21 Day Fast
Starting on March 10th, we are calling on all of our Redemption family to join us in a church-wide 21 day fast. Through this fast, we will intentionally seek after God as a body that He might fill us with a greater reality of His presence and power in our lives and in our church. Use the guide below to help focus your intentions throughout the fast with daily Scripture readings and devotions. You can also text “fast” to (833)256-4272 to receive our daily devotions sent to you throughout the fast.
Why We Fast
There’s a scene in the Bible where Jesus responds to the devil who is trying to tempt Jesus to eat something when Jesus has been fasting and praying in the wilderness for 40 days. Jesus responds to the devil’s temptation by saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) In saying this, Jesus is pointing to the fact that every human being is not only a physical being with physical needs, but every person is also a spiritual being with soul needs.
The reality is that our souls need food and rest as much as our physical bodies need food and rest. Yet, where are we supposed to find food and rest for our souls? The Bible teaches that we can only find these things in God because He is the shepherd and satisfier of our souls (1Pet. 2:25; Psalm 107:9). Our souls need to be connected to the God who created us.
Fasting is about helping us to get back to greater connection with God.
Fasting is about reminding ourselves (and our physical bodies) that our lives aren’t simply about the things/people we can see, but our lives are made and meant for a God we can’t see.
Fasting is about giving up physical things that might seem necessary for a moment in order to seek after God and the things of God, which are for eternity.
This is why believers fast—we’ve tasted of the fullness and goodness of an eternal God, and we want to hunger for Him more than we want to hunger for anything else.
How We Fast
“Fasting isn’t merely an act of self-deprivation, but a spiritual discipline for seeking more of God’s fullness.” (David Mathis)
Fasting is about our relationship with Christ—it’s an exercise and a discipline to focus greater attention, energy, and affection on Christ. As such, it may not be food that you choose to fast from during this month of corporate fasting. Consider fasting from anything that has a hold on your attention, energy, and affections throughout the day (i.e., social media, TV, alcohol, etc.). Whatever it may be, it should be something that is a challenge for you to abstain from.
Here are some tips on how to approach your fast after you’ve made a commitment on what you choose to fast from:
Choose a consistent time of day where you plan to spend time with God in His word and in prayer this month. Do your best to guard this time against any distractions. The point of fasting is not just to take something away from our lives, but it’s to also fill our lives with more of God
Use the resources we’ve provided for each day of the month. Each day will include a portion of scripture, as well as some topics and/or questions to reflect and pray through.
Pray and fast with expectation that God will work in your life and in our church during this season. (2Chron. 7:14)
Encourage others who are fasting this month, and have conversations with one another about what God is showing you through this fast.
Text “fast” to (833)256-4272 to receive our daily devotions sent to you throughout the fast.