Camp Fasting - Day 1

The Heart of Fasting

By: Sean

As we begin our 14 days of fasting in preparation for NXGN camp, today's devotion seeks to remind us about the heart of fasting such that our fast will be meaningful and significant!

Fasting essentially involves us abstaining from worldly desires for a period of time - be it food, addictions or even social media. The act of voluntarily parting from such desires shows and tests our faith. It also helps us to shift our focus completely to God as we avoid our fleshly desires. This will thus help to prepare our hearts to participate or even serve in NXGN camp! 

An example of this is Jesus’s 40 day fast where he fasted to prepare himself for ministry. (Matthew 4 1-11)

”Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”

Matthew 4:1-2

During this fast he was continuously tempted, yet he was able to overcome such temptations through the word of God. Respectively, these were to turn rocks into bread (Matthew 4:3-4), to jump off a cliff & put God to the test  (Matthew 4:5-7) and to bow down and worship satan.

This further demonstrates his faith in God as he was able to overcome such temptations even in times of physical weakness. 

However, while fasting does serve these purposes, the bible too warns us that fasting is a private matter between us and God. It should not serve as a means for us to exemplify our faith to the world but instead solely to God. 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:16-18

With that, hopefully your fast for the upcoming camp will be meaningful for both your relationship with God and prepare your hearts for the camp itself!