Personal Word: I think I will start out with a personal word today. I will do it backwards just to keep you on your toes.
Here we go! We are on the way downhill now as we have passed the half-way mark. Let me encourage you to keep persevering. I know many of you have had a few tough days this week. Keep pushing forward; I have had a few tough days as well. Remember to keep your eyes fixed on Christ. He is honored when you make a commitment like this. Remind yourself why you are fasting. Remember the prayer request that you wrote on your card and the freedom and victory that you are fighting for this year. Remember the benefit is worth the sacrifice. There are some thing that will only happen if you are willing to pray and fast. fight for it! Keep it up, God has MORE in store for you this year!
I am going to take one devotional from Joel Osteen today. Sorry, this one is not mine. It meant a lot to me yesterday when I read it and I thought, I couldn’t say this any better myself. So here you go…I believe it will speak to your life, especially if you are struggling with your fast.
Verse of the Day: Hebrews 12:1 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…”
Are your eyes fixed on Jesus today? It’s so easy to let the distractions of the world and the cares of every day life to change your focus. And whatever you fix your eyes on, you open your spirit to. You can choose to fix your eyes on Jesus no matter what distractions of life are going on around you. You see, when you fix your eyes on Jesus, you are opening yourself to the Healer. You are opening yourself to the Deliverer. You are opening yourself to the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Strong Tower of refuge. What do you need in your life today? Peace? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need healing? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need a safe retreat? Fix your eyes on Jesus. And you may have to turn off other things that you’ve been watching so that you can fix your eyes on Him. But remember, He is your source of life and the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Fix your eyes on Him and allow Him to work in your life so that you can experience the victory He has in store for you!
Fasting Tip: I want to encourage you to go for a walk alone, with God while you are fasting. Most of you know that I like to pray while I am walking outside. Now, you may not want to pick the coldest day, but if you are brave enough it will keep you awake in the early morning hour. (who needs coffee to wake you up when you have 20 degree temperatures. LOL)
There is something about walking outside and praying. There is a freedom to it. I like to talk out loud to God while I am walking, and that may be new to you as well. Take time to observe the clouds, trees, sun, moon and stars. These are the expressions of God to you--His creation, and as you fast, your five senses will become sharp and clear, allowing the greatness of God in all that He has made, to impact your soul. Go for a long walk, (and bundle up!) and invite Him to come with you. Experience the beauty of what He has made to. Feel the quality and vastness of His universe. Stand in awe of Him and His power. This same God that created the universe wants to communicate with you today.
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Shaina Williams says:
The prayer walk thing is so awesome. I do that sometimes too, and at first it is so intimidating hearing myself talk out loud, but after i get used to it, it's so freeing. It's so easy to think how much easier it'd be to talk to God if he were a human standing right in front of me, and he becomes a little more alive to me when I talk out loud to him. More real. Closer to me. I can talk out loud to him the same way I talk to anyone else. It's different than just using my head to talk to him.
It's so true about how my senses are in a way, woken up. It feels like God is breathing on me when the wind blows, even when it gives me chills from the cold.
I think I needed to be reminded of this... I haven't done that for a while and I know during this fast, it'd help me. Anyone who hasn't tried it, go for it. Work past feeling awkward if you do at first. God loves the sound of our voices, and I'm quite sure Satan doesn't when we talk to God, so it I guess we might feel the battle, esecially since our goal is being more spiritaually connected to God. But go for it. It's so cool.
posted on January 17th, 2008
