By Dr. James MacDonald (This is a pastor that I listen to often. I was moved by what he has written here and offer it to you.)
Every good step you’ve made in your spiritual life has been a step of humility.
Isn’t that right? Think about the seasons of growth you’ve experienced in your walk with Christ—those times when your faith went to the next level. Those seasons are marked by a sincere brokenness before God that opens our hearts to a genuine transformational encounter with the living Christ.
If you can point to a time when you came to Jesus for salvation, you know what humility is. On that day you said, “God, I need You. I need Your grace. I need Your forgiveness. There’s nothing in myself that can earn Your favor, I need what You’re offering.”
That’s humility. You can’t have a passionate, persevering relationship with Christ without it. You need to have the capacity, first to submit yourself to God, then submit yourself to the difficult circumstances of life to experience the full joy God intends for you to know. God will often use the painful circumstances of life to soften our hearts and to bring us to the point of brokenness to bow before Him. In those circumstances, humility looks like this: “Lord, You’re in control. You’ve allowed this for a reason. What do you want to teach me?” God loves that moment when you’re like, “Tell me what are You trying to teach me—I want to learn it. I want whatever it is You have for me.” If you lack wisdom, ask. “I want to learn something new in this, God. I don’t want to keep aching over the same stuff over and over! What is it, Lord?” There’s humility in that. And in that place, God will give you grace.
Humility stands empty-handed before God. No demands, no requests. In seasons like this, all we can do is fall into the embrace of our loving Savior and find Him to be enough. Humility says “no” to the clamoring voice of our flesh, “no” to the pride and self-confidence that has made us so restless and unhappy for so long.
I’ll say it again, every step forward is a step of humility.
Will I live a proud or a humble life? Hebrews 3 and 4 tells us all about Jesus . . . how He humbled Himself, how faithful He is. His model runs counter-culture to our world that wants to be on top . . . first. We want to stand out, but Jesus made Himself nothing. Now, there will be a day when every knee will bow before the Lord, but in God’s program, humility comes before exaltation.
If it’s true (and it is) that every step forward in your Christian life is a step of humility, then it’s also true that every step of pride is a step backward. We need God to help us experience an overwhelming sense of our own personal sinfulness and to bow our heads before Him daily. Through His strength alone, let’s get this pride problem dealt with. If this is your desire, then pray along with me,
Father, we humble ourselves before You. In bowing our heads and our hearts, we’re saying something—we’re saying that You are God and we are not. You are the ruler; we are nothing. You are everything. Lord, there’s great joy in that. How much misery in our lives has come from asserting ourselves and proving ourselves? Forgive us for the lost opportunities to live for you because of our own pride. Strip us now of anything that promotes ourselves and fill us with Your Spirit.
Might the example of Christ stir within us a fresh desire to live lives of humility. Help us to see the joy and freedom found in that secret place. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Saturday, August 23, 2008
60-60 Experiment
Starting the 60-60 Experiment:
For the next 60 days, try to stay in a continuous, honest conversation with God, willing to do his will moment by moment.
Set a watch or alarm to beep every 60 minutes, and put up sticky notes & reminders around you home, car & office, as a reminder to stay connected.
Try to turn your thoughts back to God all throughout the day, as often as you can. This simple conscious contact with God isn't easy, but it's all you have to do - everything else will begin to fall into place over time. Even if you're not yet convinced this is true, try it. Every 60 minutes, stop and recall "God is with me right now..." and let that propel you to ask God "Show me your will this next moment. I want to be willing to do your will as an act of love toward you."
Begin the experiment and see if this isn't the path to a far more satisfying life.
Get a Spiritual Running Partner?
Just like athletes who train to reach physical goals, we need spiritual training partners to provide encouragement, pacing, and motivation for our spiritual goals. A running partner is another person who I can trust with my struggles and concerns, as well as my dreams and goals. We encourage each other to become all God intends us to be.
A running partner is another person (or couple of people) who I am willing to learn to entrust with my deepest concerns, spiritual struggles, and sins, as well as dreams, successes, and plans to grow.
Together, we'll agree to walk together for a season in complete honesty to help each other grow spiritually to be more like Christ. Like exercise partners, we are running with each other along a spiritual path. The purpose of running together is to provide the encouragement, pacing, and motivation we all need to keep running toward wholeness.
