"Since God rarely shouts His message but most often whispers it, it is essential to become disciplined in the art of solitude - learning to become still so we can hear what God is whispering to us (Psalm 46:10). Far too often our confusion about hearing and discerning the voice of God comes not because God mumbles or doesn't speak clearly or chooses to hide among other voices, but because we haven't turned down the volume of our daily lives to hear what God is saying. We tend to demand that God raise His decibel level; He in turn calls us to slow down, be quiet, and learn to hear His clear-but-soft voice."
(Taken from Competent Christian Counseling, pg. 138)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Blogging? *gasp*
I journal regularly. I like that writing my thoughts out forces me to focus and slow down, which aids in my processing everything that's going on. I also like to have a record of things that I thought, things that I went through to look back on years later. Every once in awhile I'll get nostalgic and decide to read journal entries from different periods of my life.
But the idea of blogging...frankly it scares me a little bit. It's weird for me to be processing whatever random thoughts that may be flying by in my head...put it down "on paper" and have the chance to have other people who I may know or not know read my thoughts. I am okay with sharing; with being transparent, but it's odd to me that I may be being transparent with complete strangers. That idea is weird to me.
Am I the only one that thinks that?
But the idea of blogging...frankly it scares me a little bit. It's weird for me to be processing whatever random thoughts that may be flying by in my head...put it down "on paper" and have the chance to have other people who I may know or not know read my thoughts. I am okay with sharing; with being transparent, but it's odd to me that I may be being transparent with complete strangers. That idea is weird to me.
Am I the only one that thinks that?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Truth About Fasting
I decided to ask the Lord what my first blog entry should be. Here's the conversation I had with Him...
So Lord, what do You want to talk about? I started a new blog today, but I haven’t posted anything yet. What would You like me to post on there? What would be a good first post?
Fasting.
What would You like me to say about it?
I want you to tell people the Truth of it. That there’s no such thing as a technology fast. That would be an offering to Me but not a fast.
Okay. Lord I would prefer if You just told me what You wanted me to write.
The thing I told you earlier about fasting.
(Here it is…)
And then I want you to tell them in your readings about fasting in the Bible, fasting has always been about food. Nothing else. Yes people did “go away” like when Jesus was in the wilderness by Himself. Or when Moses was on the mountain with Me. But a “fast” is when you abstain from food. Abstaining from food is what brings Me closer to you/to earth/to the physical realm. If they want Me to do something; need to hear something from Me…then they need to abstain from food. And it doesn’t always have to be for 40 days. Or a long extended amount of time…even if they fasted one meal…not that they didn’t get a chance to eat or forgot to eat…but if they set aside one meal to allow Me to work or speak to them…then I’ll be able to “show up”.
Okay is there anything else?
Yes, tell them that the reason that you have been able to hear Me so clearly is because of how frequent and regularly you fast/have fasted.
For a period of about three years I fasted for a week once a month. When people would ask me why I was fasting I would tell them, “For intimacy.” Many times in the Bible people would fast because they needed God to do something (like in Esther) or because they wanted to hear from God (Job). So people were/are accustomed to the idea of fasting “for something”. My “something” that I wanted was intimacy with God. I wanted to know more of Him. To be closer to Him. As a result…I have an AMAZING intimate relationship with God! The above italicized words are the words that God spoke to me. And He speaks like that to me all day long!
So that’s the truth about fasting…to “fast” from anything that’s not food is not a fast; it’s an offering. And that fasting is a requirement to walk with God. Jesus says “When you fast…” (Mt 6:16) not IF you fast. So my question to you is…When are you going to fast?
So Lord, what do You want to talk about? I started a new blog today, but I haven’t posted anything yet. What would You like me to post on there? What would be a good first post?
Fasting.
What would You like me to say about it?
I want you to tell people the Truth of it. That there’s no such thing as a technology fast. That would be an offering to Me but not a fast.
Okay. Lord I would prefer if You just told me what You wanted me to write.
The thing I told you earlier about fasting.
(Here it is…)
Lord people were asking me why is fasting necessary. Or what's the point in fasting. So…what is the point in fasting?
Do you need to know? Isn't it enough that I'm asking/telling you to do it?
It is for me, but what do I tell people when they ask me?
Tell them that it is a requirement to walk with Me. It is not an option. It is something that I need all Christians to do in order to get a better understanding of Me. That you will never truly know Me if you have never fasted. True that no one will ever TRULY know Me, but the more they fast the closer to Me they get. If they never fast they will be far from Me.
Okay so what does it do in the spiritual realm? I'm thinking that it has to do something. That something different happens in the spiritual realm when someone fasts.
It does. It is different. It is when you/someone is fasting the spiritual and physical realm are at its closest point. It is during this time that I am able to come down and "touch" the Earth. Without fasting there is only so much I can do, because I gave dominion to Adam/man. I will not take back that dominion, nor will I violate the freedom of choice/will I gave along with that dominion. But when someone is fasting that wall between Heaven and Earth becomes penetrable. I am able to pass through easier. It is during times of fasting that I am able to show up more powerfully on Earth.
And then I want you to tell them in your readings about fasting in the Bible, fasting has always been about food. Nothing else. Yes people did “go away” like when Jesus was in the wilderness by Himself. Or when Moses was on the mountain with Me. But a “fast” is when you abstain from food. Abstaining from food is what brings Me closer to you/to earth/to the physical realm. If they want Me to do something; need to hear something from Me…then they need to abstain from food. And it doesn’t always have to be for 40 days. Or a long extended amount of time…even if they fasted one meal…not that they didn’t get a chance to eat or forgot to eat…but if they set aside one meal to allow Me to work or speak to them…then I’ll be able to “show up”.
Okay is there anything else?
Yes, tell them that the reason that you have been able to hear Me so clearly is because of how frequent and regularly you fast/have fasted.
For a period of about three years I fasted for a week once a month. When people would ask me why I was fasting I would tell them, “For intimacy.” Many times in the Bible people would fast because they needed God to do something (like in Esther) or because they wanted to hear from God (Job). So people were/are accustomed to the idea of fasting “for something”. My “something” that I wanted was intimacy with God. I wanted to know more of Him. To be closer to Him. As a result…I have an AMAZING intimate relationship with God! The above italicized words are the words that God spoke to me. And He speaks like that to me all day long!
So that’s the truth about fasting…to “fast” from anything that’s not food is not a fast; it’s an offering. And that fasting is a requirement to walk with God. Jesus says “When you fast…” (Mt 6:16) not IF you fast. So my question to you is…When are you going to fast?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)