Scripture Union Daily Guide 14 May 2024 – Fasting That Pleases God
Daily Guide Devotional For Today 14th May 2024 (Tuesday)
Do You Know That? Daily Guide Reading is published by Scripture Union Press & Books Ltd, an arm of Scripture Union Nigeria. Daily Guide is a true nondenominational, interdenominational Christian Bible engagement/reading aid – meditate on the Bible without denominational colorations. May the Lord bless you as you study!
TOPIC: FASTING THAT PLEASES GOD
OPENING PRAYER: May my heart, O Lord, be receptive to your word as I meditate on it.
SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 58:1-14
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q 1: What does the passage teach about God the Father, or God the Son or God the Holy Spirit?
* Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
* Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 14 May 2024 OUTLINE
Many Christians engage in fasting to seek God’s face for some kinds of favour, deliverance, or intervention. Many churches in Africa also have a culture of declaring several days of fasting, especially at the beginning of the year, to beseech God’s face for breakthroughs, protection, etc. in the New Year. Despite all these, the situations of our nations seem to be going from bad to worse. There must be something wrong with our fasting and prayers like that of the people of Judah. The people of Judah engaged in fasting with some expectations (v.2) but those expectations were not met (v.3a). See vs3b-5 for the reasons they were not getting the results they desired.
Fasting is good; but if we are living in disobedience to God, our fasting will be mere hypocritical religious exercise. Read vs.6-7, 9b-10a and 13 again and observe the characteristics of a fast that pleases God.
Though we cannot manipulate God or force Him to do anything with our fast, when we live in ways that please Him, He will reward and bless us. Check vs.8-9a, 10b-12 and 14 for some of such blessings.
Practice/Word Application
So what? Fasting that produces results, is a product of a life that pleases God. Don’t just engage in endless fasting; ensure that your life is pleasing to God and a blessing to others.
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to focus more on pleasing you so you will delight in hearing and answering my prayers.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 34:10
“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 135 – 2 Samuel 13-15
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN May 14, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
MISSION WORK IN ENUGU REGION
‘O Lord revive your work in the midst of the years’. Hab. 3:2
THANK GOD FOR:
* What he is doing in the various mission fields in the Region.
* Protecting the lives of our brethren in the mission fields.
PRAY FOR:
* Great exploits through the missionaries in the field and that God will send more labourers in the mission field.
* Great open doors in the mission fields and for massive harvest of souls to the Kingdom of our God.
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