Matthew 4:2

New International Version

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

For Meditation

 The fasting of Jesus and His tempting by the devil is an excellent example for us when we fast. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1). He fasted for forty days and forty nights. That would leave anybody hungry, and in that condition, the tempter began his work on Him (2).

We are told Jesus was hungry only after He had finished fasting (Matthew 4:2). He was so focused on God the Father concerning the agenda for His mission that He did not feel any hunger. His preoccupation was getting everything about His mission received and placed in their proper perspective. He delighted and enjoyed His fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, who had led Him into the wilderness, so much that it overshadowed every physical need.

When we set our minds to fast and pray, we must set our minds to feast on God through His word. Nothing should matter, and certainly not any carnal indulgences. They should not be our consideration. We must be spiritually hungry, and our focus should be on Christ and Him exalted in our life.

Bread cannot feed the soul. It is the word of God that satisfies our spiritual hunger. We must, therefore, set time apart to feed the soul on the pure word of God. Our whole life must center on self-sacrifice and commitment to life transformation by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). We must prepare to tame all canal desires and move the mind from all that is not good for us.

It is critical to stop any temptation before it gains more space in our mind (James 1:13-15; c.f. Genesis 4:7) by taking captive every invading thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

What has God said concerning those ideas, philosophies, desires, and carnal invitations? Where is your focus? Are there any distractions to avoid? A steady focus on the Lord, whose presence the Holy Spirit has led you to commune with, is the way to do it. Self-deprivation of all conveniences becomes our wilderness, and it is there we learn to engage with God in prayer about the purpose of our fasting.

May the Lord strengthen you as you embark on this holy journey for spiritual renewal, refocusing, and rebuilding your life from the rubble of Covid-19.