July 14, 2024 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

by Abby Cheng

I'll be honest…fasting is not a spiritual discipline I often practice. The temptation to indulge rather than deprive myself of something is often too great to overcome, especially when food and technology (two of the things people often fast from nowadays) are so easily accessible and available. Whenever fasting comes up as a sermon topic, my spirit wants to do it but my flesh comes up with all kinds of excuses as to how I just can't at the moment.

God has reminded me though of the many times in the Bible where prayer and fasting were the precursor to Him working amazing miracles among His people. Esther obtained the salvation of her people after a three-day fast (Esther 4:16-17). Hannah broke infertility through her prayer and fasting (1 Samuel 1:7). David Thery in his Bible reading plan “Fasting for a Breakthrough” says this:

“When we fast, we become physically weak and expect only God. Not eating or eating less doesn't change the situations around me, but my hunger for God attracts him. And when God is there, everything changes.”

The hunger we feel when fasting sharply reminds us that we are weak and not as in control as we think. We then partner it with prayer and meditate on the fact that God is strong and sovereign. As our church’s Philippine mission trip is coming up very soon, I hope and pray that we (starting with myself) can enter into a time of concentrated prayer and fasting and implore God to work mightily through us in Botolan.

 To Him be all the glory!