Seeking God through Fasting..Craig Denison Ministries

 Seeking God through Fasting

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Learning to seek the face of God is the foundation for experiencing the amazing life Jesus died to give us. We have available to us through Christ all the wonders, excellencies, and satisfaction we can fathom. God has granted us grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy, affection upon affection, and love upon love. When we pursue him through all the avenues available to us, a door is opened in which we discover all our heavenly Father longs to give us. May you grow in your pursuit of God this week as we study various ways we’ve been given to seek his face.

Scripture:“So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.” Ezra 8:23

Devotional:   

In his book, A Hunger for God, John Piper writes, “If you don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.” Fasting is a powerful tool for placing anything that entangles us to the depravity and longings of this world in proper perspective. It builds for us a seat at the table of God where we can drink deeply of the wonders and satisfaction found in restored relationship with our heavenly Father. May the Lord reveal to you the places in your heart which need to be realigned as we look at all God longs to do in us through the gift of fasting.

Matthew 6:16-18 says, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Fasting is a secret declaration to yourself and your heavenly Father that you want more of what he has to give you. It’s a private plea for the abundant life that can only be found in more of God and less of the world. And God responds to our pleas with his glory and grace causing the cares of this world to pale in comparison to the abundance of God’s love.

There’s something powerful that takes place when we willingly surrender satisfaction in the world to make space for more of God. God loves to respond to our hunger. In his patience he waits for us to cry out to him to bring us into the fullness of what he has for us. But in his pursuit of us he constantly whispers from his Spirit to ours, beckoning us to give up the rags of this world for the riches that come through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Whether you’re fasting food, entertainment, relationships, or anything else to make space for more of God, the intention of God for fasting is to fill you up to overflow. It’s his intention to realign your life to position you to consistently receive all he has for you. It's his intention to transform the pangs of separation from whatever you're fasting into deep prayers for more of his goodness. May you be honest with yourself and be filled with the desire to fast from that which stands in the way of you fully living the abundant life.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire for fasting. Allow truth to form your perspective on this age-old discipline.

“So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.” Ezra 8:23

“If you don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.” — John Piper, A Hunger For God

2. What do you need to fast? What’s holding you back from the fullness God longs to give you? What could you give up to create more space for relationship with him? Be honest with yourself and God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal places in your life that need the transformation that comes through fasting.

3. Commit to fasting whatever you feel would be beneficial for you. You don’t have to start with too much! This isn’t meant to be a religious exercise but rather an action performed out of a longing for more of God. Ask the Spirit to see you through this process. Ask him to strengthen you as you become weak.

Nineteenth-century author Andrew Murray once said, "Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." May you discover the wealth of goodness that accompanies letting go of the weight of this world through fasting. And may your resolve to experience all that God has for you increase, as the cares of the world slip away.

Our Hope for Broken Things..ALICIA BRUXVOORT

 Our Hope for Broken Things

ALICIA BRUXVOORT

Lee en español

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

I read the text through a haze of tears. Then I let the groan in my throat spill through my lips. My friend’s struggle was spiraling from bad to worse, and I felt like a paralyzed spectator watching her world unravel.

I had listened and encouraged, consoled and comforted. But I couldn’t fix my friend’s shattered dreams or reverse her agonizing situation. I sank to the floor in a heap of sadness and expressed my frustration to the Lord.

It’s all so broken. What can I do?

God didn’t answer with a voice from heaven, but a single word crossed my mind: Pray.

I pushed the idea away. Of course I would pray. Later. But right now, I wanted to do something.

As if on cue, I spotted a teddy bear lying beneath the coffee table not far from where I was sitting. When I plucked the forgotten toy out of hiding, I noticed its head was dangling askew. Oh, great, something else that’s broken.

As I swatted a trickle of tears, my teenage son sauntered into the room and glanced at the toy in my hand. “You should put that on the counter for Dad,” he suggested with a wink.

My son’s advice stirred a memory from long-ago days when my life was a blur of diapers and demands. With five small children beneath my roof, I didn’t have the capacity to strategize how to fix all the things that got broken in our house. So, eventually, my kids developed a solution of their own.

Whatever fell short, fell apart or failed to work was deposited on the kitchen counter, next to the stack of daily mail, in hopes of attracting my husband’s attention when he came home from work.

“Just take it to Daddy,” they’d say when the punching bag went flat or the hula hoop cracked.

“Just take it to Daddy,” they’d propose when the jump ropes grew tangled or the doll’s arm dangled.

That pile may have looked like clutter, but it was a humble appeal for help. Each time my children added something to the countertop mound, they admitted the fix they needed was beyond the faculty they possessed.

When they couldn’t fix what was broken, my kids simply surrendered it to one who could. And as beloved children of God, we are invited to do the same.

We do not all have earthly fathers who are inclined to fix broken things, but each one of us has a heavenly Father who is willing to repair and restore what we cannot. In fact, Psalm 147:3 describes our good Father like this: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NIV).

The term the psalmist uses to communicate “healing” is rapa, which means to mend by stitching. This word alone paints a poignant picture of our heavenly Father’s heart.

