Week 2 || Day 7
PURPOSE OF FASTING: TO WORSHIP
In the book of Luke, there was a prophetess, Anna, who was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. “She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. “(Luke 2:36-37 ESV)
Anna was a prophetess, and she realized that she could bless God and worship Him through prayer and fasting. That prayer and fasting resulted in her being so in tune with God that He spoke prophesies to her that she shared with Jesus’ parents when Jesus was dedicated at the temple. “And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38).
Worship is one of the most overlooked elements of effective fasting. As I look through the Word, I am amazed by the idea that we can “bless” the Lord. In 1 Chronicles 29:20 (NKJV), King David commanded the people of Israel to, “Bless the LORD your God.” It is commonplace throughout the Bible that the person with greater standing grants the blessing to the one of lesser standing. However, there is a very real and tangible way in which we are called to be a blessing to our Heavenly Father! We can bless God through our adoration and time spent with Him. In fasting, our reliance is solely on God and cannot be placed in outside sustenance.
We don’t need to worship God for Him to be God. Our worship doesn’t change God. He is just as much God without our worship as He is with it. Yet, the Word tells us that our worship blesses Him. Our devotion moves His heart.
In the book of Acts we read about the first believers. "Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” These followers of Jesus fasted and prayed and just spent time worshipping the Lord. It seems they had no agenda but to love Jesus and worship the Father. Andrew Murray said, “Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.” The first century believers fasted to let go of the visible, natural things in order to take hold of their High King. During our time of fasting, let’s set our hearts on loving and pursuing Jesus. Reading through Acts, we see that Paul was sent out after that period of fasting and worship. God gave supernatural wisdom and practical instructions as a result of that fasting and worship! Those instructions changed the course of history! If Paul had not taken the gospel to Rome, it would not have traveled to where we are in the United States.
I wonder what could happen in our lives if we delight in God through fasting and worship? Because of who God is, I can guarantee you that when you bless the Lord, you will be blessed! Keep your focus on Jesus, and you will be able to rest peacefully in the fulfillment of His promises in you, to you, and through you.
Illustration: “Blaise Pascal observed that the people who have the greatest influence in shaping the hearts and minds of any generation are not the folks who write the laws, but those who write the songs. Plato observed, musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten.” (Source unknown).
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Kids SEEK, too!
Kids’ Illustration: “I was eating in a restaurant when Mike Croel, a linebacker for the Denver Broncos walked in. I was so excited because he played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in college and I had followed his career closely. I happened to be wearing Huskers stuff and went and got his autograph right there at the booth where he was sitting. I used this story to describe my awe, that this amazing man was that close to me, and my joy, how excited I was that he was there. Awe and Joy are two emotions I experienced and in worship we should experience those emotions also. Awe, we are in the presence of God, and joy, we are glad to be there. - Stan Roda, Sermon Central
Kids’ Activity for Today’s Prayer Focus:
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Bible:
“[Anna] was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. “(Luke 2:36-37 ESV)
"Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:1-3 NIV)
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Quote for Today:
“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food.” - Dallas Willard
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Points to Ponder:
As you fast, I encourage you to set aside time to wait in His presence and minister to the Lord only.
On your listening platform of choice, pull up soaking worship and spend time with God today.
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CLOSING PRAYER: Father, we worship you. We come before you humbly asking that you would receive our gift of adoration as we bring our lives to you and summit them. We thank you that you are not a God who stands far-off, making demands of us that we cannot fulfill. Instead, you are near to us and allow us to worship you and bless you with our time and devotion. We ask that today the meditations of our hearts and our lives laid down would be pleasing to you. It’s in Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.
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