Fasting and Feasting

This week we are focusing on how we can use the next forty days to make more room in our lives to glorify God and receive His Son, our Savior, as Lord. We are asking everyone to read the daily passages together, think through the questions, and spend time praying through the Scripture.

Monday: Joel 2:12-32

Joel is an awesome little book of the OT that talks about God’s judgment and gives hope for those who return to Him. For a really cool little overview of the book – check out this link. Today’s passage looks at what our posture should be when we repent and turn back to God. There is always hope no matter where we are in life. Where sin increased grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20). The passage also looks at what the results are when we do repent.

Questions to Consider:

• How does the Lord want His people to return to Him (v. 12)?
• Why does God want us to rend our hearts and not our garments?
• Why are we able to return to God (v. 13)? Where do you need his grace and mercy to reign in your life?
• What part of your life needs to be restored (v. 25)? Do you believe that God can do that?
• What happens when people turn to the Lord (v. 32)? Are you turning to Him or things of the world for your salvation?

Prayer prompts:

• Pray that our hearts would be broken for the things that break God’s heart.
• Pray that the Lord would reveal those things that are causing you to not seek after him.
• Pray that the Lord would restore those areas of your life that are dying.
• Thank God for his grace, mercy, and everlasting love.
• Thank God for his salvation and ask him to help you rely on Him and Him alone.

Tuesday: Luke 4:1-13

Today we are looking at what Jesus did before He began his full-time ministry on earth. The creator of the universe took time to spend with the Father fasting and praying. The three years of Jesus’ earthly ministry exploded from this time. What is God calling you to? Imagine what He would do if we spent time preparing the way Jesus did.

Questions to Consider:

• In this passage, who was leading Jesus (v. 1)? Why is this important for us as we consider fasting?
• Why did Satan use this moment to attack Jesus?
• What did Jesus use to fight temptation? What was He relying on?
• Why is it important for believers to have a high view of the Bible? What happens when they don’t?
• Are you using Scripture in your daily life to battle temptation?

Prayer Prompts:

• Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead us away from temptation.
• Pray that we would have a love and desire to know God’s word.
• Thank God for giving us the gift of the Bible.
• Ask God to help us stay in His word daily.

 Wednesday: Matthew 6:16-18

Today’s passage comes from the Sermon on the Mount. It is the greatest sermon ever preached. In it, Jesus describes in detail what it means to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him. It is a sermon on discipleship. The first part of the sermon mainly focuses on outward living and relationships. In the middle Jesus speaks to prayer and fasting. The final part of the sermon Jesus talks primarily about the heart. It is really incredible to see how prayer and fasting leads to inward transformation. When we deny self, we are transformed into His image and likeness.

Questions to Consider:

• How do the hypocrites look when they fast? Why is that?
• What is the reward that they are seeking after? When do they receive it?
• What should our demeanor be when we fast? Why?
• Who are we trying to see better through fasting?
• Are you considering fasting from something or for some time during this lead up to Easter? What would that look like in your life?

Prayer Prompts:

• Thank God that He sent Jesus, our true Reward.
• Ask God to help us abide in Him.
• Pray that God would reveal things in your life that need to be given up for Him.
• Ask God to give you guidance in fasting.
• Ask God to reveal His glory to you.

Thursday: Isaiah 58:1-14

It is easy for us to go through the motions and miss the whole point of the exercise. God doesn’t call us to fast (or anything else) just so that we will do something. He calls us to it to call us closer to Him. Many times we can look at the spiritual disciplines, like fasting, as something to check off the list. The disciplines are not the end. The disciplines are a means to the end (Christlikeness). Don’t miss the point of what you are doing. Let God transform you as you humbly obey Him today.

Questions to Consider:

• What was wrong with the fast of the people (v. 3-4)? What were they pursuing?
• What is the fast that the Lord chooses (v. 6-7)?
• Why does God care so much about injustice in this world? Who has God called to fight it?
• Where are areas around you that you and your family could fight against injustice?
• What happens when we do this?
• Why do we “feel” like God isn’t around us all the time? Could that have to do with the way we spend our time or the issues we are fighting for?

Prayer Prompts:

• If you have not been seeking after the Lord with a sincere heart, give that to the Lord and seek forgiveness.
• Pray for those locally and globally that are the victims of injustice.
• Ask God to search your life for ways that you have contributed to injustice.
• Pray that you would have a heart for those that are being treated unjustly to the point where you will do something about it.
• Pray that God’s promises for those who are truly fasting would be made manifest in your life.

Friday: Acts 13:1-3

Don’t waste your life. There are 1.54 million lost people in the triangle. He wants to use you for your good and His glory. The church at Antioch knew there was a world around them that needed to hear the message of Jesus. They spent time preparing for that and when they did, God called them to something incredible as a church family. Imagine what could happen here if God’s people would be open to God, no matter what that meant. Just like the world was turned upside down by Paul and his missionary partners, it could be turned upside down today.

Questions to Consider:

• What were the members of the church at Antioch doing?
• Who spoke to them in the midst of their worshiping and fasting?
• What did the Holy Spirit tell them?
• What did they continue to do after the Spirit spoke?
• What should our fasting lead to? Why do you want to fast? Is it for you or for God’s glory?
• Where is God calling us “further up and further in”. If you are fasting, where is God calling you? If you have not begun, keep an open heart to the Spirit to lead you to where you can join Him at work.

Prayer Prompts:

• Ask God to give you strength as you seek after Him.
• Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Ask the Spirit to lead you as you pursue after Jesus.
• Ask the Spirit to reveal to you where He would have you go to join God at His work. To reveal the people in your life He has already put you into contact with.
• Ask God to be glorified in your life and the life of Salem.