THE FAST - Day 7
Saturday, January 13
A Call To Return
Joel 2:12-19 (NIV)
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. The LORD replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations."
Devotion
We can see God's character in today’s beautiful passage. He is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. With this right perspective, we can boldly come to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find help in a time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Fasting is a time when we lay down our hearts before God and allow Him to sanctify us. Don’t just let this be a time of denying what you can’t eat. But let it be a time to live as a holy sacrifice. A time when you take all the things that are hidden before God in prayer.
He has the power to judge but allows us to seek mercy through fasting. Our flesh often goes into things with the motive of what it will gain, the physical blessings we will receive. But how much more rewarding it will be for our relationship with our Heavenly Father, if we walk out these 21 days fully pursuing Him for who He is. Not just what He can give us.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your words of promise when we rend our hearts and not our garments. I confess I often have insufficient fear of God to detect or hate my sin. Without Your help, I can hardly see my sin, much less rend my heart and truly weep and mourn over my sin. Send Your Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin and Your righteousness. Show me specifically how to posture myself in true repentance, as I lay down every burden of sin at the foot of the cross so that You can provide forgiveness and cleansing. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
It is hard for us to realize the depth of our sin (Psalm 38), and worldly sorrow over sin brings death (darkness, depression, and regret). As you pray for God to show you specific sins, ask for the gift of godly repentance so that you can experience the joy and freedom of forgiveness (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Resources:
- THE FAST - Day 7 Prayer Focus; Pray For God’s rest. (Matthew 11:28-29)
- Join us tomorrow at 9 am and 11 am (EST) to hear a Message from Pastor Jentezen Franklin, and worship led by special musical guest Charity Gayle.