Fast Devotional – Day Two
Title: Eat or Drink?
Text: Matthew 6:25
Written by: Heather Lambert
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25, ESV)
Thoughts
Worry is such a common emotion. It involves feeling uneasy or concerned about a situation or problem, it usually if focused on the future. During the fast, I quickly learn that our concern can become about food. Is this ok, is that ok? Can I find a way to have something sweet while still fasting? Can I make enough “fast friendly” food to not feel hungry? What will I eat? This is NOT the point of the 21 days of prayer and fasting. This is actually a common trap the enemy can use to limit the power that comes with fasting. (Matthew 17:21) Today, I encourage you to intentionally shift. This begins by choosing not to worry about what you will eat or drink. Today I encourage you to focus on “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33. This time of prayer and fasting is a time for us to seek God, to seek righteousness (right standing before God) to repent, to listen, to shift, to learn, to surrender, to seek God’s best, His perfect will and way for us, and to seek to be aligned with Him. Food can become such a distraction, even during a fast. Today, will you allow yourself the gift of a worry-free day? When you feel hunger in your stomach, hunger in your mind, or hunger in your soul, will you lean into Him with prayer and humbly seek Him with all your heart? I believe it will change this entire experience for you!
I did not grow up with an understanding of the power and purpose of fasting. These last 15 years of beginning each year with a time of intentionally saying “no” to my own desires so I can better say “yes” to God’s will, I have come to understand a quote by Jensen Franklin I read early on in our fasting journey. He explains, “Fasting is not so we can get more of God, fasting is so God can get more of us?” This means we surrender food, which is very important to us. We surrender hunger, which is very important to us. We surrender good tasting, pleasing food, which is very important to us. Why? Our goal is to commune with the Psalmist and generations of fasters before who learn, experientially the power of crying out, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
Challenge
What about you? Do you need to give yourself the gift of a worry-free day? Has the fast created more focus on food than usual? Is that focus taking away from the focus on God? Today, can you pause and make sure HE, alone, is the focus of this fast. Can you take the advice we find in Matthew to “not worry about what you will eat or drink?” Can you find your satisfaction in Him?
Prayer
Father, help us hunger and thirst for you above all. Help us develop a stronger dependence on you than ever. Steady our minds as we intentionally shift our focus to you! May our hungry, growling stomachs remind us of the hunger you want us to have for you and your righteousness. May we, today, and always seek you first!
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