I have just recently been fasting. It is not something I have done for a number of years, and it is not something I take very lightly. I always check my heart and motives before I engage with fasting, so as it is not so much a religious or striving thing (I know I can be quite driven) but rather a devotional activity. It is a fine line. This year I have fasted sugar and TV/ screen time as I have already been on a diet to lose a few kilos. I just wanted to refocus - to set my intentions onto spiritual things rather than all the worldly things that do us no favours and eat up our time. With Covid lockdown I think I have developed some bad habits with screen time and the like.
On a similar line of thought, I am reading 2 books at the moment. One is about spiritual multiplication; finding God's favour and timing in your life and spiritual principles around growing in and operating in your gifting and calling. The other book is about saving money / wealth creation and investing in large amounts of real estate.... Funnily enough it is also written by a Christian person. I have had to check my heart between reading the two books. Do I want to work towards wealth or spiritual blessing and multiplication? Or are both possible to some degree? As opposite as the two books sound in the underlying principles, they are not mutually exclusive. I am enjoying them both even if one is kind of worldly.
Col 3: 1-2, 17.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things... ...And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Matthew 6:33 Amp
But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
Years ago I found myself walking along the beach at night. It was in a national park a few hours south-east of Melbourne, and it started to drizzle. It was night time, the stars were out and it was absolutely beautiful despite the rain and a fairly heavy wind. I asked God if there was anything He wanted to show me in that little walk along the beach and I felt that if I was a few metres to my left - I would be sheltered from the wind and rain by the bush that lay behind the beach. On the other hand if I was a few metres to my right - the raging seas and rocks would mean certain terror, and possibly death. Neither position would be helpful to me, and in neither position would I be gazing at the stars and marvelling and the beauty and expanse of creation. I felt that the Godly place to walk was indeed on the beach - neither too sheltered nor too exposed to the elements. That narrow place was the place to be - where the beauty of the stars held my attention, the glory of God was revealed, and I was mildly battered by the things of this world.
In life we can be crazy risk takers, or be comfortably or lazily risk averse. It seems a lot of people travel along in life looking after themselves and not too worried about the rest of the world. I would like to think I am fairly community orientated, courageous at times, and a little generous with my time and efforts towards others. But as I am getting a bit older, if I am perfectly honest, I know that fear can creep into the equation of my life a little more, and I really do like my creature comforts. TV and few little blocks of chocolate have a lot to answer for (which is exactly what I have been fasting). How far would I be willing to go for God if He asked me? How much of my time and money would I give to serve Him and how available am I? What am I holding onto unnecessarily and too tightly?
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-10, 13-16
Now faith is confidence in what we hope forand assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for... ...By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God...
... They did not receive the things promised;they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a cityfor them.
A previous pastor at the church I attend used to frequently quote, "Faith is spelt R, I, S, K. I am all for a little adventure but I am acutely aware it needs to be adventure with God. I know I can't do things really do things on my own terms, but it needs to be on God's; in His timing, with his favour and with his blessing. As far as I am able, all I can really offer is my life fully surrendered and laid down and I need to hear his voice - just a little more clearly than I do presently. Although I am pretty convinced that God often speaks through what seem to be our ideas and desires, if covered in prayer.
It is indeed a fine line - between waiting for confirmation / hearing the voice of God and stepping out in faith. Feeling inadequate doesn't help, nor does doubting His promises, His gifting or His calling on my life. I feel like I have a lot to learn in this area. His timing is perfect.
Prov 3:3-6
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
2 Cor 12:9
But he said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Matthew 7: 13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
I feel like at times I am way too easily distracted by the things of the world. At present I am on holidays and today I have been enjoying a cafe meal and a walk along the beach in NSW (during the day this time!). There is nothing like a good cappuccino and a pretty little beach town (even the waitress is trying to edge me out of the cafe so as they can serve other people as I type this). It's the simple pleasures of life that do indeed distract. I never want to be lukewarm in my faith or distant from God. I have faith that the one who is faithful is bigger than my inevitable failings and distractions.
תגובות