Text: Acts 13:1-3
Memory text:
“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Some think that fasting is more about bombarding the heaven with the list of prayer requests. They consider time spent in praise and worship during fasting as a waste. No, the most fruitful fast is the one soaked in praise and worship.
“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”” ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬).
The NIV has it like this:
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said..”
These leaders gathered together while fasting to minister to the Lord. They were there to just worship. To minister is to serve or worship. They set aside their own needs to serve God, that is, giving Him pleasure.
Fasting silences distractions while worship focuses your affection on God. Fasting weakens the flesh; worship awakens the spirit. When you fast, you make room for God, but when you worship, you invite God to fill the room. Your fasting quiets the noise, and your worship tunes your heart to heaven.
Worship plus fasting creates an atmosphere for divine direction. God spoke while they worshiped and fasted, not afterward. Confusion disappeared, and clarity appeared. God’s voice becomes distinct and direction increases when affection and discipline unite.
Fasting with worship makes you spiritually sensitive. They heard the Holy Spirit because their spirits were tuned. They were not distracted. God speaks clearly when we give undivided attention. You cannot hear clearly from a noisy heart. Worship purifies the atmosphere; fasting purifies the vessel. Fasting removes what competes with God; worship magnifies God.
Fasting becomes mere ritual, if all you are interested in is your pleasure and not His pleasure; you fast just to demand punishment for all your enemies. However, it becomes a relationship if you focus more on worship. Fasting with worship becomes encounter because worship shifts fasting from mere discipline to devotion.
Friends, aside from allocating quality time for personal praise and worship during fasting periods, dedicate at least a day to ask for nothing, except to just worship. Then, your heavens will break open over you and confusion and self-will will fizzle out. You will receive specific instructions concerning your life and ministry.

Prayer points
1. Father, draw my heart into true worship as I fast and let worship open my spirit to Your voice and leading, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, let me experience clarity, and direction as I minister to You in fasting, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. As I fast and worship, my spirit becomes sensitive to God’s voice and the atmosphere around me shifts; peace, joy, and presence fill my space.
2. My inner life is healed, restored, and strengthened. I walk in clarity, direction, and divine alignment through worship.