Lent 2025 School of Prayer 13

Day 13: Give thanks and fast

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God’s mouth,” says the Bible. — Matthew 4:4

In the Bible, there is a strong link between fasting and prayer. Before Jesus started His mission, He went without food for forty days in the wilderness, depending on God to keep Him alive. In the Bible, fasting is used to help people seek God with more focus, humility, and trust.

We don’t fast to show how strong we are or to earn God’s favor. We fast to make room for God. Giving up something, like food, social media, or something else that takes our attention away, helps us remember that God is the only one who gives us life. When we fast, the noise goes away, and we can hear Him better.

As you go through Lent, you might want to think about fasting as a way to pray. This doesn’t have to be very hard. Maybe it’s missing a meal once a week or blocking out time to pray without any other activities. When you’re hungry or thirsty, let it remind you to turn to God.

Thought: Is there something going on in your life that keeps you from praying? How can fasting help you pay more attention to God’s presence and care? Today, take some time to pray about what you might need to let go of.

Fasting & Giving: Give money or groceries to a local food pantry.