Day 1: Come Away With Me…
Come Away With Me…
Faith to Approach God
Reading for Today:
Hebrews 10:19–25 (NLT)
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Today is day one! Today, we are committed, we are energized, we are ready! One of the best things about the first day of a fast is there is this adrenaline rush that comes seemingly out of nowhere! There is a renewed sense of faith and bravery that seems to set in. Ultimately, we are reminded of the gift we have to be in communion with our heavenly father, the creator of all.
One of the keys to fasting is we must remember that the key to fasting is using this time to spend with God. Fasting is far more than just the denial of food. Failure to pray makes our fasting pointless. There are a number of reasons that we don’t pray, however it usually boils down to our feelings of unworthiness or lack. All that aside, God loves us so very much that He’s already made provision for us! In the book of Hebrews we find a verse for that!
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:16
While writing to the Jews of the early church, Paul delivers a message that is extremely valuable to us today! The entire 4th chapter is loaded with gems for our sometimes-wandering hearts. But let’s zoom in just a little. He reminds us of the gift we have in Christ. Because Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and died on the cross, we are able to approach God with assurance that He is listening, that He hears us and that He will respond!
Likewise in scripture, we are urged to come to God to seek Him. Consider this your invitation to draw near to God as He draws near to you. (James 4:8) In this time, set your intention to seek hard after the God who loves you! During this time, make sure you are journaling the things you are praying for and the responses you are hearing. Take time to review how you should respond and what your next steps are. Remember, God is faithful to his promises!
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. – Hebrews 10:23
Join us back tomorrow for day two!
“Fasting Tip: Make sure to increase your water intake to assist with hunger and the change in food intake.”