THE FAST DAILY DEVOTION | “ONE WORD AWAY”; DAY ONE
Sunday, January 4
Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Devotion
Jesus spoke these words in the wilderness, hungry, tired, and under pressure. The enemy tempted Him to turn stones into bread, appealing to His physical need and immediate relief. But Jesus responded with a powerful truth: life is not sustained by bread alone, but by the Word of God.
In other words, what God says matters more than what we feel, what we see, or what we lack.
As we begin this 21-day Fast, many are coming in weary. Some are praying prayers they’ve prayed before. Some are fighting discouragement. Others are quietly wondering, “Will anything ever change?”
This Fast begins with a simple but profound reminder: You are one word away.
Throughout Scripture, we see moments where everything changed because God spoke.
Mary was an ordinary young woman when an angel delivered an extraordinary word. The future of humanity hung in the balance, and her response was simple yet powerful: “Be it unto me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38)
That one word, promise, changed her life forever. Faith wasn’t found in understanding everything; it was found in trusting what God said.
The Roman centurion came to Jesus desperate for his servant’s healing. He didn’t ask Jesus to come to his house. Instead, he said: “Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8)
Jesus marveled at his faith. The healing didn’t require proximity, only a word. And that word traveled farther and faster than any physical presence ever could.
At creation, God didn’t wrestle with darkness, He spoke to it. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
Darkness did not argue. Chaos did not resist. One word from God brought order, beauty, and life.
This Fast is not about earning God’s favor. It’s about positioning your heart to hear Him. When we deny ourselves natural bread, we declare that God’s Word is our true source of life. Believe His Word still carries power. Believe that what He says has the final authority over what you see.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
As we begin this Fast, we quiet our hearts before You. We confess that we have looked for life in many places, but today we declare that Your Word is our true sustenance. Speak, Lord, one word from You is enough to bring light to our darkness, strength to our weakness, and hope to our waiting. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
As you fast, let this be your daily confession:
I am not empty—I am expectant.
I am not stuck—I am positioned.
I am not forgotten—I am one word away.
Resources
- Let's make 2026 the year where our pursuit of God deepens like never before. Join the Fast .