As a church, we are living in a season of anticipation for what God has next. But we cannot get so focused on growth as a church that we forget growth begins with individuals. At the end of the day, it comes down to how committed we are personally. The question is not just what would Jesus do, but what did Jesus do in preparation to be used by the Father? Before His public ministry began, Jesus took a step of obedience through baptism, publicly declaring His commitment to the Father’s plan. Then He was led into the wilderness where He prayed and fasted. If the Savior of the world practiced obedience, prayer, and fasting in preparation, it is imperative that we do the same. A fast is the discipline of saying no to our flesh. It is not a diet. It is not an attempt to impress God or get something from Him. We don’t fast to get God. We fast because we are God’s. Fasting is not about holding God hostage to our plans. It is about offering all of ourselves to Him in true worship. Through prayer, fasting, and obedience, we reset our minds, renew our thinking, and align our hearts with His will. Instead of asking God to join our vision, we join His. As we prepare for what God wants to do in our church, we must first allow Him to prepare us. What does obedience look like for you right now? 

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