It reminds us God does not hold at arm’s length what is broken. Rather, He encourages us to draw close and place in His hands what has unraveled. Then He engages in the intimate work of fixing what is fractured.

My son plucked the teddy bear from my grasp and headed to the kitchen, and as he put the toy on the counter, my next move became clear.

I closed my eyes and carried my hurting friend to God in prayer. It wasn’t my last resort; it was a wise next step.

With a single word, God had reminded me that prayer isn’t succumbing to helplessness; it’s putting faith into action. Because even when we don’t know what to do, our Father’s hands hold hope for broken things.

Dear Jesus, today, I surrender into Your hands the things in my life that seem unfixable. Give me faith to believe You can restore and repair what is broken. Help me to trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Pathway of Spiritual Growth..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Pathway of Spiritual Growth

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 8:29

God predestined us to grow into His likeness, but this doesn't happen at the moment we are saved. While we are redeemed by the Savior's precious blood and immediately have a new heart, our transformation is a lifelong process.

The Holy Spirit enables this journey. Growth is impossible without Him, regardless of our efforts. Yet we can welcome or hinder His transforming hand.

One way we give God willing access to our lives is by obeying this mandate in Romans 12:2: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

Everyone chooses either a biblical or worldly philosophy as his or her source of truth--and that choice shapes the mind and spirit. Therefore, the Lord tells us to immerse our mind in Scripture, allowing Him to mold us into His beautiful image.

The Bible story about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness illustrates this principle. After saving them from Pharaoh's abuse, God did not bring them immediately to the Promised Land. The Lord knew doing so would bring sinful ways with them. Instead, He led them to the wilderness and gave the Ten Commandments. Only after they learned to obey and turn to almighty God were they ready for the next step.

The process of sanctification isn't always pleasant. In fact, it's often painful for us, just as it was for the Israelites. In God's amazing wisdom and love, however, He knows what we need to leave our old ways that lead to death. And He builds new character in us--full of life and joy.

Abide: Where to Stay When Nothing Lasts..Jeanne Doyon

 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. - John 15:4-6

Abide: Where to Stay When Nothing Lasts
By Jeanne Doyon

Abide. This word has been on my heart lately as I study John chapter 15. We don’t use the word abide much anymore—maybe never—because nothing seems to last.

Marriages fail.
Riches flee.
Cars break down.
Health deteriorates.
Friends fail.

Churches split.
Relationships cool.
Possessions break.
Quality erodes.
Nothing lasts.

But, Jesus says:

Abide. Stay. Remain. Trust that I AM your constant. I will never turn my back on you. I AM the one you can trust. When all else is falling apart, I will remain. I will be your rock and shield.

Psalm 91:1 says, Abide in the shadow of the Almighty. To me this means:

Not running ahead or lagging behind.

Under His protection
Surrounded by His presence
Shielded from my enemies
Covered with His hand

Resting in His power and sovereignty
Sure of His knowledge and leading
Trusting in His timing and care

God Covers You – Good News for Us

So when we face shattered pieces and people around us, know that God is covering you with His shadow. This is news our world needs. It is the hope that anchors us. It is the message He wants you to carry and proclaim…

God says:

I will abide. My love will remain. My grace and mercy will be poured out. Forgiveness will be found because I AM is faithful. Abide in me, and I in you (John 15).

What does Abide mean to you, and how do you need His close presence today?

Will you remain under the covering of His shadow?

A Prayer for Difficult Times..Heidi Vegh

 A Prayer for Difficult Times

By Heidi Vegh

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." - Psalm 9:9-10

No one is blind to the challenges that our world is facing today. Tragedy and hopelessness swarm the headlines, with little to no hope in sight. It can be easy to get caught up in the drama of the here and now letting the challenges of this world and the challenges of daily life get the best of us.

I am no stranger to difficult times. I lost my husband to cancer in 2013 and was left caring for two small children. This tragedy sucked the wind out of my lungs and threw me to the ground. There were days that I didn’t feel that I could go on. The weight of grief was just too much to bear.

In my most hopeless state I remembered what I had been taught my entire life. Even though I barely had the energy to breathe, I used what breath I could to cry out to the Lord.  He pulled me out of the pit of darkness and over time I was able to see light once again. Not without the challenges of widowhood and solo parenting that I had hauntingly in front of me, but I knew that I wasn’t alone. I could eventually see a new life form and new hope was filling my depleted lungs.

God kept His promise in my life. Although He allowed tragedy to strike, He never left me forsaken. He didn’t forget about me. He comforted me, held me, and directed my steps as I slowly climbed out of a pit of despair.

The Psalmist in this passage is describing a God who will not abandon us. It does not mean that if we trust Him that we will be able to escape suffering and loss, but it does mean that no matter what we face He will never leave us.

Despite all the tragedy happening around us we can rest assured that we have a solid foundation in Christ. He is our true, unmovable rock that can withstand anything that this life can throw at us.

So let us remember this truth as we stand surrounded by difficulty in the world or in our own lives. Let us remember who God is and that His faithfulness to stand with us can be trusted.

