Each day we wake up with our minds made up and have the pleasure of enjoying food right out of our very own pantries and refrigerators.It is beneficial as a human being to gain daily nutrients and have an adequate amount of meals to nourish our bodies.Often times I reflect back on those commercials that showcase children and adults in unforeseen circumstances in America and other countries around the world.We are so blessed to have, not realizing there are people that wishes to have just an ounce of what we have.
In January, I had an opportunity to fast with Saved In The City, which is a women’s ministry dedicated to growth in faith and equipping young women in God’s word.Now before this fast started I knew God was telling me to fast so I sought him as to when that should happen and what I should fast from.The bible tells us that “this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29 Amplified version). So that through my daily prayers I was believing and requesting answers from God that could only be manifested through my experience in fasting and praying.That meant that I had to give up those things that distracted me and that I consumed too much of that included mainly social media,television,and bread. This fast was three weeks so I hopped on the empowerment call each morning and looked forward to those encouraging prayers and messages.
Now if you’re fasting correctly you would see it as a sacrifice and would want to intentionally use it as an avenue to get closer to God and grow deeper in his word.The thing about God is that he meets us exactly where we are.If you dont’t know how to pray,read/study your word he shows us and puts us in good company of Godly friends and individuals that lift us up and encourages us through wise counsel (Prayerfully you have these people in your life right now ).A lot of times we focus so much on what we can or cannot eat rather than the spiritual component which is integral in this process.Make sure that you are intentional and also dong it for the right reasons.Are you willing to sacrifice what your flesh wants by what you will gain in this process of spiritual elevation (growth) ?It is priceless ! Your intentions are your driving force and I want you to check those and make sure that they are legit.Are you fasting to lose weight for the beach or that Summer vacation or because your best friends or church is doing it and your heart is not really in it.Your mind must be focused on him and your heart needs to be directed towards him and his will for your life even if he says no.You should be checking your heart on a daily because our hearts are deceitful and can lead you to trouble if you are not watching and praying fr ( Matthew 26:41). Your main focus is to spend as much time with God (quiet time) on a daily basis that is your spiritual food as his word is the bread of life .
His word equips and instructs us for our lives in all stages.But we must maintain a personal relationship with him far above all of the other relationships we have including our mother’s,father’s,brother’s,sisters,besties, and baes (if you’re in that season of your life).Now don’t get me wrong these are important relationships but he wants to come first place in your life because he doesn’t want anyone else before him (Exodus 20:4-5) although he respects those other relationships under his will.
Have you ever felt weak when you weren’t feeding your body spiritually ? (Selah: Meditate on that for a moment and be truthful with yourself).I have definitely been there I remember through my darkest seasons I had to depend on the lord thorough prayer at his feet (literally) and his word because he was the only one to comfort me.I used to be so lazy I just sat in my bed and prayed instead of getting on my knees to pray but now no matter how I feel I make my way to the altar for myself and as I interceded for others. By the way my prayer time is 7 a.m. every morning.Make sure that you set a prayer time that you can stick with and God will meet you there.Just recently, I built an altar in my room adorned with pillows,a rug,an anointing cloth from my Aunt and a tallit (A prayer shawl). Yeah I could eat but there was nothing spiritually that natural food could do for me but nourish my body not my mind,soul or how I felt at that very moment.Whenever you feel empty remember God is the only one to nourish you back to health and everything else will fall into place.
The moral of the story is that we must spend time with God so that we can be filled up in him when regular food just won’t do.I don’t know where you are in life but it’s important to develop a relationship with God and just be real, up close and personal with him as he will fulfill our needs everyday of our lives.
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