Fasting: Drawing Near to God’s Hear

The Sacred Hunger:

Fasting as Worship and Warfare

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,
We come to You today seeking to understand the spiritual discipline of fasting.

Open our hearts to embrace its purpose and align our lives with Your will.

Help us to hunger for You above all else and guide us to use fasting as a way to worship You, seek Your guidance, and intercede for others.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Devotional: Fasting: When Hunger Meets Heaven

Fasting is more than giving up food; it’s a posture of the heart. Throughout Scripture, fasting is portrayed as a sacred practice that invites God’s presence, guidance, and power into our lives.

In Luke 2:37, we see a beautiful example in Anna, an elderly widow who worshiped God through fasting and prayer day and night:

"She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying."
Her devotion demonstrates that fasting is an act of worship that draws us closer to the Lord, filling us with His Spirit even as we empty ourselves of earthly comforts.

Fasting is also a means of seeking God’s intervention in critical moments. When Esther faced a life-threatening challenge, she called for a fast among her people:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do” (Esther 4:16).
This communal fast was a plea for God’s deliverance, reminding us that fasting can empower us to face life’s greatest challenges with divine strength.

Fasting, however, isn’t about appearances or rituals. Jesus warns against performing it for show:

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do... But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father" (Matthew 6:16-18).
True fasting focuses solely on God, bringing our hearts into submission to His will.

Bible Study: Aligning Fasting with God’s Purposes

Key Scriptures and Reflections:

1. Isaiah 58:6-7 – Fasting as Justice and Compassion

   “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
   Fasting isn’t just personal; it’s transformative for the world around us. Reflect on how your fasting can extend God’s love to others in tangible ways.

2. Joel 2:12 – Fasting as Repentance

   "Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."
   Fasting softens our hearts, leading us to repentance and a renewed relationship with God.

3. Acts 13:2-3 – Fasting as Worship and Guidance

   "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul.'"
   When the early church sought direction, fasting and worship prepared their hearts to hear God’s voice.

4. Daniel 9:3 – Fasting in Supplication

   "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes."
   Like Daniel, we can use fasting to cry out to God in humility and dependence.

5. Acts 14:23 – Fasting in Leadership and Decision-Making

   "Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord."
   Fasting seeks God’s blessing and wisdom for critical decisions.

Action Step

This week, commit to a fast—whether it’s from food, social media, or other distractions. Pair your fasting with intentional prayer, worship, and Bible study. Reflect on areas where you need God’s guidance, strength, or intervention.

Closing Prayer

Lord,
Thank You for the gift of fasting, which draws us into deeper fellowship with You.

As we fast, help us to seek Your will, humble our hearts, and reflect Your love to the world.

Empower us to use this time to intercede for others, seek Your guidance, and grow in faith.

We surrender our desires to You and trust in Your provision.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.