One Week Fast: Day 1

The purpose of the Christian fast is not to earn righteousness for we are saved "by grace . . . through faith . . . not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph 2:8-9). Its purpose is to suppress the lusts of our flesh and to walk in the Spirit as we intentionally yield our lives to His prompting. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal 5:16). The Apostle Paul said "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27). The context of that verse is self-denial to strive for heavenly rewards, "an imperishable crown."

The theme of today's fast is worship. We cannot have a right perspective on fasting unless we begin with a right perspective of who God is. The Lord taught us to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” (Matt 6:9). These phrases express relationship, faith, and worship. We worship a personal Being, not an impersonal force out there. He gives us the awesome privilege of calling Him "Father" because the Lord Jesus provides access for us as our High Priest. He is not just like a father but He is a "Father" who loves us and cares for us. Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). We must begin here. We must acknowledge our powerlessness and total dependence on Him.

Nevertheless, we must not forget this "Father" is "in heaven." He is God. He is Holy. He is transcendent. He is the Great "I AM", the self-existing One. He is Holy because he is "other". That means that no one is like Him. His holiness is the expression of all His characteristics as the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, all-loving, all-just, infinite, eternal God. He is perfect in all His ways. He is the source of all life, the Creator who spoke creation into existing from nothing. He is transcendent because He is in creation but NOT part of creation. God is outside of time, matter, and space, although He chose to become incarnate as the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, we must hallow His name. He alone is worthy of worship. He alone deserves glory and honor and submission and reverence and even fear. He is awesome. The word "awesome" has lost it is meaning in modern English. By using that word, I mean that God and God alone should have the power to inspire great admiration, apprehension, fear, and even terror. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). That's what it means to hallow His name. We need to make His name Holy in our hearts, in our lives, and in all that we do.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork. (Psalms 19:1)

Reflect on who God is and pray:
1. That "the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart, be acceptable in His sight" (Psalms 19:14).
2. That He will have the right place in your heart. That your proper understanding of who He is is being reflected by how you live your life. "... sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15).
3. To have heartfelt intimacy with Him, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Eph 1:17).
4. That you would "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37)
5. That you would love His laws, and testimonies, and statutes, and commandment, and judgments, more than gold, more than honey, more than fame, more than anything else in this world because the first list is an expression of His character and who He is while the second list is an expression of "all that is in the world" (1 John 2:16).

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalms 19:7-11)

I pray that you will know and experience the power of our almighty God in your life today!