We are agreeing to listen, to care, to pray for one another, to point out patterns we see, and to urge each other to keep moving forward in growth to become all God intended us to be.
The goal is to think, live, and act more and more like Jesus would if he were living my life, working at my job, and in my relationships.
Who Should I Look For?
A person you already trust who is part of your church (best for the long-term) or from outside your church.
Husbands and wives can be partners, but often it is difficult to get detached feedback because of proximity and affect on each other.
You can have more than one running partner, but be careful not to spread yourself too thin.
How Does it Work?
Agree to “run together” for a defined period of time. (take it in short bursts so nobody feels stuck)
Set a time and place to meet or have a phone appointment weekly, and agree to meet face-to-face at least monthly.
Take turns asking each other the “How Are You Running” questions. Let the conversation go where the Holy Spirit leads. Pay attention to upholding the “Rules of Running.” We suggest you re-read the rules before each meeting as a reminder.
Rules of Running
Accept and encourage as often as possible.
Ask questions often; give advice once with permission.
Give reproof or correction only when absolutely necessary.
Never give judgment.
Always protect confidentiality.
“How Are You Running” Questions
What do you think God is trying to do in your life right now?
How have you experienced the fruits of the Spirit lately (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)?
How have you treated those you do life with?
What sin have you been conscious of this week?
If there’s one area you need to focus on to better love God, love people, build character, or be the body (Christ’s Church), what would it be?
What’s one thing you will intentionally do to take steps of growth in this area?
Have you said the “last 10%” or have you held back today?
"60-60 Experiment" from the book Soul Revolution
For the next 60 days, try to stay in a continuous, honest conversation with God, willing to do his will moment by moment.
Set a watch or alarm to beep every 60 minutes, and put up sticky notes & reminders around you home, car & office, as a reminder to stay connected.
Try to turn your thoughts back to God all throughout the day, as often as you can. This simple conscious contact with God isn't easy, but it's all you have to do - everything else will begin to fall into place over time. Even if you're not yet convinced this is true, try it. Every 60 minutes, stop and recall "God is with me right now..." and let that propel you to ask God "Show me your will this next moment. I want to be willing to do your will as an act of love toward you."
Begin the experiment and see if this isn't the path to a far more satisfying life.
Get a Spiritual Running Partner?
Just like athletes who train to reach physical goals, we need spiritual training partners to provide encouragement, pacing, and motivation for our spiritual goals. A running partner is another person who I can trust with my struggles and concerns, as well as my dreams and goals. We encourage each other to become all God intends us to be.
A running partner is another person (or couple of people) who I am willing to learn to entrust with my deepest concerns, spiritual struggles, and sins, as well as dreams, successes, and plans to grow.
Together, we'll agree to walk together for a season in complete honesty to help each other grow spiritually to be more like Christ. Like exercise partners, we are running with each other along a spiritual path. The purpose of running together is to provide the encouragement, pacing, and motivation we all need to keep running toward wholeness.
We are agreeing to listen, to care, to pray for one another, to point out patterns we see, and to urge each other to keep moving forward in growth to become all God intended us to be.
The goal is to think, live, and act more and more like Jesus would if he were living my life, working at my job, and in my relationships.
Who Should I Look For?
A person you already trust who is part of your church (best for the long-term) or from outside your church.
Husbands and wives can be partners, but often it is difficult to get detached feedback because of proximity and affect on each other.
You can have more than one running partner, but be careful not to spread yourself too thin.
How Does it Work?
Agree to “run together” for a defined period of time. (take it in short bursts so nobody feels stuck)
Set a time and place to meet or have a phone appointment weekly, and agree to meet face-to-face at least monthly.
Take turns asking each other the “How Are You Running” questions. Let the conversation go where the Holy Spirit leads. Pay attention to upholding the “Rules of Running.” We suggest you re-read the rules before each meeting as a reminder.
Rules of Running
Accept and encourage as often as possible.
Ask questions often; give advice once with permission.
Give reproof or correction only when absolutely necessary.
Never give judgment.
Always protect confidentiality.
“How Are You Running” Questions
What do you think God is trying to do in your life right now?
How have you experienced the fruits of the Spirit lately (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)?
How have you treated those you do life with?
What sin have you been conscious of this week?
If there’s one area you need to focus on to better love God, love people, build character, or be the body (Christ’s Church), what would it be?
