2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Nehemiah 1-2 GW; Acts 16 GW; Psalms 66 GW
Fasting eliminates distractions.
Recently, I completed a ten-day fast of breakfast and lunch. Like Nehemiah, a situation in life drove me to my knees. Realizing I needed divine intervention, I began a fast to help me connect with God more profoundly. Every hunger pang caused me to pray, drawing me closer to God, trusting Him to move in my circumstances.
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (Joel 2:12 NIV)
Fasting helps align your heart with God’s. Heartbreaking situations appear hopeless. By bringing God into the situation, hope comes with Him. Nothing is impossible for God, but if we don’t seek Him, we can’t tap into His power. Fasting helps us access the source faster.
One of my regular activities is backing up my writing. My laptop has two different USB ports, 2.0 and 3.0. If I plug the memory key into the 3.0 port, information transfers faster than the 2.0. Fasting is the same concept. Praying plugs us into God’s power, but fasting speeds up the connection between our heart and God’s. Our hunger pangs intensify the conversation.
Speed up the connection.
During a time of prayer and fasting, by eliminating distractions, we connect more intimately with God. Often, the prayer language consists of heart-wrenching groans and sighs. Typically, the depth of our emotions makes words difficult. But the connection with God doesn’t need words; He speaks the language of the heart.
Fasting food is one option. Giving up social media, television, or anything you feel gets in the way of your relationship with God will help you connect faster. Eliminating the thing that is distracting you most from God will help you draw closer to Him. Pouring out your miseries to the Creator through intense prayer and fasting will develop an intimacy with Him as you’ve never experienced.
Eliminate distractions through prayer. Draw closer to God. Allow Him to heal your broken heart.
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Lord, thank You for answering our call. Forgive us for not turning to You sooner. As we begin fasting and praying, soothe our spirit. Give us your peace that surpasses all understanding as You do Your thing. All glory to You. IJNIP. Amen
Question for reflection
How has fasting impacted your life?
