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Fasting in the Bible Day 6: Esther
The story of Esther reads like a novel, but as soon as danger was realized, fasting began: Haman plotted to kill all the Jews, because Mordecai refused to bow down to him, explaining that he could only bow to God. So Haman persuaded King Ahasuerus, a Persian monarch, that the Jews did not follow the…
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Fasting in the Bible Day 5: Nehemiah
The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah: In late autumn, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year of the king’s reign, I was in the fortress of Susa. My brother Hanani came to visit me with some men recently arrived from Judah. I questioned them about how things were for the Jews who had survived the exile…
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Fasting in the Bible Day 4: Ezra
Ezra, the prophet: Then I proclaimed a fast at the Ahava Canal, where we camped for three days, a hundred miles from Babylon. We needed to humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey to Jerusalem for all of us, which included our little ones. We also carried all we possessed and the great temple…
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Fasting in the Bible Day 3: Jehoshaphat
After this, the people of Moab, Ammon and the Meunites came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Some people reported to Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom, beyond the Dead Sea, is marching against you. And they are already in En Gedi.“ Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD. He proclaimed a fast and the people…
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Fasting in the Bible Day 2: Samuel
Samuel spoke to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the LORD with all your heart, remove your idols of foreign gods and images of Ashtoreth from among you. Direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone, then He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the people of Israel removed their…
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Fasting in the Bible Day 1: Moses
When I went up on the mountain to receive the stone tablets of the covenant, which the LORD had made for you, I remained on the mountain forty days and nights. I ate no bread and drank no water. At the end of the forty days and nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets of the covenant written by His…
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Planting Seeds Day 18: Seeds of Influence
The Great Commission: The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some of them doubted. Then Jesus came to them, and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples…
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Planting Seeds Day 17: Insider or Outsider?
Planting seeds and traditional farming most often takes place outside the confines of city life. It is an outside and an outsider occupation. It is seen as a simpler home life. It often depends upon a family and a few hires to make it work. But the results are tangible and the farmer partakes fully.…
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Planting Seeds Day 16: Shelter Them
People who need shelter often have many other issues to solve. Jesus proposes a radical response to a neighbor who needs help: The man asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho who was stripped, beaten and left half dead by robbers. A priest and a Levite man…
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Planting Seeds Day 15: Loving the Homeless
Homelessness is not new, but we often try to fix it with modern, systemic solutions. Maybe there is another solution. Planting seeds of help for the homeless could start with seeing them with God’s eyes of love. In the days of affliction and homelessness, Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers which have now…
happy hunger
MAKING SPACE: NOVEMBER 4 – NOVEMBER 27
Posts every Wednesday and Friday: Reflect on how to use fasting to make more space for God in your life. God made a space in His world for us. Make space in the morning and enjoy intimacy with Him. Make space in your schedule to breathe and be refreshed by Him. Make space in the moment and better reflect God to others. Make space in your conversations with others and learn how to listen like He does. Make space in your commitments so that you can say Yes! to the things He wants you to do.
COMING NEXT! A SEASON OF HARVEST: DECEMBER 2 – DECEMBER 22
Daily posts: Fasting from physical food promotes hungering for more of God. And God hungers for a soul harvest, which is why He sent Jesus as a baby, just like food grows from small seeds. He was nurtured by His parents and by His Father in heaven. “He kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) He came to spiritually harvest all the seed-planting that we do, because He is the Lord of the Harvest (Luke 10:2). And He responds with magnificent joy to the finding of each lost one who is saved to grow in Him (Matthew 18:13). Explore what it means to plant seeds for His harvest, especially during this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus.
