In last week’s blog, I shared about what my daily devotional routine is like. Specifically, I shared how it’s changed over the years, noting that “change” doesn’t always mean “grow.” Throughout the different seasons of my life my daily faith rhythms have included:
- A lot of Bible reading or a little. For example, in 2023 I read the Bible in a year. Today I read just one chapter, putting me on track to read it in 3 years.
- A lot of prayer or a little. Mostly leaning toward the little side–this spiritual practice has always been the most confusing for me. But today I took a prayer walk, talking and listening to God for over 30 minutes.
- A lot of journaling or a little.
- A lot of worship or a little.
- A lot of gratitude or a little.
- A lot of crying out or a little.
And the list goes on and on.
The point is, God wants to meet with you. Not in a threatening way, like “The boss wants to see you.” But in a “The popular quarterback is asking me to prom!” way. Okay, that might not be the best example either. But I think you get my point. God’s longing to be with us is an invitation that began in Genesis 3:9 when he responded to Adam’s and Eve’s sin by inviting them to come out of hiding.
I started this blog intended to share more about the why of daily discipleship. Why would we be intentional about spending time with God each day? Why would we commit to reading a book that is–let’s be honest–quite difficult to understand at times?
As I began writing, I felt less compelled to share the why as I originally intended. Instead, I think it’s more appropriate that for this blog, in June 2025, I go even deeper into what my daily faith rhythm looks like. Last week I painted the picture with big, broad brushstrokes. Today, I am pulling out the fine-tip brush, adding detail and helping the final art piece really take shape.
Fast and Pray
On June 5 I began “praying and fasting for breakthrough” for 40 days. My fast will break when I land in Costa Rica on July 14, ready to spend a few weeks serving, preaching, and discipling mission teams.
But when I woke up on June 5, this was not my plan.
Although the practice is not a regular part of my routine, I will spend a day fasting every few months or so, usually adding it to my Sabbath. This particular Thursday just happened to be the best day in my schedule for it. So I went to bed Wednesday night knowing I would forgo breakfast and lunch, spending the time I would normally be preparing my meals and eating on praying, listening, and reading instead. Then I would eat a more-healthy-than-normal dinner, full of nourishing flavors and whole foods.
During my “breakfast” time, I opened the YouVersion Bible app to read the day’s entry for the plan I was already 16 days into. This was not unusual; part of my normal day whether I’m fasting or not. But it quickly became unusually divine.
The passage was Matthew 4, where Jesus was tested in the wilderness while fasting for 40 days.
I perked up a bit. This would not be a normal day.
I could not have planned that this passage would be my already-assigned reading for the day. If I was going to choose a verse about fasting to read, it would be just a few chapters later when Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. That’s where Jesus teaches on praying and fasting. Matthew 4 is his own experience with it.
It may sound silly, but it felt like a gift from God.
I was praying and fasting for breakthrough. Breakthrough in what area of my life? I didn’t define that part yet. But after this passage in Matthew 4, Jesus’s public ministry begins. The three years of his life teaching, preaching, and healing all started after his 40 days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness.
Sounds like breakthrough to me.
Just Keep Reading
During my “lunch” time I returned to this passage, with hunger pains in my stomach and a slight headache. Then I realized in 40 days I would be on a plane to Costa Rica. Hmm. Probably just another coincidence, right?
No, it was another divine gift. Two in one day!
It’s easy to think God’s gifts are always huge or dramatic, like curing an illness or seeing a recovering addict become a pastor. Isn’t it also a gift when we walk on the beach and instantly feel peace, even though nothing in our life has changed to support this feeling?
I’ll accept this serendipitous schedule as another gift. I was there for breakthrough, after all. Who am I to say what it looks like or how it comes? Who am I to limit or define it?
So,
- On a day of fasting and praying
- I read about Jesus fasting and praying for 40 days
- Exactly 40 days before my next major ministry experience occurs
My one day of praying and fasting for breakthrough suddenly became Day 1.
Defining the Season
Remember last week I said I like structure, but only for a bit? This is the perfect example of that. This season of fasting has an exact start and end date, so on the days that are more difficult I know there’s a clear end in sight. Fasting is a great daily rhythm for a few weeks; but it is only a season. I can’t recall a time in Scripture where fasting was intended to be a daily rhythm 365 days per year.
Because of this unique nature of the practice, fasting requires a bit of a plan. Normally I would spend a few days or weeks preparing for a longer fast like this. I’d adjust my schedule, plan my meals, and stock up on things like juice, broth, and flavored water.
Already nearly a full day in without any kind of preparation or plan, I trusted this would be a daily journey to define the fast.
But how? How do I know what God is asking me to sacrifice each day?
This is where the “why” of daily faith rhythms comes in. Spending time with God each day allows us to better sense his always-present Holy Spirit with us–in us–and ultimately know him and hear him.
