JANUARY 1 - WHAT FASTING IS
“Declare a holy fast! Call a sacred assembly! Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” (Joel 1:14)
At Celebration we’re praying that 2026 will be one of your best years ever. We want you to join us on Sunday, January 4, as we begin our SMART CHOICES sermon series. We will also begin our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting after lunch on Sunday, which is something that we annually do at Celebration. For the next couple of days we’re going to be sharing with you about what prayer and fasting are all about, so you can consider joining us for this special beginning of the year emphasis.
Devotional Thought:What is fasting? There are many misconceptions but in its simplest form, biblical fasting means giving up food in order to pursue God more deeply. It is the intentional removal of something good to make space for something greater. Throughout Scripture, God’s people fasted to hear His voice, seek His direction, repent, intercede, and draw closer to Him. Fasting does not twist God’s arm or force His hand. It positions our hearts to hear, see, and respond to God more clearly by focusing on feeding the Spirit rather than feeding our flesh.
Biblical fasting always includes two things:
- Abstaining from something (commonly food, but can also include distractions like TV, social media, and other forms of entertainment).
- Seeking God more intensely through prayer, worship, and His Word.
If you remove something but don’t replace it with the Lord, that is just a diet. But when you remove something and pursue Jesus wholeheartedly, that is biblical fasting. This leads to supernatural clarity, strength, and breakthrough. Interestingly enough, fasting should be called slowing because it slows things down in a supernatural way that allows you to see and hear God more clearly. Now that you know what fasting is, are you ready for a season of experiencing God like never before?
Prayer Focus: Lord, open my understanding of fasting. Help me see this season not as a religious task but as a sacred invitation to know You and encounter You more deeply. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Follow-Up Activity: Take a deeper look at our fasting resources located on our website. This fasting book will give you a more in-depth look into the Biblical reasons for fasting, the do’s and don’ts, and some things to expect.
