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Fast Day 24: Compassion
When Jesus felt compassion for the crowds, He knew the specific distress, oppression and burdens that each person was experiencing. He wanted to free them from all these things! Seeing the crowds, Jesus felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9: 36 The Lord of the…
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Fast Day 23: Full
We are fasting so that we recognize how God longs to feed us from His heritage, the land of milk and honey (Isaiah 58:14)! He has created a promised land of true Life for us. It is full of things that are good to feast on, that give us strength and that will fully satisfy…
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Fast Day 22: Crying Out
We live in a world where it is considered rude, disrespectful and maybe even bullying to raise your voice at work or in public. At home, we may yell at our kids or even at our spouses, but probably feel guilty about it. In church, we do raise our voices in song, but most church…
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Fast Day 21: Hearing His Answers
Even though we may be unused to the fasting part of our commitment, it probably feels pretty straight forward! On the other hand, the prayer part can be harder to pin down until our fasting helps us realize we want it to be a deeper two-way conversation. The psalmists felt the same. Hear me, LORD,…
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Fast Day 20: Wisdom
The Lord is our rear guard (Isaiah 58:8)! In a battle, the rear guard protects the backs of the main force who are engaging with an enemy army. When the eyes of the main force are focused on looking ahead, the eyes of the rear guard are looking behind and to the sides. They will…
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Fast Day 19: Seeking
Jesus shares a beautiful illustration of how God cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field in His creative world design! This is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than…
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Fast Night 18: Overflow
Jesus cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. You will have streams of living water flow from deep within. This He spoke about the Spirit.” John 7: 37-38 True generosity on a spiritual level cannot come from our own meager stores, but from the overwhelming overflow of the Spirit…
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Fast Day 18: Generous
“Generosity changes everything.”1 If there is a poor person among you … you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand but shall fully open your hand to him and generously lend him enough for his need in whatever he lacks. Be careful that there is no mean-spirited thought in your heart … you…
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Fast Day 17: Clinging
A child clings to its parent because it cannot imagine life without one. The parent is the source of food, love, and physical touch. They are the voice that calms and commands and cares. In the same way, we must cling to God. He is our life source and He holds on to us closely!…
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Fast Night 16: Home
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place and prayed there. Mark 1: 35 Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:…
happy hunger
FIVE MARKS OF A DISCIPLE: OCTOBER 5 – NOVEMBER 2
Posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Fasting builds intimacy with God, and encourages you to grow inwardly, upwardly, and outwardly. Explore five marks of a transformed disciple of Jesus and determine five actions that will allow God to change you. An action that applies to each mark is focus. Fasting and prayer is God’s way for us to find the kind of focus that builds intimacy within and actions without. Be with Him. Be like Him. Do what He wants.
COMING NEXT! MAKING SPACE: NOVEMBER 4 – NOVEMBER 27
Reflect on how to use fasting to make more space for God in your life. Make space in the moment and better reflect God to others. Make space in the morning and enjoy intimacy with Him. Make space in your conversations with others and learn how to listen like He does. Make space in your schedule to breathe and be refreshed by Him. Make space in your commitments so that you can say Yes! to the things He wants you to do. God made a space in this world for us. Let’s return the favor!
