Day 6

Day Six:  Performance
“Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You do not see it?
Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice’?”  Isaiah 58:3 AMP
 
Israel was picking a quarrel with God because they felt that God should honor them and answer their prayers because of their fasting.

Many Christians have a similar mindset.

Because they feel they have performed well, they feel God owes them.

Coming to church, fasting, praying and reading the Bible are all wonderful disciplines, but God has always looked at a person’s heart as to why they do what they do.
Our actions are not what matters to God—our motives behind our actions are what are important to God.

The problem was with Israel’s heart.

While they were supposed to be humbling themselves in a fast to God, they were still indulging themselves by acting however their flesh desired.
They had the outward part right—the look of humility—but inwardly, they had not changed.

As you continue this fast, ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart.

• Are there any traits of your heart that you know are not pleasing to God?
• Ask God to show you how you can align your heart with His so that you can prepare for the outpouring of His Spirit in 2024.
• Ask Him to help you overcome anything that has been in His way of connecting with you.
• Ask Him to help you not only perform well, but that you inwardly have a change of heart, too.