Fasting: A Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God

Devotional

Day 1: Fasting as an Act of Seeking God

Fasting is the act of abstaining from food and drink for a set period of time to seek God, not just for a need or answer, but to know Him more deeply and draw closer to Him. It is an outward expression of an inward commitment, a way to humble oneself and replace dependency on physical sustenance with a deeper dependency on God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit. Fasting is not about what you give up, but about what you gain—greater intimacy with God, clarity in hearing His voice, and spiritual strength. As you fast, remember that it is a matter of the heart and a spiritual discipline that positions you for victory and breakthrough. [06:19]

Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV)
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to shift your focus from what you’re giving up to what you hope to gain in your relationship with God during this fast?

Day 2: Consecration—Setting Yourself Apart for God

To consecrate yourself is to devote yourself exclusively to God, declaring Him holy in your life and giving Him the place of ultimate satisfaction above all else. This act of consecration is not just for a season, but can become a lifestyle, where you continually set yourself apart for God’s purposes and count on Him to satisfy you more than food, drink, or any other comfort. When you consecrate yourself, you are declaring your need for God above all and inviting Him to fill every area of your life, leading to transformation and deeper spiritual growth. [14:16]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can set yourself apart for God today, showing Him that He is your greatest satisfaction?

Day 3: Prayer and Fasting—Private Discipline, Public Reward

Prayer and fasting are private disciplines that bring public rewards, not in the form of earthly recognition, but in the form of God’s open blessing, guidance, and breakthrough. Jesus teaches that when you pray and fast, do it in secret, seeking God’s approval rather than the praise of people. In the secret place, you encounter God’s presence, hear His voice more clearly, and receive the spiritual strength and answers you need. The discipline of prayer and fasting is about denying the flesh, cutting off worldly distractions, and seeking God’s reward above all else. [40:01]

Matthew 6:5-8 (ESV)
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Reflection: Where is your “secret place” with God, and how can you intentionally meet Him there in prayer during this season of fasting?

Day 4: Fasting Positions You for Breakthrough and Guidance

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that positions you to receive vision, meet needs, gain guidance, and experience personal revival. Throughout Scripture, God responded to the fasting of His people by granting them clarity, provision, direction, and spiritual renewal. Whether you are seeking an answer, longing for more of God, or desperate for breakthrough, fasting is a way to physically obey and invite spiritual release. God honors the hunger of those who earnestly seek Him, and He desires to move in your life as you humble yourself and pursue Him with all your heart. [50:15]

Isaiah 58:6,9a (ESV)
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?... Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’”

Reflection: What specific breakthrough, guidance, or renewal are you seeking from God during this fast, and how can you express that hunger to Him today?

Day 5: Taking Authority Over the Flesh—Living in Daily Victory

Fasting requires you to take authority over your flesh, denying its cravings and choosing to depend on God for strength and satisfaction. This discipline is not meant to be easy; it is a spiritual battle that leads to spiritual growth, deeper intimacy with God, and daily victory over temptation and defeat. As you fast, you are training yourself to live by the Spirit, not by the desires of the flesh, and to experience the fullness of life that Jesus promised. The more you practice this discipline, the more you will sense God’s presence, hear His voice, and live in the victory He has for you every day. [46:07]

Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to take authority over your flesh, and what step can you take today to walk by the Spirit instead?

Sermon Summary

Today, the focus is on the spiritual discipline of fasting, particularly as we prepare for a 21-day season of prayer and fasting. Fasting, at its core, is abstaining from food (or certain foods) for a set period to seek God, not just for answers or needs, but to know Him more deeply. This practice is not about what we give up, but about what we gain—greater intimacy with God, clarity, and spiritual strength. Fasting is an outward expression of an inward commitment, a way to humble ourselves and declare our dependence on God above all else.

There are different mindsets when it comes to fasting: some are unfamiliar and hesitant, others have tried and struggled, and some are eager and ready. No matter where you find yourself, God has you here for a reason. Fasting is a matter of the heart; it’s not a hunger strike or a diet, but a consecration—a setting apart of ourselves for God’s purposes. It’s about replacing our dependency on food or other comforts with a deeper dependency on Jesus, His Word, and the Holy Spirit.

When we fast, we position ourselves to hear God more clearly, to have our “spiritual antennas” raised. It’s a discipline that weakens the flesh and strengthens the spirit, making room for God’s presence to move in our lives. Fasting is both a private discipline and one that can have public rewards, as God promises to reward those who seek Him in secret. The approach matters: fasting should be done with joy and expectation, not with a spirit of burden or show.

Jesus Himself fasted, setting the example for us. The call to fast is not just an Old Testament practice, but a New Testament expectation—Jesus said “when you fast,” not “if.” Fasting requires us to take authority over our flesh, to deny ourselves for a greater spiritual purpose. Whether you’re fasting for a need, for guidance, for vision, or simply for more of God, the promise is that God meets us in our hunger for Him. As we consecrate ourselves, we open the door for personal revival, breakthrough, and a deeper daily relationship with God. The goal is not just to get through 21 days, but to experience lasting transformation and to live every day in the fullness of what Christ has made available.

