Last week at the church prayer meeting the pastor asked each of us what we had heard from the Lord in the course of our prayer and fasting. I had not done a regular “fast” – refraining from food, or even entertainment or social media. Instead I did a “feast” on the Word of God. I read several days’ worth of readings in my Bible Recap plan. “Interestingly enough,” when I was feasting on the Word of God I was also fasting from at least some of the distractions of the world. My “feast” crowded out things that were not supposed to be priorities for me. Even Christian things can be clutter if they are drowning out God’s voice to us.
God,
You are our shield and refuge. It is you we follow and revere. Your Word is flawless and endures forever, a perfect spiritual food that nourishes us. Give us a bigger and deeper hunger for your Word so we know and serve you better. Help us to keep your commands, obey you, serve you, and hold fast to you. We ask in Christ’s name, Amen.
“It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4 NIV)
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 30:5 NIV)
“The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8 NIV)
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV)