Day 4: Draw Near to God
40 Days of Prayer & Fasting
Prayer Focus: Hunger for His Presence
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
James 4:8 ESV
Day 1, we prayed: “Lord, search me.”
Day 2: “Lord, cleanse me.”
Day 3: “Lord, I surrender.”
Today, our prayer becomes:
“Lord, I want more of You.”
Consecration isn't only about what we turn away from. It is also about Who we are turning toward.
We can remove distractions, repent of sin, surrender our plans, and discipline ourselves through fasting, but the purpose of all of it is greater intimacy with God.
We are making room for His presence.
Fasting Is About Hunger
During these 40 days, especially as we fast together, it would be easy to focus primarily on what we're giving up.
But biblical fasting isn't simply about going without food.
The physical hunger we experience should remind us of a deeper hunger:
Our need for God.
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone…” (Matthew 4:4 ESV).
There is a hunger that another meal cannot satisfy.
There is a thirst that success cannot satisfy.
There is an emptiness that entertainment, possessions, relationships, accomplishments, and even religious activity cannot fill.
We were created for the presence of God.
David expressed this hunger in Psalm 63, describing his soul as thirsting for God and his flesh fainting for Him in a dry and weary land.
Psalm 63:1
That's the kind of hunger I want us to develop during these 40 days.
Not simply:
“God, give me something.”
But:
“God, I want You.”
Don't Let the Routine Replace the Relationship
We can become very good at doing Christian things while slowly losing our hunger for Christ.
We attend church.
We serve.
We worship.
We read Scripture.
We pray.
We fulfill responsibilities.
And all of those things are important. But it is possible for spiritual disciplines to become routine while our hearts become distant.
Jesus addressed a church in Revelation that was doing many things correctly but had “abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4 ESV)
That's worth examining during a season of consecration.
Have I become accustomed to God's presence?
Do I still hunger for Him?
Do I still make room for Him when nobody is watching?
Do I want to hear His voice simply because I love Him, or only when I need direction?
Today isn't primarily about asking God to give us more.
It's about asking Him to awaken more hunger within us for Him.
His Presence Must Lead Us
This matters deeply for Harvest in the season ahead.
Moses understood something we must understand.
God could give Israel the destination. He could give them provision. He could give them victory. But Moses recognized that none of it was worth having without God's presence.
His response was essentially:
If Your presence doesn't go with us, don't send us from here.
Exodus 33:15
That needs to become part of the heart of these 40 days.
We don't simply want a successful move.
We don't simply want another location.
We don't simply want larger gatherings.
We don't simply want good services.
We don't simply want our plans to work.
We want His presence.
If God is leading Harvest into new territory, then His presence must be what leads us there.
And before we seek His presence corporately, each of us should hunger for His presence personally.
Today's Prayer Focus
Awaken My Hunger
Ask God to restore a genuine hunger and thirst for Him.
Remove My Distractions
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything consuming attention that should belong to God.
Restore My First Love
If your relationship with the Lord has become routine, ask Him to renew the passion you once had.
Teach Me to Wait
Don't rush through prayer today. Spend time simply being with the Lord.
Lead Us by Your Presence
Pray that Harvest would never move ahead of God or settle for anything less than His presence leading us.
Today's Prayer
Father, today I draw near to You.
More than answers, provision, opportunities, or blessings, I want You.
Awaken a deeper hunger for Your presence within me. Forgive me for the times I have allowed distractions, responsibilities, or even routine to take the place of intimacy with You.
Restore my first love. Give me a heart that thirsts for You and desires to know You more.
And Lord, let this become the heart of Harvest. As You lead us into new territory, we don't want to go anywhere Your presence isn't leading.
We don't want simply to build something for You.
We want to walk with You.
Teach us to recognize Your presence, hear Your voice, and follow wherever You lead.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Additional Scriptures
Psalm 63:1–8 — A soul that thirsts for God.
Matthew 5:6 — Hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Exodus 33:14–15 — Refusing to move without God's presence.
Revelation 2:4–5 — Returning to our first love.
Psalm 42:1–2 — Longing for the living God.
Today's Challenge
Set aside 15 minutes today with no agenda.
Don't begin with your list of needs.
Put away your phone and remove distractions.
Spend those minutes simply worshiping, waiting, listening, and drawing near to God.
Ask Him:
“Lord, awaken a greater hunger for Your presence in me.”
Day 1: Lord, search me.
Day 2: Lord, cleanse me.
Day 3: Lord, I surrender.
Day 4: Lord, I want more of You.
