Friday 20th February 

Matthew 9: 14 - 17 (NRSVA)

The Question about Fasting

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often,[c] but your disciples do not fast?’ 15 And Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.’

God's Holy word for us today - Amen
 

Questions to Ponder

Is this a time for learning what true fasting means? (Being mindful of our needs especially medically)

Fasting means abstaining from food or drink, to focus on spiritual growth. Fasting and praying were often linked together – Acts 13:3 and Acts 14:23- and often associated with making decisions. 

True fasting is an enabler for focussing on God instead of the things of the world. Are we giving time to God this Lent?
 
Prayer

My God, may I always be aware of you in my everyday life. Teach me how to have a closer walk with you and help me this Lent to draw near to you,
listen to your word to me and act upon it. Amen.

Call to Action 

Donate three items to the foodbank this week

Song: Faithful God