Why We Fast
Pastor Kevin challenged our church to join in a 7-week fast leading up to the Christmas season. The challenge is simple: choose one day over the next seven weeks to fast. What that looks like may be different for each of us - whether it’s from food, drink, or a specific activity. Whatever God leads you to set aside, the goal is to ask Him to do immeasurably more than we could ask, think, or imagine - in our hearts, in our lives, and in this Christmas season.
Each Monday, we’ll share a short devotional to help you start the week. It’s not a replacement for your personal time with God, but a simple way to focus your heart on what He has in store for your life.
november 9-15
Week 2
Fasting To Activate the Power of God
S - Scripture
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry... Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him." Matthew 4:1-2, 11 (ESV)
I - In Focus
The purpose of fasting is not to lose weight, but to gain power.
T - Theme
We fast to activate the supernatural power of God in our lives and in our church.
D - Devotional
In his message "When You Fast," Pastor Kevin pointed out that Jesus began His public ministry with a 40-day fast. Because He had been fasting, He was "prepared" and "anointed with the mighty power of God" when the enemy attacked. The result? The devil "fled in defeat".
Pastor Kevin challenged us with a powerful question: "Aren't you tired of seeing the church of God do the work of God without the power of God?".
We live in a world where the enemy is "more vicious than ever". At some point, life will unravel, and we'll have to say, "Lord, I can't carry on without your power". Fasting is our statement to our flesh, to our habits, and to the enemy that "you are not in control of my life—God Almighty is". It is our way of declaring that God is more important than food.
O - Own It
This week, as you prepare for your chosen fast day, use the "5 R's" to guide you.
Repent: Ask God to show you any sin or habit that is hindering His power in your life. Repentance clears the way for a breakthrough.
Reflect: What "chains" need breaking in your life, your family, or our community? What situation needs God's power, not your own?
Refrain: As you refrain from that meal or activity, you are making a powerful statement: "I need God's power more than I need this."
Read: Read the story of Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4.
W - Worship through Prayer
Father, I’m tired of doing Your work in my own strength. I need Your power. As I fast this week, I ask You to break the strongholds in my life and in my church. I want Your anointing. I want my church to be a church that is prepared and empowered by You, so that the enemy must flee. Amen.
N - Next Steps
Action: Choose your one day to fast for this week.
Pray: On your fast day, pray specifically for God's power to be on our "Christmas at GFBC" event.
Refresh: Take the time you would have spent eating to refresh your spirit in prayer, asking God to "activate His power" in you.
November 16 - 22
Week 3
To Practice the Presence of God
S - Scripture (Anchors the devotional in God’s Word.)
"Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, 'Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?'
And Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.'" Mark 2:18-20 (ESV)
I - In Focus (Highlights the central thought for meditation.)
We don't fast for His presence; we fast to practice His presence.
T - Theme (Presents the main takeaway.)
Fasting is an act of longing that declares our desire for Jesus Himself.
D - Devotional (Unpacks the message with insights and relevance.)
In his message, Pastor Kevin pointed to this key passage. Jesus explains that His disciples didn't fast because the "bridegroom" was right there with them. But He gave a promise: "the days will come... and then they will fast".
Those days are our days. Jesus is not here in the flesh, and as Pastor Kevin said, "we still need his encouragement, his instruction, his power".
Fasting is our way of "practicing His presence." It's how we train our hearts to long for the Bridegroom. Pastor Kevin reminded us that God's power is a result of His presence, and this discipline is how we set aside time to show our hearts (and our stomachs) that we desire Him more than anything else.
Pastor Kevin asked, "How desperately do you want God?". We need a church "where God shows up"—where marriages are restored, addictions are broken, and lives are saved. That all starts when we, His people, get desperate for Him.
O - Own It (Invites personal application and reflection.)
On your chosen fast day, let's use the "5 R's" 1 to check our hearts:
Repent: Is there any area where you've been "full" on other things and have neglected His presence?
Reflect: Are you fasting as a "ritual" or as an act of genuine longing for Jesus?
Refrain: As you refrain from that meal, let it be an act of worship, a declaration that He is sweeter.
W - Worship through Prayer (Offers a heartfelt response to God.)
Father, more than any gift, we want You. We long for Your presence. As we fast, let it not be a ritual, but a true act of longing for You, the Bridegroom. We are desperate for You to "show up" in our lives, our homes, and our church. Amen.
N - Next Steps (Provides practical ways to live out the message.)
Read: On your fast day, take 5 minutes to read Mark 2:18-20 again.
Refresh: Use the time you gain from fasting to Refresh your spirit in quiet prayer, simply "practicing His presence."
Action: Set a reminder on your phone for your fast day. When it goes off, use it as a prompt to spend 60 seconds just telling God, "I want more of You."
November 24 - 30
Week 4
Week 4: To Understand the Spirit & Experience Grace
S - Scripture
"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.'"
Acts 13:2 (ESV)
"Then I proclaimed a fast... that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey... So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer."
Ezra 8:21, 23 (ESV)
I - In Focus
Humility and fasting position us to receive God's direction and experience His grace.
T - Theme
We fast to humble ourselves, which quiets our hearts to hear God's Spirit and reminds us to ask for His gracious hand.
D - Devotional
This week, we combine Pastor Kevin's final two points. We fast to understand the Spirit of God and to experience the grace of God. These two ideas are perfectly connected by the act of fasting.
In Acts 13, the church was worshipping and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke. As Pastor Kevin noted, their fasting put them in a posture of sensitivity to hear His voice and receive their mission.
In Ezra 8, the people fasted to "humble themselves" before God. They were facing a dangerous journey and needed protection. Ezra proclaimed the fast to specifically ask for God's "gracious hand" and a "safe journey".
This week is Thanksgiving—a time of grateful feasting for God's past grace. Our fast day is a powerful complement to this. It's a day of humble petition for His future grace. It's our way of saying, "Lord, we are so thankful for what You've given, and we are also desperate for what only You can do." We need His "safe journey" for our families and His "gracious hand" over our "Christmas at GFBC" event.
O - Own It
On your chosen fast day, use the "5 R's" 1 to guide your heart:
Repent: Repent for the times you've relied on your own strength instead of humbly asking for God's grace, or when you've run ahead without listening for the Spirit's direction.
Reflect: As you feel the hunger, let it remind you to be hungry for the Spirit's voice. Are you listening for Him?
Read: On your fast day, take time to read both Acts 13:1-3 and Ezra 8:21-23.
W - Worship through Prayer
Father, on this Thanksgiving week, we are so grateful for Your provision. As we fast, we humbly ask for more than food—we ask for Your grace. We quiet our hearts to hear Your Spirit. Give us clear direction. We ask for Your "gracious hand" of protection and favor over our families and our entire Christmas outreach. Amen.
N - Next Steps
Action: When you pray over your Thanksgiving meal, thank God not just for the food, but for His "gracious hand."
Pray: On your fast day, pray for a "safe journey" for all who will travel to our church for Christmas.
Refresh: Use your fast time to Refresh your spirit in quiet, just listening. Ask the Holy Spirit, "What are You saying to me?"