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Day 13: Fasting Changes You
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You now hoping to grow closer through Your Word. During this time focusing on fasting, change what needs to be changed within us. Speak to our hearts and reveal any areas still clinging to earthly desires.
By Your Spirit’s power, transform our minds and redirect our thoughts heavenward. Give perseverance to continually deny ourselves and put You first in everything. As we make space through abstaining, fill us more fully with Your presence each day.
Shape and mold us into the likeness of Christ through this discipline. Strengthen our resolve to fully submit to Your will in all things. We ask that you would overflow in us with Your grace and blessing as we seek You sincerely.
Have Your way in our lives, Lord, guiding our hearts ever nearer to You. May Your name be lifted up from this time we share together. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture Reading and Reflection
Ephesians 3:20 KJV
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Romans 8:7 KJV
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Reflection:
Paul tells us that God’s power working within us has no limits – He is able to do infinitely more than all we could ask or imagine. Yet so often we constrain what God can accomplish based on our own finite thinking and imagination. The Bible says our old, sinful nature does not submit to the Spirit’s leading. Both our physical cravings and “carnal mind” oppose His work in us. This leaves God’s supernatural ability obstructed rather than flowing freely through us. The key is knowing how to remove these barriers that hinder the Holy Spirit. We must subject our fleshly “I wants”, thoughts, and feelings to God’s Spirit. Fasting is the pattern shown in Scripture for doing this.Through fasting, we find our fleshly desires losing their hold on us. As physical cravings diminish, our reliance on God’s strength increases. Without constant thoughts of satisfying self, we open fully to His leading.What once seemed impossible becomes possible as God’s limitless power flows freely within us, unhindered by our will. We experience transformation from the inside out. Intimacy with Christ increases as we deny ourselves and seek Him with prayer.When we fast and make room for the Spirit in this way, His super-abundant ability is unleashed through us for His glory. Our lives bear witness to the incredible changes resulting from complete submission to God, as Jesus and Paul demonstrated. This is true Kingdom living empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Hymn:
Transformed
1 Dear Lord, take up my tangled strands, Where we have wrought in vain, That by the skill of Thy dear hands Some beauty may remain.
Chorus: Transformed by grace divine, The glory shall be Thine; To Thy most holy will, O Lord, We now our all resign.
2 Touch Thou the sad, discordant keys Of ev’ry troubled breast, And change to peaceful harmonies The sighings of unrest. [Chorus]
3 Where broken vows in fragments lie— The toil of wasted years,— Do Thou make whole again, we cry, And give a song for tears. [Chorus]
4 Take all the failures, each mistake Of our poor, human ways, Then, Savior, for Thine own dear sake, Make them show forth Thy praise. [Chorus]
Lyrics: F. G. Burroughs, Music: Bentley DeForrest Ackley
Creative Activities: 1. Scripture Writing
Write out Ephesians 3:20 and Romans 8:7 in your best handwriting on the Scripture writing page which you can download below.
Please download the Scripture Writing Page below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only.
Commercial use not allowed.
Download Scripture Writing Page
Creative Activities: 2. Bible Journaling
- Write out Ephesians 3:20 by hand, reflecting on God’s immeasurable power at work within us.
- Sketch images of the Holy Spirit descending as flames of fire, and believers with hands raised in prayer and worship.
- Journal about areas you sense God wanting to breakthrough more fully, and prayers inviting His unlimited ability.
- Write out Romans 8:7, coloring “flesh” in red and “Spirit” in green to contrast natures.
- Draw illustrations of chains binding a heart, representing sin’s strongholds, and then being shattered.
Creative Activities: 3. Doodling
- Where have you seen glimpses of God’s immeasurable power at work in your life? Where do you sense He wants to break through more fully?
- What strongholds of the flesh – habitual sins, mindsets, cravings – feel entrenched and resistant to change? Surrender these areas fully to God through prayer.
- Picture the Holy Spirit descending upon you in power. How might He look? Flames, a dove, a rush of wind? Draw symbols representing His transforming presence.
- Sketch images of restraints, chains or barriers falling away as the flesh grows weaker through fasting. Let your drawings depict spiritual victories and inner renewal.
- Doodle hearts, hands lifted in worship, or other symbols of intimacy with Christ. Seek His face and fresh anointing as you create freely before Him.
Please download the Doodle Printable below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only.
Commercial use not allowed.Download Doodle Printable
Creative Activities: 4. Journaling
Reflect and Journal:
- Reflect on areas the Holy Spirit is stirring within you to surrender fully through fasting and prayer. What bad things in your life does God want to help you stop doing? What parts are hard to change that God wants to fix?
Download Journal Printable
Applying and Taking Action
- Reflect on areas God highlighted during your Bible journaling time that need surrender or transformation. Identify 1-2 specific strongholds to fast and pray against this week.
- Write out prayer points and scriptures you felt particularly spoke to your situation. Lift these areas up daily and read the passages for strength.
- Plan your fast – will you abstain from food only or social media/TV too? Set a timeframe and commit to self-denial alongside devotion to God.
- Prepare your heart through worship songs or guided prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit in before breaking your fast each day.
- Keep a journal to record spiritual breakthroughs, areas still resisting change, and insights from God. Bring these truths to Him each morning.
- Ask trusted friends or small group to support your fast through accountability and prayer. Share spiritual victories as the Lord empowers change within.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, I surrender all to Your transforming work. As I fast and pray, remove any strongholds or deep-rooted sins that have taken hold in my life. Dismantle ungodly thought patterns, habits, and desires that I cannot break alone. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and renew my mind and heart.
Reveal to me the specific areas You desire to bring change. Empower me by Your Spirit to stand against temptation and have victory over sin. May my time of sacrifice draw me into closer intimacy with You and deeper dependence on Your strength. Work mightily in and through me for Your glory alone. I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
If you have been blessed by this Creative Lent Devotional, please share it with others. Many thanks. God bless you!
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