Scripture:

Daniel 9:3 - “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”

Context:

Daniel is realizing that the time of exile is about to end, but Israel still needs to repent so they can be restored. He is begging God for mercy.

Personal Story:

There are times in my life when I’ve felt far from God. It feels like in those moments I can’t hear His voice and I struggle to connect with Him and that it takes more effort than normal. It’s like a distraction that is hard to shake. My first inclination is to look inward for a solution, but it only leads me to feeling more stuck.

As this verse highlights, Daniel in his time of need instead turned to prayer and fasting. This verse reminds me to humbly turn to Jesus even when I don’t feel connected and even when it feels hard. He can overcome all my shortcomings and meet all of my needs. I challenge you during this fast to push into God and His word even when he feels far or it feels like you aren’t seeing the fruit of what you’re putting in. 

-Will Cook

Application:

Prayer and fasting help us to set our minds on the only thing that is going to fulfill us completely. There is a large amount of focus and clarity that comes with fasting. The discomfort forces our hearts and minds to lean into prayer. Let’s use this time to pray for mercy from the Lord, that He would help us to focus our hearts and minds on Him.