:::days twenty four to twenty eight::: FAST FROM OVER CONSUMPTION

monday, october 12 to friday october 16
“Man does not live on bread alone but
on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
In five days, you will be challenged to fast completely from food for 30 hours. One of the reasons for going 30 hours without eating, is to show us that our bodies can go 30 hours without eating. They can go quite a bit longer. But, since we rarely have to miss a meal, our stomachs think we actually need the substantial portions we feed ourselves, and grumble every few hours to remind us.
In the coming days, we will practice fasting from various food items so that our brains and bodies can relearn what we truly need, and so we can prepare ourselves for 30 hours with no food. We don’t do this to diet or test our discipline. We do it to learn spiritual hunger, humility, and dependence on God, to be controlled and filled by the Holy Spirit instead of by food.
Use prayerful discernment before committing to the following days’ challenges, especially if you have any health concerns. Just as Jesus was tempted “when he was hungry,” we are often at our weakest when we crave something out of our reach, so ask God to teach you that HE is all you really need. Fill your mind with His Word by reading through the book of James in the coming days.
Each day this week you will fast from a different food item, while continuing to fast from all the previous days’ items as well. This will not only be a healthy way to prepare your body for 30 hours without food, it will be a continual reminder to thank God for all the little things we often take for granted.
What measure of control does food have over you? What do you crave? How can you let Jesus have more control and be the one you crave?

Read... the book of James