Daniel Fast – Final Week

It is finished.

Isaiah 43:19 – Behold, I am doing a new thing. When I read this verse I’m always reminded of the unique ways that God responds. When He is going to do something it’s probably not the way that you would expect.

When I went into this fast, I had chosen a focus. There were a few areas that I wanted to increase my discipline(spiritual, physical, financial), and unknowingly I had already planned out how God could respond to my prayer & fasting. I had expectations to what the end result would be if I was ‘successful’ in this fast. Over the course of the three weeks my expectations were torn away.I guess I was expecting some miraculous breakthrough. A story that would be printed in books, something read from the stage at church. After all I was giving up so much. I was sacrificing most everything that was a regular part of my diet. But I didn’t get my breakthrough, I got His.

I came across this verse about halfway through the fast. 1 Samuel 15:22 – Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. My attitude was all wrong.(no surprise there) I was taking the old testament route thinking that my offering, my sacrifice was what pleased God. That it was those things that entitled me to the response I wanted. God has no need for anything we can give, its our obedience that He wants.

Now it may not sound like it, but this was my breakthrough. Through obedience will come discipline. The reason I felt any lack of discipline in my life was because of the pursuit of selfish desires. Are my financial decisions based on obedience to God or that new gadget I want to buy? Do I work out to take care of my body like a temple of God or because I want to look better at the beach? And is my study time to further my knowledge of the Bible or to better know God?

So God responded in a new way, an unexpected way. Fasting has been a great discipline in my life and has really brought me closer to God.

Tweet This Post