Deuteronomy 29

  • A Call to Obedience (verses 2-29)
    • What did the Israelites see with their own eyes?
    • What has the Lord not given them yet?
    • Write out verse 9
    • What detestable things did they see?
    • Write out verse 18
    • What leads to destruction according to verse 19?
      • And what will the Lord do to the person who thinks that way?
    • What will cause the Lord’s anger to burn against the land?

Deuteronomy 30

  • A Demand for Commitment (verses 1-10)
    • Describe what is happening in verses 1-4.
      • What key words can you note there?
      • What is being alluded to in these verses?
    • Write out verse 6
    • Write out verse 8
  • The Choice Before the House of Israel (verses 11-20)
    • Write out verse 11
    • Write out verse 14
    • Write out verse 16

Reflection: Today we are going to look at some practical IDEAS on how to fast from food.

The Practice of Fasting: We should always start with a partial fast of 24 hours duration: many have found lunch to be the best time. This means that in that 24 hour period you would not eat two meals. Fresh fruit juices are excellent to drink during the fast. Attempt this once a week for several weeks. In the beginning you may be fascinated with the physical aspects of your experience, but the most important thing to monitor is the inner attitude of the heart. Outwardly you will be performing the regular duties of your day, but inwardly you will be in prayer and adoration, song, and worship. Break your fast with a light meal of fresh fruits and vegetables and a good deal of inner rejoicing.

After 2-3 weeks you are prepared to attempt a normal fast of 24 hours. Drink only water but use healthy amounts of it. You will probably feel some hunger pangs or discomfort before the end of the 24 hours. This is not real hunger; your stomach has been trained through years of conditioning to give signals of hunger at certain hours. You must not give into the flesh’s grumblings. Ignore the signals, or even tell your “spoiled child” (your stomach) to calm down. In a brief time the pangs will die down. If they do not, drink another sip of water and it will calm the stomach. You are the master of your stomach, not its slave.

It should go without saying that you should follow Jesus’ counsel to refrain from calling attention to what you are doing. The only ones who need to know you are fasting are the ones who have to know: like the people you normally eat meals with (like your spouse, children, or others that it is a part of your routine). When you end a fast, do not end it with a heavy meal. It could possibly make you physically sick. Think about how you would begin eating after having a stomach bug or food poisoning. This will help with the overall experience.

Psalm 23. Meditate on it. Pray it over your life. Sit with it for a bit today, looking at it through the lenses of what you have been discovering about God throughout these books of the bible so far.