Today is the start of the 21 day fast with my church. Not a fast to get forgiveness from God or get God to do something, but a fast to get "see" God better. I truly believe that God does not change. He is always right with us to guide, protect, encourage, etc. It is our own view that changes. Sometimes I do not "feel" God but I realize that is my perspective and not the reality. It becomes my reality but it is not God's reality. So I began this fast with the intentions of seeing and hearing God better. Changing my perspective to match His reality. There are so many situations where if I would just open my eyes or my heart, I could see God. I choose to focus on other things instead and live from my perspective rather then God's. The verse for the start of the fast is from Joel 2:12:
"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."
I was reading in Genesis 7 about God telling Noah to build the ark and put the animals in. Verse 5 says, "And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him." I was amazed at that because Noah heard God and obeyed. If it were me, I would have drowned. I first would have doubted if it was really God speaking. I would have analyzed it to death and convinced myself I was part crazy and that it was not really God speaking. God speaks to us all today. But do we hear? I pray we all open our ears to hear what God is saying. Sometimes I wish God sent emails or Facebook posts, but knowing myself, I am sure I would again analyze it and convince myself that it was not God speaking.
As I first began reading, it came to me to start a blog about my thoughts and feeling during the fast. It will make me accountable in the fact that I will have to blog each day. Was it inspiration from God telling me to blog or my own desires....not sure...but I know I do not want to analyze every idea to the point of inactivity. The bible says in John 10:3 that "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him." I want to recognize God's voice and follow it. I want to stop the constant questioning and analyzing. I want to learn to be like Noah and do "all that the Lord commanded", instead of "drowning".
For more info about fasting, visit www.awake21.org
That's good. Are you really going to fast for 21 days? Surely not 21 straight, right? Either way, reading God's word and fasting for 21 days is a big commitment. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteI have never see a blog before.So I hope I am doing this right. I know that you will be able to do this fast. I will read and pray for you each day. You go girl. See you tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteDonna