Bible Studies
Lent 2006, part 1Devotions for Fasting, March 6-10
Jeremiah 1:5-12, 17-19
Lent is the Christian period of meditation on Christ’s suffering, during
the forty days preceding Easter. Fasting – an often-neglected spiritual
discipline in the evangelical world – has traditionally been associated
with Lent.
Fasting is an opportunity to humble ourselves before God by willingly depriving ourselves of many of the pleasures of life for a prescribed period of time. Fasting is not for God, it's for us. It doesn't change God, it changes us. But while physical hunger is an individual experience, corporate fasting is a valuable tool for directing our thoughts away from our own bellies (and out gazes away from our own navels!) to the greater community of believers.
Lent is the primary fast for the church. If you choose to fast this year, you’re joining with millions of other believers around the world. The following is a guide for the next several days. For more information on fasting, see Matthew 6: 16-18; Nehemiah 9:1-3; Joel 2:12-13; Matthew 17: 19-21; and Isaiah 58:8.
**Only healthy adults should participate in this Fast. If you are taking medication or are a nursing mother, please do not participate in abstaining from food. While fasting, you should take extra care with your health. Here are a few things to pay special attention to:
- Drink at least 64 oz of water each day
- Be sure to get plenty of rest - at least eight hours of sleep per night.
- Get some form of moderate exercise two-three times this week.
Monday Meditate on Jeremiah 1:5 (Read and repeat it several times throughout the day)
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
God is speaking to Jeremiah in this passage. Pray and ask God to reveal what He is saying to you about your life in this verse.
- Think about the circumstances of your birth. How were you labeled? Were
you planned, a "mistake", abandoned, adopted, a child caught in
the child services system?
- How do you react to the phrase "before I
formed you in the womb, I knew you" considering your answer to the questions
above?
- Have you always been different, not quite fitting in any where? Have
you longed to fit in some where? ... to belong?
- How do you react to the phrase "before
you were born I set you apart" and
what insight does it give you into your life?
- God appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. We all have an assignment ...an appointment. Spend some time in prayer today asking God to clearly tell you what He has assigned you to do and be.
Tuesday Meditate on Jeremiah 1: 6 (Read and repeat it several times throughout the day)
"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
After God spoke the amazing things to Jeremiah in verse 5, Jeremiah immediately began to explain to God the reasons why he was not qualified to complete this assignment.
- Reflect on the list of excuses and fears that you have spoken back to God
after He has given you a task or assignment. Write your list in your journal.
- Why do you think our first response to God is to deny our ability to do what He (the Sovereign God) has declared that we can do?
Wednesday Meditate on Jeremiah 1: 9-10
"Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
God listened to Jeremiah's fears and excuses in verse 6. We see in the above passage that God's call and assignment for Jeremiah's life did not change. But God gave Jeremiah a touch that equipped him with all he needed to do the work for which he had been called. Even as God equipped Jeremiah, He continued to clarify the assignment.
- You've been praying and talking to God about your assignment. Continue
to pray about what God has called you to do. Ask God to clarify the instructions
that He has given you.
- How has God touched you? How has He equipped you for the task at hand? What experiences or circumstances have God allowed to happen in your life to give you the tools you need to complete your assignment?
Thursday Meditate on Jeremiah 1:11-12 (Read and repeat it several times throughout the day)
The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
As God continued to clarify Jeremiah's assignment, He stopped and asked Jeremiah what saw. God confirmed that Jeremiah was seeing the right thing. God let Jeremiah know that he was not alone in completing his assignment, but that God had a stake in his success and is watching to see that what He has spoken over Jeremiah life will come to pass.
- Think about your goals, hopes and dreams for your future. Are you and God
seeing the same thing?
- Spend time in prayer asking God to "correct
your vision" and
help you see your life as He sees it.
- God has a stake in your success. God is watching over the Word that He has spoken over your life to make sure that it happens. What is your reaction to this statement? How does it make you look differently at your list of fears and excuses?
Friday Meditate on Jeremiah 1:17-19 (read and repeat it several times throughout the day)
"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land - against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
The time for excuses was over. God told Jeremiah to get ready, to get up and do what he had been told to do. God said it was time out for being terrified about what people would say or do. He didn't promise that it would be easy. Actually He said that the people would fight against him. But it is all about who is on your side. He compared Jeremiah to a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall. God promised that Jeremiah would not be overcome and that he would be rescued by God.
- No more excuses! God understands that you have fears and that the assignments
that He has given you are not easy. But you have been equipped with all you
need to accomplish what God has appointed you to do.
What is your reaction to this statement?
- What are you going to do to get ready and to stand up? Pray and ask God to help you tap into the strength that He has already given you.
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