This is my first post for the year. Although in my mind, I've written a post everyday for the last 30 days, I just haven't typed them out yet.
This reminds me of a concept in the protection of intellectual property- basically you cant protect an idea. It has to be written down in order for you to register and protect it.
Habakkuk 2:2 says
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[b] may run with it."
I am in no way saying that this blog is not important it to me! It is, but I failed to make time for my dream and used it to invest in other peoples dreams eg watching TV. When Lena Dunham created the very weird show "Girls", it was her dream and now that its on air- her dream has come true! When I spend time watching a show like that, which is so morally corrupt- I add to the ratings and invest her in dream. While on the other end, my own dream is dying!
Ok, now to get to the point on this post. Finally!
Hmmmmm, so I decided to go on the Daniel Fast for 21 days of the month of January. I wont lie, of course I could see the added benefit of fasting right after the Christmas feasting! I will not act holier than thou on this one. Lisa Bevere calls it "giving birth to the Christmas baby".
For those who are unfamiliar with this, it was a request by Daniel and his friends when they arrived at the Kings palace and did not want to eat rich foods served in the palace.
Daniel 1:12
12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."
The result was:
Daniel 1:15
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
Then at a different interval, Daniel was praying and he decided to fast for 3 weeks, mourning and seeking the Lord.
Daniel 10:2
"I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over."
There is so much on the internet about foods are allowed and what is not. I just make sure that I do not eat any meat, eggs, dairy and try to keep out processed food as much as I can.
I had a curve ball thrown my way, well its actually a huge blessing but a curve ball for the fast because I had to go out of town for over a week. I was so fortunate that the inn keeper was a bubbly and kind woman who went to great lengths to accommodate my very restrictive eating. She got very creative. I remember I had a taco shell filled with baked beans and lettuce!
During the last week of the fast, I asked myself "how much have I come to learn about God in this time? Do I feel closer to Him? Has our relationship improved?" I was stunned. I had no tangible answers. Yeah, I am incorporating (or trying very hard to) Robin Sharma's "Holy Hour" concept into my life , and I did read the Tamar chapter in Francine Rivers' book.
I cant say my prayer life has grown, I cant say I've learnt more about worship. Then I was starting to feel the frustration of fasting- and I knew its because I was focusing on my flesh- not on the Spirit. I was basically missing the convenience of being carnivorous!
Then I was reminded:
Matthew 4:4 "People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[a]”
I had been spending all my free time watching series TV filled with sex and bad language during this time. My mind and soul were not changing- they were still feasting on the things I find pleasurable- except for Beyonce, I said no Beyonce from the start. I have now decided to dedicate the last week of the fast, completely to the Lord in body, mind, soul and spirit.
Luke 10:27
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[a]
I was sitting at my desk on a Sunday night and decided to play around with my phone, while thinking of a clause to draft and because I had refreshed my Instagram and there were no new feeds. I came across Podcast's and I had never used the function before- I've had the phone since November.
I found a few Podcast channels that I subscribed to, including Messenger International and I downloaded the message on "Changing the way you see". Lisa Bevere was talking about fasting! If anyone has a way to download, it will change your perspective on fasting! I was seeing all wrong. I had to want to know more about God and He led me to the Podcast's, because I have never looked into it, I update the app but I had never used it.
Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, hear me. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you."
I cant peg this on anything else, other than that I sought Him and He led me to Him via Podcasts! Talk about sense of humour and mysterious ways!
It made me think of the song by Hillsong "Relentless". Gods love is relentless.
Tearing through the veil of darkness
Breaking every chain, You set us free
Fighting for the furthest heart You gave
Your own life for all to see
Relentless is defined as
God consistently and constantly tears through, breaks through, reaches out to us. He will use donkeys and Podcasts to bring us to Him.
This reminds me of a concept in the protection of intellectual property- basically you cant protect an idea. It has to be written down in order for you to register and protect it.
Habakkuk 2:2 says
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[b] may run with it."
 |
| If its important, write it down! |
 |
| Now I am ranting!! |
Hmmmmm, so I decided to go on the Daniel Fast for 21 days of the month of January. I wont lie, of course I could see the added benefit of fasting right after the Christmas feasting! I will not act holier than thou on this one. Lisa Bevere calls it "giving birth to the Christmas baby".
For those who are unfamiliar with this, it was a request by Daniel and his friends when they arrived at the Kings palace and did not want to eat rich foods served in the palace.
Daniel 1:12
12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."
The result was:
Daniel 1:15
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
Then at a different interval, Daniel was praying and he decided to fast for 3 weeks, mourning and seeking the Lord.
Daniel 10:2
"I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over."
There is so much on the internet about foods are allowed and what is not. I just make sure that I do not eat any meat, eggs, dairy and try to keep out processed food as much as I can.
I had a curve ball thrown my way, well its actually a huge blessing but a curve ball for the fast because I had to go out of town for over a week. I was so fortunate that the inn keeper was a bubbly and kind woman who went to great lengths to accommodate my very restrictive eating. She got very creative. I remember I had a taco shell filled with baked beans and lettuce!
During the last week of the fast, I asked myself "how much have I come to learn about God in this time? Do I feel closer to Him? Has our relationship improved?" I was stunned. I had no tangible answers. Yeah, I am incorporating (or trying very hard to) Robin Sharma's "Holy Hour" concept into my life , and I did read the Tamar chapter in Francine Rivers' book.
I cant say my prayer life has grown, I cant say I've learnt more about worship. Then I was starting to feel the frustration of fasting- and I knew its because I was focusing on my flesh- not on the Spirit. I was basically missing the convenience of being carnivorous!
Then I was reminded:
Matthew 4:4 "People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[a]”
I had been spending all my free time watching series TV filled with sex and bad language during this time. My mind and soul were not changing- they were still feasting on the things I find pleasurable- except for Beyonce, I said no Beyonce from the start. I have now decided to dedicate the last week of the fast, completely to the Lord in body, mind, soul and spirit.
Luke 10:27
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[a]
I was sitting at my desk on a Sunday night and decided to play around with my phone, while thinking of a clause to draft and because I had refreshed my Instagram and there were no new feeds. I came across Podcast's and I had never used the function before- I've had the phone since November.
I found a few Podcast channels that I subscribed to, including Messenger International and I downloaded the message on "Changing the way you see". Lisa Bevere was talking about fasting! If anyone has a way to download, it will change your perspective on fasting! I was seeing all wrong. I had to want to know more about God and He led me to the Podcast's, because I have never looked into it, I update the app but I had never used it.
Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, hear me. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you."
I cant peg this on anything else, other than that I sought Him and He led me to Him via Podcasts! Talk about sense of humour and mysterious ways!
It made me think of the song by Hillsong "Relentless". Gods love is relentless.
Tearing through the veil of darkness
Breaking every chain, You set us free
Fighting for the furthest heart You gave
Your own life for all to see
Relentless is defined as
continuing without becoming weaker, less severe, etc.
remaining strict or determined
God consistently and constantly tears through, breaks through, reaches out to us. He will use donkeys and Podcasts to bring us to Him.
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