Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
What are you hungry for? What is it that you crave? Often times you and I as believers hunger and crave things that are not connected to or centrally focused on God. Success, achievement, more stuff, and relaxation are often at the top of our list. It is not that any of these things are evil in their nature, but rather that they are temporal things that neither satisfy nor fulfill the real hunger we have on the inside. No, this is something only God can do. How perplexing is it then that although only God can satisfy the true craving of our soul He is often at the bottom of our list when it comes to what we prioritize.
This is why we fast and pray, to realign our priorities and cultivate within our hearts and lives more of a hunger for God. We do not fast to become more loved or pleasing to God, nor do we fast to obtain more of God’s favor or blessing. The Bible is clear, there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. We have already been blessed in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing. Instead, we fast and pray for the purpose of stirring our hearts to hunger and thirst for Him once again.
What is fasting? Fasting is intentionally denying ourselves of physical cravings and in their place delighting ourselves in God through time with Him. How is it that fasting stirs our hearts to hunger and thirst for God? Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Our hearts are followers, not leaders, so wherever we place our treasure our hearts’ passion follows. As we dedicate our time, energy, and focus for a season of fasting and prayer upon God, the passion of our heart for Him awakens.
So allow me to ask you once again, what is it that you are hungry for? I would like to invite you to join us in 21 days of prayer and fasting. You can fast whatever it is that God leads you to, and your time with Him can look however you need for it to look. Maybe God would lead you to fast lunch each day and in its place pray. Perhaps God will lead you to fast TV and in its place spend your evenings reading God’s word, or maybe God would ask you to fast an hour of sleep and have you get up in the morning to devote yourself to Him. Whatever it is, don’t delay, say yes today and trust God that He will do in these next 21 days what only He can do. –Pastor Gil