2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:2-3 ESV)
Let me ask you a question. How much preparation do you enter into before asking the Lord to intervene or answer a difficult question?
Being honest, while I pray often and read the scriptures, I do not do much preparation for seeking the Spirit…and I should. Throughout the Bible, scripture speaks of prayer and fasting. Setting time aside and honoring that time by keeping from people, food and other distractions to listen intently for God’s still small voice.
Fasting is also not just about food, although that plays a big part. It is about separating ourselves from everything around us for a time. This does not have to be 40 days, as we may read in scripture. No, it can be for a short period of time, possibly only a few hours or a day. It simply means that we are consciously stopping all input that would distract us from our question and listening to see if God will reveal an answer. Sometimes, these answers come through scripture reading during a fast.
Reflect on: A need you have and taking time to fast and pray for an answer.
