4 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (CSB): “Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the LORD. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the LORD. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
King Jehoshaphat of Judah heard that a consolidated army of Moabites and Ammonites was headed his way. They were the people who resided on the east and south sides of the Dead Sea. But they had formed one unified army and were coming to give King Jehoshaphat trouble.
How did Jehoshaphat respond? He sought the Lord! That simply means that he hadn’t really experienced God’s presence in recent times. Therefore, he wanted to reestablish a right relationship with God so that he could know what to do and have the ability to outwit or overcome the approaching army, should God will it.
We are told that so many people in Judah were seeking the Lord with him, and he called for a fast in order to “seek the Lord.”
What is the benefit of fasting? Does it please the Lord when we are miserable because we are going without food? Is fasting a hunger strike?
Simply put, fasting is a natural response when someone is weary with anxiety or grief. If you are worried sick about losing your job and wondering how you will pay the bills, or you are grief-stricken because a close family member just passed away, you naturally fast. On occasion, someone may need to remind you to eat. You might glance at your watch and be surprised that you’ve skipped a meal without even realizing it.
Going without food is natural for people whose heart is heavy.
If a pastor were to stand behind the pulpit in your church this coming Sunday and call your congregation to seek the Lord, how much passion do you think the average church member would exert in doing so? Do you think they would seek the Lord with all their heart, or do you think that some or even most of the people in attendance would be apathetic in seeking the Lord, if they sought Him at all?
Jeremiah 29:13 (CSB): “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
So, what is the answer? What if we don’t feel like seeking the Lord? What if our heart just isn’t in it?
One of the things we have come to understand because of the growing knowledge of neuroscience is that our brains respond to activity. For instance, if you want to improve your mind, then force a smile and hold that position for a little bit. Your brain will register that action as associated with the feeling of happiness and will often improve your mood just because you forced a smile. (NBC article: “Smiling can trick your brain into happiness”)
And if you want to cultivate seriousness in your heart in seeking the Lord, then do the thing(s) that your brain associates with seriousness. Fasting is a wonderful activity that triggers the brain to recognize that something significant is happening. It can give our hearts a sense of gravity and focus as we seek the Lord.
Fasting isn’t a food strike. It does not and cannot force God to do anything. Instead, fasting works on our minds and hearts to help us cultivate the seriousness God is looking for.
If you want to get a very helpful, easy-to-read, relatively short book that can help you make the most of your spiritual fast, consider Arthur Wallis’ classic book, “God’s Chosen Fast.”
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you cultivate a greater understanding of what the Bible says about fasting and how He would desire for you to engage in it (if you are medically able to do so).
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into what the Bible says about fasting, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“Christian fasting — what does the Bible say?”
“What is the connection between prayer and fasting?”
Sharing
If this post has been helpful to you or if you think it could help others, please consider tapping one of the social media buttons below to share it on your favorite platform.
____________________
Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)
Matt’s Musings 