8/3/13

After some arguing with God for about 2 or 3 months I finally gave in. He had been prompting me to do a fast. On August 1st I said, "Okay, God! I will go on a 2-week fast!" At this point I had not told anyone about his fast, mostly just hoping it would go away. Then about noon on Thursday I decided to call my mom and tell her that I needed some prayer and support while I do this fast. She suggested I call my pastor's wife to get further prayer support there. I called Randy about my two week fast, she prayed for me over the phone and then I felt a lot better, but I knew in my heart I was still not listening to God completely. After work that day I got home and started researching fasting on the internet. I read about this man, and quite a few others, that did a 40 day fast. That word just kept ringing in my ears like a loud alarm. 40! 40! 40! 40! 40! Then I finally buckled to my compromise. God had told me to do a 40 day fast and I compromised with 14 days. One thing I've learned in life is that you can compromise with God if you want to live in the fullness that he has for you.

Why fasting? In the last 10 years I have fasted intermittently for a day hear and there and even up to three days. I've also participated in a 10 day cleansing every once in a while, but never for this long of a time. There are many benefits of fasting in the short term and the long term. Some fast for a meal, or 1 day, 3 days, 2 weeks, 40 days, etc. In fact, we fast every night whether we realize it or not when we sleep. While sleeping our bodies go into "fasting mode" where in it releases toxins that we have acquired during the day. Some fast to kickstart weight loss, or to just "hit the reset button" on their entire system to feel better and have more energy. However, fasting is much more than a physical thing. It's a spiritual thing. It slows us down so we can hear from our Father, whom we are too often so busy we don't understand all that he has for us. It's an act of humility that we take, saying, "Father, I will sacrifice my wants and let YOU meet all of my needs. Please let me grow closer to you." We not only fast for ourselves, but on behalf of our loved ones, our community, our country, the world.

Since I was a child I have been called into ministry, but have varied from that path multiple times due to selfish desires and distractions. Recently, however, I have been working at a counseling agency where I work closely with people to help them grow. This has been a crucial step in my growth and understanding of people and their need of a relationship with God. I know I have been put here for a purpose, but there is always something more. God wants us to push forward to the next thing he has fore us. When we get uncomfortable it becomes dangerous. So, all that being said, I have committed these 40 days to understand God's will for my life and to pray for those I love.

Jesus,
I pray that You speak to me in these next days that I would hear Your voice. I pray that You would bring me closer to you. Let me learn about You and cherish You in a deeper way. I want to fall deeper in love with You. Please give me new insight to the next step in my life. Do Your will with my loved ones, Father, that you will bless them with a deeper relationship with You and the things that you have prepared for them.
Amen.

Day 3: Physically I am tired and do not have a lot of energy, I count it a blessing that I get to spend these days with my Father and that I have the health to complete this journey. I'm confident that He will give me ears to hear his word and that He will work with me in a mighty way during the next few days.   Nothing is impossible to us when we walk in the Spirit. For he says in Romans 8:37, "No, in all these things we are MORE than conquerors through him who loved us." Jesus, please give me the strength to learn from you today. Whatever it is you have for me, my ears are open.