Thursday, February 26 || DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH PRAYER AND FASTING

Feb 26
2 min read

“So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered

our prayer. ” - Ezra 8: 23

Fasting is abstaining from food either completely or partially for a particular period to focus on God, seek His guidance or draw closer to Him. It is an act of self-denial and humility to make us more receptive to God’s presence. But we should note that fasting is less important than doing God’s will.

As Micah 6: 8 points out, what the Lord truly requires of us is devotion to Himself. “To do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Fasting is not an end in itself; it is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him. We should not think that we can manipulate God by our fasting. We fast and pray for results, but the best results are in God’s hands. One of the greatest spiritual benefits of fasting is becoming more attentive to God, becoming more aware of our own inadequacies and His adequacy, and listening to what He wants us to be and do. “Abstinence from food can be a valuable aid in spiritual exercises. From the human side, it promotes clarity, concentration and keenness.

From the divine standpoint, it seems the Lord is especially willing to answer the prayer when we put that prayer before our necessary food,” writes William Mc Donald.

Dear friends, as we wait upon the Lord in these lent days, let us grow deeper in faith and obedience. Let our fasting not only be from food, but from sin, pride and distractions that draw us away from God. Let our hearts be cleansed and our spirits renewed through prayer, fasting and repentance. Let our self grow less, and let Jesus become more and more of a Saviour and King.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, let my intention of fasting be to glorify You, to express my sorrow for my manifold sins, to wait on You for an increase of purifying grace, and to obtain all the great and precious promises which You have made to me in Jesus. Give me Your grace, Lord. Amen.

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