HisGrace.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

I'm fasting

I stumbled upon Isaiah 58, because it was about the acceptable fast of the Lord. The Israelites did everything they needed to do, from the religious rituals to ceremonies and more traditions. However, the externals of religious practice had become the totality of their experience; they had lost sight of the spiritual side of their relationship with God.

God looks beyond the "correctness of the externals" and saw the "corruptness of the internals.

No matter what I do, God is more impressed with my heart than anything else.

The reason I'm going for this fast is because I believe fasting should not be a last resort, yet one aspect/lifestyle that is so vital. Prayer and fasting goes hand in hand.

The only pre-condition for the Holy Sprit outpouring is that we be a people who will see the vision and that we be willing to pay the price for power through prayer and fasting.

God has chosen us to do the works of Jesus in this generation, and that can only be done in the power of the Spirit.

So I told God that I'm willing to take up this supernatural ('Supernatural, supernatural God...) weapon of prayer and fasting as a regular part of my arsenal.

I told Him that I'm willing to pay the price of regular prayer and fasting so that I can pull down strongholds, have victory in my life and bring deliverance and freedom to the captives in this generation.

This journey began the day I told God, 'Where You lead me, I will follow.'

Today is the 14th day. It's a miracle in itself, that I've kept to it. I got to admit that I struggled at start, but it gets easier as I yield myself to God. 'As I yield myself to You, move in my life like never before, more of You, Holy Spirit, more of You...' Thank You, God!

One very important 'lesson' I've learnt - It is important to lay down my life before Him today and trust Him for tomorrow.

In Psalm 69:6-10, it is written that the way to humble myself before God is by fasting. There are times when I need to tell my physical body who is boss. I need to discipline my soul. God wants me to humble myself to pray, to seek His face (instead of His hand), and turn from my wicked ways - repent.

I find fasting a good time to wait upon the Lord. It is a form of waiting, yes, very uncomfortable though. But great things are worth waiting fervently isn't it?

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

God, I pray that I will not forget my job. My job description is to be like Jesus in word and deed.

Maybe it's time for you to stop stuffing your physical body and start feeding your malnourished inner man.

5:19 PM