What is it God?

 

Have you ever gotten the feeling God wanted to use you for something or grow you in some area and you were so close to it, yet you were still completely clueless.  Well, welcome to my life.  The past week or so, I have been struggling with that very thought.  Trying to hear God, yet not hearing him clearly.  In times like these, I have found fasting to be an effective tool.  God has brought great revelation to me in fasting.  Ways to help me grow or a direction to where He is leading.

Last week we fasted with the youth of the church here.  For some of them it was the first time they had ever done anything like this.  It was amazing to see young people participate and be so joyful about their service.  At the end of the day, before we broke fast a couple of the youth got up and spoke about what this experience was like for them.  One of them said, “I am soooo hungry, but I know that God is pleased and I am happy that I got to spend this time with God in prayer.”  Another was excited and encouraged to do  this with us.  He definitely wanted to do it again.  How amazing to hear that from the youth.  If the youth of today were fasting and praying, do you realize how true the words of the song “Hosanna” would be….this will be the generation that rises up!


I thought about my own beliefs on fasting and how they have changed.  Before coming on this trip, I had only done a partial day fast.  We talked about it at our church, and I was very interested in understanding more about it, but didn’t really seek it out. A number of members of my church fast on a regular basis. 

A member of my church gave me a book on fasting to read before I left.  Different people from the world race were talking about fasting.  In my mind I thought yeah that sounds like a good thing, but that was just as far as I got.

My first month out on the race I was struggling with personal issues and just trying to figure out what God really wanted to do with me in general.  I spoke to a team mate and she said in times where she really needs to hear from God, she  would fast and pray.  Here was that concept….AGAIN!  I told her I keep hearing about that but don’t really understand it and why it’s so significant.  I told her about the book that I brought with me, but just haven’t opened yet.  She said she read it, Fasting by Jentezen Franklin, and it was a great book.  

Fasting is a principle that God intended for everyone to be able to enjoy. It’s not a punishment; it’s a privilege! By making fasting a way of life, you can get closer to God and grow in your spiritual walk like never before. Fasting is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us for our daily lives. Through fasting, you can experience a release from the bondage of sin … restoration in your relationships … financial blessings … spiritual renewal … supernatural healing and so much more!


So, all that being said and the state I was in, I decided to read it.  I found it easy to read and  it explained so much about the importance of fasting to our Christian walk.  One of the rewards has to do with our future.  God plants in all of us a dream.  When you fast you allow the opportunities to be revealed to you for you to pursue that dream.  If you just ask, He will give you direction and guidance.  

I still couldn’t figure out why I kept putting it off.  Every time I would pick the book up to read it, I would find a hundred other things to do.  Or I would pick it up and my mind would wander like crazy.  But  finally  I decided  I was going to read it. I found it to be easy reading and enjoyable.  But then something happened, as I got further into it and saw why I got distracted EVERY time I picked it up to read it.  It truly is the one thing the ENEMY tries to keep you from doing.  In this simple act of submitting your will and desires to God’s, the enemy has NO POWER.  When you choose to be obedient and fast, and simply ask for God to speak to you, He does.  The act of fasting allows God to work powerfully in your life.  He can release strong holds in your life as well as in the lives of those you pray for.  With that knowledge alone why wouldn’t we WANT to fast.

I have fasted several times while on this trip now, and the clarity and discernment He has given me in those times of prayer have been amazing.  I have heard people say that they were sad when their fast came to an end.  I used to laugh and say, “yeah, right, I can’t wait to eat!”  I can tell you honestly I now know what those people were talking about.  Everyone longs for intimacy with God.  Even if you don’t realize that is what you are longing for.  It’s kind of like waiting for a first date to pick you up, you are so excited to share one on one time with that special person.  For them to delight in “just you”.  This is what your time with the Lord becomes, your “date” with Him.  The time that you can bask in His love for you.  Time that you have purposed “just for Him”.

I encourage you, if you have never experienced that kind of  “date”  with the Lord, try it.  With a few dates under your belt, you too will be sad when it’s over.