HUNGER FOR HIM
Fasting is a means of spiritual connection that draws us closer to God and deepens our personal
relationship with Him. The idea of fasting has sound biblical support and was a common practice of our
Lord Jesus Christ himself. To learn more, you can reference this article.
This time of fasting is not set aside for personal reflection or identification of sin. Although sin, or areas
of life that may be out of alignment with our new character, may be revealed during this time. The focus
of the fast is vertical development. It’s a time to lift our eyes from ourselves, our problems, and the
problems of the world, and to intentionally focus on our Creator. Who is He? What is His character?
Who am I as an image bearer and therefore, who am I called to be as His ambassador?
As we found ourselves between holidays, you are invited to join us as we re-direct our focus in
anticipation of our celebration of the birth of Christ. This is an intentional time of communion with both
the Body of Christ and the Creator.
If you have not participated in fasting before, here are some helpful tips:
- Give yourself grace, He did.
- Prayer and meditation can be hard, focus can be hard. If you wander in thought,
acknowledge the thought, and let it fade away, come back to focus. Don’t be too hard on
yourself. - Use the provided verses as prayer and as a focal point. They are specifically selected to focus
on who He is and who we are called to be. Ponder with sincere curiosity what each verse
means and listen for that small comforting voice. - Set reminders or place start and stop times on your calendars if you need it.
- Put the hunger verse on your phone, so it is accessible when you need it.
- Connect with a few others who are participating, share your experience. Christ adores it
when we are working out our salvation together. - Most importantly, enjoy the time you spend with Him. Set it aside with intention, and do all
you can to reduce interruption, work to give Him your best. - Don’t get hung up on the rules or structure, it’s the heart that matters.
The Details
- 4 week (8 day) fasting.
- Every Tuesday and Thursday starting the week after Thanksgiving.
- Fasting from food (nothing but water from sunup to sundown).
- Start the fast by praying and meditating on the start verse provided.
- When you are hungry during the fast, reflect on the hunger verse provided and give him
praise for his provision. - Prior to breaking the fast, close each day by praying and meditating on the close verse
provided. - Use this time to draw closer to God.
- Day 1 11-28-23
Start
Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Hunger verse
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Close
John 1:1-3 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Day 2 11-30-23
Start
Genesis 1: 2-3 2. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,
and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was
light.
Hunger verse
Mathew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Close
John 1: 4-5 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Day 3 12/5/23
Start
Genesis 1-27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and
female he created them.
Hunger verse
Mathew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Close
Mathew 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the
shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Day 4 12/7/23
Start
Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh
day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of
creating that he had done.
Hunger verse
Mathew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Close
Psalm 18:28 You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light
Day 5 12-12-23
Start
Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of
it.
Hunger Verse
Mathew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Close
1 John 1: 5-9 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there
is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and
do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Day 6 12-14-23
Start
Psalm 139: 7-12 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to
the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the
dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will
hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to
you.
Hunger verse
Mathew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Close
Psalm 27:1 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of
my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Day 7 12-19-23
Start
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
Hunger verse
Mathew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Close
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special
possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light.
Day 8 12-21-23
Start
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear
much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Hunger verse
Mathew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Close
Mathew 28: 19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”