Fasting God’s Way: Aligning the Heart 💗

 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter…?”Isaiah 58:6–7

Fasting is not about losing weight. It is not about skipping meals without purpose. And it is not about looking spiritual. Biblical fasting is about heart alignment.

God makes it clear in Isaiah 58 that fasting without repentance, forgiveness, and compassion does not move heaven. We can fast from food and still be full of pride, offense, bitterness, and unforgiveness. True fasting begins inside. Before we lay food aside, God asks us to lay down: Unforgiveness, Pride, Harsh words, Hidden resentment. Isaiah reminds us that the fast God chooses breaks chains not just in the spiritual realm, but in our hearts, our families, and our relationships. If we fast but refuse to forgive, we miss the purpose. If we fast but continue to wound with our words, we miss the power. If we fast but ignore the hurting around us, we miss God’s heart. This is why fasting and prayer must go together with forgiveness and humility. As families, this is a powerful moment to teach our children: To say “I’m sorry” To forgive quickly, To love deeply, To serve others willingly. When our hearts align with God’s heart, fasting becomes a doorway for healing, freedom, and breakthrough. 

Family Heart Check: Is there anyone we need to forgive before or during this fast? Are our words building or tearing down? How can our family show compassion during these 21 days?

Prayer of Alignment

Lord, We do not want to fast in vain. Search our hearts and reveal anything that does not please You. Help us forgive as You have forgiven us. Teach us to love, serve, and walk in humility.  May this fast break every yoke in our lives and in our homes. Align our hearts with Yours. In Jesus’ name,  Amen!  🦋

January Reset: A 21-Day Invitation to Fasting & Prayer

 Daniel 10:12  NKJV 12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” — Joshua 3:5. January 2026 is not just the start of a new year—it is a spiritual doorway. “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you”. (Joshua 3:5)

Before Israel crossed into the promise, God did not tell them to rush forward. He told them to consecrate themselves first. Fasting and prayer are not religious rituals; they are acts of surrender. They realign our hearts with heaven before we take another step. For the next 21 days, we are inviting families—mothers and daughters, parents and children—to pause, humble themselves, and seek God intentionally. Fasting teaches us that we do not live by bread alone. Prayer reminds us that we are never walking alone. This is not about perfection. It is about positioning. During these 21 days, we lay down distractions. We silence the noise. We teach our children that seeking God comes first, not last. Some fast food. Some fast social media. Some fast complaining, fear, or negative words. Whatever we lay down, we lift Jesus higher. When families pray together, chains break. When children see parents fast, faith is planted. When homes seek God, atmospheres shift. This January, we are not entering the year rushed or distracted—we are entering it consecrated. In Butterfly by Grace Mommy and daughter blog we like to have a Family Invitation as we open 2026. We invite you to join us for 21 days of fasting and prayer: Seek God daily as a family.  Pray over your home, your children, and your future. Ask God for direction, healing, and alignment. Even a few minutes a day can change everything.

Family Reflection: What is God asking our family to lay down for these 21 days? How can we make prayer a daily family habit? What are we believing in God for this year?

Closing Prayer

Father God, We dedicate this month and this year to You. Search our hearts, cleanse our minds, and align our steps. Teach us to hunger for You more than anything else. As we fast and pray, let our homes be filled with Your presence, our children rooted in truth,
and our families strengthened in faith. We step into this year consecrated, committed, and covered. In Jesus’, Amen!

Entering the Ark: A New Year Devotional for Families 2026

 “The Lord then said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.’”

— Genesis 7:1

As we step into a new year, 2026 God is still calling families—just like He called Noah—not to blend in with the noise of the world, but to enter the ark.

The ark was not popular. It was not understood. It was built in obedience before the rain ever fell. Yet the ark became a place of protection, obedience, and salvation. Today, the world is loud. Values are shifting. Truth is questioned. But God is once again inviting families to make a decision: Will we enter the ark together? The ark represents choosing God’s voice over culture.  It represents covering our children in prayer. It represents saying, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Entering the ark means: Choosing faith over fear Truth over compromise Obedience over convenience. This year, we are not chasing trends—we are chasing God. We are teaching our children that grace gives us wings, but obedience keeps us safe. Mommies and daughters, fathers and sons—this is the year to build spiritual habits, speak life over one another, and walk hand in hand into God’s covering. The door of the ark is still open. The invitation is still being extended. But the time to enter is now. 2026 is the year for families to reflect and awake. What does “entering the ark” look like for our family this year? How can we protect our hearts and our children’s faith? What distractions do we need to leave outside? In Butterfly by Grace Mommy and daughter blog as we enter 2026 we invite you to enter the ark. Lets pray!

Closing Prayer

Lord,

 As we begin this new year, we choose You. We choose obedience over comfort and faith over fear. Cover our families, our children, and our homes. Teach us to hear Your voice and walk in Your ways. We step into the ark—not alone, but together—trusting You to lead us, protect us, and transform us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.