Fasting AND Praying

Notes Here: ⬇️

Galatians 5:16-25 (MEV)

16 I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. These are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are revealed, which are these: adultery, sexual immorality, impurity, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, rage, selfishness, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I previously warned you, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law. 24 Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

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Ghrelin: This hormone communicates to the brain that the stomach is empty, signaling the need to eat. 

“Hunger Hormone” 

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Fasting exposes all of my God substitutes 

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I fast to discipline my flesh — to make my flesh submit to His Spirit. 

My Flesh wants what it wants 

My Spirit wants what it wants 

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A decision to follow Jesus is a decision to deny my flesh! 

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Mark 8:34 (MEV) 

34 When He had called the people to Him, with His disciples, He said to them, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

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Fast AND Pray

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Fasting disconnects us from the flesh while, prayer connects us to the Spirit 

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Psalm 42:1-8

1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

8. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

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Matthew 6:6 (NIV) 

6 But you, when you pray, enter your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

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When we pray — we are developing an intimate relationship with a Holy God