What’s one thing you will intentionally do to take steps of growth in this area?
Have you said the “last 10%” or have you held back today?
"60-60 Experiment" from the book Soul Revolution
Monday, July 14, 2008
Tuesday Meal Fast, July 15th
Acts 9:10-12
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
As you can see I have added a verse to our scripture for this week. Over the pass couple of weeks I have found my focus on vision. It seem as if God says been saying to me that I should call us to remember the vision. Our vision has the greatest importance to what God is calling us to. It is important to remember that we are striving to be intentionally multi-ethnic. We want our worship to reflect the that diversity. Most of all we want to see people receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. As you read the Acts text and some of the text below. Enter a time of prayer remembering our vision. Visions like ours only come by dependence on God and intentional work by us. I have placed list of items at the bottom to focus your prayer time around.
OUR VISION NEEDS FAITH...
1. Faith in the power of the gospel
a. To save souls - Ro 1:16-17
b. To produce souls that have been born again - 1 Pe 1:22-25
2. Faith in the power of the Lord
a. To open doors for His prepared servants - 1 Co 16:8-9; Re 3:8
b. To empower His servants wanting to do His will - Ph 4:13; Ep 3:16,20
OUR VISION NEEDS BOLDNESS...
1. A virtue displayed often by the early Christians - Ac 4:13; 9:27; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 28:31
2. For which they prayed and solicited prayers - Ac 4:29,30; Ep 6:19-20
3. A boldness based upon our hope in Christ - 2 Co 3:12
4. To say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, despite the circumstances - 1 Th 2:2
OUR VISION NEEDS PERSISTENCE...
1. Not losing heart, for we shall reap in due time - Ga 6:9
2. Always abounding, knowing that our labor is not in vain - 1 Co15:58
-- Many visions are never realized because people give up too soon!
Prayer Focus
1) Musicians that can help us reflect the diversity that we seek.
2) A team of volunteers that can work with Jr. & Sr. high young people.
3) People with the heart for children ministry to be added to the team.
4) Latino persons that desire to worship in a multi- ethnic setting.
5) Hmong persons that desire to worship in a multi- ethnic setting.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
As you can see I have added a verse to our scripture for this week. Over the pass couple of weeks I have found my focus on vision. It seem as if God says been saying to me that I should call us to remember the vision. Our vision has the greatest importance to what God is calling us to. It is important to remember that we are striving to be intentionally multi-ethnic. We want our worship to reflect the that diversity. Most of all we want to see people receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. As you read the Acts text and some of the text below. Enter a time of prayer remembering our vision. Visions like ours only come by dependence on God and intentional work by us. I have placed list of items at the bottom to focus your prayer time around.
OUR VISION NEEDS FAITH...
1. Faith in the power of the gospel
a. To save souls - Ro 1:16-17
b. To produce souls that have been born again - 1 Pe 1:22-25
2. Faith in the power of the Lord
a. To open doors for His prepared servants - 1 Co 16:8-9; Re 3:8
b. To empower His servants wanting to do His will - Ph 4:13; Ep 3:16,20
OUR VISION NEEDS BOLDNESS...
1. A virtue displayed often by the early Christians - Ac 4:13; 9:27; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 28:31
2. For which they prayed and solicited prayers - Ac 4:29,30; Ep 6:19-20
3. A boldness based upon our hope in Christ - 2 Co 3:12
4. To say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, despite the circumstances - 1 Th 2:2
OUR VISION NEEDS PERSISTENCE...
1. Not losing heart, for we shall reap in due time - Ga 6:9
2. Always abounding, knowing that our labor is not in vain - 1 Co15:58
-- Many visions are never realized because people give up too soon!
Prayer Focus
1) Musicians that can help us reflect the diversity that we seek.
2) A team of volunteers that can work with Jr. & Sr. high young people.
3) People with the heart for children ministry to be added to the team.
4) Latino persons that desire to worship in a multi- ethnic setting.
