Day 1 Fast: The Road Less Traveled
There is a story told of William Carey, the great missionary. He was invited by the Governor General of India to a dinner party at which some snooty aristocratic military officers scornfully asked, “Carey, I hear that you were a shoemaker before you became a missionary, isn’t it?” Unfazed by their contemptuous gazes, Carey humbly replied, “Oh no, I was only a cobbler. I could mend shoes and wasn’t ashamed of it.” Over 200 years have passed since the Governor General’s dinner party. Few or none remember the snooty aristocrats, but William Carey’s faith and humility continue to inspire millions of Christians to serve Christ.
John Bunyan noted that it’s hard to get down into the valley of humiliation (humility)- the descent into it is steep and rugged- but it’s very fruitful, beautiful, and fertile once we get there. If a man is proud and lifted up, rivers of grace may flow over him and yet leave him barren and unfruitful, while they bring blessings to the man who has been humbled by the grace of God.
So, how do we humble ourselves and get into the grace of God?
In his book on fasting, Derek Prince says, “Primarily the purpose of fasting is humbling. Fasting is the specific scriptural and practical means ordained by God for us to humble ourselves before Him. See 1 Peter 5:6. David revealed the same when he stated in Psalm 35:13, “I humbled my soul with fasting.” As we fast and pray, we will do well to emulate Christ for He was the meekest of men. When we fast and humble ourselves before God, we are sure to get a blessing, for God always blesses the humble.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you invite us to be taught of/by you because you are humble and gentle at heart (Matthew 11:29). You promised that I would find rest for my soul if I embraced humility. I now see that the rest I seek is found no other way except through learning your gentleness and humility. Lord, as I fast and pray, thank you that you teach me the way of humility; and as I humble myself, you bless me and all that is mine. I am grateful. Amen.
Join us for a 6-week online book study of Derek Prince’s “Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting” starting July 8, 2025. We will meet each week on Zoom from 5:00-6:30pm CT. The online book study will conclude on August 12, 2025.
We want to hear your fasting testimony! Email info@triumphofhope.com to share your story.
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