Here are some helpful thoughts when fasting:
DON’T SLIP into the PITS!
1. Pit of Comparison: Everyone is not doing the same time, type, or amount of fasting – but all are trying to be obedient and seeking the same God! Focus on loving God more!
2. Pit of Condemnation: Don’t waste time wallowing in your mistakes – get back up and get going again! Remember your fasting is not paying for breakthrough, growth, and good gifts from God; it is paving the way for breakthrough, growth, and good gifts from God! Don’t let the devil knock you out of the race because you stumbled. We all stumble. The Blood of Christ covered our stumbling so we could continue on and win in the end. Focus on following hard after God.
3. Pit of Pity: Remember it is not about you. Don’t focus on what you are deprived of, focus on loving God more – on knowing Him better. Delight in Him and He will rearrange your desires! (Ps. 34) "Draw near to Him and He (your Creator, Savior, Lord, Master, Healer, Friend, your treasure, joy, and source of wisdom…) will draw near to you!" (James 4:8) "Thank God you are not deprived – you are satisfied!" Focus on pressing in for more of God.
4. Pit of Grumpiness: When your flesh is denied something it's used to getting, it often gets hard to live with, so aim your attitude UP with thanksgiving. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17) In other words, it’s not all about feeding our flesh and feeling good, but about living in Christ, for God, with others! Focus on loving and serving others.
5. Pit of Pointlessness: The place of forgetting what and why you’re doing this. It is easy to slip into this pit if your schedule is super full. You become so busy you get distracted from feeding on the Word, you don’t stop to pray, and you neglect your opportunities to fellowship at church services. The antidote is Matt. 6:33, “seek first the kingdom of God and…” On a busy day, put a Bible CD in the car to listen to as you travel or clean the house for company. Have your scriptures you want to pray written down on cards or a journal to easily look to and help you aim your prayers. Focus on taking time to seek God FIRST.
DON’T SLIP into the PITS!
1. Pit of Comparison: Everyone is not doing the same time, type, or amount of fasting – but all are trying to be obedient and seeking the same God! Focus on loving God more!
2. Pit of Condemnation: Don’t waste time wallowing in your mistakes – get back up and get going again! Remember your fasting is not paying for breakthrough, growth, and good gifts from God; it is paving the way for breakthrough, growth, and good gifts from God! Don’t let the devil knock you out of the race because you stumbled. We all stumble. The Blood of Christ covered our stumbling so we could continue on and win in the end. Focus on following hard after God.
3. Pit of Pity: Remember it is not about you. Don’t focus on what you are deprived of, focus on loving God more – on knowing Him better. Delight in Him and He will rearrange your desires! (Ps. 34) "Draw near to Him and He (your Creator, Savior, Lord, Master, Healer, Friend, your treasure, joy, and source of wisdom…) will draw near to you!" (James 4:8) "Thank God you are not deprived – you are satisfied!" Focus on pressing in for more of God.
4. Pit of Grumpiness: When your flesh is denied something it's used to getting, it often gets hard to live with, so aim your attitude UP with thanksgiving. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17) In other words, it’s not all about feeding our flesh and feeling good, but about living in Christ, for God, with others! Focus on loving and serving others.
5. Pit of Pointlessness: The place of forgetting what and why you’re doing this. It is easy to slip into this pit if your schedule is super full. You become so busy you get distracted from feeding on the Word, you don’t stop to pray, and you neglect your opportunities to fellowship at church services. The antidote is Matt. 6:33, “seek first the kingdom of God and…” On a busy day, put a Bible CD in the car to listen to as you travel or clean the house for company. Have your scriptures you want to pray written down on cards or a journal to easily look to and help you aim your prayers. Focus on taking time to seek God FIRST.
Thanks to my friend Tina for providing this thought for today.
Andy
