21-Day Fast: Why prayer AND fasting?
by gingerhohm on May 7th, 2010
filed under Journal
We hear a lot about prayer in Christian circles. “Pray without ceasing, pray for me brother, I’ll keep that in prayer!” In fact, rarely do we ever come together without starting with a prayer or ending with a prayer – or both! Prayer we get, but fasting? Not so much. What’s the big deal? Why do we need to pray AND fast?
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It’s actually pretty straight-forward really. Prayer connects you with God; fasting disconnects you from the world. Bottom line? Sometimes prayer just isn’t enough. Jesus even says so, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). There is something special that happens when we connect with God while simultaneously disconnecting from the world. It’s sort of like hitting the pause button or turning down the background noise, and just allowing ourselves to tune back in to hearing God’s voice.
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Elijah understood it. After exhaustion drove him into the wilderness and fear hid him in a cave, God says, “I’m not in the wind; I’m not in the earthquake. I am that still small voice that is trying to get your attention.” God was able to get his attention by removing the distractions that interfered with Elijah hearing from God. Fasting does that. When fasting is handcuffed to prayer, it is an amazing process that can transform the ordinary Christian into the extraordinary Christian!
21-Day Fast: Stumbling Upwards
by gingerhohm on May 2nd, 2010
filed under Journal
I spoke to a group of ladies earlier this year about “Defining Moments.” You know, the God moments in life when you are faced with a new truth about yourself, life, God, others, etc. At first, the new truth is uncomfortable – like coming out of a dark room into the bright sunlight. If you are patient and allow your eyes to adjust, you find an appreciation for where you are in your journey.
It occurred to me just today, as God and I took a long walk together that some of the most important times of my life have felt just like I was stumbling upward. Isn’t that a funny word picture? Funny, but true! I often feel as if I stumble into a higher place in Christ. I rarely see it coming. I just awkwardly find myself there.
I think this fast is one of those moments. I am about to stumble upward again. I have no idea why or what it will look like, but I sense God’s presence. He is guiding; I am following. That is a combination that has always worked well for me in the past. Experience tells me this moment is not only important, but defining.