Follow Me Week 7
- Heritage Church
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
TRANSCRIPTION:
Believe it or not you are officially half way through this Follow Me Discipleship Journey! I encourage you to take some time this week to stop, reflect, and celebrate all you have learned, and all the Lord has done in you and spoken to you! Even if you aren’t one to take notes or journal, I challenge you to take time to write it down and read over it in the weeks and months ahead. Reminding yourself of who God is, all that He’s done, and just how far you have come in your walk with Him!
But for now - let’s go ahead and dive into this week's discussion topic: Fasting!
When I say “fasting” I’m not talking about skipping breakfast to lose a few pounds—I mean biblical fasting. The kind that realigns our focus and our hearts on the Lord!
Author Keyan Soltani said, "We are a culture of abundance that indulges and abuses—fasting is a means of God's grace to embrace something greater than our appetites." That hits hard. We live in a world where we’re constantly told to satisfy every craving. Fasting says the opposite. It says: “God, I want You more than I want food, entertainment, or comfort.”
So—why fast? Scripture gives us several reasons:
First, to overcome temptation. Fasting builds spiritual muscle—like going to the gym for your willpower. It trains you to say no to your flesh and yes to God.
Second, to bring breakthrough. Think of fasting as superhero training for your spirit. It doesn't make you superhuman—but it does help you tap into the supernatural. It quiets the noise of life so you can hear God's voice and move in His power.
Third, to align with God’s will. There are times in life where we feel stuck, be that in relationships, decisions, or even in our walk with God. Fasting can serve as a kind of spiritual GPS, helping you get unstuck and back on His path.
And fourth, for clarity and understanding. Our hearts can get cluttered—filled with plans and distractions. Fasting helps clear the space so we can hear God more clearly and respond to Him more fully.
Now that you have a better understanding as to WHY we fast, you may be wondering, “What should I fast?” Great question. It’s not just about skipping meals. You can fast food, sugar, social media, screens—anything that consumes your focus. The goal is simple: clear out distractions and draw closer to Jesus.
Now, I’m about to say something that may be considered controversial by some but….fasting isn't optional in the life of a believer. How do I know?
In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “When you fast…”—not if you fast. This tells us that fasting, along with prayer, should be a regular rhythm in our spiritual life.
If it’s so important that why do so many bypass doing it? Because fasting isn’t easy. You’ll face pushback - From your family, From your friends, From your flesh, and even from the enemy. But I promise you, it’s worth it. Because fasting is where breakthrough happens. It's where God speaks. It’s where miracles begin.
Scripture is full of stories where fasting changed everything — Just look at the lives of Moses, Daniel, Esther, Ezra… In each of these instances God moved when His people fasted. And He still does the same today.
So as you work through this weeks daily study you are going to be challenged to consider doing a fast. And when you do get ready! Because when we are intentional to cut out distractions and clutter from our lives in order to focus squarely on the Lord, we can, and should, expect results, expect His presence, expect clarity, expect compassion to rise in you, and expect victory over the things that have been holding you back.
I hope you are ready to see God move in powerful ways. I know I am!
LINK TO KIDS CHAPTER
LINK TO WEEK 7
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