07 Feb Return to Me

Posted at 06:43h in Fasting by
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Devotion from Awakening A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom by Stovall Weems.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” – Joel 2:12, NIV

If we look at the kind of fasting that took place in the Old Testament, it would be easy to assume that the reason we fast is to prove our repentance to God in order to obtain His mercy. Under the Old Covenant, such a fast of repentance is seen time and again. But now, because of the complete work of Jesus on the cross, things have changed.

Fasting is not something we do to obtain favour or forgiveness. Under the New Covenant, every wrong we have done and will do was forgiven at the Cross, and when we accept Christ as our Saviour, we get to celebrate the mercy freely given to us through our relationship with Him. Fasting is about drawing closer to God and surrendering at a deeper level.

As we walk with God, there are times that we feel far from Him or disconnected. Joel’s words resonate with us, even if we live in the context of grace: “Return to me with all your heart.” There are times we realize that though we have chosen to follow Jesus, the flame of our love for Him has grown cold.

Your time spent in prayer each day of the fast can result in a new richness a rewarding connection with the Father. No matter where you are on your journey with Jesus, you can always take a step closer to Him.

I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world. – Bill Bright

Bible Reading Plan: Psalms 1-2

Prayer Focus: As we begin this time of prayer and fasting, let’s turn our hearts toward God. Make a commitment to seek Him daily. Pray that your love for Christ will be increased and your passion for Him will be reignited during this week.

Please pray that we, as a gathering of people, would be hungry for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives and those around us.

Praying expectantly with you!