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.
As we walk with the Lord, we often find ourselves on familiar streets of habit, thought, and attitude. Sometimes, without even realizing it, we’ve wandered down paths of pride, unforgiveness, distraction, or self-reliance. The call of this season, especially in our fasting, is not just to deny ourselves food, but to turn a corner. True repentance is exactly that: a decisive turn. It’s leaving the old street behind and stepping onto the new path God has prepared and continuously speaking His truth into our lives.
But how do we identify what needs to change? This is where the Fruit-to-Root Tool becomes a practical gift. The tool helps us identify sinful behaviors (“unhealthy fruit”), trace them back to the underlying lies or unbelief (“the root”), and then replace those lies with Gospel truth. This process leads to repentance and allows the Holy Spirit to produce His good fruit in our lives. Growing in repentance also helps us to grow in our Gospel fluency, as we learn to catch ourselves and speak truth to ourselves.
When you sense an unhealthy “fruit,” pause and prayerfully ask: What lie am I believing right now? You might trace irritability back to a root of “I must be in control,” or a feeling of anxiety that “God is not good in this situation”. Repentance happens at this root level. We confess the unbelief, recognizing how it grieves God’s hearts and impacts our fellowship with Him, and turn to the truth of the Gospel: “God is sovereign and trustworthy. My peace is found in Him.” The heart of repentance is the act of surrendering the small, false gods of our self-reliance and unbelief at the feet of the living God, not to improve ourselves, but to restore the relationship our lies have broken.
Try this tool today! Repentance becomes a daily rhythm of turning from lies and turning toward the liberating truth of who God is and who you are in Christ. As the prophet Joel reminds us, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” (Joel 2:13). Repentance leads us directly into the refuge of His lovingkindness. And as we turn, we find the beautiful promise of 1 John 1:9 is true: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is how we grow. Not by perfect performance, but by faithful turning again and again into His loving arms.
Reflection and Application
- Apply the Fruit-to-Root Tool today! What specific “unhealthy fruit” (e.g a reaction, a feeling, a situation that happened) that might signal for you to “turn the corner” in repentance?
- Share your Fruit-to-Root Tool reflection with someone today! Ask them to pray for you and speak truth into your life.
Prayer Requests – PolyU
- Personal experience of the Gospel through listening to God and obeying in steps of faith
- Hearts to be burdened for the lost and our campus
- For more younger sisters who are hungry and excited for the gospel and community
Click here for full devotional link and other pre-fasting materials!