Breached Fasting

Today is day 2 of our fast. Let's continue our study of exhale. Breathing is an intrinsic biological process that includes inhalation and exhalation. We inhale oxygen from the atmosphere and we exhale waste gas such as carbon dioxide from our body. Each inhalation is a spontaneous act of receiving oxygen from the environment around us.  Yesterday we explored the exhalation of God which is naphach in Hebrew. Firstly, let us consider our heart posture when receiving the breath of life God graciously gives us. In order for us to experience the soul renewal and restoration that God provides we have to position our hearts to receive. Similar to the provision of oxygen with each inhalation, we are tasked with receiving the Word of God, for "as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Our reception of God and His truth informs our life state.  Now receiving the Word may seem quite simple, but true reception requires a particula...

 Have you ever considered how many breathes you take in a day? Or similarly how often your heart pumps blood throughout your body? Breathing and circulation are integral assessments in determining life functionality in an individual. After God formed Adam out of dust H e " breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and  man became a living  being." (Genesis 2:7) The Hebrew  word for breathed is naphach, a verb which literally means "to blow; to exhale".  When God breathed into Adam, He imparted some of His own attributes for He said "l et  Us make  man in Our image, according to Our likeness."(Genesis 1:26) That moment in time signified completeness for mankind for temptation  and sin had not yet been explored. Adam was in covenant with the Lord as was the rest of the world around him. This time in history is a special one. A time where man was in complete obedience  to the Father. After life was imparted to Adam and he received  th...

 Today is day 3 of our fast, and we're concluding our study of the renewed mind. As we reflect on the previous days about the importance of stewarding our mind and considering the capacity for renewal that God has given us. Let's conclude with the importance of surrendering our minds. Surrender can be a beautiful yet messy process. Beautiful in that we allow God to be Lord of our lives and messy because letting go of our idea of what life should look like can make us feel undone.  Let's take a look at 1 Kings 17. The prophet Elijah was staying east of the Jordan during a time of drought, and the Lord was providing him water, bread and meat. Eventually the brook that he drank from dried up and the Lord sends Elijah to a widow to find food for He said     “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (1 Kings 17:9)  Upon arrival to Zarephath, Elijah meets the widow and asked h...

Science has caught up to the truth in the scriptures again! As we continue our study of the renewed mind let us take a look at the neuroplasticity of the brain . Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to adapt, reframe and even alter its function by new learned experiences. And this gives us perspective 1. For how our formative years or experiences may have shaped our appetite and ultimately our nutrition consumption.  And 2. It confirms the hope we have in God's word for renewal. If the brain is always adapting and restructuring, we have to be diligent and exercise Colossians 3:2 which states "s et your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."  The flesh is wild and " the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot." (Romans 8:7) If the mind before Christ was incapable of submission to God, then when we are saved the charge for mind renewal  is a pivotal one. Without m...

Today is day 1 of our monthly fast and next month's theme is renewed mind . Each of us is responsible for our own spiritual maturity in the Lord. Which means the renewal of the mind is something we must be diligent in doing ourselves. Praise God for the pastoral staff and leadership team, but when we receive the word the Lord has imparted to them that is just tidbits of their own personal devotional time with the Lord. God has something to share with all his children. And we ourselves, are responsible to seek His face for the psalmist said " When Thou saidst, “Seek ye My face,” my heart said unto Thee, “Thy face,  Lord , will I seek." (Psalm 27:8) Romans 12:2 reads " And do not  be conformed to  this  world, but be transformed by the   renewing of your mind , so that you may  prove what the will of God is, that which is good and  acceptable and perfect." "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed"  is a charge for us to steward the life w...

Today is day 3 of our fast and we're concluding our study of nutrition in relation to our spiritual journey. One thing important to note as we curb our appetite and trade instant gratification for steadfast faith and stillness, is that sometimes the fruit may take longer than we anticipate. When we change our physical nutrition there is a metabolic change that occurs that may take days to weeks to be perceived in the natural. And as we surrender our will and submit to God, we may not immediately see the fruit of that sacrifice. The most important decision we can make is to continue preserving for we are  " not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9) Sometimes our anticipation  of growth or the way out of a season can hinder us from embracing the spiritual maturation that is taking place in our lives . In the book of  Hosea 6:6 God said  " I desire steadfast love  and not sacrifice,  the knowledge of God rat...