40 Days in The Wilderness - To fast or not to fast.....

 

 Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the Yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exalt n the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 

Habakkuk 3:17-18

My devotion this morning was centered around my food addiction - what can I do to get in the right frame of mind - to put God over food and really make happen what needs to happen. In another book I'm reading, the first chapter is about fasting - about choosing 7 foods and eating only those 7 foods for 4 weeks....so in my bible time today I was led to Deuteronomy 8: In my NIV bible it is titled "Do not forget the Lord". 8:2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you causing you hunger and then fed you with manna - to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

In a book by John Piper, John says: 'The son of God began his earthly ministry with a 40 day fast. This should give us pause. Especially if we - who are not God - have moved into ministry heedless of the battle we may have to fight.....can we really face the superhuman hazards of life and ministry without walking with Jesus through the wilderness of fasting? ...I think we must walk there to learn from him. He was the son of God, and we are not, but he did say "As the Father has sent me, I also send you" John 20:21. - wow, wow, wow!   And Charles Spurgeon said:  'If he who was the light of the world fought for his fire with fasting, is there something to be learned here for our flickering wicks?'

For me, a fast is in order. I'm taking the challenge fasting by choosing 7 foods for the next 40 days. As I fast I plan on spending every morning in prayer not focusing on ME and my needs - but in focusing on what Jesus went thru for me. It doesn't seem enough to just pray for deliverance from this issue - I think God truly wants me to focus on his gifts to me - what all He has done for me - because, living in the flesh I'm not getting it. Perhaps if I fast and pray and reflect as he did 40 days in the wilderness, I will not only become closer to Him but will stop making food such a huge part of my life -that I will use it for fuel instead of pleasure - and get a small feeling of what His shoes felt like. - I will let you know what 7 foods I choose and you can help me stay accountable on my walk! 

Maybe a fast of some sort may be what you need as well. John Piper has a great book out - 'Hunger for God' - there he talks about fasting and why we need it periodically. A fast is simply giving up something you LOVE - something that will not be comfortable to give up - something that will send you to The Word instead of the refrigerator - maybe that's the diet soda you have been drinking, or sugar - maybe it's the flavored creamer you are using many times a day - A fast does not mean you have to go without eating - see Daniel's fast in the bible - tailor your fast, but remember - it must be uncomfortable, any attempt to walk in the shoes of Jesus is going to be just that.

Thanks for letting me share my morning devotion! And how appropriate that I read another devotion this morning that reiterated loud and clear that I need to get out of the flesh and into The Word -I need to quit messing around and start surrendering all to Him, I need to Let Go and Let God. Praising God for perfect words and perfect timing.