With a snap of God’s fingers everything can change. Why is it then that we don’t always see it? I suppose the answer is: Sometimes God needs to make a change IN us, rather than doing something FOR us. We may learn more through endurance than what we learn from deliverance. When we fast, we let go from the natural to take hold of the supernatural.
Let us look at the ABC of fasting:
A – Alignment: our desires should line up with God’s desires; our wants should submit to His will.
B – Breakthrough: what if your breakthrough can only come through prayer and fasting (Mark 9:25-29)?
C – Clarity: James 1:5 talks about wisdom… much needed wisdom in any relationship, or in decision making: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
In Isaiah 58: 6 we read about what God wants from us: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
I have learned many lessons from loadshedding and power outages. Is this fasting from electricity, or even technology? A few days back, I ran around frantically to sort out a power failure – from sms’s, numerous phone calls to the municipality, speaking to ward councilors, to driving to the closest restaurant. Living this life on earth is just like that. It is a continuous chase to get connected: connecting to Wi-Fi or charging all our electronic devices. But is this the connection we need? Are we connecting with God and others? Really connecting?
To get charged, we should plug in to God – connect with Him. When we read John 15, the vine represents the connection between God and his children, with Him being the CHARGER, and us being plugged in to Him. We can do nothing without Him. We are all like faulty chargers - our cord is broken, or worse – just dead. Just imagine yourself being a broken screen. Nothing is clear. We do our best to get the best screen protector on the market to keep the screen without scratches and cracks. Let us learn from this and go to our PROTECTOR, broken screens and all.
Our electricity issues are a reminder to keep the solar lamps fully charged to not be caught off-guard. It reminds me of the story of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25). There was a timeline. The loadshedding schedules assist us to be a little more prepared, but life is like a power outage, it comes without warning and does not always come with a timeline. When we hear words like: ‘there is light at the end of the tunnel’ while you are lying on the tiles in the dark, during the heat wave AND menopause flashes, it makes you wonder: Am I really one of the children of Light?
The answer lies (pardon the punt) in 1 Thessalonians 5:5 “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
Can you remember the days when your toddler woke up during the night, crying and stumbling, looking for you – his/her safe place? What did you do? You met them halfway, picked them up, hugged them and soothed them. That is what compassion looks like. MY dear friend, go back to being that child. Run to Him in your darkest hours with tears streaming down your face. He does not sleep or slumber. He is always waiting with open arms. In fact, He is waiting already. God wants to see everyone saved and save in His loving arms - finding and feeling His unfailing love. One desperate shout can save you.
Exodus 34:6 “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness’.”
According to Scripture, there is a 1, 2, 3 - way out of the darkness (whatever the darkness is that you experience in your life):
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “(1) Rejoice always, (2) pray continually, (3) give thanks in all circumstances; this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
A fast can be when we force ourselves to disconnect from certain things, before being forced to do just that. I have been battling with a niggle in my foot for the past few weeks. It forced me to be creative with my exercise routine, to plan my shoes better (no high heels), and to think of ways to stay on top of my game without hurting myself any further. I was forced to rest, or to slow down at least.
When you feel overworked, worn-out, burnt-out, tired, anxious, depressed, that you can’t keep up the pace, change your habits. Maybe you are trying to run other’s races. Are you buying all the self-help books from the shelves in the bookstore? And then feel guilty about the money spent and the goals not met? What did Jesus do? He rested, prayed, fasted, and served. If Jesus felt the need to do this, think how crucial this is for us. What prayers have you stopped praying because you didn’t immediately receive the answer you were looking for?
These habits should become a lifestyle, a way of life:
Start with only one habit if you need to. Read the Truth. When you know the Truth, you will share the truth, instead of just another opinion.
And pray: Pray peace over your problems: Be God-centric realistic. Look from a heavenly place at your earthly problems.
Run your own race!
Run to God!
Run with God!
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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