Return

This message confronts us with a powerful question: what has our undivided attention? Drawing from the book of Joel, we're reminded that even when we've wandered far from God, His invitation remains: 'Even now, return to me.' The prophet Joel uses the devastating image of locusts consuming everything in sight to illustrate how judgment approaches, yet emphasizes that it's never too late to come back. The call to fasting isn't about religious performance or earning God's favor, but about intentionally removing distractions so we can hear His voice again. Just as we might feel uncomfortable visiting a friend while constantly checking our phones, our relationship with God suffers when we allow the noise of life to drown out His presence. The most striking insight comes from Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness, where His hunger wasn't primarily physical but spiritual. He was hungry for His Father. The challenge presented here is deeply relevant: 71% of us check our phones within 10 minutes of waking up, and 59% would feel relieved with less social media exposure. Our screen time is stealing our Jesus time. This seven-day fast from technology isn't about legalism but about saying 'here's my heart, Lord' and meaning it. When we disconnect from our devices and reconnect through daily Scripture reading and prayer, we create space for God to perform heart surgery, removing the things that have made us adversaries to Him and transforming us from the inside out.