Mind you I am not complaining, I love my job. However, I am coming to realize that it can be all consuming. I feel strongly that God has blessed me with a job I love and a chance to witness through my words and actions the love of Christ. My calling (being a Christ centered leader) seems clearer with every Wall Street headline of corruption or greed. It is a chance to demonstrate a different kind of leadership.
Our fast is helping me to realize that I can't be that leader that God wants through the force of my will. It is a calling higher than my abilities. In fact, trusting just in myself is a sure road to ruin. If I don't take the time to be in his presence, I WILL fail.
What is scary is that the very blessing he has given me, this job, can lead to an out of balance life if I don't consciously give it back to Christ and dwell with him.
I have chosen to have a simple cup of soup at lunch during our fast. More importantly, I will leave work (email, phone calls, meetings, etc.) out of my lunch hour and dedicate that time to be in His presence. I know if I don't establish Christ as the center, I will not be what He wants me to be. This is only the first day. In a week or so I'll let you know how it is going.
John
So I settle into my time in His presence, open my work Bible to my last bookmark, and wow.
ReplyDeleteGalations 3:3
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Thank you Jesus.
WOW!!! We do have an AMAZING God don't we!!
ReplyDeleteI was encouraged to share this story on our blog. I hesitated because it wasn't something specific to Cornerstone overall, but more personally to me...Please forgive me in advance for the length.
ReplyDeleteIn summary of how this whole fast came about, with all the talk about removing distractions, etc. I immediately thought of the same as Barry, except mine, because I'm home all day right now, is to not turn the TV on at all during the day. But then I began to question the "authenticity" so to speak of that....In fact I asked Pastor Scott...Shouldn't this be more biblical and a fasting from food?
Well this weekend, to start my fast off I decided to do a 24 hr. whole fast, and see where God lead me after that. I also unplugged the phone, and made myself a comfy little retreat of it.
So first thing, on Saturday, He woke me with the song "Oh, Happy Day, Happy Day...You've washed my sins away." REALLY the first thought in my head when I opened my eyes! So I laid there for a while and just kept quiet to listen...He proceeded to give me a list of people to pray for, along with what I believe to be "visions"...The most important one being that I felt what I normally feel with my anxiety, physically, in my stomach, and He showed me a black drape being lited from it. It was pretty amazing to me, because I have never experienced this type of thing before.
(K, again I apologize for the length, because I'm putting 2 days of experience in here.)
A lot more time on Saturday, struggling with am I doing the right thing in my fast, should I stay with my original plan? Should I try a "Daniel Fast"...just a bunch of jumbling in my mind. And THESE were the first thoughts I woke up with on Sunday. So now I'm going to share with you my journal entry for Sunday:
"Lord, I pray that you settle my mind. It seems like a whirlwind of thoughts are trying to distract me....whether fasting from TV is not scriptural...But then I think, in biblical times you didn't have TV to destract you from prayer.
And for me, personally, I think this time I spend with You is more of what you desire. Improving/or actually adding quiet time, etc...Isn't it right then that I give up the one thing that keeps me away from building our relationship? Build a stronger foundation?
[Note: I journal in color, and at this time I was quiet for a while, and changed color because I believe the following occured.]
I believe your Spirit is telling me that is right, and you're o.k. with the original plan. That it is the evil one stirring up those thoughts and bringing out my "perfectionist" attitude.
Of course I thanked Him profusely, and cried.
I then was lead to Psalm 4 which reads:
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
How long O men, will you turn my glory into shame?...Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.
...When you are on your beds, search your heart and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
(I then wrote the commentary/notes for this verse that came from my study bible. Talks about sacrifices in David's time, specific rules that had been given for offering sacrifices, but more important to God than ceremony was the offerer's attitude of submission and obedience. Today, a sacrifice offered in the right spirit is still pleasing to God.
(Continuing with Psalm 4:6-8)....Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
I am just amazed and extremely humbled by our God!!!
Sharon, thanks so much for sharing this encouraging message.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to start this Tuesday by reading your comments. God is speaking to His people. Every thought is significant. We look for the big revelations, but it is in the simple shifts and changes that we find His voice. Keep speaking Lord. We are listening.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon for the encouraging words. Way to stay strong and keep your heart open to God. He is AMAZING!!
ReplyDelete