One Desire Fast is HMCC’s annual fast so we can start off the year hearing from God, both individually and as a church. This year’s theme is Locked In.
We’re in the final stretch of the fast! It’s the first time we are doing a 20 day fast as a church, how has this fast been different? Were there moments we nearly gave up, or wished it were shorter? Maybe now we’re just pushing through, or wondering if it was enough. These last days may feel the hardest, as our longing for routine or comfort grows sharper with the finish line in sight. It’s here, in this stretched posture, that we need to ask: Was this just a short-term commitment, or have we been developing a muscle for long-term faithfulness? What will we do when the structure of the fast is lifted?
As Paul exhorts, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). The “doing good” is the long-term investment. The “harvest” is the lasting impact. You have practiced not growing weary in the “doing good” of fasting. Now, you are poised to apply that endurance to other fields – your community, your finances, your workplace, your school, etc.
This discipline stands in contrast to the world’s rhythm. Short-term giving seeks immediate relief – it’s like providing temporary shelter from a storm. Long-term giving seeks lasting change – it’s the work of constructing a safe home. It’s the discipleship that slowly transforms a life, the consistent generosity that sustains a ministry, the daily choice that rebuilds a marriage. This fast has trained us for exactly that kind of endurance. The perseverance we built each day we chose to continue is the very same muscle required for a lifetime of faithful, impactful giving.
Perhaps we have already seen God’s answered prayers during this fast, don’t forget to write those down and give thanks! Or maybe you’re still waiting, don’t stop praying. Just as we learned on Day 4 – Grow in Prayer, prayer is like a seed planted in hidden soil. We may not see the sprout right away, but God is at work beneath the surface. Fasting aligns our hearts with His and it tunes our desires to His eternal purposes. This is why we pray without ceasing and invest without growing weary. We trust in an eternal perspective, knowing that what is sown in faith will yield a harvest in God’s perfect timing.
What if the next generation of people can come to know Christ because of your investment? True impact often requires our patience and perseverance. The harvest Paul promises comes “at the proper time”, which is rarely our time. We may not see immediate fruit from a coffee meet-up, a faithful serving opportunity, or a prayer sown in secret. This fast has taught us to persevere without instant reward, to trust the hidden work God is doing in us and through us. Imagine the long-term yield: a community strengthened, a family healed, a future generation finding faith because we did not give up doing good today.
As this fast concludes, continually ask: How can you continue the habits/spiritual discipline you have developed? Where is God calling me to shift from short-term investment to long-term investment? What can I begin planting today with the faithfulness I’ve developed? Choose to develop faithfulness into a world hungry for more than temporary fixes! Let’s give and invest in eternal things and create a lasting impact.
Reflection and Application
- Looking back over this season of fasting, identify one moment or area where you shifted from merely “following the dos and don’ts” to truly “feasting” on God’s presence. How did that shift change your experience?
- Galatians 6:9 calls us to not grow weary in “doing good.” Consider your current five dimensions of life (Self, Church, Family, School/Work, Neighbors), Where have you felt most “weary” or tempted to disengage from long-term, faithful investment? What next steps can you take to continue doing good?
Prayer Requests – Covenant
- For our family’s foundation in Christ to continue to deepen.
- For strong discipleship relationships among ourselves and with those around us.
- For opportunities to reach out and be the light to families in our Kwun Tong community.
Click here for full devotional link and other pre-fasting materials!