Day 23

Week 4:  A Challenge

CONFESSION LEADS TO BREAKTHROUGH

• Daniel 9:3 (NIV) ³ So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel prepared himself to pray because a lot was on the line.In the Old Testament the religious use of fasting is often in connection with making a request before God. The principle is that the importance of the request causes an individual to be so concerned about his or her spiritual condition that physical necessities fade into the background. In this sense the act of fasting is designed as a process leading to purification and humbling oneself before God.  It is not an end in itself, but rather it is the disciplined training in preparation for an important event.Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary – Old Testament.A lot of times the people were fasting but the fasting was an outward show of ritual.  While they were “fasting” they were sneaking around doing all of their business as usual.  As a result the fast was meaningless to God because their hearts were not in it.God is not looking for some outward ritual, He wants the brokenness of our hearts.  He wants us to fast because we desperately desire Him to move in our lives and in our world.  He wants us to fast because we want to draw near to Him.We cannot fast and continue to live in sin and expect that God will answer us.So we must start with personal confession.  Rooting out areas of sin in our own lives.Spend some time simply asking God to show you areas of unconfessed sin in your lives.  As He shows you be willing and open to repent.

• Isaiah 58:6-7 (MSG) ⁶ "This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. ⁷  What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.

As you fast this week it is not just about abstaining from food, seek to do these things as well (not just as outward actions but because of the inner work of the Holy Spirit).

1. Be open to the Holy Spirit as He points out areas of injustice and exploitation and be willing to do something about it…beginning with prayer.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to point out areas in your life where there is unforgiveness and then be willing to forgive and let go of the offenses.
3. Actively seek opportunities to be generous to those who are hungry, homeless and in need.
4. Take time to spend with your family (church family included).  Be present and involved in their lives.