5) Hmong persons that desire to worship in a multi- ethnic setting.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday Meal Fast, July 1st
Joel 2:27-28
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
God had abundantly blessed Judah, but the people had taken God and His blessings for granted. Their faith had degenerated into an empty formalism and their lives into moral decadence. "Under divine inspiration Joel told the people that the locust plague was a warning of a greater judgment that was imminent unless they repented and returned to full fellowship with God. If they did, God would abundantly pardon them, restore the health of the land, and give them again the elements needed to offer the sacrifices. The ceremonial system was designed to express a heart relationship with God. By their sin they had forfeited any right to religious ceremony"
The above words come from Al Maxey who is commenting on this minor prophet. As I read his word it made me stop and think about the ways in which I may be take God and His blessings for granted. Have I in any way reduced my relationship with God down to empty formalism? This is not the place that i desire my relationship with God to be. I do not want anything in my life to hinder what God is trying to in my life or with ministry of The Compass.
So here are my questions for you as you consider this scripture during your meal fast.
1) Are you taking God for granted?
2) What are the areas in your life that you need to repent of?
3) Could any of your actions be hindering the ministry of The Compass?
As you pray today and wait to hear from God. Please pray for God's continual direction of our ministry together. Hold up the need for our weekly location. As well we need God to provide Kingdom Labors so that we can do the work that our Lord has set before us. As always if you have any comments or feel God pressing anything on you about our ministry please use the comment button below. May God bless you during this fast.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
God had abundantly blessed Judah, but the people had taken God and His blessings for granted. Their faith had degenerated into an empty formalism and their lives into moral decadence. "Under divine inspiration Joel told the people that the locust plague was a warning of a greater judgment that was imminent unless they repented and returned to full fellowship with God. If they did, God would abundantly pardon them, restore the health of the land, and give them again the elements needed to offer the sacrifices. The ceremonial system was designed to express a heart relationship with God. By their sin they had forfeited any right to religious ceremony"
The above words come from Al Maxey who is commenting on this minor prophet. As I read his word it made me stop and think about the ways in which I may be take God and His blessings for granted. Have I in any way reduced my relationship with God down to empty formalism? This is not the place that i desire my relationship with God to be. I do not want anything in my life to hinder what God is trying to in my life or with ministry of The Compass.
So here are my questions for you as you consider this scripture during your meal fast.
1) Are you taking God for granted?
2) What are the areas in your life that you need to repent of?
3) Could any of your actions be hindering the ministry of The Compass?
As you pray today and wait to hear from God. Please pray for God's continual direction of our ministry together. Hold up the need for our weekly location. As well we need God to provide Kingdom Labors so that we can do the work that our Lord has set before us. As always if you have any comments or feel God pressing anything on you about our ministry please use the comment button below. May God bless you during this fast.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tuesday Meal Fast, June 17th
Zephaniah 3:16-17
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
I prefer explaining this text as the calm silent joy in the possession of the object of one's love, too great for words to express: just as God after the six days of creation rested with silent satisfaction in His work, for "behold it was very good" (Genesis 1:31, 2:2). So the parallel clause by contrast expresses the joy, not kept silent as this, but uttered in "singing."
He will rejoice over you with joy, He will not only be well pleased with you, upon your repentance and reformation, He will take you into His favor, but He will take a complacency in you, as the bridegroom does in his bride, or the bride in her ornaments, Isaiah 62:3-5. The conversion of sinners and the consolation of saints are the joy of angels, for they are the joy of God him-self.
Where are the places in your life that you know God has been singing over you and the places you need God to sing over you? What other insight has God shown you in this scripture? Feel free to send a comment back to me.
The reason for our time of fasting (weather you do a meal fast or an all day fast) for June and July is to direct our time of prayer towards our needs. Here are some of our needs:
1) We need a gifted person to lead our children's ministry for the long term.
2) We need more labors that can continue to help us grow and equip people for the work that God has for us.
3) We need our location locked down as we look towards September and the start of our weekly worship services.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
I prefer explaining this text as the calm silent joy in the possession of the object of one's love, too great for words to express: just as God after the six days of creation rested with silent satisfaction in His work, for "behold it was very good" (Genesis 1:31, 2:2). So the parallel clause by contrast expresses the joy, not kept silent as this, but uttered in "singing."
He will rejoice over you with joy, He will not only be well pleased with you, upon your repentance and reformation, He will take you into His favor, but He will take a complacency in you, as the bridegroom does in his bride, or the bride in her ornaments, Isaiah 62:3-5. The conversion of sinners and the consolation of saints are the joy of angels, for they are the joy of God him-self.
Where are the places in your life that you know God has been singing over you and the places you need God to sing over you? What other insight has God shown you in this scripture? Feel free to send a comment back to me.
