Fasting Day 2

In anticipation of having my first child in July, whom we have decided to name Elijah Amory, I have been studying 1 Kings, the first place we see Elijah mentioned in the Bible. This brought me across the passage from 1 Kings 19 where we see Elijah fearing for his life, hiding in a cave.

11 Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”

At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

This passage to me is so important in really describing the reason why we are fasting!

We are constantly bombarded every day by so many different things in our lives, that we can often get distracted or mistake something else for the Lord’s guiding or speaking into our lives. I love the fact that the Lord appears differently at different times though. We see him manifested back in Exodus as the burning bush Moses saw. We see in Acts the Holy Spirit described with characteristics of both a mighty wind and fire, but often times, I think it is this whisper that we are seeking to hear. We are seeking to know the master’s voice when we hear Him.

John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

That is how many of us have gotten to the place we are today, anxiously awaiting our trip to Mexico! We felt called to pursue this trip. Maybe God worked through people around you to encourage you to come. The work that God started He is about to complete!

One amazing thing about this year’s trip planning is the tremendous response we have gotten from the congregation of Carr St to support us, through buying burritos every week, to just giving generously during our “Dollar Day” offering. We have had the cost greatly reduced by over half for nearly every individual! Even with that, we all know that some sacrifices have been made to prepare for this trip, whether it be giving up a week of vacation, or even a week of pay to pursue the calling that God has placed on your heart. We should all strive to remember these little sacrifices and lift them up to God as an act of Worship! He is worth giving it all up for!

That is what I hope this week can be for you in fasting- is a series of I love You notes to God! A prolonged period of Worship, with constant reminders of your desire for more of God! Everytime you turn down something on your “don’t” list, remind yourself why you are doing it. Much like religion, if we just view it as a list of rules, it will be nearly impossible to follow and not rewarding in the end- but if we look at this relationally as an act of worship to God- it can make it much more bearable, important, and even fun! Remind yourself that you aren’t “earning” anything by fasting- but simply telling God- “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I WANT MORE OF YOU! YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN _________!” Fill in the blank for whatever it is you might be giving up. For me, a constant reminder in the mornings is “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH GOD THAT YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN CAFFEINE AND YOU CAN SUSTAIN ME AND GIVE ME THE ENERGY I NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY!” Remember Jesus fasted, and was even tempted by the devil to break His fast.

Matthew 4:1-4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 But He answered, “It is written:

Man must not live on bread alone

but on every word that comes

from the mouth of God.”

If you have the time and ability throughout your day, when you are running into temptation, get out the Bible. Spend time in the Word. Just take a second to pray. Seek God for your strength to continue. He is strong when we are weak!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10- 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[a] is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Remember though, Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those that are in Jesus Christ! If you stumble, fail, or just need to break your fast for some unforeseen reason- do not feel condemned, just pray before you break your fast.

Lord, we recognize our need for You. Beyond just a need, we long for more of You. We long to see You come into our lives and make us a little bit more like You. Lord, as simple as the things are that I am giving up, I lift them up as little love notes to You. You are above all, and You alone deserve the throne of my heart and my life! Lord help me to unseat anything that battles for control in my life, and reveal to me Lord any sins that may hinder the plans You have for me! Lord protect us from the attacks of the enemy, and help us to put on Your full armor, and move forward in our lives with the confidence that comes from YOUR victory! In Jesus’ POWERFUL name- AMEN