Tuesday - Enter In - Week 2
Welcome to daily prayer. This week we are talking about the kind of fasting that God has chosen. Today, we learn from Jesus that whatever is motivating us is what will be strengthened and rewarded when we fast. If it is the praise of man, pride will be strengthened in you. If it heart level hunger for the Lord, that will be rewarded and strengthened. As we begin our prayer now, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.
Lord, I draw near to you. I want to be close to you. I want to love you more. I surrender any part of me that is opposed to you and your ways today. I am available. Let my longing for You be stronger than my longing to be noticed. Teach me to live for the reward that comes from you alone. Lord, open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
A Scripture Reading from Matthew 6:1 and verses 16-18
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
A Prayer of Adoration:
Lord, I adore you. You don’t discourage our desire for rewards, you offer them freely and warn us of what will cause us to miss out. You reward our hunger for you and the things we do for your glory and the good of others. You don’t tell us just to do good for goodness sake. You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek you. I love this about you. Lord, you save us by grace, sustain us by grace, and sanctify us by grace. There is nothing we have that hasn’t been given to us freely by you and yet you reward us when we choose to love you and for that, I adore you.
A Prayer of Confession:
Lord, I confess that I have unhelpful and unholy thoughts and desires that come to my mind and heart. Forgive me for acting righteous when my desire was to impress people. I have not been careful or watchful against the world, my flesh, or the schemes of the enemy. I’m sorry for prioritizing my cravings over loving you and others. I have left undone things I should have done and I have done things I should not have done. Apart from you, I have no health in me. I run to you for shelter. I turn to you for life.
Trust:
I trust that you see what is done in secret and that you will reward us for what we practice in secret. I trust that the reward is greater than what I would get by boasting to others. I trust that when I die to my desire to be seen and praised by others that it does not go unseen by you. You are doing something in me. I am not made right before you by my attempts at growing but by the finished work of Christ. I trust that you see my heart even in my weak attempts at drawing close to you. Lord, you are my treasure and my goal.
Intercession:
Lord, help us to be careful not to fall into the trap of living for the praise of people. Give us an eternal perspective. Strengthen us as we set aside legitimate things because we want you more. We want to reorder our lives and we want you at the center. Remind us of what is important. Help those who are struggling in this season. Be with those who are hurting. Lord, cultivate compassion and love in us.
A Moment of Reflection:
Ask this question: Is there anyway you want to redirect my motives during this time of fasting?
A Closing Prayer:
Jesus, you teach us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. You teach us that you are a rewarder of those who diligently seek you. You bless us when we hunger for you and your ways. I’m hungry for you today. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart to rely on you and your ways. To keep my eyes fixed on you. I look to you for life.
In the name of Jesus, Amen