Weekday Devotionals - Shaylan
Psalm 139:1-7
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
On Sunday Pastor Pete gave us 3 more desired outcomes from seasons of prayer and fasting.
This week he added;
6- Spiritual effectiveness
7- Spiritual hunger (created in us)
8- Spiritual power
Fasting wasn’t always something I did as a follower of Christ. Many years ago when the church we attended started the practice, I really wanted to participate, but I was either nursing a baby or pregnant for years, so I couldn’t. I recall my eagerness when the day finally came for me to fast! My excitement soon waned when I got those first fierce hunger pains. Then came that weak feeling, sensing my body really needed some food- stat! So I sipped water like I had been stranded in a desert for days, hoping that would stop the hunger. I also prayed more than I think I ever had in a 24-hour period. Nothing helped.
The only thing that helped me endure was the naïve thought of how happy God would be with me, and how much He would be compelled to answer my prayers. After all, I had denied myself a full 24 hours. Surely God must do a big miracle for me!
Well no big miracle came and I was slightly offended. But as God always does, He was teaching me something. As Pastor Pete said Sunday -we don’t fast to get something. Fasting doesn’t save your soul or get you what you want, but It does help your soul grow!
For me, fasting brought the awareness of a Big God who is always there. In the busyness of life with 2 young boys, I rarely spoke to God throughout the day. I was lucky to remember to pray when I laid down exhausted at night. I went to church 3 times a week, but I didn’t realize He wanted to commune with me at home too. He wanted to be my life, and lead and guide me as a new mom and wife.
Just realizing He is everywhere, all the time, changed me.
Instead of just remembering Him at church I could talk to Him changing a diaper, washing clothes, or anytime. Spiritual hunger started during my fast.
God wants to BE your life, not just a small part of it. I pray we see that as we fast!
Time to look inward: How is your focus on God growing during this fast?
- Shaylan
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
On Sunday Pastor Pete gave us 3 more desired outcomes from seasons of prayer and fasting.
This week he added;
6- Spiritual effectiveness
7- Spiritual hunger (created in us)
8- Spiritual power
Fasting wasn’t always something I did as a follower of Christ. Many years ago when the church we attended started the practice, I really wanted to participate, but I was either nursing a baby or pregnant for years, so I couldn’t. I recall my eagerness when the day finally came for me to fast! My excitement soon waned when I got those first fierce hunger pains. Then came that weak feeling, sensing my body really needed some food- stat! So I sipped water like I had been stranded in a desert for days, hoping that would stop the hunger. I also prayed more than I think I ever had in a 24-hour period. Nothing helped.
The only thing that helped me endure was the naïve thought of how happy God would be with me, and how much He would be compelled to answer my prayers. After all, I had denied myself a full 24 hours. Surely God must do a big miracle for me!
Well no big miracle came and I was slightly offended. But as God always does, He was teaching me something. As Pastor Pete said Sunday -we don’t fast to get something. Fasting doesn’t save your soul or get you what you want, but It does help your soul grow!
For me, fasting brought the awareness of a Big God who is always there. In the busyness of life with 2 young boys, I rarely spoke to God throughout the day. I was lucky to remember to pray when I laid down exhausted at night. I went to church 3 times a week, but I didn’t realize He wanted to commune with me at home too. He wanted to be my life, and lead and guide me as a new mom and wife.
Just realizing He is everywhere, all the time, changed me.
Instead of just remembering Him at church I could talk to Him changing a diaper, washing clothes, or anytime. Spiritual hunger started during my fast.
God wants to BE your life, not just a small part of it. I pray we see that as we fast!
Time to look inward: How is your focus on God growing during this fast?
- Shaylan
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