Devotion to Fasting

Of all the disciplines of the Christian life, things like prayer, worship, and the study of God’s Word, the practice of fasting is the one we seem to struggle with most - or don’t engage with all together. Some of that struggle might be because we fail to see its purpose or use in our lives. What does it accomplish and why should we practice it?

What is fasting?

Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food or any other regularly enjoyed good gift from God, for the sake of some spiritual purpose. Often this is simply a desire for more of God, more of His Spirit, more of His voice and leading. In the Scriptures, you see times of fasting tied to sorrowful repentance, mourning, and seeking the leading of the Spirit.

Misplaced emphasis in fasting.

Many times, because of its difficult nature, our focus in fasting mistakenly becomes all about the self-denial necessary to accomplish it, as if the primary purpose of it was to plainly and dramatically tell our bodies of flesh, “No.” But that’s only half of it. The emphasis in fasting must not be self-denial, but rather, deep desire for deep(er) satisfaction. As Sam Storms put it in his book, Practicing the Power, (p.58):

Fasting is not about denying yourself; it’s about satisfying yourself… in God. Fasting is not about physical pain, but spiritual pleasure. Fasting is the first cousin to prayer in the sense that together they are the ordained means by which God is pleased to give us what we need.

The act of fasting is, in a sense, a prayer itself. A prayer of pursuit. A prayer of deep spiritual seeking. A prayer of asking with an extraordinary intensity and passion. And in that prayer and pursuit, we have a good Father who delights in answering (rewarding, Matt. 6:16-18) those who ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9-13). And to those who seek Him with all their heart He has promised that we will find Him (Jer. 29:13). Fasting is a great way to make that prayer of deep desire - of seeking with all our heart.

Appetite adjustment.

For a lot of us, it’s a struggle to stay devoted to and consistent in prayer. We are in a battle with an Enemy that wants to keep us distracted and/or discouraged so we give up coming to the Life-giver in prayer. We may start off a New Year strong, but before too long we settle back into a form of lifeless, box-checking religion, where it’s something we do because we know we “should” rather than a regular communing with the Living God. So, how do we stay steadfast in prayer? How do we continue in devoted prayer? I think the answer is delight.

You see, the problem isn’t that we don’t pray [enough]. The problem is not being completely delighted in Christ. It's not being completely satisfied in Him. It’s that we don’t hunger after Him, His Word or His righteousness, like we ought, and it then begs the question, “Why don’t we?”

My contention is this: our bellies are full. Too often, we don’t hunger for the Bread of Life or thirst for the Living Water because we’ve spoiled our appetite for Him with the cares of this world. We’ve satisfied ourselves - or at least pacified ourselves - by nibbling and snacking on all comforts and pleasures this life has offered. Many of them are the very good gifts and blessings that God gives as a reflection of Him and His goodness. At the very least, they become a destructive distraction hindering us in this race that we’re called to run (Heb. 12:1-2), but then… at its worst: it’s a full blown IDOL.

I think fasting is a good gift from God to help give us an appetite adjustment. That through hunger and pursuit, we would again long for Him and be satisfied completely in Him. Fasting is about feasting on the fullness of Christ and delighting ourselves in Him.

Consider fasting.

If you’ve found it hard to persist in prayer, ask yourself, “why.” Allow the Holy Spirit to check your appetite, and then consider incorporating fasting into your prayer life and pursuit of Him. I know our good Father will hear us and meet us when we seek to be satisfied fully in Him.

*If you have a medical condition or need that would make fasting a concern or put you at risk, please consult your doctor and maybe consider an alternative type of fast.

Devotion to Community

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:23-25

We live in a time where Christians seem to think that a commitment to gathering, to meeting corporately as a community of faith is something that is unimportant. As a pastor there is no question that this type of attitude can be frustrating. And to be clear not because I have a concern for numbers but because I have a concern for the growth and development of the people of God. When I read what the author of Hebrews writes it is oddly comforting to know that they had the same issue in the first century; ‘not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some’. Apparently it’s not a new issue, but it is an issue that will be detrimental to the spiritual development of followers of Christ.

