God is so Good!
We are just over 1/2 way through our fast and whether it has been a joy or a trial I believe God is blessing our efforts. He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) He is so good!
This fast has been such a good thing for me. One of the things I've decided to fast is sweets. I've decided I'm going to love God more than sweets by giving Him this distraction/addiction. The couple times that I've been tempted I've actually said out loud I love you more God and have been able to refrain. God is so good. I've also decided to be more intentional and disciplined in my quite times with God. I've sensed His nearness and presence with me so close. When I read scripture every word seems to jump out and go straight to my heart. The same with listening to worship songs. There has been a great new christian radio station (KNOF 95.3 FM) that I've been listening to - that has been blessing me like crazy. When I turn to it it seems to be at just the right moment and I'm not just hearing the lyrics but I'm listening more closely and worshiping more deeply. I've also been more aware of Gods beauty in His creation around us. I just praise God that were all taking this time to notice Him more. I've had the thought - I don't want this fast to end. Then quickly I was challenged that it really doesn't need to end in completely. When March 1st comes we don't need to throw all the disciplines aside that we've been walking in over this time. For me it has taken this fast for me to see I need to have a more disciplined life. Not in a legalistic way but in a joyful way. I'm enjoying having more time with God and the more of Him I have the more of Him I want.
God bless you!
Wow! Those are the same thoughts I had about the fast ending. I don't want the disciplines or seeking of Him to end. It doesn't have to (like you said). I a praying that this lifestyle (prayer, meditation, seeking God) will be one that we'll all continue even past the fast. I know for me this fast is challenging me to rely on God for everything I need. I, too, fasted from sweets, and from facebook, and have had ample time to contemplate & keep Him at the center of my life. It has not been easy. God is revealing more and more of just how insufficient I am on my own -but this is overshadowed by joy when I realize that HE is my All in All, and will supply all that I need. There's an "old" youth group song we used to sing that came back to me last night during prayer - I Choose You as Lord of My Life, be Lord of my days, be Lord of my nights..I trust in You to meet my needs. I'm choosing You, who first chose me.
ReplyDeleteI agree the fast doesn't need to end, at least not completely and I wrote that last week also. I'm planning to keep a partial fast myself for certain days of the week.
ReplyDeleteRick
Amen Sister LMAE! Good is so God! What you wrote was AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteYour comments remind me of Heb. 13:9 ". . . it is good that the heart be established by grace. . ." What qualifies us to receive God's blessings in our lives is not our works but faith in the finished work of Jesus the Anointed One! This is how our hearts are established by grace.
We are under the NEW covenant NOW! Yahoo! God IS GOOD!
- TobyCat