Fasting, Temptation, and Staying in the Fight
Scripture
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by people, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
— Matthew 6:17–18 (NASB)
“But Jesus replied, ‘This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’”
— Matthew 17:21 (NASB)
Devotion
In the sermon, Pastor Darren described the reality of fasting:
Fasting isn’t a contest. It isn’t about earning extra credit with God. It’s about focus, dependence, and humility. When you deny yourself something you normally rely on – food, media, entertainment – you uncover what you’ve really been feeding your soul. You also discover how dependent you’ve become on habits and distractions.
Many give up right when it gets hardest: day 3, day 4, when cravings spike and routines feel uncomfortable. Yet those are often the very moments when the breakthrough is nearest. Jesus said there are some things that only shift through prayer and fasting. That means there are bondages, patterns, and strongholds in your life and family that may only break as you press into this kind of focused seeking.
If you’ve failed or quit, begin again. If you haven’t started, start today. God isn’t grading your perfection; He’s honoring your pursuit.
Reflection
Prayer
Father, You see every start, stop, and stumble. I bring You my weakness and inconsistency. Strengthen me to keep going, or to begin again. Use this fast—however simple or small it may seem—to break chains, shift patterns, and draw me closer to You. I ask for grace not to quit before the miracle. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by people, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
— Matthew 6:17–18 (NASB)
“But Jesus replied, ‘This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’”
— Matthew 17:21 (NASB)
Devotion
In the sermon, Pastor Darren described the reality of fasting:
- Hunger pains
- Missing favorite foods
- Social media withdrawals
- Failing, quitting, restarting
Fasting isn’t a contest. It isn’t about earning extra credit with God. It’s about focus, dependence, and humility. When you deny yourself something you normally rely on – food, media, entertainment – you uncover what you’ve really been feeding your soul. You also discover how dependent you’ve become on habits and distractions.
Many give up right when it gets hardest: day 3, day 4, when cravings spike and routines feel uncomfortable. Yet those are often the very moments when the breakthrough is nearest. Jesus said there are some things that only shift through prayer and fasting. That means there are bondages, patterns, and strongholds in your life and family that may only break as you press into this kind of focused seeking.
If you’ve failed or quit, begin again. If you haven’t started, start today. God isn’t grading your perfection; He’s honoring your pursuit.
Reflection
- Where are you right now in your commitment (fasting, prayer, or any spiritual focus)? Started, struggling, stopped, or not yet begun?
- What has this fast (or your attempts at it) revealed about what you run to for comfort or distraction?
- What specific breakthrough or change are you asking God for that may require this deeper level of prayer and fasting?
Prayer
Father, You see every start, stop, and stumble. I bring You my weakness and inconsistency. Strengthen me to keep going, or to begin again. Use this fast—however simple or small it may seem—to break chains, shift patterns, and draw me closer to You. I ask for grace not to quit before the miracle. In Jesus’ name, amen.