Fasting & Prayer

Painting by Teresa Dittrich & Forerunner Arts

Of coarse I would read the Word that I read today... My Church is currently participating in 40 days of prayer and fasting. I am not doing a full fast, but instead allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to me when I should be fasting certain times, or fasting certain things. Today my heart was specifically asking for direction during my devotions. Tonight our Church gathers from 7PM - 11PM for great Worship and praise and prayer. My husband has been asking me if I want to go all week... and I would put it off, and put it off. "I have been fairly depressed lately" (excuse), "I didn't feel like being around other people" (excuse), "but I'm teaching Sunday School and need to be prepared" (excuse). We are good at excuses aren't we? Lastnight in bed I lay awake thinking... why on earth would I not want to go on Friday night to Worship my Father???? Then this morning I read this;

Matthew 9:14-15 Then John's disciples came and asked Him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
The word "mourn" jumped out at me! I never thought of fasting as a time of mourning ~ I had always associated mourning with death. Then again we mourn loss. So... loss would be mourning and therefore when we are fasting we have no food, so we mourn the loss of food??? No, I don't think that's it. Bare with me while I think this through. Did Jesus mean mourning the loss of not being with Him possibly? The sacrifice of fasting could be an act of worship in mourning that loss. I think I'm getting it now. During this time of fasting and prayer when we fast we are focused on God to feed us and nourish us during this time. We are focused on true worship, where nothing (not even food) stands in the way of our time with God. The other day while I was fasting breakfast and lunch I know that I had a clarity that I had not had in a long time, I heard God speaking in my thoughts, directing me... answering questions... leading me to bring Him glory. I don't know about you or where you are at right now... but I so need this. I need to hear God guiding me, I need to worship Him and Him alone, I need to block out the world for a time so that I can truly concentrate on Him and bring glory to His name.
I pray that you seek this time of clarity with the Lord, maybe not by fasting but by truly seeking Him. "Seek and ye shall find!"
God bless you today and always.
Kelly Watts