding the passage in order to have a better context and understanding.
Spend some time in these passages:
Answer These:
Pray This:
Father, thank you for graciously modeling fasting in scripture. Thank you that denying self allows us to depend on you in a deeper level. Lord, help us to understand the true motivations of fasting. Help us see how it is used to bring you glory. Amen.
On Thursday, you will be asked to fast from something, so today will be spent in prayer preparing for the fast. Before anything else, ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind why a fast will be helpful for your spiritual walk. There are plenty of spiritual reasons to participate in a fast and we want to go before these things in prayer. Likely, the reason you are fasting is different from someone else participating in this practice. Take the time today to pray through each of the reasons for fasting listed below. Pray through all of them so that all of us who are participating in the fast tomorrow will do so for a greater spiritual purpose.
Reasons we may be fasting are:
Answer These:
Pray This:
Father, help us to understand your desire for us to give up things in order to draw nearer to you. Search our hearts, Lord, and help us to see any motivations that are not pure or helpful in growing us in your likeness. Lord, prepare us for tomorrow and use it in mighty ways to make your name great. Amen.
Today, you will be able to practice fasting. You can do a partial fast where you give up certain things, or a complete fast from all food. Fasting, however, isn’t limited to what you eat. If you have a medical condition or history with easting disorders, we ask that you do not give up eating today. Fasting asks that you give up anything that is a distraction from God. That time you would typically spend with that activity is replaced by time in prayer.
Some things people commonly fast from other than food are social media, technology, television, alcohol, or social activities. Choose something to fast from today. Remember to spend the time you would normally use on the activity to pray and seek The Lord.
Answer These:
Pray This:
Father, we repent of the distraction that take our time away from you. Thank you that we can give things in order to have a clearer vision of you. I pray that you would meet us in our needs today. I pray that today would be used to draw us closer to you. Amen.
It is so easy for distractions to consume our minds. It’s so easy to fill time with things other than time in prayer. Spend some time listening to the song “Clear the Stage” by Jimmy Needham. Pay close attention to the words of the song.
Answer These:
Pray This:
Father, we repent of the things that we place in front of you. God, I pray that we would be made aware of the distraction we need to surrender in order to place our attention on you. God, thank you for providing time and space this week to focus on you. I pray we would continue to grow in our adoration of you as we spend time with you. Amen.
