LEARNINGS TO SHARE…

God has been teaching me a lot these past 3 weeks.  One of the biggest things He revealed to me, was that when I fast, I don’t do it to get answers.  Actually, this is what I do, in fact, this is often what will motivate me to fast.  I will feel like I don’t know what to do about something, like about the land deal, or what is our next teaching series, so, I will fast and seek an answer.  Now, there is nothing necessarily all that wrong with that approach, but, the Lord just revealed to me, that I don’t need to fast just to get “my” answers, I need to fast to connect to Him, I need to fast to get closer to Him, not satisfy my agenda, so much.  This breakthrough was a huge for me!  I pray I don’t forget it.

Another thing He revealed to me, actually, reminded me, was just to actively deal with my personal sin.  We all have “our issues”.  Well, I have mine also.  No matter how great or small (as we perceive it), sin is sin, and it breaks our relationship with Jesus.  Sometimes, I just get “comfy” with my sin and I don’t “actively” fight against it.  Well, for the last several days, and it has taken almost 2 and a half weeks to make me see this, I have had to deliberately take several thoughts captive, often “as they were happening”, and actually, quote scripture, redirect my thoughts and focus elsewhere.  Sometimes successful, other times not.  Thank God it’s a process, and about progression, and not perfection.

I fail often, and I am thankful for Grace…because if it were up to me to be successful in the Christian life, I would be doomed!!

I have been grateful for this time of fasting.  I have grown closer to my Lord and experienced “breakthrough’s” as described above.  I pray you have also…..

If you have not yet read “How to break a fast”, check out the info below….God bless!!

Breaking a fast the right way is very important.  Especially, if you have been fasting like we have for the past 21 days.  Your body has undergone many changes over the past 3 weeks.  There is more going on biologically then you realize!!  When you don’t eat anything but a clean, fresh diet (fruit and veggies), the worst thing you could do is go eat a big steak or anything heavy or rich.  If you have been following the Daniel Fast regimen, then by now, your digestive system has been less active than before.  You may have digested foods faster, but your system has slowed way down.  To introduce big quantities and heavy rich foods would actually be “painful”, not to mention cause major digestive problems for several days.

There are many websites you can visit, just google, “how to break a fast”, where you will find many suggestions and ideas, as well as cautions.  Most information sources suggest a light “re-entry”.  If you are craving meat, it would be better to eat light, clean meat, like fish, turkey, or chicken.

Another thing to consider when breaking a fast,  is what today’s devotion below addresses.  Don’t undo what God has shown you and revealed to you during your time of fasting.  Don’t’ go back to “indulging” your flesh.  So, just a few suggestions, but if you want more, then do the google search.

Day 21 – John chapter 21

Back to normal?

“Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.  John 21:3-NLT

In John 21, the Lord had been crucified, then resurrected.  In the last 40 or so days between the crucifixion and the ascension, Jesus was randomly showing up and visiting with His disciples.  Peter, along with some of the other disciples had gone back to fishing. This is what they knew best prior to Jesus’ ministry and something at which they were successful, or so they thought!.

Sometimes we get impatient, waiting for something we know God has promised. During that time, we go back to what we were good at, or what we thought was the thing to do, only to find it’s just not the same.  Tomorrow, what will you do as far as your spiritual life is concerned?  For the last 21 days, you have sought the Lord, prayed, fasted, connected to Him, talked to Him, read His Word (Gospel of John) and Lord willing, grown closer to Him.  What will you do tomorrow?  Life back to normal?  Back to gluttony and eating for you glory vs. His?  Will you go back to what you were before our Daniel Fast?  I hope not. 

I pray that you will not –THIS TIME- identify with the disciples, and “go back to what you were doing before”!  if you do, I pray that you, like the disciples will find that it just isn’t the same and you don’t find success there apart from the Lord.  But if you do, I pray the Lord will reveal Himself to you once more and let you know that your way will not work.  You will need to listen to Him, and do what He says to do, and then find success.  That is what the disciples did.  They were fishing but “caught nothing”.  Only when they listened to Jesus and followed His instructions, were they successful.  But then, they left that success to go hang out with Him on the beach.  Why?  Because He changed their lives.  Life “back to normal” just did not seem as it once did.  I pray yours doesn’t either!!

