Happy Wednesday from Pastor Tim!
Today is the FINAL DAY of our 3-day Liquid Fast... hurray, you're almost there!
We're only a few days away from celebrating Easter-- but the road Jesus travelled was marked with hardship & suffering. Your fast today will help you identify with what Jesus went through to bring salvation to us!
A reminder that we're fasting from sun up to sundown today. Together we will:
- Avoid solid food
- Drink only water or natural juices (fruit or vegetable)
- No coffee, soda, or alcohol
- Come together at 7:30pm tonight for Prayer & Worship!
// READ & FEED: This morning, read Isaiah 58 in which God describes his favorite kind of fast.
(Hint: it's NOT about food!)
// JOURNAL: In Isaiah 58, God's people ask, "Why have we fasted and you have not seen it?" What is God's answer in verses 3-4?
In essence, God's people ruined their fast through their exploitation of the poor, lack of love, and selfish behavior: "You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high."
By contrast, God then outlines the kind of fasting He does value:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6)
Justice & compassion are the main dishes on God's menu!
Sadly, signs of injustice in our world-- economic, political, and racial-- are all around us.
Every day, we see the poor taken advantage of by the rich.
People crushed by egomaniacal dictators.
Racial & ethnic strife infect our world like a virus.
In the middle of this, God encourages us to "loose the chains of injustice..."
to clothe the naked & feed the hungry. (v 7)
Q: Do you hunger for justice?
Remember: Fasting is meant to be a weapon!
To give you the strength to do battle in God's name. For God's cause.
God's deepest desire in this world is that His children
would defend the weak & powerless.
Who is on the fringe in your world? What can you do to protect, serve,
and speak for those who lack a voice?
// PRAY: As you sip water today, invite God's Spirit to show you a simple way you can
bring justice or show compassion to someone at your work, community, or school, who lacks influence. God's put you in their life for a reason-- to use your strength to serve them!
I contacted Brandon today. He just called back. Trying to set up dinner with him this weekend. Invited him to church on Sunday, but he was reluctant. So, Lord, work in his heart between now and Saturday - the likely day we'll get together for dinner. In terms of his fiancee - well, I need You, Lord, to work in me the courage to be in relationship with her. My heart simply doesn't believe this is the best choice for either of them. I'm unable to support their upcoming marriage at this time. Lord, if You see it being a blessing rather than a curse for Brandon, than change my heart. For now, my prayer is for his eyes to be opened and that he come back to you to find the fulfillment and satisfaction that he thinks he is finding in this woman or in any substances that he might be using. Turn him back to You, Lord.
And turn, turn, turn Kay back to You, Lord. Open his heart to desire intimate, abiding relationship with You. Knock him down like you did Paul on the Damascus road. Demand his attention, Lord. Call him to You.
Move Bill's heart toward repentance - Bill, Kay, Brandon, my Father, my mother, myself - we all need to turn our hearts toward You and lean upon You for what we keep looking for elsewhere. Help my parents move towards wholeness in marriage and forgiveness. Restore the years that the Locusts have stolen. Provide Bill with a good paying job and above ALL the ability to gleefully accept your free gift of salvation.
Lord, this third day of fasting is a desperate one -- I've not been perfect at all in my words and my attitude. Please forgive me. However, don't ignore the desperation - the cry of my heart for these people. THEY NEED YOU. We NEED You.
Move, Lord, Move!
No comments:
Post a Comment