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord,
Thank you for your everlasting love. Thank you that I can reach out to you in my most desperate place and you will be with me. Thank you for the joy of our salvation and that no matter what we face in this world, we have the hope of heaven.

I pray for all those suffering around the world. There are countless tragedies that I can hardly wrap my head around. I pray for change, justice, and truth to prevail but most importantly I pray for your peace to surround the hurting, a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray that your gentle arms will wrap them in a peace that carries them through difficult days ahead.

I pray for the souls that strive for evil to prevail. I pray for an awakening in their hearts that allows them to see the damage and destruction that their actions cause. I pray for their hearts to turn towards you, which is where true change in the world will start.

I pray that we as a church can stand up for justice and truth when needed and to kneel every day in your presence. Give us the strength to endure difficulty in our own lives and give us wisdom and guidance in all the places that we need it.

I pray that despite the difficulty surrounding us that we can stand firm in our faith. I pray we can share the love of Jesus with all those around us and that the lies and the schemes of the enemy will not prevail.

I lift the people who don’t know you, I pray you would bring people into their lives that can bring truth to their hearts and hope for their souls.

Thank you for your peace, Lord and thank you that we can come to you and you meet us right where we are.
In your name we pray, Jesus, amen.

When God Establishes Your Steps..Lynette Kittle

 When God Establishes Your Steps

By Lynette Kittle

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” - Proverbs 16:9

Have you ever prayed, asking God to direct your steps and take you in a specific direction, only to experience what seemed like life was taking you in the opposite direction, away from what you were asking?

When Uncle Sam Messes with Your Plans
Years ago, I wasn’t happy when I learned my husband, a newly promoted sergeant in the United States Air Force, was being sent to a Non-Commissioned Officers’ Leadership School on base. Attending meant he would be living away from home in the dormitory during training, leaving me off base to care alone for our one and three-year-old daughters. Living in Anchorage, Alaska, at the time, far away from my family in Ohio, staying alone just blocks from the site of a recent mass murder, left me on edge and on alert 24/7.

This curveball from the USAF also didn’t fit with our plans. My husband was all set to apply for an early out, to start the Fall Semester of Bible College back in Ohio near our families. Now with the military spending its time and money to train him, made it seem highly unlikely his request would be approved. Still, Jeremiah 32:27 reminds us, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Struggling through the weeks of training and living apart, as his stint in the NCO leadership school ended, my husband was instructed to bring me to a graduation banquet on base. At first, I said “no,” because it was the last thing I wanted to do. I was still pretty upset with the whole process and felt somewhat fuming about even being asked to attend. Yet in my heart I knew as his wife, God wanted me to support him by going along with him to the event. Begrudgingly I gave in and told him I’d be his date. Still, my mind was set on not enjoying it.

Dinner with the Commander
Half-heartedly, I dressed up for the big occasion. In arriving for the event, we were surprised to find ourselves seated directly across from his squadron’s commander and wife. Unknown to us, he was the only airman out of his squadron to attend the school. We found ourselves having the commander’s full attention for the entire evening. Needless to say, we felt awkward. Having no idea we would be sitting with the commander, I especially felt unprepared and uncomfortable sitting across from him, knowing the lousy attitude I was having toward the whole school and military.

To add to our ill-at-ease feelings, the commander and his wife brought alcohol to share and consistently throughout our chatting kept trying to fill our glasses. All the while we kept saying, “No thank you,” and turning down their offers. Trying not to offend them, my husband thanked them for their generosity and explained we just don't drink. They seemed taken aback by his response like it was something they hadn’t ever heard before or knew was an option for people, it was just a really odd concept to them. Throughout the evening they kept questioning us about our non-drinking.

Following and throughout the evening, as they drank the commander asked us about our lives and future goals. We shared with him my husband’s desire to return home and attend Bible College and Seminary to become a pastor. With all their drinking, I really thought our conversation was lost on them and of little importance in the long run. From my perspective, the entire evening seemed like a disaster.

God’s Plan All Along
Still, despite this sidetrack in our plans, and with not much hopeful expectation for his request to be approved, my husband filed for an early out to attend school, all the while praying and asking others to pray with us. In a God-like twist to the situation, it turned out the commander we dined with at the banquet was the very one to make the final decision. When my husband’s paperwork came across his desk, he remembered our evening spent together, recalling our conversation and my husband’s plans to begin training for ministry. Without hesitation, he approved my husband’s early out.

In hearing my husband’s good news, I was stunned, to say the least. Thinking over what took place, I realized how a situation that looked like it was taking us in the opposite direction of what we were planning, was really God orchestrating and directing our steps to accomplish His plans and purposes in our lives. Although NCO school seemed like it would ruin our plans, it actually turned out to be the catalyst God worked through to answer our prayers.

Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are you experiencing a time where it looks like your prayers and hopes for the future are being hijacked by life? If so, where can you turn? What can you do? Instead of resisting, trust that God is establishing your steps, turning to Him and trusting He is directing your steps and working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28).

Further Reading:
Genesis 50:20
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:35-39