The reason for our time of fasting (weather you do a meal fast or an all day fast) for June and July is to direct our time of prayer towards our needs. Here are some of our needs:
1) We need a gifted person to lead our children's ministry for the long term.
2) We need more labors that can continue to help us grow and equip people for the work that God has for us.
3) We need our location locked down as we look towards September and the start of our weekly worship services.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Wake Up and Draw Near
“Let us then draw the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” Hebrews 4:16
It is a great thing to know that we don’t need to wake God up since the God who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps Psalm 121:3! In reality, we’re the ones who need to wake up. We need to wake up to the truth that we are not as capable as we think we are to deal with life’s challenges; that our wisdom and instincts are flawed; that trying to manage life by the seat of our pants usually gets us into a heap of trouble.
So, thankfully, the writer to the Hebrews assures us that we can come to Jesus with what the text literally says is “unstaggering confidence”—confidence that He understands our plight and is ready to help us in our time of need. And, in case you’re wondering how He will help you in your time of need, think about His grace that will help you endure, His mercy, His power to overcome, His wisdom to show you the way. And don’t forget His calming presence and His peace that passes understanding in the midst of life’s storms. They are all available for the asking!
So, next time you are overwhelmed with life and don’t know what to do, take a little advice from my friend Eloise: wake Him up! And don’t wait until He is your last resort. You’ll get exhausted and disheartened if you try to bail out your boat all by yourself!
There is an old song that people sing in churches. It goes, “I need thee, Oh, I need thee! Every hour I need thee! Oh, bless me now my Savior, I come to thee.” You’ll need Him sometime—probably today—so make that the theme song of your life.
YOUR JOURNEY…
Would you say that Jesus is your first option when life gets in your face? Or is He your last resort?
What specific steps can you take toward being aware of God’s presence and desire to step in and help you?
At least once today, plan to intentionally call on God. Ask for His wisdom to know what to do and His grace to do it in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Make it a daily!
This has been adapted from some recent reading.
It is a great thing to know that we don’t need to wake God up since the God who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps Psalm 121:3! In reality, we’re the ones who need to wake up. We need to wake up to the truth that we are not as capable as we think we are to deal with life’s challenges; that our wisdom and instincts are flawed; that trying to manage life by the seat of our pants usually gets us into a heap of trouble.
So, thankfully, the writer to the Hebrews assures us that we can come to Jesus with what the text literally says is “unstaggering confidence”—confidence that He understands our plight and is ready to help us in our time of need. And, in case you’re wondering how He will help you in your time of need, think about His grace that will help you endure, His mercy, His power to overcome, His wisdom to show you the way. And don’t forget His calming presence and His peace that passes understanding in the midst of life’s storms. They are all available for the asking!
So, next time you are overwhelmed with life and don’t know what to do, take a little advice from my friend Eloise: wake Him up! And don’t wait until He is your last resort. You’ll get exhausted and disheartened if you try to bail out your boat all by yourself!
There is an old song that people sing in churches. It goes, “I need thee, Oh, I need thee! Every hour I need thee! Oh, bless me now my Savior, I come to thee.” You’ll need Him sometime—probably today—so make that the theme song of your life.
YOUR JOURNEY…
Would you say that Jesus is your first option when life gets in your face? Or is He your last resort?
What specific steps can you take toward being aware of God’s presence and desire to step in and help you?
At least once today, plan to intentionally call on God. Ask for His wisdom to know what to do and His grace to do it in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Make it a daily!
This has been adapted from some recent reading.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
PRAYER & FASTING
Jesus both taught and modeled fasting. After being anointed by the Holy Spirit, He was led into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days (Matthew 4:2). During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave specific instructions on how to fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus knew the followers He addressed would fast. But what is the purpose of fasting in the life of the believer today? Here are some answers.
Showing Humility and Repentance
One reason we fast is to demonstrate humility before the sovereign Creator of the universe. God responds when we diligently and wholeheartedly seek Him (2 Chronicles 7:14). Sometimes this involves confession and repentance from sin. This was the case of the Ninevites when Jonah reluctantly told them God was going to bring judgment upon them (Jonah 3:5,10), 50 they called a fast and repented of their sin. Fasting demonstrates humility by acknowledging our dependence on God. In Psalm 35, David laments his enemies' harsh treatment of him in contrast to how he cared for them when they were ill. He humbled his soul by fasting and praying for their recovery (Psalm 35:13).
