rhythms of grace

Dear Church Family,

This Sunday in Rhythms of Grace, we leaned into the quiet but powerful practice of fasting.

A few years ago I stood in Sequoia National Park, looking up at trees that tower over 250 feet tall. Their visible strength is stunning. But what surprised me most was what you cannot see.

Giant sequoias have shallow roots, often only 6 to 12 feet deep. Their strength does not come from going deep in one place. It comes from spreading wide and staying interconnected.

What is unseen sustains what is seen.

Spiritual formation often works the same way. Quiet. Hidden. Slow. Fasting is one of those hidden practices that God uses to form us over time.

Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:Come to me. Take my yoke. Learn from me. Find rest.

Genuine growth is gradual. And genuine growth is intentional, not accidental.

Fasting is not about earning God’s attention. It is about giving God our attention. It is the practice of setting aside something good to make space for something greater, more of Jesus.

Why fasting matters
Throughout Scripture, God’s people fast when they are:
• Seeking guidance
• Repenting and returning
• Hungering for more of God

What we deny in the body can deepen devotion in the soul. Feasting fills the stomach. Fasting forms the soul.

If you are considering stepping into a fast this week, start simple:

Three things to decide
• What will you fast from
• When and how long
• Why you are seeking God

Start where you are, not where someone else is.

As a church, we also invite you to engage the Rhythms of Grace journal. It is designed to guide you intentionally through prayer, fasting, and formation during this season.

No matter who you are or where you have been, God is not waiting to expose you in the hidden places. He is waiting to meet you there.

Final thought

We do not fast to get something from God. We fast to get more of God.