It's early in this process yet, but already I've noticed that it's benefiting me. The intentionality of this experience and the awareness that we're doing this as a community has increased my focus on God. I don't feel that I've gained any strong insights yet (though mostly my distractions come during the work week, so that's when I'll have a gain in prayer time), but I do find myself paying more attention to the things of God.
As I said in my comment on Barry's post yesterday, I think this is an important step in the life of our church. I think that God is getting ready to push us to grow, though in exactly what way I'm not sure yet. But I know that any growth of our body is going to have to involve prayer. We need to re-commit to being a house of prayer and to covering all that we do in prayer. That's not a strength for me personally, so I'm glad to have this chance to be challenged and grow.
I really enjoyed worship today. It seems like people were more in tune with the Spirit and willing to enter into a deeper sense of worship. It is interesting how a little effort on our parts can bring great blessings from our Heavenly Father. May the blessings of God pour over you this week.
ReplyDeleteThis fast _is_ a chance to be challenged, and I think that's a good word for today and many of the early days in this process. It isn't going to be easy, especially in the early going. I want to encourage everyone to "press on" in what they have given to God during this time.
ReplyDelete"I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Philippians 3.12
I'm on day 7 of my fast as I felt God asking me to start last Monday. I have given up playing games on the computer which I did for every meal I ate at home. I have substituted playing the games with reading faith based material, journaling and prayer. The first day was really hard. I found myself scrounging for material to read by the second day. How wonderful to have this blog to read and see what and how others are doing. I also am trying to not eat red meat, chicken or pork but I have missed on that some but partly because I ordered a deep dish veggie pizza to go and found out it was actually a combo deluxe with meat when I started to eat it. I don't feel I have had any direction about Cornerstone but I have noticed two things that seem to be different. First I have had some issues (evidently unresolved) from my past resurface that are almost constantly on my mind and make it hard to think or focus on other things. I think the enemy may be involved. Second I have had more than the usual amount of unusual things happen lately - if that makes any sense. It would take too long to share or explain and I'm going to leave it at that. I have also found some things that I wrote or journaled in the past that I had forgotten about. Over a year ago I journaled a call to prayer, obedience and fasting. Until last week only the fasting was missing. Thank you Sue and Cornerstone for the request to join in the fast!
ReplyDelete