Fast because He suffered so much for you that you gladly choose to enter into the spirit of His cross. Fast because you love him and want to love Him more and more. In Zechariah 7:5, God asked, "Was it really for me that you fasted?" God treasures your fast when you fast to please Him. (Google image, Fasting) [good thoughts on fasting]
2. Fast in response to God's call. In both the Old and New Testaments, fasting has been a distinguishing mark of piety among men and women, lay persons and special servants of God.
In the Old Testament the prophet Joel exhorted: "Declare a holy fast" (Joel 1:14; 2:15). In the New Testament, Jesus Himself made it clear that He expects His people to fast (Luke 5:33-35).
We are called to worship God, and fasting is specifically called "worship" in Luke 2:27 and Acts 13:2. If you never fast, something may be lacking in your worship.
3. Fast to humble yourself before God. In the Bible, fasting is often associated with repentance (Kings 21:27; Ps. 35:13). But there is more to fasting than its use in the initial stage of repentance; you will need to humble yourself before the Lord again again as David did (Ps. 35:13).
Fasting can enable you to feel the emptiness of your heart, your inadequacy, your need of God. "God . . . gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Fasting is one way to humble yourself under God's mighty hand (Peter 5:6).
4. Fast to seek God's face more fully. You are to love God with all your being—all your heart, all your soul, all your understanding, and all your strength (Mar 12:30, 33). "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13). Fasting is a sacred way to seek God with all your heart.
Christ taught us that, in order to receive heaven's answers, we must "ask . . . seek . . . knock" (Matt. 7:7). Each word indicates a deeper level of intensity. Fasting, too, indicates an intense desire to seek God.
The hunger to see God and His mighty work can be so great that one loses the desire for food. It is also possible by deliberate fasting to intensify the desire of your heart, even though you may experience physical hunger.
5. Fast as a holy discipline of your soul. John Wesley also believed and taught that we may seek God's face through prayer and fasting. He placed such emphasis upon putting method into one's walk with God that Wesley's early followers were called "Methodists."
A disciple of Jesus is a disciplined follower. Regular habits of prayer and fasting are a natural part of the spiritual life of those who follow Him. They provide a regular method for drawing near to God, examining yourself before God, and entering more fully into the life of intercession. It is a precious way to take up your cross and follow Jesus (Matt. 16:24).
Remember that the apostolic methods are still valid today. Satan hates fasting, but God honors fasting. In this missionary age in which a militant church must win strategic battles for the Lord, accept again God's strategy of adding fasting to prayer.
(Chapter 13, pp. 99-101, italics added for emphasis)
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Let's pray-
In Jesus’ Name, Amen" Arlene Pellicane
Today's Bible verses-
Isa. 40:31 (NIV)“But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Psalm 32:8 (NLT) "The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’"
Eph. 4:1-3 (NKJV) "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, (v. 2) with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (v. 3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Today's quotes-
~ Dr. Francis J. Sizer- ". . . at a point of desperation and need, we can no longer continue in the status quo. We need something more, but it is outside our grasp. Our flesh, or works our talent, and our abilities cannot create it. It demands a supernatural encounter from God. During moments like these, when anything good seems out of our reach, a way is made for God to reach inside of us. It is under these conditions, that God's manifested presence touches us."
[p. 19 of INTO HIS PRESENCE]
~ J. Oswald Sanders- "While posture is secondary to attitude of spirit, it is instructive to note that at times Jesus prayed when standing, just where He happened to be at the moment (Matt. 14:19; John 11:41). At another time He knelt (Luke 22:41). On yet another occasion He fell on His face (Matt. 26:39). We might well ask: If the Son of God got down upon his knees and at times fell on His face before God, what attitude should we ordinary mortals assume as we enter the divine presence?"
Words of wisdom-
~ Our need today is to live in each moment we're given. The preserving of memories may not always go as planned, but our loved ones will not care about photos taken, as much as who was there that day. When the Lord is pleased with our attitudes and efforts to please Him, that's what really counts!
Our popular post:
What Really Matters when Your World is Burning Down
Ronald P. Hutchcraft: I watched on the news as a city became a ghost town. Nearly 100,000 people fled Fort McMurray, Alberta, running . . . a gauntlet of flames all around them.
Firefighters called the wildfire that engulfed the city "a beast." Residents turned refugees called it "apocalyptic" and "hell on earth."
By Nancy Demary
The home pages of the CFC website: https://www.
Replay past services, and read any past devotionals you missed.
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[For CFC Sunday services, 10 or 10:15 am]
The pastors and elders of the CFC churches in northern NY, have provided daily devotionals from Streams in the Desert.
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They are listed with links to provide a short Scripture reading
and brief message from one of them during the recent weeks.
Past special song presentations are also listed.
and brief message from one of them during the recent weeks.
Past special song presentations are also listed.
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Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
Helpful ways the Lord helped me in my marriage
Upcoming posts-
Pray "Popcorn" Style
18th- Saturday's post by Jill Savage
#43 You Have Prayer Authority Through the Cross
21st- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#44 Satan and All Evil Spirits were Defeated at the Cross
23rd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
Thank You, Lord, For My Armor
25th- Saturday's post by Jean Oathout
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