One of the truths about this calling that we might not consider is that the call to a commitment of gathering with believers is a spiritual discipline. It takes discipline to make this a part of our lives. It is easy to get distracted and busied with the activities of our lives. It is easy to fall into times where we feel like we’re not getting anything out of it. It is easy to find ourselves in conflict with fellow members of the community of faith and get hurt or frustrated and as a result just choose not to gather. Its in these times it takes a discipline of commitment to live in obedience to living in community.

The author of Hebrews makes this clear. The gathering as a body of believers, in the community that the word of God establishes, is the means by which we are challenged by others and we challenge others (‘stir up one another to love and good works’), it is the means by which we encourage others and are encouraged by others. The declaration is this commitment isn’t simply about what you receive but what you also give so when we neglect to be a part of this exchange the entire community, every individual, suffers.

Is it always convenient? No. Is it always easy? Of course not. Do we find ourselves sometimes even in conflict? Unfortunately, yes. But obedience to the word that produces disciples of Christ requires us to push through, to not neglect meeting together.

This is a discipline of our faith. As much as prayer, as much as worship, as much as giving, as much as forgiveness, and when we discipline ourselves in obedience to God’s word we will be blessed and we will be a blessing to others.

Devotion to Intercessory Prayer

We are continuing our Fervent Week of Prayer by taking a look at intercession. This type of prayer is distinguished as a request, plea, or appeal on behalf of someone else. At times this type of prayer may come very easily to us, especially if we are praying on behalf of someone that we care for deeply. We are often moved to intercessory prayer in times of need, or out of compassion and sympathy. However, throughout Scripture we are commanded to intercede for others that may not be close to us, and this is when we need to engage in the devotion to intercession.

One area that takes such devotion is to pray for people that may not readily come to our minds. In Ephesians 6, after the description of the armor of God, Paul instructs the church to intercede for all the saints, and especially for him (and by inference others that preach) to be bold (Eph 6:10-19). In 1 Peter 5, Peter calls all Christians to be alert and resist the schemes of the devil through prayer and trusting in God. He also reminds us that all of our fellow believers are in the same battle (1 Peter 5:6-9). Certainly a worthy topic of intercession as we seek to pray for our fellow Christians. Some practical suggestions would be to pray for those in your small group, your neighbors, a list of people in your church, or for those in other countries. The leadership and staff of Mercy Hill, certainly appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

A second area of devotion to intercession is praying for those that we may not want or feel like praying for. Jesus instructs us to love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us (Matt 5:44) Paul instructs Timothy and the church to pray for political leaders and authorities over the nation.

A third, but not certainly not final, area of devotion would be to pray for those that “The god of this age has blinded, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor 4:4 )”

Please join us this week in devotion to praying for the needs of others, both those that are close to us, and those who are far. Pray for the elders of the church to have wisdom and guidance, and for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts and minds of the congregation as he is faithful to complete the work he has begun in us (Php 1:6).

Devotion to Worship

We all know that the concept of worship is at the center of the Christian Life: To proclaim and display the glory of Christ as those who’ve been purchased and ransomed by His blood and made new by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And often when we consider worship, our focus rightly goes to the outward expressions of it:

• Singing and rejoicing: words expressed to the One who’s redeemed us.

• Acts of service done in love of others

For followers of Jesus, every aspect of our lives is meant to be lived as worship: proclaiming the Glory of Christ.

Outward, but beginning in the heart

But worship, although expressed outwardly, begins inwardly with the heart. It begins in the core of who we are, where our passions and true allegiance lie. I think of Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 15 - when He looks at the religious leaders and quotes from them the prophet Isaiah:

7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.

You see, if the “worship” of the Pharisees was anything, it was active and outward. It was expressed fully - and even dramatically - for all to see. It wasn’t for the glory of God, but for their own acclaim. And that’s the problem. The worship didn’t come from their heart, in humility and surrender. Their hearts were far and rotten with sin and selfishness. For true, God-glorifying worship, it must begin in the heart.

Worship and prayer.

Prayer helps with “good” worship. Prayer is about intimacy, closeness, and communing with our Father - to draw near to Him and Him draw near to us. To see and behold Him for all that He truly is. And as we behold Him, we begin to delight in Him. When we behold Him, we begin to treasure Him as the priceless joy that He is. And from that place - that place of beholding, treasuring and delighting in Him - from that place comes the sweetest, most God-glorifying worship.

