Fasting…

It is December.  ‘Tis the season to eat!  This season includes some of my favorite foods…and lots of parties at which to eat them.

So why, in the midst of this season, has God been prompting me to fast?  He has whispered it to me over and over the past week or two, and I have been ignoring Him.

But, I am desperate for the Lord to hear my prayers and to hear from Him.  And so, He has told me to fast.  He told me to be as desperate before Him as Nehemiah was when told of the plight of His people:

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.
“Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’
“The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.  O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer. Nehemiah 1:4-11 (NLT)

So, please pray for me over the coming days.  Pray for the strength to fast.  Pray for the fasting to purify my heart, mind and motives.  Pray for me to hear from God in new ways…and to obey His instructions.

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