I've been meaning to give you a little update regarding the 21 days of prayer and fasting that we were a part of here at MUMC. Several funerals, meetings, and "divine interruptions" have kept me from doing so, but I currently have a moment to jot down some thoughts. So here goes.
I must say, it was definitely a spiritual discipline to set aside time each day during the lunch and dinner hour to come to the chapel and worship, hear from a speaker, and pray with others. Establishing that as "time set apart for God" was great. It didn't matter if there were two or a dozen in the chapel, that time was special. I don't believe I would have experienced the presence of God in the same way without setting that time aside. What a blessing. And kudos to you who participated.
The 21 days fast was something I'd never done before. I was on a liquid diet except for a little fruit each day. (Remember, I'm a meat and potato kind of guy). And as I mentioned in the last blog, there were some difficult days - day 3, day 6, and expecially day 18. I was so ready to throw all fruit out the door. I wanted a hamburger. But, not eating was NOT the point. It was dependence upon God that he would be faithful to sustain and nourish me during the 21 days. And he held true to his promise. If there was one thing I learned, it was that God's word is faithful and true and he will always supply our every need. It was during those times of hunger that I redirected my desire for physical food to that of being fed spiritually - prayer, Scripture reading, worship, meditation. After all, wasn't that the reason, to be drawn closer to God? To see and hear clearer? To be more sensitive to God and what he was doing?
I truly did feel that I had a heightened sense of God's presence - both in my life and in the lives of others. Those who prayed and fasted shared many of the same experiences of a greater awareness to the things of God, a greater desire to worship, and greater desire to become closer to him. That was a real blessing.
Many lost weight - a good thing. Many shut off the tv, set aside their video games, exercised, or replaced bad food with nutritious food. Some fasted mulitiple meals, some a meal a day, some certain foods, some certain drinks, some sweets and candies. It wasn't about being legalistic, but about being intentional about setting aside time and space for God. And you know what, when we do that, God comes through - "Seek and you shall find" Scripture reminds us.
On my own I knew I would never make it. So each day I reminded myself of Jesus' words,"My grace is sufficient". And just as he promised, it was so.
Grace indeed! Amazing grace!!
(P.S. - If you took part in the Awakening, let me know of your experience.)