Day 20 – John chapter 20

Revealed

John 20:27(NIV)- Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

I am always amazed at the mercy and grace of Jesus.  After all He had been through just 3 days earlier, when He appeared to His disciples, especially Thomas, He could have been impatient with their unbelief and said, “look, what’s wrong with you people”, but instead He was full of grace and mercy and met Thomas right where he was and helped him cross the line of faith.  Jesus wanted Thomas, as He does you and me, to believe in Him so much that He “proved” Himself to him by His wounds!  Isaiah says “by His wounds you will be healed”

Do you believe?  Jesus wants you to believe in Him.  Jesus wants a close relationship with you.  He will meet you right where you are.  Why have you been fasting these 20 days?  Has Jesus “revealed” Himself to you?  In what way or ways has He met you right where you are in your unbelief?

Don’t’ you find it interesting that right here at the end of our reading in John, some of His, so called, disciples are just now believing in Him?  As we approach the end of our fast, how do you find yourself believing?  What answers have you received?  How have you grown?  Have you been overwhelmed by a fresh sense of His grace or faithfulness?  Are you realizing anew the power of His resurrection?  Have you witnessed an eye-opening miracle firsthand in your own life?

What will you do with such grace and mercy revealed to you?  Is it for your belief or others’ belief?  Read 20: 20-21, 30-31 again.  But what will you do with this powerful discovery? How will you tell others about your encounter?

If you like, share your personal testimonies by posting a comment for all to read and believe, or email your story to stories@crossroadswalton.org

Our last chapter and post will be tomorrow, I will share what God has been teaching me at that time, until then…enjoy being blessed….

Day 19 –John chapter 19

Right vs. Right

Sometimes we have the “right” to do something, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the “right” thing to do. We might have the “right” to enjoy the money we earn, but the “right” thing to do may be to give it away. Often, what’s right for you, may not be what’s best for others. What is always “right” is what would bring honor to God. Jesus understood the scope of his rights and what would honor God:

“…Don’t you realize I have the power to release you or crucify you?’ (Pilate

speaking) Then Jesus said, ‘You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above’ …” John 19:10-11 (NLT)

We know Jesus had the power to immediately put a stop to everything.  Jesus could have pulled rank if … if He wanted. But what we see here is a picture of total surrender and submission to authority by Jesus. Authority, which was actually given by Him and His Father!!  Jesus had the right to call down ten thousand angels, but he chose to do what was right for God’s children, for others!. Jesus came to fulfill the will of the Father, not His own will and knowing that “this suffering” and His crucifixion was the only way the plan of salvation could be accomplished.  This is a vivid illustration of what Paul said…

“He gave up His divine privileges” (Philippians 2:7).

He didn’t stop it all just because He could; or because He had the right!!  He was looking at the bigger picture, God’s greater purposes. What greater purpose or will do you think God is calling you to? What “rights” might you have to surrender to step into this call? Choose what is “right”.

We only have a few days left…if you have not yet posted what the Lord has revealed to you or how you have grown to another level spiritually, I want to encourage you to do so.  I will be posting my learnings toward the end of the week of what the Lord has been teaching me.  I will also be posting how to break a fast, because you don’t want to immediately go back to eating like you did before the fast that would be painful!!  Not to mention the spiritual damage.  Well, enjoy today’s devotion and reading, it was a great chapter…

Day 18 –John chapter 18

Hearing from God

Prayer provides us an opportunity to seek God and invite His power and presence in our lives. Yet it demands that we come to God with authenticity. We call it “getting real” with Him. There is a place in prayer that we all come to – the line of truth – truthfulness within ourselves and truthfulness with God. At this place, the decision is simple – are we willing to stand with truth or hide from it? Are we willing to place everything on the altar and invite His inspection or shut our ears to His still, small voice?

Jesus answered Pilate’s questioning of His kingship with these words “everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37). In other words, we too will listen to him (openly invite and receive His Word into our lives) when we take the side of truth. This is the place of raw authenticity with God. This is the place where real change happens. 

Often, my experience has taught me that such a moment happens toward the end of a time of fasting.  Sometimes, the Lord wants us to come completely to the end of ourselves.  Only here is where we “can” be real with God.  Have you been hearing from God during this time of prayer and fasting?  If not, don’t despair, persevere to the end, you may be surprised how He meets you and speaks.  If you have, then, what else does God want to say to you?  Don’t miss a thing!!  Focus!!  Pursue Him, with full transparency before Him, fully open your heart to hear the truth and receive it in you, to be changed by it.  As you seek God with honesty, draw closer to this place of wholehearted truthfulness with Him. It is there He will speak… it is there you will hear.

