Day 1 - Matthew 4:4

A Fasted Journey for Spiritual Renewal

Day 1

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” -Matthew 4:4

Yesterday was Resurrection Day, or more commonly known as Easter. Remembering, recognizing and reflecting on Christ’s work on the cross has meant more and more to me each year as I look back on my life. In recent years, I have studied it more, prayed more prayers of thankfulness and gratitude, and looked deeper and more critically into what Christ went through for me; for all of us. As well as, why he did it and what led him there. Certainly I have a long way to go in continuing to learn the truth of God’s Word, even as it applies to the biblical account of Christ’s murder on the cross, burial and resurrection.

I will turn 38 in 115 days. That means I have been on this earth for 13,755 days. Forty days is a small drop in the bucket when compared to the total. I have been learning more about fasting lately. My wife Heidi recently completed an 86 hour fast and it was awesome to witness as well as hear her reflections. It is what has encouraged me most to do a fast of my own. I have been contemplating a period of fasting for a long time now, at least for a couple of years, but I’ve never gone more than 36 hours or so.

The purpose is to pray and seek God in a different way. The Bible talks about fasting at various points throughout, yet it is rare for Christians, or at least Christians in the west, or at least Christians I have encountered over the years to incorporate fasting into their spiritual walk with Christ. That is something I have spent a fair amount of time thinking about, studying and praying about over the past few years. It’s finally something I've committed to doing, thanks to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

The verse for today comes from Matthew 4. Jesus rebuked Satan, or as Matthew calls him in verse three, “the tempter,” when he tried to coerce Jesus into turning stones into bread. Satan took three different attempts at trying to get Jesus to sin. All three failed. All three were rebuked by Jesus with Scripture. All three rebukes came from the book of Deuteronomy.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s word is the most powerful, truthful word we have. We must study it, know it and use it. This too is an ongoing journey that builds on itself like anything we devote time to. Hopefully the knowledge and truth gained from His word will only be increased and developed during this fasting journey. That too is an important element of these coming days.

I am not a medical professional. This journal is about my spiritual path and about that which the Lord has placed on me. This is not medical advice, nor was this fast done for any medical purpose. If you have a medical interest, seek medical advice. If you have particular health concerns, seek medical advice and/or conduct your own research. Any fasting advice, effects, realizations or anything else related to my fast come from my personal reflection and experience. If you are considering fasting, consulting with a healthcare provider may be appropriate for you.