Jan 25, Do I have to?
If you know anything about Dean Herman you know I love to eat. And eat a lot. In fact, there isn't much food I don't like. My favorite food, whatever is the worst for you. Only thing that has kept me from weighing 500 pounds is my love for working out.
I have shared that during the year of 2012 I am truly striving to be the prayer warrior I need to be. I've always spent a great deal in prayer but really taking it up a notch for several reasons:
* want my personal walk with Christ to grow
* truly want to be in tune with God's will for my life and life of our church
* convinced prayer is the hidden power source of the American church
So to better prepare me I read Mark Batteron's "Circle Maker" on the topic of prayer. Excellent read. One of the chapters dealt with fasting in conjunction with prayer. Lets be honest, us Americans don't like fasting. In fact it stinks. I'd rather be stuffing my face at the Golden Coral buffet bar. But Mark made a statement that grabbed my attention, "fasting has a way of fast-tracking our prayers because fasting is harder than praying." "Fasting is a form of praying hard." I didn't want to hear that. Why can't I just lay on my face and pour out my heart to God and then head to Golden Coral?
Then Mark had to bring up the point that Jesus himself said, "some miracles are not possible without fasting." And Christ said this:
Matthew 26:41 (NIV)
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
That is exactly where myself and so many others are. I truly want to hear from God. I truly want to fast mentally it is the physical aspect that kicks my butt. The problem isn't want its willpower. But if we truly want to see the hand of God we have to spend time fasting. Fasting gives you more power to pray because it's an exercise in willpower. An empty stomach leads to a full spirit.
I've done extended fast. I've done one day fast through out the year. But I've never really fasted so I could have more power in prayer. So, I've started fasting every Wednesday. During Wednesdays I spend a lot more time in prayer. Beg God for His to be done.
Let me ask you couple of tough questions. First, are you willing to be obedient to God's Word?
Matthew 6:16 (NIV)
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Christ himself said "when you fast." Not if or could or should but WHEN! We''re expected to fast.
Second, have you prayed about something to the point your tired of praying about it? Then you probably need to fast also. And that is where I am. Going to begin fasting more so that I will truly be filled with the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Join me!
I have shared that during the year of 2012 I am truly striving to be the prayer warrior I need to be. I've always spent a great deal in prayer but really taking it up a notch for several reasons:
* want my personal walk with Christ to grow
* truly want to be in tune with God's will for my life and life of our church
* convinced prayer is the hidden power source of the American church
So to better prepare me I read Mark Batteron's "Circle Maker" on the topic of prayer. Excellent read. One of the chapters dealt with fasting in conjunction with prayer. Lets be honest, us Americans don't like fasting. In fact it stinks. I'd rather be stuffing my face at the Golden Coral buffet bar. But Mark made a statement that grabbed my attention, "fasting has a way of fast-tracking our prayers because fasting is harder than praying." "Fasting is a form of praying hard." I didn't want to hear that. Why can't I just lay on my face and pour out my heart to God and then head to Golden Coral?
Then Mark had to bring up the point that Jesus himself said, "some miracles are not possible without fasting." And Christ said this:
Matthew 26:41 (NIV)
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
That is exactly where myself and so many others are. I truly want to hear from God. I truly want to fast mentally it is the physical aspect that kicks my butt. The problem isn't want its willpower. But if we truly want to see the hand of God we have to spend time fasting. Fasting gives you more power to pray because it's an exercise in willpower. An empty stomach leads to a full spirit.
I've done extended fast. I've done one day fast through out the year. But I've never really fasted so I could have more power in prayer. So, I've started fasting every Wednesday. During Wednesdays I spend a lot more time in prayer. Beg God for His to be done.
Let me ask you couple of tough questions. First, are you willing to be obedient to God's Word?
Matthew 6:16 (NIV)
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Christ himself said "when you fast." Not if or could or should but WHEN! We''re expected to fast.
Second, have you prayed about something to the point your tired of praying about it? Then you probably need to fast also. And that is where I am. Going to begin fasting more so that I will truly be filled with the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Join me!
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