I hope that those of you who are fasting, are hanging in there with your Savior. I pray that this has been an incredible time of closeness with Christ, and that you have taken full advantage of the time spent in this season verses just seeing it as a time of "doing without" something. If so, your prayer life and Christian walk will never be the same, no matter how many times you have or have not fasted before. By virtue, there is a physical sacrifice involved, but such a spiritual time of growth and renewal. Focus on that. Let God speak to you through this time of concentrated awareness of His presence in your life. There have been several evangelists talking about fasting on TV over the last couple of weeks, and even primarily on the 21day fast. God is so good. One point that just struck me that a couple of them have touched on is prayer. If you typically pray an hour a day, you are doing well, and have spent in 365 hours in communication with your Savior during a year. Fasting increases that exponentially. Fasting IS a continuous time of prayer if done with the right heart and purpose. Therefore, those of you who have committed to this 21 Day fast, have stuck to it in spirit and in truth, and have used it as a time to draw closer to the Lord have just been in constant communion with your Lord and Savior for the sum total of 504 hours during the full time of this fast. A year and a third worth of prayer in 21 days...no wonder Jesus said, "some things come about but by prayer AND fasting!" Physically you have not been in prayer for the full 504 hours, but spiritually you have. Thus the increased awareness of the need to be separated physically and spiritually in our lives.
Where the spirit says love, the physical says judge.
Where the spirit says endure, the physical says give up.
Where the spirit says FAITH, the physical says let me see proof.
Where the spirit says empowered, the physical says weak.
Where the spirit says YES, the physical says CAN'T.
Our entire Christian lives should reflect a striving to follow the Spirit not our own flesh. Decisions should be made where the Spirit leads, not what the flesh can see and feel and hear. God help us to be separated unto Him and in tune with the Spiritual side of our lives. He can work wonders in those who will surrender the physical to Him in exchange for His spiritual filling.
Finish strong. Stay the course. Do not give in to the temptations and the cravings. God will meet you at the point of your need, even if it is at the lid of a soft drink, or bite of chocolate, or open bag of chips...whatever you are fasting....sacrifice it at the altar of your life and rise and walk with Him...the One who called you to this time, and will strengthen you and sustain you. The One who knows your name.
In Him,
Connie
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