Deeper Daily Rhythms
My ideal daily rhythm–in a perfect world with no tiredness, schedule conflicts, or other interruptions–would be this:
- Wake up at 7:30am
- Make a cup of coffee and cozy up on my couch with a blanket and candle
- Start my abiding time by 8am
- Read the daily plan in the YouVersion Bible app (currently I’m reading this one)
- Write out some thoughts about the Scripture
- Pray, with some combination of 2-10 minutes of silence, sensing God’s presence or voice, journaling my prayer, or simply talking to God
- Read a chapter in another book (a devotional like this, something creative like this, or something for personal growth like this)
- Do a couple Spanish lessons in Duolingo
- Slowly transition out of this time by making a healthy breakfast in the quiet of my home
- End by getting ready for my day and begin working at 10am
This nearly two hour rhythm is ideal for my faith. Note that not all two hours are spent reading the Bible and praying. In fact, probably about 20-40 minutes of this 2 hours is spent on these practices. But the whole routine is a spiritual one. It incorporates all parts of my being into intentionally creating a “set-apart” (one definition of holy) time between me and God.
On good days, I’d also add a walk or time in nature to this list. Or a great conversation with a friend, especially on issues of theology or justice.
But not every day is perfect, or even ideal. For example, one day this week I slept in until 10am! Another day, I began my routine and was so unable to focus that I quit so I could begin working to take care of the things that were bothering me. Then I did my “morning routine” at 7pm! Another day, my husband and I drove to a friend’s wedding over 4 hours away, so I read and prayed for about 5 minutes in the car.
As I said last week, daily faith rhythms are just a daily choice to not hide from God. Whether for 5 minutes or 2 hours or more, God wants to be with you. Start where and when you can. Then, continue each day where and when you can.
Okay, now that you’ve got all that background, we can get into it. Here’s a deeper look at my current daily rhythm in this season of prayer and fasting. I won’t write every single thing for the sake of time (this blog is already 3x longer than most), but you’ll still get the gist of it.
Day 1
Fast breakfast and lunch, read and meditate on Matthew 4. This dedicated time spent with God was about 1.5 hours total throughout the day.
Day 2
Fast dinner only, follow the YouVersion Bible app daily prayer prompt for extended time in silence and stillness with God. Time spent: about 1 hour.
Day 3
SABBATH! fast eating out (one of my favorite Sabbath activities), slower movement throughout the day, abiding while preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner from scratch. Time spent: over 2 hours when you count all the food prep.
Day 4
Fast breakfast and lunch, go to church, read and reflect on 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, journal my prayer. Time spent: about 1.5 hours including church.
Day 5
Fast lunch only, go on a prayer walk. Time spent: 1 hour.
Day 6
Fast dinner only, color a devotional coloring page. Time spent: 40 minutes.
Day 7
Fast scrolling Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, attended a community prayer gathering, listened to the 24 Hour Prayer Room while working. Time spent: hard to calculate while drifting in and out of prayer throughout my work day.
Day 8
Fast dinner, read Genesis 15 in the car. Time spent: 5 minutes.
Day 9
Fast lunch, sit outside with my husband reading, journaling, and praying. Time spent: a little more than 1 hour.
And that brings us to today, which is another fast of scrolling.
I choose what to fast each day through sensing what God might be inviting me to give up. Sometimes this happens the night before, sometimes the morning of. It usually comes as a thought that passes through my mind as if it was already decided, even if I hear it as a “what if.” It’s like the thought has been there waiting for me to think it. Sometimes I feel warmth or pressure on my back, but not often. It’s hard to describe exactly, but I just know.
I think intuition has a bigger role to play in discerning the voice of Holy Spirit than we might like to admit. Because human thoughts can’t always be trusted. However, the more time we spend abiding in God’s love daily, the easier it is to discern when these inspired ideas are worth trusting, coming from the source of life through us and into the world. We are part of God’s creation, and Holy Spirit lives inside of us after all. God uses us to create new life all the time–babies, businesses, anytime something new is birthed we are co-creating with God. So why wouldn’t our intuition also be part of this co-creation?
You Can Hear God, Too
I’ll end this already very long blog post with a journal entry, when “one day” became “Day 1.” Sometimes I sense God best by asking questions. Not because he gives me the answer, but because he invites the question.
Read how my thoughts turned into questions, questions turned into faithful action.
How beautiful that as I enter into a day of fasting and prayer, the chapter in my Bible plan is about when Jesus fasted for 40 days and was tempted (Matthew 4). Thank you, God, for this gift. I feed on your word today for my sustenance → “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3
Remember. Humble and test to know what’s in my heart. Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. This chapter lists out our biggest temptations, ones that Jesus even needed tending to by the angels after. God, I want to resist like Jesus did, choosing you every time. After this 40 days of prayer and fasting, Jesus’ ministry began. Do I need to enter into an extended time of fasting and prayer? Would I see breakthroughs in my ministry? Exactly 40 days from today I leave for Costa Rica. What does this extended fast look like? What is my focus? Or do I not plan it too much, submitting even my ideas and plans to God? Confession and repentance. Abiding that supports others. I sacrifice while others can’t.
May I become more conscious of your presence. May I become more like you and less like me with every moment I spend in your presence.