Day 17 – John chapter 17

Deity is Praying

We know from the scriptures that Jesus would get alone with God and pray (Luke 5:16). Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be a fly on the wall at one of those prayer sessions?

John was afforded the opportunity to be there when Jesus “looked toward heaven and prayed” (vs.1) this prayer. Can you imagine?  What did he hear, Jesus “talking” to The Father about their relationship, as Father and Son (vs.1-5).  Deity communicating internally -amazing!

Also, Jesus praying for John and for the rest of their team – for their protection, and that they may be one (vs. 6-19).

Jesus also prayed for their spiritual growth.  Don’t miss that, Jesus wanted them to be sanctified in the truth of the Word.  So, He prayed and asked the Father to grow them to be holy.  The Scriptures are the key for this because Jesus acknowledges that the Word is truth.  He is referring to Himself (John 1) and acknowledging that He wants us to grow closer to Him in likeness and relationship.  The difference that is made in our lives will impact others who will hear the message of the Gospel and believe (vs. 20-26).

As we come to an end to this season of prayer and fasting at the end of this week, ask yourself if you have grown closer to Him? Have there been any changes in you that will be lasting?  Have you had the opportunity to share with others what God has been doing in your life?  In two weeks we will cover this passage as we conclude our “Can We Talk” series, but having peeked into the prayer of Jesus today, which part of Jesus’ prayer speaks to you?

Day 16 –John chapter 16

The Holy Spirit – Our Prayer Partner

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard.” John 16:13 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit has many functions. He convicts the world of sin and God’s righteousness, guides believers in truth, glorifies Jesus, and speaks on the authority of Jesus. He knows the future. Jesus declared Him as our Helper. Who better to guide us in prayer than the Holy Spirit?  Even when we can’t pray or don’t know what to pray, He prays for us in ways we will never understand this side of eternity (Romans 8:26-28)

The Holy Spirit is always with us as believers.  He takes up residence within us when we become a child of God or get saved.  We are only commanded to “be filled” with Him.  Yielded, surrendered, controlled by Him is our position.  As we surrender to Him, day by day, moment by moment, we can have the confidence that He will “never” lead us in the wrong direction. He only speaks what He hears from Jesus.  Do you realize this; He will never lead us wrong because He speaks to us what Jesus tells Him to.  This is great news!  When we open our hearts during this time of prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit will guide us, about whatever it is we are fasting from and for. He guides us in “the” truth and will bring joy and encouragement always, and during our prayer time.  As you pray and focus today, thank the LORD for giving you, and us, Holy Spirit as our prayer partner.

This is the last week of our Daniel Fast.  I want to encourage you to really focus your efforts to connect to the Lord.  Don’t get caught up in just going through the motions of discipline and just waiting until it is over, but persevere in this time of spiritual focus and discipline!  Later this week I will post some info on “how to break a fast”.  Stay tuned.  I am praying for you.

Day 15 –John chapter 15

Abiding – The Secret to Answered Prayer

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:7-8 (NLT)

Abide means to dwell, to stay, remain, to settle in, and to sink deeper. When we abide in Christ, we take on His desires and begin to pray “according to His will”. That is the secret to getting our prayers answered and John told us this in yesterday’s reading, (John 14:14) Praying according to God’s will is not just a phrase we say in prayer.  When our heart is lined up with His heart, God becomes the inspiration for the things we pray for and we will want what He wants. 

This “unrelenting dependence” upon Him is what produces spiritual fruit in our lives.  As long as a branch is abiding in the vine, it is alive and will produce fruit. Once the branch is separated, it no longer produces the fruit it was created to produce. God loves us so much that He wants us to remain connected and “dependent” upon Him as a branch is to the vine. Ours is not to focus on developing fruit.  Ours is to focus on abiding, not striving.  Fruit “results” from abiding.  Are you abiding, depending, and dwelling in Him or some religious activity?  Like fasting?  Don’t substitute activity for Him.  Discipline yourself to make you focus on Him.  Pray, “Lord, draw me as close to your heart as a branch is to the vine. Guide me to pray according to Your will”.