Key Takeaways

1. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that shifts our dependency from physical needs to God’s presence. By abstaining from food or comforts, we declare that our deepest satisfaction comes from God alone, not from what the world offers. This act of consecration is a powerful way to humble ourselves and invite God to fill the spaces we’ve emptied for Him. [08:53]
2. The heart posture in fasting is crucial; it’s not about what we lose, but what we gain. Approaching fasting as a burden misses the point—true fasting is about longing for more of God, for spiritual clarity, and for transformation. When we focus on what we gain—intimacy, guidance, and breakthrough—fasting becomes a joy rather than a chore. [17:59]
3. Fasting positions us to hear God more clearly and to experience His power in new ways. Just as athletes must be in the right position to win, fasting puts us in the spiritual position to receive vision, guidance, and answers that we might otherwise miss. It is in the place of weakness and hunger that God’s strength is made perfect and His voice becomes unmistakable. [10:11]
4. The discipline of fasting is both personal and corporate, and God honors both. While we may fast together as a church for shared needs, God is also inviting each of us into a personal journey of surrender and expectation. In Scripture, fasting brought vision (Daniel 10), met needs (Ezra 8), provided guidance (Acts 13), and sparked personal revival (Joel 2)—these are available to us today as we seek Him. [50:15]
5. Fasting is not a religious performance, but a secret act of devotion that God rewards openly. Jesus taught us to fast without drawing attention to ourselves, focusing instead on meeting with God in the “secret place.” When we fast with the right motives, God promises to reward us—not just with answers, but with His very presence, which is the greatest reward of all. [44:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Setting the Stage: Fasting and Focus
[01:47] - Three Mindsets Toward Fasting
[04:19] - God’s Conviction and the Goal of Fasting
[06:19] - What is Biblical Fasting?
[08:14] - Fasting as a Heart Condition
[09:31] - Drawing Closer to God Through Fasting
[10:49] - The Battle with the Flesh
[12:07] - Weakening the Flesh, Strengthening the Spirit
[13:30] - Fasting: Not a Diet, But Consecration
[15:31] - Consecration and Satisfaction in God
[17:22] - Fasting: Not About Loss, But Gain
[21:10] - Pressing In for More of God
[22:30] - Fasting for Needs or More of God
[25:47] - The Power of Discipline and Spiritual Release
[27:12] - Private and Corporate Fasting
[29:41] - Types of Fasts and Practical Guidance
[32:50] - Jesus as Our Example in Fasting
[36:49] - Prayer and Fasting in Matthew 6
[40:42] - The Secret Place and God’s Open Reward
[46:07] - Taking Authority Over the Flesh
[49:34] - Four Biblical Examples of Fasting
[54:11] - The Desire for Lasting Transformation
[56:12] - Implementing Discipline for Daily Victory
[58:15] - Closing Prayer: Less of Me, More of You

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV) — > “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Daniel 10:2-3 (ESV) — > “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”

Acts 13:2-3 (ESV) — > “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 6:16-18, what instructions does Jesus give about how we should fast and how we should not fast?
According to the sermon, what is the main difference between fasting as a spiritual discipline and simply going on a diet? [[13:30]]
In Daniel 10, what did Daniel do during his fast, and what was the result? [[50:15]]
In Acts 13, what happened while the early church was fasting and praying together? [[51:40]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasizes fasting “in secret” rather than making it obvious to others? What does this reveal about the heart behind fasting? [[44:03]]
The sermon says fasting is “not about what you have to give up, but what you gain.” What are some of the spiritual gains mentioned, and why are they more important than the physical things we give up? [[17:59]]
How does fasting “weaken the flesh and strengthen the spirit,” and why is this important for our relationship with God? [[12:07]]
The sermon mentions that fasting can be both personal and corporate. What are some reasons God might call us to fast together as a church, and what are some reasons He might call us to fast personally? [[27:12]]

Application Questions

The pastor described three mindsets toward fasting: unfamiliar and hesitant, tried and struggled, and eager and ready. Which mindset do you most identify with right now, and why? [[01:47]]
Is there a comfort or dependency in your life (food, entertainment, social media, etc.) that you sense God might be asking you to set aside for a season to seek Him more deeply? What would it look like to replace that with time with God? [[08:53]]
The sermon says fasting is about “consecration”—setting yourself apart for God’s purposes. What is one area of your life where you need to invite God to take first place during this season? [[14:16]]
Jesus said “when you fast,” not “if you fast.” What would it look like for you to make fasting a regular part of your spiritual life, not just a one-time event? [[43:26]]
The pastor shared that fasting positions us to hear God more clearly. Is there a specific area where you need God’s guidance, breakthrough, or clarity? How could you bring this to God during a fast? [[10:11]]
The sermon warns against making fasting a burden or a show. How can you keep your motives pure and your attitude joyful during a fast, even when it gets hard? [[44:03]]
After hearing about the examples from Daniel, Ezra, Acts, and Joel, is there a specific biblical story or promise that encourages you to fast? How can you hold onto that encouragement during the next 21 days? [[50:15]]

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