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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Alright - that's IT!

I was reading Prophetic Evangelism by Sean Smith last night, and was hit by how Jesus and the disciples (later on in Acts) would fast...and then they would be filled with the Spirit and go out and do all sorts of crazy awesome God-stuff.

Guys. I need to fast.

I WANT to fast.

I HAVE fasted before, and it was amazing. So why don't I do it more often? Why is it always such a "special occasion" that prompts me to do it?

I'm realizing I need to make it a regular part of my lifestyle, so that I will be regularly filled with the power and love of God.

Every time I start thinking about making fasting a regular part of my life, though, I get worried....I'm so busy. I've got so much going on. I need my strength. I need to be alert. I can't just go off for a day or even a morning and just BE with God and have no food.  Or can I?

And so, I'm struggle with these feelings and thoughts, and I'm praying about it.  I need God's strength in order to live a radical life for Him. I can't do this without His help.

It's weird - being desperate about anything else in life is a horrible feeling, but being desperate for God - now that is the most incredible feeling in the world.

3 comments:

  1. wow every post I'm reading of yours is hitting so close to home! You say you wonder if anyone out there is reading, well know that I AM! :) I know the Lord has brought me to your blog for a reason.

    Being desperate for God IS the most incredible feeling in the world! Because He designed us that way...he designed us to desire Him..my soul pants for Him!

    The last month or so the Lord has laid it on my heart that I NEED to fast. I MUST! Especially in this time, I realize the only way I will get the direction and guidance I need from the Holy Spirit is if I lay aside my own selfish wants and pursue Him wholeheartedly! I am desperate for Him and I know the only way I can break through this barrier to know Him more is through prayer and fasting! My aunt got a book about fasting and Kala and I just started reading it over the weekend. I don't fully understand it, but I want to know more about it! Kala and I were talking about how we always make excuses why now isn't a good time to fast...there's a birthday coming up or a party or holiday or whatever. We need to JUST DO IT! My aunt was on a 40 day fast last summer and she said she was also concerned about not having the energy to go to work every day...but a couple weeks ago she told me the Lord gave her more energy than she ever had in her life during that fast! praise Jesus! And she was even running around with children all day at the day care where she worked. I think it's really important to be led by the Spirit when it comes to fasting...to make sure it's Him leading us to do it and we're doing it for the right reasons. also, I think the Spirit needs to lead us in HOW to do it.

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  2. I'm so glad you're reading. Having readers encourages me to get my thoughts and feelings out there. You know - I'm such an in-process Christian. I've been taught this stuff my whole life but am only now getting really serious about it. I've always been serious about God, but didn't know how to "get there". I've realized now that I just didn't want it bad enough back then, and that it's not about "getting there" - I'm already there! I have full access to all of God's love and amazingess. He wants me to boldly approach the throne. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." God wants to equip us NOW - he's not waiting for us to "get it right", and that's the truth that I needed to realize. I needed to find out that the best time to live a radical lifestyle for God is NOW.
    I'm tired of making excuses, too! Let me know if you fast anytime soon, and how that goes. I want to hear all about how God blesses you for that act of faith - because it really is an act of faith. It's saying, "Look God, I'm not going to eat because you said I can feast on your Word, so I'm going to do that, and see what you speak to me." And then he is faithful to meet us. God wants us to test him in his promises - "Taste and see that the Lord is good!"

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  3. YES, BOLDLY APPROACH THE THRONE! ahh that's beautiful. I guess I too am finally at the point where I'm so utterly and completely desperate for more of God. I never really wanted Him like this. And now I do and I won't stop until I get more of Him! I am so excited to feast on His Holy Word and taste and see that He is good!

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