This month, my entire squad has been in Livingstone, Zambia. We have been working with a ministry called JZone. Every single day we have spent hours doing manual labor such as digging holes, cutting grass, and mixing cement for a children’s day camp.
When news first came to me about our ministry, I got excited. I love manual labor! Moreover, my entire squad has been living together in a lodge. With over 35 people in close proximity, I realized that I was living in an extroverts’ paradise.
Things were set up for me to have a comfortable month. I could just go to ministry, chat with my squad mates, and coast through the month. The Lord, however, had different plans.
One night, the question was posed to the entire squad, “How has your month been? Is the Lord challenging you in any new areas?” I sat and thought. Immediately, the Lord put a challenge on my heart. He said, “I want you to fast from speaking for two days.” Initially, I was a little taken back, but I wanted the challenge. I wanted to grow and see what the Lord had in store for me. I took action. Little did I know, the lessons learned from this fast would open my eyes to new growth.
For two days, I was silent. I was alone. I was uncomfortable. I loved every second of it. Growth is hardly ever comfortable and painless. I kept reminding myself this as I awkwardly interacted with my squad mates. I would write down the words I wanted to say on a slip of paper. The Lord uses situations that we are not used to in order to teach us something new about ourselves. With distractions eliminated, I was in a state of constant prayer, diving into the Word, and listening for God’s voice.
After my two-day fast concluded, I wrote down what I learned from this experience:
1. Quieting yourself is done beyond just words.
During my fast, I was more calm, observant, contemplative, and driven to listen for God.
2. Learn to slow down.
In a world of distractions, taking time to be silent and do nothing may seem like a waste. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I need to take time from my energetic life and just be still with God. 5 minutes. 10 minutes. Whatever time I can dedicate, it should be a time of silence.
3.Think about what you’re thinking about.
More than anything, I noticed my thought pattern. There was good, but also some bad. The beauty of it was that it gave me awareness. It made me realize that I do not have to think some of these thoughts. I need to be more cautious of what I think and say.
4.My voice is meaningless if it not used to praise God or glorify Him.
In an instance, my voice could be taken away, yet the Lord blessed me with it. I should use my voice to glorify Him in everything. My life is not my own. I was bought at a price. Therefore, I need to honor God with my body.
5. Ultimately, I learned that God is my Comforter.
When I could not talk to anyone, He was always there. He gave me peace. He reminded me that this fast would be worth it. He gave me strength to remain disciplined in what He wanted me to do. I stepped out in a leap of faith and because of it…my faith has grown. My trust in Him has grown.
Lord, thank you for this life and this opportunity. Continue to challenge me and let me rely on you alone. Amen.
“God is in heaven and you are on Earth, so let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2
“The more the words, the less the meaning.” Ecclesiastes 6:11
With much love,
Spencer James Belkot
