Choosing a Fast for YouSample

We may know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God, but how do we live? When we focus our eyes on Christ and feast upon Him and His Word instead of food, we are saying with our lips and our lives that He is life.

When we fast, we appeal to God to do what only He can do and acknowledge that we are powerless over our sin. We need Him. He is God, and we are not! We implore Him to render our hearts pliable and moldable. He is our loving gardener who can plow and till our souls. As the clay lies beholden to the potter, so are we in the hand of our beloved Lord.

CHOOSING AN APPROPRIATE FAST FOR YOU

Will you consider a holy fast to feast upon God? One hand-tailored just for you?

The late Martyn Lloyd-Jones said: "Fasting, if we conceive of it truly, must not... be confined to the question of food and drink; fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose."

There are many appropriate things to fast. We all are wired differently, and at different times in our lives, different things are essential or proper.

You could fast from food or sugar. You could fast from television, the Internet, your favorite novel, or entertainment.

Make a list of the temporal things that you enjoy, such as food, drink, sleep, television, or reading. You may choose not to eat lunch on certain days to spend more time with the Lord in His Word. Or because you love those last few moments of sleep, you may choose to sleep 30 minutes less in the morning and use that time to pray. You may decide to go without food for 24 hours once each week or without your favorite coffee or soda for a month. Whatever it may be, seek the Lord, His face, and His perfect will.

MAKE A PLAN

1. Get a journal.
2. Choose what you will fast.
3. Set the duration and frequency of the fast.
4. Identify the goal or purpose of your fast.

PRAYER

O Lord, give me your wisdom and direction as I prepare and plan for this fast. Continue to soften my heart, grow my longing for you, and increase my hunger for righteousness.

In Jesus' name, I pray,

Amen.