Many times, we tend to get so used to religious exercises like prayers and fasting that we lose sight of the transformation it can bring to our lives. There was a time recorded in scriptures where a fast was called and as the people gathered in unity, in oneness of heart to seek God concerning their current situation and God honored their gathering, responded to them, and brought immediate restoration to their lives.

Joel 2:15-16
New King James Version
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;

16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.

The Prophet Joel told the people in Judah to consecrate themselves to a fast; he called a holy assembly of all the people in Judah to present themselves unto the LORD. As the people fasted and offered prayers to God, scripture shows how God responded to them.
Let’s read further.

Joel 2:25-27
New King James Version
25 So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.

27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.

All that had been lost due to their own shortcomings was restored to them because of the mercy of God! And because they consecrated themselves to God by waiting on Him, fasting, and praying to Him. They had their hearts open and ready, and God restored them.

Why is this important?

This is important because it brings to your consciousness that fasting in scripture wasn’t just a casual religious exercise that people carried out to feel spiritual. It yielded real results! You can see from this example and many more in the Bible, how anytime people gathered unto God in unity of heart and mind, in fasting and prayers, God responded.

This is the reason why time was taken in the previous week to emphasize preparation for this fasting week. The aim was that your heart would be in the right posture to receive what God can and will do in your life during the fasting week. This period is not just about abstaining from food and other pleasures; it is about a heart posturing that is ready to receive from Him.

You need to learn to have a fervent and intentional approach towards fasting. You need to understand that it is an experience that can transform your life and change your current situation.

And today, our main focus is on restoration. God wants to remind you through this devotional today that He is always with you.

Many times, life’s trials, distractions, and disappointments make it seem like God is distant, silent, or unconcerned.
Yet, in scriptures, we are consistently reminded that God has not moved away; rather, it is often our hearts and focus that wander and shift to other things.

This week of fasting is an opportunity to bring your focus back to God as your source, your strength, and joy. Through His Word and Spirit, He is reminding you that He is always close.

Psalm 34:18
New International Version
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit

God does not distance Himself from the brokenhearted; He draws near. In fact, throughout the Scriptures, God’s proximity to us has never been determined by our feelings but by His covenant faithfulness.
Israel often felt abandoned in moments of hardship, yet God reminded them through His prophets:

Isaiah 41:10
New King James Version
10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”

The exile, the wilderness, the storms; all of these seasons tested their perception of God’s presence with them. But He was always there.
Likewise, if your heart feels distant or weary, God is reminding you through His Word that He is present. He has not abandoned you.

Joel 2:12-13
New King James Version
12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.

This text shows us what God is truly after — our hearts. He says, “rend your heart, not your garment.” He wasn’t focused on their acts but their hearts.
Therefore, this fast is not about impressing God with your discipline, works, or effort. It is about saying, “Lord, my heart belongs to You again. Remove every distraction, every idol, and every doubt that has shifted my gaze away from You.” And may that be your testimony this week. Amen!

One of the biggest lies the enemy constantly tries to tell us is that we can live independently of God, that we can make it on our own strength, wisdom, or resources. But special seasons of fasting like this should remind you that God is your source.

Special seasons of devotion like this can help restore your devotional fire. It can get you back to where you ought to be. This just might be God’s intervention program to save the devotional lives of many of us.

If you’ve been feeling like you are too far from him, well the word of God testifies otherwise in;

Ephesians 2:13
New King James Version
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

This closeness is not something we must strive to earn; it is a gift of grace.
When our hearts drift, Christ restores.
When we feel weak, He strengthens.
When we think God is far, be reminded of His promise in scripture that says, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Often, the distance we feel from God is not physical but mental. Our thoughts, anxieties, and worldly distractions cloud our awareness of His presence. And so, the scripture says:

Romans 12:2
New King James Version
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Through prayer, fasting, and meditating on Scripture, our minds are renewed. We begin to see that God is not distant but intimately involved in our daily lives. Our focus shifts from self-reliance to dependence on God, from fear to faith, from despair to hope.

It is a season to put aside every distraction, whether habits, worries, or sins, that have drawn your focus away from God, surrendering them fully to Him. It is a time to pray the Word, holding firmly to the promises in Scriptures and allowing them to anchor your faith on the truth that “God is near”.

If you have been distant or misaligned with God, this is a charge to you today to have a confident belief that by the end of this week, your heart will be renewed and your focus sharpened towards God as your true source of life and strength.

The God we serve is not far. He is near, He is present, and He is calling us back to a place of intimacy with Him. In this fasting week, God wants to heal wandering hearts, remind us of His nearness, and re-establish Himself as our source of life.
As you seek Him with sincerity, remember His promise also: “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Again, let this be the testimony of your week: that your heart has been restored to focus on God, and that you have discovered that He is never far, but always near.

Prayer Point
Lord Jesus, as this fast begins, I declare that I become overwhelmed with the assurance of your ever-abiding presence. Help me identify everything that has distracted me from you and help me put it away. Let this season yield restoration in my walk with you, let there be more fire and delight in my devotion.