Religion: the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.
- a particular system of faith and worship.
- a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
To be clear about the vantage point in which I'm about to speak from. I believe: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".- John 3:16 I believe that God has a plan for this world and for each and every one of us because Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man is not to live on bread only. Man is to live by every word that God speaks.’”Matthew 4:4
When God Speaks
One of the things I've learned over the years through fasting is that it's not as much of a fixed period of strict discipline, as much as its about being grounded in spiritual and scriptural principles which strengthen our discernment [or God given insight] to adapt and evolve as we go forward.
One of my biggest challenges in fasting and in life, is being able to stick to my word. When I say I'm going to do something I need to stick to it right? Yes, but it doesn't always pan out in the way I think it will. I have a phrase on my vision board for the year which says "cast a wide net". This is what it means to be "Spirit led", by allowing myself to have goals and expectations about a situation, but remaining open to shifts and changes.
Honest
Open
Transparent example:
At the start of this fast I told myself I'm not eating after 12pm. Now I set this parameter with the aim of being able to be more intentional with what I eat and the way I eat. I've learned so much about this which I've shared a bit of in my previous entry, but then I ran into a revelation (revealed truth) yesterday. Since another one of my intentions is being disciplined in stewarding over my body through fitness and working out, my body therefore needs nutrition and to be filled in order for me to see the fruit of this commitment and work. Now here's the crossroad. I could've deferred back to my word and been like "I am being filled God can do it, he'll provide, he's enough, I jut gotta go harder". Ummm yes AND that would be foolish because now you have a revelation about your goals conflicting Laurence. Anytime we increase in knowledge, it's imparted to us so that we can eventually change the course of our actions [which I think 1 Corinthians 13:12 eloquently points to].
I ask God to "show me the way" and pray "thy will be done" but when he reveals himself and his hopes for me, I need to move. This isn't easy, but it becomes easier when you defer not to what you say but the voice of the One who see's everything and has the plan for your life. So how yesterday I ate again at 8pm when my dad brought home dinner, and I was still able to be present. I had a sincere reverence for that gesture from my father because my body was in need and he fulfilled it. Yesterday crystalized in a new way what it means to be provided for. Now living at home, I have the luxury and privilege of being provided for in greater proximity than anywhere else, and I do take that for granted sometimes. But that moment allowed me to recenter. This wouldn't have been possible if I never came home after grad school, if I allowed my pride and stubbornness to lead me, if I would've been too caught up in what my peers from Harvard were doing, if I wouldn't have broken loose of my own words, I wouldn't be here. But it was because I allowed myself to be lead, back home, that I'm here with this message today.
Being spirit led requires faith. That is not easy but it is worth it. This fast is not easy but it is worth it and I am thankful to see the fruit of it each day. I'm thankful to walk in new knowledge each day, I'm thankful that when I thought I couldn't do it I felt the grace of God telling me I can, and he uses actual people to do that. It's not just a mystical voice lol. To be all powerful means He can use your circumstance, He can use your environment, and He can use you, right where you are.
"Be still and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10)
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