Well, Heather and I made it back from Denver where it was 8 degrees with 2 inches of snow on the ground when we left our hotel at 4:15 am. We landed in Houston at 9:30 this morning and were welcomed by rain, 72 degrees and what felt like 200% humidity!
Nonetheless, we are excited to be back and feel like God totally blessed our trip as He continues to open doors to further His Kingdom through our ministry!
While we were away, it was difficult to stay faithful to the fast, but we did it. Tofu, steamed veggies, brown rice and water are definitely on the menu. I know this because they all tasted terrible! I think it’s a rule: no good food of any kind allowed on the Daniel Plan (lol….just kidding)!
Fasting can be extremely overwhelming. What can I eat? What can I not eat? Can I have this? Can I have that? These are questions that barrage our minds when we break from our normal eating routine. The struggle is ok. In fact, it’s good as long as our motivation for staying true to the fast isn’t rooted in guilt!
That’s why I wanted to share some thoughts with you about what fasting doesn’t do. I think you will find this helpful:
WHAT FASTING DOES NOT DO
1. Fasting does not motivate God to love you any more than He already does.
• God says in I Peter 2:9 that we are chosen by Him and are already His
treasured possession! He already loves you as much as He possibly can!
2. Fasting doesn’t make God enjoy you any more or any less.
• God already enjoys you. In fact, He delights in you! In Zephaniah 3:17 God says that He already exalts over us with shouts of joy!
3. Fasting isn’t a “fast track” plan to a Righteousness and Holiness.
• God has already made us righteous, holy and blameless through Christ’s
finished work on the Cross. We don’t fast to get more of God, but that
we would experience, in a more profound way, the reality of God’s
presence in our lives.
4. Fasting is not a trade-off with God for His forgiveness.
• We fast because He has already forgiven us! The Apostle Paul said our
sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ! (Ephesians 1:7)
5. Fasting is not a replacement for obedience.
• Some people fast as penance believing their fasting will somehow balance
out their disobedience. But our relationship with God is not based on
law, it’s based on grace….not of works, lest we become boastful and
prideful and rob God of His glory. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Sometimes, when we’re not walking intimately with God, the inward reality of our faith begins to fade, and we retreat to the outward forms of the faith like fasting. Hear me: It doesn’t work! The bottom line is that whenever we embrace a spiritual discipline in order to get God to love, to find satisfaction in us, or forgive us, we’ve completely missed the point!
Today, as you fast, set yourself free! Don’t fast under the belief that God is going to develop a greater approval of you because of your sacrifice. Fast in freedom, with a holy desire to give more of yourself to God.
The Godliest thing you can do today is give more of yourself to Him!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
What is Fasting?
Hey everybody, I am pumped about what God is doing in my life and what he’s doing in our church. I believe 2012 is going to be a breakout year for us at Clearpoint Church. I am trusting that God will do an amazing work in our lives that will blow us away. I also, believe that this next 21 days of Prayer & Fasting will be the catalyst that takes us to “the Promised Land.”
During this next 3 weeks, I want to answer some questions that will help you understand fasting and why it is so important in our walk with God. It will also encourage you to continue on to the finish line....to day 21!
Question #1: What is Fasting?
Fasting is setting aside a specific amount of time to go without food in order to pray. The purpose is not to starve yourself and the goal isn’t to lose weight. It is an intentional time of pursuing God to fill a spiritual hunger rather than eating food to fill a physical hunger. It is denying your physical desire for food in order to pray and connect with God to meet a spiritual need.
It might not make a whole lot of sense, but it is a powerful thing.
Jesus never commanded it, but it was certainly expected that His followers would fast and pray.
Matthew 6:16-18 says, “when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)”
Three things to pray for:
1. Mental and physical strength to complete the fast
2. To develop an insatiable hunger for God like you have never known
3. For the Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life that you need to conquer and give over to God
Final Thought
Remember that fasting isn’t for the purpose of you getting more of God. The purpose is for God to get more of you!
During this next 3 weeks, I want to answer some questions that will help you understand fasting and why it is so important in our walk with God. It will also encourage you to continue on to the finish line....to day 21!
Question #1: What is Fasting?
Fasting is setting aside a specific amount of time to go without food in order to pray. The purpose is not to starve yourself and the goal isn’t to lose weight. It is an intentional time of pursuing God to fill a spiritual hunger rather than eating food to fill a physical hunger. It is denying your physical desire for food in order to pray and connect with God to meet a spiritual need.
It might not make a whole lot of sense, but it is a powerful thing.
Jesus never commanded it, but it was certainly expected that His followers would fast and pray.
Matthew 6:16-18 says, “when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)”
Three things to pray for:
1. Mental and physical strength to complete the fast
2. To develop an insatiable hunger for God like you have never known
3. For the Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life that you need to conquer and give over to God
Final Thought
Remember that fasting isn’t for the purpose of you getting more of God. The purpose is for God to get more of you!
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