Breached Fasting

 Today is day 2 of our monthly fast, and we're continuing our study of listen .  I've heard it said that there is a difference between hearing and listening. Both include the ear, but one compels action or retrieval of information for a later time.  Are you a good listener? How do you measure your listening skills? Is it measured through your ability to carry out an action or your ability to repeat what was communicated to you? As we look through scripture there is evidence of both. Scripture denotes listening to God is evidenced by our obedience.   Isaiah prayed " For from days of old   they have not heard or perceived by ear, n or has the eye seen a God besides You, w ho acts in behalf of the one who  waits for Him."(Isaiah 64: 4) In the above passage Isaiah distinguishes between hearing and perception. This is important, for "perceived by the ear" in Hebrew is azan which means to hear, listen, to be obedient, harken . Isaiah is essentially say...

 Today is day 1 of our monthly fast and this month's theme is listen .  As we delve into the study of listening, let us begin our fast with repentance. Repentance corrects our heart posture, aligns us with the Word of God and prepares us to hear from God so that we can respond in obedience through the power of Holy Spirit. Repentance is not just for our initial conversion to Christianity, it is a posture that we hold to daily as we surrender and say not my will, but Thy will be done.  Throughout scripture we see that repentance was essential to reconciliation and alignment with the purpose of God. In the book of Isaiah, there is a depiction of a vision concerning Judah. The chapter begins with a description of their rebellion, and continues with God's response  in which He says, "w hen you come to appear before me,   who has asked this of you,   this trampling of my courts?  Stop bringing meaningless offerings!  Your incense is detestable...

​Today is day 3 of our fast, and we’re concluding our observation of being still. To recap being still,  also known as rapa in Hebrew means to sink, relax, let drop. Being still takes intention and practice. When we are still before the Lord we say no to distractions and allocate our time so that we invest in what is necessary, which is time in the presence of God. In that stillness we receive revelation and healing.  ‭ Healing is for each of us in Christ for  “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”( Isaiah 53:5) Healing is our portion. Scripture refers to healing as the children’s bread.  Hallelujah! Healing can be a complex subject because it can look different for each person. We know our God can do all things and how He heals each one of us is unique to His specific plan and purpose in our lives. We may not even realize we are in need of healing. But...

Today is day 2 of our fast, and we're continuing our observation of being still.   If you chose the challenge of putting down your mobile device, what was that experience like? Did you initially feel anxious, overwhelmed, FOMO, or did you feel a sense of relief, and relaxation?   Our world  is fast paced. Between our responsibilities, t echnological  advancements, career shifts, and life transitions we can find ourselves exhibiting great effort to keep up, while striving to maintain some level of control. Control really does give the illusion of safety. And that may be the reason why it's hard to trust and wait on God because we have to forfeit our ability to control an outcome. While control can seem safe, it truly limits our understanding of God and our spiritual maturity. Control emphasizes our will and not God's, and catapults us into disappoint when we don't achieve our desired goal.  But wait! There is a remedy for that. Being still in the midst of al...

Today is day 1 of our monthly fast, and our theme next month is be still . Which begs the question, is being still an option or a requirement? When was the last time you were still and waited for something that gave no clue or assurance of its arrival? Waiting is inevitable but waiting well is optional and includes stillness. When we’re still we’re surrendered and attuned to the voice of God for all direction. Challenging yet rewarding, for in our stillness we meet God.  Psalm 46:10 reads “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The word for be still in Hebrew is rapa , pronounced raw-faw, which means to sink, relax, let drop. It's as though in being still we release a burden by letting all striving go and allowing the Lord to truly govern a situation and change our perspective of our circumstances, reminding ourselves He is a good Father. The above verse also reads “know that I am God.” God is God, with no help of ...

 It is day 3! Glory to God! Today as we conclude our fast, let us reflect on the importance of allowing the great exchange to inform our everyday exchange with God.  To recap, exchange occurs when an individual gives up something and in turn becomes the recipient of something else. Have you considered that daily we are experiencing an exchange. In order for us to see Thy Kingdom come, we must be in fellowship with the Lord for direction in our everyday lives. We are giving up our will in exchange for God's will.  And you may know this very fact. And if you do, how often is that truth impacting the way you live out your days. There is a lot of noise around. Maybe you've considered how noisy life can be during this fast, since there is a level of quiet we experience when we say no to the flesh. In the past two days have you been able to identify the noise around you? Have you noticed how many things distract us from tuning into the Holy Spirit. We joke about social media...