Seeking God's Face More Fully
A second reason we fast is to respond to God's love toward us. It is as if we are saying to God, "Because You are righteous and holy, and loved me enough to send Jesus to die for my sins, I want to get to know You more intimately."
Jeremiah 29:13 says we will find God when we seek Him with all our hearts. We may want to take extra time to seek and praise God by missing a meal or abstaining from food for a day or more.
When we deliberately set aside time for fasting, we are showing we want to seek God.
Asking for Something You Desire
Sometimes we fast to demonstrate our sincerity to God concerning something we truly desire. Ezra proclaimed a fast to ask God to protect His people as they journeyed to Jerusalem from exile. God responded by leading them safely to Jerusalem, delivering them from their enemies and ambushes along the way (Ezra 8:21 31). Although fasting may show our sincerity, it does not guarantee we will receive what we desire. Maybe our request is not within God's will, or we may be asking with the wrong motives. David fasted for seven days when God struck with illness the child Bathsheba conceived by David. David repented of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. He humbled himself, fasted and prayed, but the child still died (2 Samuel 12:15-18).
Through fasting we can determine the sincerity and correctness of our requests.
Fasting to Know God's Will
Seeking God's will or direction is different from petitioning Him for something we desire. When the Israelites were in conflict with the tribe of Benjamin, they sought God's will through fasting. The entire army fasted until evening, and "the men of Israel asked the Lord, 'Shall we go out again and fight against our brother Benjamin, or shall we stop?"' (Judges 20:26-28).
Acts 13:1-3 implies that church leaders were seeking God's direction for their ministry through prayer and fasting. The Holy Spirit responded by saying, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." In both instances, people fasted and prayed to determine God's will.
What Does it Accomplish?
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile (Isaiah 58:5-9).
Showing Humility and Repentance
One reason we fast is to demonstrate humility before the sovereign Creator of the universe. God responds when we diligently and wholeheartedly seek Him (2 Chronicles 7:14). Sometimes this involves confession and repentance from sin. This was the case of the Ninevites when Jonah reluctantly told them God was going to bring judgment upon them (Jonah 3:5,10), 50 they called a fast and repented of their sin. Fasting demonstrates humility by acknowledging our dependence on God. In Psalm 35, David laments his enemies' harsh treatment of him in contrast to how he cared for them when they were ill. He humbled his soul by fasting and praying for their recovery (Psalm 35:13).
Seeking God's Face More Fully
A second reason we fast is to respond to God's love toward us. It is as if we are saying to God, "Because You are righteous and holy, and loved me enough to send Jesus to die for my sins, I want to get to know You more intimately."
Jeremiah 29:13 says we will find God when we seek Him with all our hearts. We may want to take extra time to seek and praise God by missing a meal or abstaining from food for a day or more.
When we deliberately set aside time for fasting, we are showing we want to seek God.
Asking for Something You Desire
Sometimes we fast to demonstrate our sincerity to God concerning something we truly desire. Ezra proclaimed a fast to ask God to protect His people as they journeyed to Jerusalem from exile. God responded by leading them safely to Jerusalem, delivering them from their enemies and ambushes along the way (Ezra 8:21 31). Although fasting may show our sincerity, it does not guarantee we will receive what we desire. Maybe our request is not within God's will, or we may be asking with the wrong motives. David fasted for seven days when God struck with illness the child Bathsheba conceived by David. David repented of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. He humbled himself, fasted and prayed, but the child still died (2 Samuel 12:15-18).
Through fasting we can determine the sincerity and correctness of our requests.
Fasting to Know God's Will
Seeking God's will or direction is different from petitioning Him for something we desire. When the Israelites were in conflict with the tribe of Benjamin, they sought God's will through fasting. The entire army fasted until evening, and "the men of Israel asked the Lord, 'Shall we go out again and fight against our brother Benjamin, or shall we stop?"' (Judges 20:26-28).
Acts 13:1-3 implies that church leaders were seeking God's direction for their ministry through prayer and fasting. The Holy Spirit responded by saying, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." In both instances, people fasted and prayed to determine God's will.
What Does it Accomplish?
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile (Isaiah 58:5-9).
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