“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
-Matthew 4:2
Whoa. Slow down there, Jesus. Fasting for 40 days? I can barely miss a breakfast!
#Firstworldproblems make “fasting” difficult because we are not accustomed to going without a meal. People living in impoverished areas must rely on God for their meals, just as we must rely on Him when we should skip one or multiple meals.
The purpose of fasting is deep and wide (I cover the topic in more depth in chapter 10 of my book) but to provide a simple definition: Fasting is denying ourselves something we love for the sake of something we love more. We give up food as a way to connect closely to the heart of God, bring breakthrough in areas that we struggle, and reveal our next steps.
Fasting has benefits that extend beyond the spiritual and reset us physically. After your prayer time, feel free to Google the physical improvements of fasting– it may help convince you to take the leap and try it!
Let’s Pray:
1.) Fasting is submitting our eating habits to God and choosing Him over food. What about fasting makes you the most anxious? Submit those worries to God.
2.) God knows what your body can and cannot handle. I have seen those who need food for medical reasons fast and entire day and not have one problem, and seen pregnant women sick within a few hours. Pray about what God is asking you to fast and for how long, and have an open mind.
3.) Pray for a date to fast next week and share with the group. Your Fives leader will keep you each accountable to your day. You’ll never know if it works if you don’t try!
So… are you in my head? ……
One of my routines is to go stand on my back stoop , feel the sun…(inThe midst of the snow) and thank God for all he does , and delivering from smoking.!. this happens several times a day…i use to go out and smoke now i go out and stand in amazement of all Gods creations. The sun is hitting directly on the stoop by 10 am. I love feeling the warmth..and you can feel it even on these,the last of winter days! My point being, I have had these topics come up the day before, or a few days prior. I have been praying about and doing research on intermittent fasting.(.Erica i have been praying about this for almost two weeks) ..just yesterday i was talking with my niece,and showed her all the articles i found. (Back on point. ) ok so i know God is all knowing. But this lesson was my voice from God! I dont believe in coincidences! When it comes to what God has you to do… He always gets his point across weather it be through someone or somthing…like a bible study! I am no longer in poor health, no high bp,no more type 2 diabetes, I feel I need to start my 24 hour fast Sunday. And i am rereadindg chapter 10! Wow God!!!! Im so excited today!
Yes, Esta! What a great way to view God moving right now. I love your attitude. Praying that fasting releases even MORE in your faith this week!