I have never in my life prayed and fasted with a community as I have over these past 21 days. I am almost at a loss for words.
It is amazing when God confirms the spiritual inspiration that was given to you. I wasn't sure how God was going to bless when this idea came before the Bethel family. I just knew that God was going to bless. The songwriter declares:
How great is our God?
Name above all names.
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing...
How great ...is our God?
Our God is great. Did you see the miracles emerge clearly during this fast? Each of us took part in something that was pleasing to God. This is just the beginning of what God has planned for God's Bethel. When the clock strikes midnight and God allows us to see a new day. Remember this day. Tomorrow, as you get ready to partake of something you have not had since "last year", remember what the significant time you spent with God. Maybe you don't need as much of all those things we used to eat, but maybe the words of Christ should ring true in our ears: "Man (or woman) does not live by bread alone, but upon every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.".
How great is our God? Let's not completely pile our plates with our old selves, but aspire to walk in the new with a better relationship with God, with more of the Holy Spirit, better diets, stronger faith and spiritual resolve. How great is our God? I feel, trust and know that a mighty move of the Spirit is coming... Name above all names. God has more blessings for us. Praise God for new ministries, deliverance, healing, financial relief, divine promise, and the release of spiritual gifts. Worthy of all praise. Continue to praise more, pray more, trust more, read more. I did all of these things during the fast. I can't even help myself anymore. It in my soul. In my mind. My heart. Thank God for the heart! My heart will sing how great is OUR GOD!
Hallelujhah! Only God be Glorified!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Bethel Daniel Fast Day 20: Patience = Power
Our God is amazingly awesome.
I have no idea why He blesses us in this way.
Today was the third and final (?) day of Wednesday morning prayer at God's Bethel. As you know, during the Daniel fast, we opened the doors of the church each Wednesday morning for at 7:30 for individual and collective prayer. Each week, God has touched, blessed and moved in our midst.
Throughout this season of fasting, I have spoken and written on several occassions about the importance of sacrifice. Fasting is an intentional deliberate sacrifice. It raises our faith, deepens our commitment level in God, confirms our patience and empowers our journey. There are too many twists and turns in life to try to navigate without God's guidance. Consequently, we must deny ourselves and walk more closely with God. We have witnessed a unique prescence of God in our midst and the journey still isn't complete.
James 1: 2 -3, "My brothers and sisters, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." I have discovered on this journey that my patience in God also produces power to overcome the temptations of this world. My patience in God speaks to the joy that comes from God. My patience in God equals power to overcome doubt in others and in myself. Consider how deeply you have been blessed. That alone is enough wait patiently on our God. I end this writing as I began...
Our God is amazingly awesome.
I have no idea why He blesses us in this way.
Today was the third and final (?) day of Wednesday morning prayer at God's Bethel. As you know, during the Daniel fast, we opened the doors of the church each Wednesday morning for at 7:30 for individual and collective prayer. Each week, God has touched, blessed and moved in our midst.
Throughout this season of fasting, I have spoken and written on several occassions about the importance of sacrifice. Fasting is an intentional deliberate sacrifice. It raises our faith, deepens our commitment level in God, confirms our patience and empowers our journey. There are too many twists and turns in life to try to navigate without God's guidance. Consequently, we must deny ourselves and walk more closely with God. We have witnessed a unique prescence of God in our midst and the journey still isn't complete.
James 1: 2 -3, "My brothers and sisters, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." I have discovered on this journey that my patience in God also produces power to overcome the temptations of this world. My patience in God speaks to the joy that comes from God. My patience in God equals power to overcome doubt in others and in myself. Consider how deeply you have been blessed. That alone is enough wait patiently on our God. I end this writing as I began...
Our God is amazingly awesome.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Bethel Daniel Fast Day 19: Renewing Closeness
This morning, I met with some of the memebers of the Boonton Ecumenical Clergy Council for morning conversation. During our time together, the question was raised surrounding maintaining our closeness with God. Someone wanted to know how we carve out the space to spoend time with God.
This spiritual conversation reminded me about our fast. Sometimes in our lives, we have to renew our closeness with God before God compels us to renew it. We all don't spend as much time as we want, should or desire with God. Some of us have no desire to spend time with God and will resent us for doing so.
Just like in a marriage or a committed relationship, we must do things to keep the relationship fresh and compelling. If you always pray in the morning, perhaps for a couple of days you should pray in the evening. Anything to keep things fresh with God is acceptable. Try gospel music, going for a walk or just sitting in silence listening to the sounds of creation. We tend to take so much regarding our Creator for granted, so much concerning our Savior for granted. The relationship between us and the Father is critically important. Shouldn't we recall on a daily basis, the words of John 1, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Eah day, let's continue to strive to renew on closeness with God. "Only God be Glorified"
This spiritual conversation reminded me about our fast. Sometimes in our lives, we have to renew our closeness with God before God compels us to renew it. We all don't spend as much time as we want, should or desire with God. Some of us have no desire to spend time with God and will resent us for doing so.
Just like in a marriage or a committed relationship, we must do things to keep the relationship fresh and compelling. If you always pray in the morning, perhaps for a couple of days you should pray in the evening. Anything to keep things fresh with God is acceptable. Try gospel music, going for a walk or just sitting in silence listening to the sounds of creation. We tend to take so much regarding our Creator for granted, so much concerning our Savior for granted. The relationship between us and the Father is critically important. Shouldn't we recall on a daily basis, the words of John 1, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Eah day, let's continue to strive to renew on closeness with God. "Only God be Glorified"
Monday, January 18, 2010
Bethel Daniel Fast Day 18: Reflections
Yesterday gave me a great deal to rlect upon as it relates to our church-wide fast. Although, I had a plan yesterday for our first bible study of the year, the Lord decided to take us in a completely different direction. We spent this first moment united Christian conversation in 20101 talking about the fast.
It was exhilarating for me to hear so many people giving their thoughts about the fast. Persons talked about the blessings and the challenges. No one talked about any regrets. People talked about how their lifestyles have changed-- more prayer, more meditation, new experiences, temptations resisted, testimonies given. One person shared how she has developed a new perspective on Daniel during the fast. She has taken the initiative in her own bible study to read Daniel for herself. This Daniel fast has been and continues to be absolutely amazing because of the revelation, vision, direction and insight that God has given to this church collectively and individually.
I am reminded of Acts 17: 27, that "(we) should seek the Lord, in the hope that (we) might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." I praise God that we are seeking Him together and discovering in this process that he is not far from each one of us. Only God be Glorified!
It was exhilarating for me to hear so many people giving their thoughts about the fast. Persons talked about the blessings and the challenges. No one talked about any regrets. People talked about how their lifestyles have changed-- more prayer, more meditation, new experiences, temptations resisted, testimonies given. One person shared how she has developed a new perspective on Daniel during the fast. She has taken the initiative in her own bible study to read Daniel for herself. This Daniel fast has been and continues to be absolutely amazing because of the revelation, vision, direction and insight that God has given to this church collectively and individually.
I am reminded of Acts 17: 27, that "(we) should seek the Lord, in the hope that (we) might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." I praise God that we are seeking Him together and discovering in this process that he is not far from each one of us. Only God be Glorified!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)