What is the 30 day challenge? Reading the Bible, cover to cover, from April 17-May 17.
Day 1.
Well, this is already looking very different than I imagined. I spent about 6 hours reading the Bible today including 3 different sessions reading with people. I wouldve never guessed I'd be up til 2 on a Tuesday night reading Genesis with 5 people I've never met before.
Thank you Lord!
Everyone I read with today had such incredible revelations!
Today we read: Psalm 1-5, Prov. 1, Genesis 1-20, Ecclesiastes 1-6, and Matthew 1-7.
I'm starting to realize a little bit more the amount of dedication this will take.
Lord fill us up.
Let your word find good soil in us.
Let us eat of the Bread of Life.
Keep our eyes on You.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Fasting
These are some of my own personal thoughts and revelations I have had recently about fasting.
Firstly I would like to say that fasting is not impossible. Somehow we have a tendency to believe the lie that fasting is not for us, but for super-Christians or intercessors only. As followers of Jesus, we are called to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting.
Fasting: dying to the flesh and yeilding to the Spirit; the decision of showing that God is better than food; being firm in loyalty; being hungry; humbling yourself to know who God is verses who you are; etc...the list goes on.
When you are fasting, you get hungry (obviously), and you become thankful. When I was in Africa, the Lord repeatedly showed me how much more thankful I was when I was living a simple life there. It can be difficult to live simply or experience that here in America, but it doesn't have to be. When you're fasting, you could feel hunger within a few hours and the experience has already begun. I believe this is one of the reasons Jesus calls us to fasting. We are called to be thankful ALWAYS! If you look at children, the ones who are spoiled are usually the least thankful. But praise the Lord we don't have to remain that way!
Fasting is choosing the opportunity to eat straight out of the palm of God's hands!
Fasting brings up un-dealt with issues in your life. Usually we have the strength and capacity to place filters on our mouths and reactions when around people, but when in weakness, it is easier to see reactions directly from the heart. No one enjoys seeing their issues brought to light, but this brings the opportunity for Jesus to fix the root of the issue and fill that place with the Holy Spirit and with Truth.
Fasting humbles you. It brings you to the reality that you are weak without the strength of the Spirit of Life. The strongest man alive would become weak quickly without food, there are no exceptions. Fasting brings an opportunity to trust God. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." These choice words by Jesus were applied into another context, but it is truth nonetheless. Our body is weak, and when we fast it brings us to that realization. When we then focus on our spirit, we see that it is so willing to pray and be in alignment with the Father.
Fasting without prayer turns into a body pouting in its lack of food.
If the whole time you are fasting you are thinking and talking about food and when you are going to eat it, then maybe the flesh is getting too much of your attention..Ask the Lord to set you mind on things above and you just might even forget you hadn't eaten.
John 6:25-59
vs. 27 says "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Also, I have personally found that fasting with friends brings great encouragement and accountability :)
Happy Fasting!
Firstly I would like to say that fasting is not impossible. Somehow we have a tendency to believe the lie that fasting is not for us, but for super-Christians or intercessors only. As followers of Jesus, we are called to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting.
Fasting: dying to the flesh and yeilding to the Spirit; the decision of showing that God is better than food; being firm in loyalty; being hungry; humbling yourself to know who God is verses who you are; etc...the list goes on.
In Isaiah 58, fasting is to (1) loosen the bonds of wickedness; (2) undo heavy burdens; (3) help
the oppressed go free; (4) give bread to the hungry; (5) receive the light of revelation in God’s
Word; (6) for emotional and physical health; and (7) that righteousness would break forth. (taken from Mike Bickle) When you are fasting, you get hungry (obviously), and you become thankful. When I was in Africa, the Lord repeatedly showed me how much more thankful I was when I was living a simple life there. It can be difficult to live simply or experience that here in America, but it doesn't have to be. When you're fasting, you could feel hunger within a few hours and the experience has already begun. I believe this is one of the reasons Jesus calls us to fasting. We are called to be thankful ALWAYS! If you look at children, the ones who are spoiled are usually the least thankful. But praise the Lord we don't have to remain that way!
Fasting is choosing the opportunity to eat straight out of the palm of God's hands!
Fasting brings up un-dealt with issues in your life. Usually we have the strength and capacity to place filters on our mouths and reactions when around people, but when in weakness, it is easier to see reactions directly from the heart. No one enjoys seeing their issues brought to light, but this brings the opportunity for Jesus to fix the root of the issue and fill that place with the Holy Spirit and with Truth.
Fasting humbles you. It brings you to the reality that you are weak without the strength of the Spirit of Life. The strongest man alive would become weak quickly without food, there are no exceptions. Fasting brings an opportunity to trust God. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." These choice words by Jesus were applied into another context, but it is truth nonetheless. Our body is weak, and when we fast it brings us to that realization. When we then focus on our spirit, we see that it is so willing to pray and be in alignment with the Father.
Fasting without prayer turns into a body pouting in its lack of food.
If the whole time you are fasting you are thinking and talking about food and when you are going to eat it, then maybe the flesh is getting too much of your attention..Ask the Lord to set you mind on things above and you just might even forget you hadn't eaten.
John 6:25-59
vs. 27 says "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Also, I have personally found that fasting with friends brings great encouragement and accountability :)
Happy Fasting!
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