April 6: Weekly Focus

Published April 6, 2026
A graphic for a 2026 Bible reading plan with a leafless tree in a yellow field. Text reads 'daily reminders: daily practices for spiritual growth'.

April - Fasting

Fasting is the practice of giving up food or another form of comfort to seek God in a deeper way. It is not about earning God’s approval but about drawing near to Him with humility and dependence. Through fasting, we remember that our true nourishment comes from God alone, and we make space to listen more fully to His voice. This month we focus on fasting as a way of realigning our hearts with God after the joy of Easter, grounding ourselves in His presence and provision.

Week of April 6- Week 14

Reading:

1Then, accompanied by the Spirit, Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1–4 (NLT)

Jesus shows us that fasting is not about physical strength but about spiritual dependence. In fasting, He leaned fully on God’s Word and presence.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What do you notice about Jesus’ response to the devil during fasting?
  2. How does fasting create room for God’s Word in your life?
  3. Where do you need to rely more on God than physical comfort?
  4. How might fasting deepen your awareness of God’s presence?
  5. What step can you take this week to practice fasting in a way that honors God?

Why this matters for life today:

Fasting is not about impressing others or proving our strength. It is about removing distractions to focus on God. When we set aside something we normally depend on, we discover how much we actually depend on Him to fill us and sustain us.

Take it Deeper:

·      God taught the Israelites to rely on His Word as their true bread of life.

2Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:2–3 (NLT)

·      Jesus is the bread of life who satisfies every spiritual hunger.

35Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 (NLT)