Turning Fully to God
Joel 2:12–13
“Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
God does not call us to fasting for discipline’s sake alone. He calls us to fasting as an invitation to return. Over and over in Scripture, fasting is connected to the heart, not the stomach. It is a way of saying, “God, I want You more than what I normally depend on.” When Joel calls God’s people to return with all their hearts, fasting becomes the expression of that surrender. It is not about punishment or performance. It is about priority.
Daniel understood this. He purposed in his heart not to defile himself, not because food was sinful, but because devotion mattered more than comfort. Fasting realigns our desires. It exposes what we turn to for strength, peace, distraction, or escape. And when those things are stripped away, God becomes clearer. That is where renewal begins.
This fast is not about what you are giving up. It is about who you are turning toward. God is not distant or reluctant. He is gracious and merciful, ready to respond when His people seek Him with sincerity and humility.
Reflection
What has been competing for your attention, comfort, or dependence lately?
What does it look like for you to return to God with your whole heart, not just part of it?
Prayer
God, I choose to turn to You with all my heart. I lay down distractions, comforts, and substitutes I have leaned on instead of You. During this fast, realign my desires and deepen my dependence on You. I want You more than anything else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s Action
Identify one thing you normally turn to for comfort or distraction and intentionally replace it with prayer today.
“Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
God does not call us to fasting for discipline’s sake alone. He calls us to fasting as an invitation to return. Over and over in Scripture, fasting is connected to the heart, not the stomach. It is a way of saying, “God, I want You more than what I normally depend on.” When Joel calls God’s people to return with all their hearts, fasting becomes the expression of that surrender. It is not about punishment or performance. It is about priority.
Daniel understood this. He purposed in his heart not to defile himself, not because food was sinful, but because devotion mattered more than comfort. Fasting realigns our desires. It exposes what we turn to for strength, peace, distraction, or escape. And when those things are stripped away, God becomes clearer. That is where renewal begins.
This fast is not about what you are giving up. It is about who you are turning toward. God is not distant or reluctant. He is gracious and merciful, ready to respond when His people seek Him with sincerity and humility.
Reflection
What has been competing for your attention, comfort, or dependence lately?
What does it look like for you to return to God with your whole heart, not just part of it?
Prayer
God, I choose to turn to You with all my heart. I lay down distractions, comforts, and substitutes I have leaned on instead of You. During this fast, realign my desires and deepen my dependence on You. I want You more than anything else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s Action
Identify one thing you normally turn to for comfort or distraction and intentionally replace it with prayer today.
Posted in churches in frisco
No Comments