This week, press in close to Jesus in prayer. Behold the Christ. Treasure Him in your heart this week and delight in Him… and let’s worship Him with hearts surrendered.

Devotion to Biblical Study

Today’s topic for our week of fervent prayer is focused on devotion to Biblical study. It may seem odd to focus on Bible study during a week devoted to prayer, but Scripture creates the foundation for prayer to be built upon. The reason for this is anchored in the truth of God’s created universe. He has established what is right and what is wrong, he has even redeemed our ability to communicate with him through the death of Christ on the Cross. Without an understanding of truth revealed through Scripture, our prayers could wander and roam into a million different desires with many of them contrary to God’s will. Without an understanding of who God truly is as revealed in Scripture, our prayers would simply be hopes and wishes sent into a generic “universe” like many in society today. However, with a clear understanding of truth and a foundation in the Bible, we can pray to the God who loved us, redeemed us, disciplines us, and transforms us according to His will. All of his promises are anchored within truth and revealed in the Bible. Because of this, we are recommended to search the scriptures daily to anchor to truth, and verify what we are taught is truth (Acts 17:11). Many of the promises of peace and hope through prayer are found in meditating on the truths found in Scripture. (Php 4:4-9) And much of Spiritual warfare is anchored in the truth of who God is, and who we are in him (Eph 6:10-19).

Today take some time to examine your current devotion to Bible Study, and remember there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Ro 8:1). If you find that it is an area of your life that needs growth, pray for God’s help in this. Take notes during the sermons and small groups. Go to Scripture and examine it daily to see if what you were taught is true (Acts 17:11). Build a daily devotion that sharpens your understanding of God’s truth. Help can be found in reading plans, or Bible study groups. Then use that foundation of Biblical truth as a sword of the spirit in your prayers and devotions..

Devotion to Personal Prayer

“Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” - Luke 5:15-16

Luke 5 has this description of Jesus. This statement about the personal discipline of Christ’s life is incredibly insightful. Jesus ‘often’ withdrew to the lonely places and prayed. Just in this we see a consistent practice of His spiritual life. And when you see that He does this, even in the face of ministry opportunity (people came to hear Him and be healed by Him BUT he ‘often withdrew to lonely place and prayed’) you see the incredible value He placed on this discipline.

When you think about the practices of your own faith, how often can this be said of you? I think this declaration about the life of Christ is particularly important to reflect upon when considering the disciplines of our faith for two very specific reasons;

The first is simply because of who He is. Jesus Christ the Son of God and the incarnation of God in our midst, OFTEN withdrew to lonely places to pray. I cant help but be struck with the thought that if Jesus, the Son of God, the incarnation of God in our midst felt the need to OFTEN withdraw and pray, how much more do I in my PROFOUND state of humanity have such a need. He believed, clearly, that to do what God was calling Him to do, in the flesh, required these times of intimate communication with the Father so that He would be empowered to heal the sick and teach the lost. . You can never overlook the example Christ sets for us in our humanity as He lives in His humanity. If He needed these times so do we and so when we struggle this might be why.

The second thought that strikes me when reflecting on Christ’s example of frequently withdrawing to prayer is the statements Christ makes throughout the book of John. Repeatedly we find in John’s gospel Christ saying, ‘I only say what the Father tells me to say, I only go where the Father tells me to go, I only do what the Father tells me to do’. How can he be so confident that this is true? Because Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray. In these moments he is tuning His ear to the leading of the Father through the Holy Spirit. He is becoming attentive to the instructions being given from the Father through the Holy Spirit. If we want to be used of Christ in powerful, impactful ways we have to spend time hearing the voice of God through communion with the Spirit. To know where to go, how to pray, what to say, to be led of God by the Holy Spirit we have to spend time listening and learning His voice, understanding His heartbeat and responding to His leading.

Personal prayer times, resting in His presence, seeking His guidance and yes making requests is essential to walking in the Spirit by faith. Set as your goal to be a person of whom it can be said, they often withdrew to lonely places to pray. Your Christian walk will be stronger and more dynamic as a result.