Hunger for Jesus

What if your hunger could do more than make you crave food? What if it could actually draw you closer to God? This week we’re exploring the ancient spiritual practice of fasting. As we step back from the things that usually satisfy us, we create space to notice God’s presence and grow in compassion for others. Fasting isn’t about deprivation or religious performance. It’s about reordering our hearts and learning to desire what God desires. Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before you begin, take a slow breath together. Use this time to quiet your mind, heart and body to be open to hearing from God and each other. Begin your time together with prayer.   Introduction   Last week we explored how intentional rest can renew our bodies, souls, and relationships and encouraged one another to experiment with a weekly period of intentional body and soul rest. How did that go this week?  Connect   What do you usually reach for when you feel depleted?  What assumptions come to mind when you hear the word fasting?  Where do you most notice your appetites right now?  Opening   Hunger can become an invitation to deeper connection with God rather than something to avoid or control. When we fast, we intentionally create space to notice our dependence on God and to pay attention to what is happening in our hearts. Sometimes fasting reveals cravings, emotions, or distractions we didn’t realize were there. Those moments can become opportunities to turn our attention back to God and allow him to shape us.  This leads us to our Main Idea for this week:  We can let our hunger draw us closer to God and others.  Unpack   Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses.   You’ll notice this week that we’re reading one passage at a time and answering a few questions before reading another passage of scripture.   Read  Joel 2:12–13  In this passage, Joel speaks to the people of Israel during a time of crisis and calls them to return to God, reminding them that God is gracious and ready to forgive.  What kind of heart posture does God desire?  How does this passage describe returning to God?  What helps someone recognize when God is inviting them to return to him? Have you ever experienced a moment when you sensed God inviting you to return or renew your relationship with him?  Read   Psalm 63:1–5  How does the writer describe longing for God?  What imagery stands out?  When we experience physical hunger, how could that moment help us turn our attention toward God?  Read  Acts 13:1–3  In this passage, leaders in the early church at Antioch are worshiping, praying, and fasting together when the Holy Spirit directs them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work.  What stands out to you about how the leaders in Antioch were seeking God?  What role do prayer and fasting seem to play in listening to the Holy Spirit?  How might practices like prayer and fasting help people discern God’s direction today?  Discovery & Application  This is a new reflection section we’ll be using throughout this series. Take a few minutes to consider what these verses reveal and how they invite you to respond.  What do these verses reveal about who God is?  What do these verses reveal about us/others?  What do these verses invite/inspire you to think/feel/do?  Action Step   Experiment with one simple act of biblically-based fasting this week.  Examples could include:  Skipping one meal and using that time for prayer.  Taking a break from social media or another activity that normally takes your attention, creating space to reflect and pray.  You may also choose to fast together as a group, like the early church did in the book of Acts. Consider skipping a meal on the same day this week and using that time to pray. You might pray for one another, for the needs of our church and community, or for God’s guidance in your lives. If fasting from food isn’t an option for you, consider fasting fromsomething else that regularly fills your time or attention, and use that space to pray.   As you think of these and other ideas, what will you commit to this week? Share with the group what you plan to try so we can encourage and pray for one another.   Closing   Fasting is not about punishment but about making space for deeper connection with God. As we create that space, we begin to notice our dependence on Him and the deeper longings of our hearts. When we allow those moments of hunger to draw us toward God, they can also open our eyes to the needs of others.  Pray Together  Pray for the Missionary Focus this week, then take prayer requests from your group and conclude your time in prayer for your group.  Missionary Focus  Tim and Ericka Harris  **For some of our missionaries, certain details are kept private to protect their safety and the sensitive nature of their work. Thank you for understanding as we share what we can.   Out of a desire to support those serving in demanding ministry roles, Tim and Ericka provide pastoral care to missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders around the world.   Prayer Requests:    That the Lord would bring people working in ministry to R.E.S.T. to be spiritually and physically rejuvenated    For Tim and Ericka to continue to foster and grow their gift of hospitality   Spend a few minutes in prayer for Tim and Ericka Harris  Reflection Verse for the Week  *Read this verse, then encourage the practice of reflection and memorization throughout the week.  Psalm 34:8  “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”  **When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.  Daily Devotional Verses  Use the S.O.A.P. method to reflect on the verses below.  Scripture: Read the verses several times. Reading out loud can be helpful as well. Observation: What can you see about the scripture you read? Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do, or feel, based on what you have read? Prayer: This is a chance to talk to God about what you have read and ask him for help in living out what you’ve learned.  Day 1: Proverbs 16:32 Day 2: John 6:35 Day 3: Galatians 5:22–23 Day 4: Romans 12:1 Day 5: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 Day 6: Micah 7:7     The post Hunger for Jesus appeared first on Journey of Faith.