For the second half of the fast we are going to move from just Bible passages to an additional reading that goes along with that passage. This is geared toward helping you move deeper with the Lord during your time of fasting. Keep up with your prayer journal and your devotional journal as it will be a blessing to look back on what God has done in your heart during your season of fasting.
On your seventeenth day of fasting, remember:
- Water needs to be with you at all times
- Rest and relax as much as possible
- Remember your prayer time.
- Work hard to remain focused on the reason you are doing the fast. Only 5 days are left!
Physical Effects:
- Continued weight loss.
- Bad breath.
- Cravings can continue
Today’s Passage: Ephesians 1
Today’s Reading:
Today’s reading is a prayer taken from The Valley of Vision:A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotionals. Take some time to read through the prayer both meditating on what it has to say but also using it as a prayer for day 17.
No human mind could conceive or invent the gospel.
Acting in eternal grace, thou art both its messenger and its message, lived out on earth through infinite compassion, applying thy life to insult, injury, death, that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed.
Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way, Eternal thanks to thee, O Lamb of God, for opening this way, Praise everlasting to thee, O Holy Spirit, for applying this way to my heart.
Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on my soul, until its virtue diffuses every faculty; Let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.
Teach me to secure this mighty blessing; Help me to give up every darling lust, to submit heart and life to its command, to have it in my will, controlling my affections, moulding my understanding; to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion, not departing from them in any instance, nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience or danger.
Take me to the cross to seek glory from its infamy; Strip me of every pleasing pretence of righteousness by my own doings.
O gracious Redeemer, I have neglected thee too long, often crucified thee, crucified thee afresh by my impenitence, put thee to open shame.
I thank thee for the patience that has borne with me so long, and for the grace that now makes me willing to be thine.
O unite me to thyself with inseparable bonds, that nothing may ever draw me back from thee, my Lord, my Saviour.
Today’s Questions:
- Spend some time in Ephesians 1 today. Write down everything that Paul says we are if we are in Christ (i.e. blessed, chosen, etc.).
- Read through today’s prayer several times.
- What does it say about God?
- What does it say about you?
- What practical things does it call us to?
Today’s Prayer Emphasis:.
- If needed, take some time to repent for taking for granted or forgetting who you are in Christ.
- Ask God to give you a strength that only comes from Christ to walk in humble confidence, embracing your identity in Him.
- Pray that God help bring your soul into focus on Christ and the Gospel above all other needs, desires or cravings.
- Continue in prayer, focusing on what God has showed you to be fasting about.
