Heart Hunger for God

 Heart Hunger for God

 

For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

MATTHEW 4.2-4

 

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 6.17-18

 

“Breakfast is ready!” “Lunch is on the table!” “Dinnertime!” Don’t you love the sound of those words? They mean it’s time to eat! And while God gives food for us to enjoy and to keep us healthy, he also expects that we will sometimes choose not to eat or choose not to eat certain foods. It’s called fasting. Fasting is when we go without food or without certain foods for a period of time, not for the purpose of losing weight but for spiritual reasons — because we want to develop our hunger for God. We want to connect with God in an intense way by denying ourselves the comfort or distraction of food. People sometimes choose to fast from other things besides food — like television or the Internet or shopping. Instead of tuning in or logging on or going out, they choose to tune in to God through his Word.

To draw close to God is a good reason to fast. But sometimes people fast for the wrong reasons. Sometimes people choose to fast in a subtle attempt to twist God’s arm or to win his approval. But God doesn’t respond to pressure. However, God does promise to reward those who fast. He says that those who fast secretly — out of hunger for God and not a hunger to impress other people with how spiritual they are — will be rewarded.

Jesus fasted for forty days before he launched his public ministry, and he expected that those who follow him would fast too, praying for his Kingdom to come in its fullness. Jesus said, “when you fast” not “if you fast.” Jesus needed to fast, and he expects us to fast because he knows it is a discipline that draws us close to him and encourages our dependence on him.