For His Name's Sake

Today I have been challenged by the question, "How are you practicing Resurrection?"  I thought I knew the answer, but God whispered to me.... "It is time, you need to do this..."

I have a secret that I did not want to share, but if I can do this right, I feel God giving me a peace to share it here, in this light, for His glory.

To ready your hearts for my private adventure, I want to appeal to your senses with images from last year's journeys in my journal...

 

 

In one of last week's posts, "A Day With God", I shared about just that.  What I didn't talk about was the fasting God called me to.  Fasting is a biblical way God sometimes calls us to express dedication and reception to Him.

I fasted on my day with God because I was at a crossroads and I wanted to hear Him and I didn't want to miss a minute because I was concerned more about what I should (or shouldn't) eat.  I can honestly tell you, my day with God would not have been near as revealing about our missions, His Character, and all of the other miscellaneous desires HE had for us... if I had not fasted.

“And 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..."  - Matthew 6:16-18

I do not share all of this because I want any recognition.  As a matter of fact, I quarrelled with sharing this and only conceded because I feel God is calling me to, solely for His Glory and to tell of how I am being led to extend Resurrection Sunday this year... to inspire you to turn toward Him ever more.

I am at another crossroads.

Last year I sought guidance for many questions to which great change would result.  Where we would live, how we would spend our time, what we would be doing with our lives... those kind of BIG changes!

I'm there again.  For article length's sake I can sum up and say these are the key factors I am seeking God in:

- a training opportunity which could be exponentially beneficial in equipping me to minister more effectively
- Revelation on many current happenings including a BIG project with KOG Missions
- endurance in commitment to the hard things
- healing so I am able to do more for His Kingdom
- to simply hear all He wishes to say

... and you guessed it, He is calling me to fast.  But not the typical fast.

I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.  - Daniel 10:3

I am a pre-diabetic.  Going without eating for an extended period is not something I am capable of without serious health complications.  During my day with God I only fasted until God permitted me to eat... from the time I got up until around 4 pm when he called me to make unleavened bread and commune.  I sustained with juices until then.

What I feel God calling me to is a trimming of "delicacies" and a consideration of His natural provision.  I think often lately of Elijah by the brook being fed by ravens with needed portions at the appropriate times of day.  I except the provisions God gives me for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I except a healthy snack in the afternoon to avoid a blood sugar drop, and I am not consuming any sweets other than fruit.  I am also sacrificing breads because this is a great vice and unhealthy eating habit God has been calling me to give up for a while (bad for diabetes).

It isn't easy because I do not practice the best of eating habits, though I do try to 'be good'.  I enjoy "candy night" with the kids every Friday and a lovely dessert every Saturday with the study group we lead.  Birthdays are coming.... and so on.  There are many details to this sacrifice I gladly offer to God right now.

All I know is, I want to hear God's answers.  I know, with all my heart, this is the route he has called me to take.  He wants me to look at him.... not things or food so constantly.

How is the practice of Easter extended in this act?  Pentecost.

God put Pentecost on my heart.  Jesus' followers gathered and the Holy Spirit descended.  I am looking forward to the culmination of my partial fast with Pentecost and remembering how God keeps His word.  I trust Him to not only reveal His words and desires for me during this time, like Jesus revealing himself in his time from Resurrection until Ascension, but I also trust He will keep His word in all He reveals.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

- John 16:13

I tell you all this, like I said, not for my glory but FOR HIS GLORY!  He wants to speak to you too.  Fasting can be many different things.  When we deny ourselves of simple pleasures, when we sacrifice as Jesus sacrificed, we open our hearts to receiving greater blessings from our Father above without things of this life cluttering it up.

how you can have the best posture for receiving it.  You never know what he may ask you to lay down for His name's sake.  It may not be easy, but it will always be worth it!

May you have great Revelations from now until Pentecost when one of the greatest Revelations of all appeared!