Bible Reading - January 7th through January 20th, 2010

"Jesus answered, It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4 NIV

Thursday, 1/7 Leviticus 16:29-34 and 23:26-32
These passages are both about the Day of Atonement (what Jews today still celebrate as Yon Kippor). "Deny" means fast. Here is an interesting bit of trivia: Did you know that the word "scapegoat" comes from Leviticus 16? Read 16:1-28 for that story.

Friday, 1/8 Judges 20:26-28
This passage is part of a crazy story that starts back in Judges 19 which results in a civil war. The people are seeking God to know how to attack their own countrymen. This shows an example of how fasting and prayer go together.

Saturday, 1/9 2 Chronicles 20:1-29
Leaders in the Old Testament would, at times, lead the nation in a corporate fast. This is an example of that. Again, notice the correlation between fasting and praying.

Sunday, 1/10 Nehemiah 1:1-11
Look at Nehemiah's response when people brought him really bad news. He mourned, fasted and prayed. What if our reaction to problems in our lives would be to be sad about them, then put ourselves in God's presence through fasting and prayer about the situation...?

Monday, 1/11 Esther 4:12-17
An amazing story of a woman's courage is found in Esther 4. In these verses, Esther knows she might be killed for going into the King's presence, but she knows she has to do it to save her people. Before undertaking this huge life event, she calls her people to fast. What if we did the same before major life events...?

Tuesday, 1/12 34:28
This is an example of an absolute (no food or water) fast - and it was done by Moses in response to a very clear and specific calling from God. This is not a typical type of fasting, but I highlighted it so you would be more aware of the range of fasts in the Bible.

Wednesday, 1/13 Daniel 10:2-3
This is an example of a partial fast (abstaining from certain foods or activities). Notice that it is in response to Daniel needing to get clarity from God about something he was seeing.

Thursday, 1/14 Matthew 4:1-4
Here is an example of a normal fast (abstaining from food, but not water). It is Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. The words of Matthew 4:4 are the absolute power that you need to embark on any fast without fear!

Friday, 1/15 Mark 2:18-22
Jesus is being questioned about why his disciples don't fast. Jesus tells the people that while He is with his disciples, it's not a time of fasting because they can't get any closer to God than by being there with Him! After He's gone, He expects they will fast.

Saturday, 1/16 Acts 13:1-3, 14:23
We see here the early church leaders fasting and praying as they made decisions concerning the church and leadership. Again, it sets a great example for us to follow: Major decision? Fast, pray and seek God's guidance.

Sunday, 1/17 2 Samuel 12:15-25
This story shows the faith of King David. He had the boldness to come before God to plead with Him through fasting and prayer for the life of his son. When God still took his son, David's response was to accept God's judgment. For the whole story, start reading in 2 Samuel 11.

Monday, 1/18 Luke 2:3-38
Anna never left the Temple, and she is meeting the baby Christ child there. The Bible says she was married at one point, so it stands to reason that she had not always fasted and prayed day and night. She grew the more she practiced the discipline.

Tuesday, 1/19 Joel 2:12-14
God wants our hearts to be right when we come to Him.

Wednesday, 1/20 Isaiah 58:1-12
Read through this powerful passage again and let it continue to impress you with God's truth about fasting.

See you tonight at GEMS!!!

We'll be learning about Studying the Bible!