BEFORE YOU RETIRE FOR THE EVENING - PRAY THE PRAYER. CONSECRATE THE FAST.

LIGHT THE CANDLE. PRAY THE PRAYER. CONSECRATE THE FAST.

Lord Jesus Christ, I offer you this fast for your glory and my good. All I am and all I have I offer to you for your purposes in the world and my progress in your grace, Amen.

GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK

This week we begin with the first verse in our text for the forty days of Lent, Philippians 2:5-11:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer before Bed:
Father, as I lie down for sleep tonight, wash over me with the warmth of Your love. In Your mercy, soothe my pain, whether in my body, mind or soul. Grant me a restful night of sleep so that when I awake, I'm strengthened to do Your will. Amen.**

*Prayer from Seedbed Fasting

** Prayer from Hallow.com

Morning - upon waking up

Lord, as I begin this time of fasting, fill me with your strength. Help me to use this as a time of growth, renewal, and healing. Calm my anxiety about what I might be giving up or times of discomfort that I might face. Provide me with assurance that You will strengthen me during the difficult times and meet me for sweet moments of spiritual growth and surrender. Help me focus not on what is being taken away, but what I’m gaining as I use this as a spiritual discipline. With you leading, Holy Spirit, I am ready. I dedicate this fast to You, Lord, and to Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.*

KEY VERSE AND TEACHING

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, - Philippians 2:5

So often we treat the promises of God as if they were something we were waiting on God to keep somewhere in the future. This is true, as it relates to the final consummation of the Kingdom of God at the end of time. However, most all of the promises of God have already been signed, sealed and delivered. We are graced to live at a time in the history of the world after the coming of Jesus Christ and the sending of the Holy Spirit.

It’s like we already won the massive Powerball lottery. The money is in the bank. The problem is with our “mind” or mentality. We are waiting on something else to happen. We are waiting on a pronouncement of the winning numbers, when they have already been pronounced. We are asking God to write us a check when the check has already been written. God is, in effect, asking us to cash the check. Do you see the dilemma?

Discipleship is the divine-human process of growing in the faith that gets actualized only when we “cash the check.” Look at the focus words from today’s text. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, The mind of Christ is already ours as we live our lives abiding in him. Faith means moving in that mind or mentality. It’s developing a disciplined “go-for-it” mentality. Fasting is one of the ways this mentality is trained. You see, the interesting thing is it is not our self-determination that moves our faith. It is precisely the opposite; it’s our self-abandonment that turns the gears of faith. Now go back and read through the whole passage and you will see it plainly.

MEAL TIME FOCUS

Today, I want you to slowly read and meditate on this additional text as your meal time practice. Focus all your attention on what is being said here. It’s revolutionary.


“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

OUR WALKING AROUND AND BREATH PRAYERS FOR THE DAY

“The mind of Christ is mine in you.”

“Teach me to move in the mind of Christ.”

CLOSING THE FAST

–Note any insights, impressions, or implications from this time of fasting in your notebook.

–Close with Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I offer you this fast for your glory and my good. All I am and all I have I offer to you for your purposes in the world and my progress in your grace, Amen.

Read our Scripture for the day - Philippians 2: 5-12

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflect - How did fasting go for you today?

What has the Holy Spirit lead you to in the scripture today?

Take a moment to journal your reflections of the day.

Closing Prayer

God, the time of my fast is coming to an end.

Thank you for giving me the strength to carry this out. I have grown in strength and in my relationship with You. I know I could never have done this by my own power.

As this time of restraint finishes, lead me in my next steps. Help me move slowly and gently back into a regular pattern of behavior. Help me not to go crazy with pent-up desire but instead, move with grace and intention.

I trust Your guidance, Lord.

In Jesus name I ask this, Amen.*

*https://theholymess.com/prayers-fasting/