Deuteronomy 18:1-3 (ESV)
“The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the LORD’s food offerings as their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them. And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.”zra 8:23 (NIV)"So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and He heard our prayer."

Devotion
Rather than giving a land inheritance to the tribe of Levi, the Lord provided them with sustenance through the offerings of the sacrifice of the other tribes. They gave up their right to own land, which is the way they provided for their families, and trusted in the Lord for their provisions. However, when we go to our High Priest, Jesus Christ and surrender to him through fasting and prayer, we depend on his love and mercy for our provisions.
Looking at the portion of offering from the verses above, which was required to be given to the priest, let’s look at what each section represents. The shoulders represent the burdens and heaviness of life. As we go to our High Priest over the course of this fast, He takes our heavy burdens upon Himself. Isaiah 58:6, affirms us that in our fast, He will undo the heavy burdens, set the oppressed free, and break every yoke. What a promise from our Heavenly Father! It is His desire to help us through all life’s struggles.
The cheeks represent the offenses which we carry. We’ve all been through situations where we have been hurt; mentally, physically, emotionally, but possibly still carry unforgiveness in our hearts toward them. When we fast and pray daily, we draw closer to our Savior and begin to have His heart for others, learn to pray for them, and truly walk in forgiveness for past and future offences.
The stomach is representative of giving our appetites and hunger to the Lord. When we fast, we are giving Him our flesh. We are saying to God that we are willing to set aside our own provisions and desires for a cleansing from Him. As we fast, pray, and study His word, we are showing Him that we are so hungry for Him and a closeness to Him that we are willing to give up our fleshly desires to achieve that desire.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
As I step into day two of my fast, I want to begin by surrendering my life and my family to You and offering You praise, honor, and thanksgiving. I can’t even begin to count the times I’ve seen Your hand in an array of situations in our lives, even when I saw no way to victory. In admiration of You, I truly have a heart to draw closer to You than ever before. More than anything else, I ask that You cleanse my family and me from all unrighteousness and create within us clean hearts and strong desires to pursue an intimate relationship with You all the days of our lives. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Keep a journal as you fast. As He speaks to you through His Spirit, write down all that He gives you, whether it’s a word of encouragement, changes you need to make, or scriptures that resonate with you, and be sure to include every detail. For encouragement, read through it as reminders throughout this year.
Resources:
Reading through the New Testament: Today’s reading - Matthew 11-20

21-Day Fasting Journey with Jentezen Franklin
Comments