Notes
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10
Spiritual disciplines are tools God gives us to help our faith grow. They aren’t meant to be performed for admiration, but to create space for God to work in us and shape our hearts.
Like a chainsaw, our effectiveness depends on our condition. A dull blade makes the work harder, but sharpening it changes everything. Fasting is like the file that sharpens the blade, and prayer is the fuel that makes it run.
Many believers are striving, digging, and working hard spiritually, but our blades are dull. Fasting and prayer sharpen us and align our hearts with what God wants to do.
But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you… But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you… But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-4, 6, 17-18
Jesus teaches that giving, praying, and fasting are private acts of worship. God sees what is done in private and promises to reward what is sincerely done before Him. These disciplines help clear away the “dirt” that dulls our spiritual lives and refresh our hearts.
That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.
Joel 2:12-13
God calls His people to return. not by outward displays but by inward repentance. Fasting humbly brings us back to God when we’ve drifted, lost focus, or let sin creep in. God’s vision for His people hasn’t changed; fasting helps us realign with it. It opens up space for God to fill us. When God fully has our hearts, He transforms us from the inside out.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6
We are God’s masterpiece, and He works through His Church. His calling is for us to belong to His family, use our gifts within that family, and help bring others into His family.
But God cares not only about our actions–He cares about our motives. Why we do spiritual practices matters as much as the practices themselves.
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
James 4:7-8
Fasting is not about impressing anyone or achieving spiritual superiority. It’s about removing distractions so our hearts can be fully devoted to God again. He is not looking for divided loyalty.
Fasting is less about what you give up and more about why you are giving it up: to draw near to God, to soften your heart, to resist the enemy, and to restore intimacy with your Creator.
Group Questions
- Has your heart felt spiritually “calloused” in any area? How might fasting help soften it again?
- What distractions tend to divide your loyalty between God and the world?
- What is one motive behind your spiritual disciplines that you want God to purify?
- How can fasting help you realign with God’s purpose for your life and for the Church?
Prayer
Draw our hearts back to you as we fast and pray. Remove distractions, sharpen our spirits, and restore our intimacy with you. Align our motives and our lives with your purpose so we can walk faithfully in the good works you’ve prepared for us.