Over the last few weeks I have been searching, in my mind, earnestly, to establish a deeper relationship with God. It’s been challenging, and at times I felt a plateau effect. I would feel His presence, but after a while, it would seem as if I could no longer feel Him….hear Him. Let me tell you, it’s been very nerve wrecking.
I have no doubt He’s here with me. God said He would never forsake me- I believe Him. However, I still get nervous and worried whenever I don’t feel or hear Him as much as I did during the previous day or previous week. So what gives?
I came across a book about fasting about a week ago. I purchased the book eager to gather information regarding this concept that is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible. I’ve always wanted to fast, but just didn’t know how. But now, I would finally have a book to refer to when I began my journey to seek a closer, intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father.
So why did days go by while my book sat on the shelf, unopened? Good question.
Good news is that I’ve started to read that book, Fasting by Jentezen Franklin. Even better, some chapters have piqued my curiosity and have challenged me to ask some very tough questions.
Although I have a desire to seek a closer relationship to God, why haven’t I? What’s really stopping me? I desire to hear Him, but what’s blocking me? Well, I’ve learned that fasting is a sure-fire way to focus on my spiritual journey with Him. Which brings me to the topic of houseguests.
Yes, I said it- houseguests. In one chapter Franklin talks about Abraham receiving a visit from God and His angels one night. Franklins reviews how Abraham rushes over to God and lowers himself to worship Him. Abraham asks God and His angels to stay so that he could wash their feet and prepare a meal. They agree.
Okay, so how awesome would that be to have God as a guest at your door? I must say I would be pretty thrilled to have the great I AM pay a visit to my home. I could see myself now, updating my status on Facebook: “Guess who’s coming to dinner????” But let’s be real- if God came over to my house, would I be ready? Would you? I’ll be honest and sadly admit my answer would “No.”
Over the holidays I had the privilege of playing hostess to my mother who came to visit. Let me tell you, while I was so excited to have my mom visit, I also spent the week prior to her arrival in a state of frenzy- my house had to be spotless! The floors had to be swept, mopped, AND polished. Dishes in the sink??? Oh I don’t think so. I remember going to Wal-Greens to buy an armload of scent plug-in’s and candles. Now don’t get it twisted, I’m not a hoarder; I don’t live in a pigsty. This was my mother for crying out loud! Everything had to be perfect or as close to perfect as my ADD self could allow. Oh yeah, I was so ready for my mom’s arrival.
But what about those guests who just show up? You know, the friends who call you at like 7 at night, right after you finished cooking this massive meal, and want to come over and chat. And where are they? Right around the corner, of course! You freak out as you take in the pots and pans that now clutter your sink and dishwasher. You look around and see toys (in my case it would be dog toys) scattered around the living room. You quickly pray to God for a small miracle as you politely tell your friend, “Sure, of course you can come over! Can’t wait!”
Being on the receiving end of those calls have made me a little wiser to the game: Be prepared as much as possible and stay alert! Sometimes I’m able to do such that and it works in my favor, but sometimes it’s not always the case and I found myself giving out disclaimers such as “Please ignore the mess in my house!” or “Don’t judge me!”
Well what if God paid you a visit. What if it was an unexpected one at that? Would you turn Him away and say “Oohh….yeah, about that- this is really not a good time for me. Wow, you caught me off guard! Let’s try tomorrow or maybe perhaps next week????”
Of course you wouldn’t- He’s God! But talk about the embarrassment you would feel when you had to give Him those same disclaimers: “Heavenly Father, please excuse the mess in my house!” or even better “Abba, please don’t judge me!”
I cringe just thinking about it!
So it brings me back to the concept of fasting. Fasting is a way to not only focus on Him, but to prepare for the unexpected, whether they be good or bad. By fasting you are sacrificing yourself up God, remaining humble and acknowledging how great and worthy He is of your sacrifice and more!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1
Fasting also helps to clear up the fog, as I like to call it. As I previously mentioned, I know God is with me. Through Jesus’ precious gift, the Holy Ghost, I have ties to my Heavenly Father at all times. However, sometimes I feel it’s hard to see Him because I have fogged up the windshield. My fleshly FM station is turned up WAY too loud and I can no longer hear Him. I have to turn the station down…I have to turn ME down. I have been taught that fasting does that. It clears up the fog; it turns down the noise so that I can hear His soothing voice and message.
By hearing His voice, I become prepared. I become ready. It doesn’t matter if I receive a week to prepare for a houseguest or 60 seconds, by focusing on God’s station through fasting, I will be prepared- house cleaned, dishes washed AND stored away- at all times.
Let me stop and state how necessary this is- to me, and to you. This is something that needs to be done. This is something I need to do, I have to do. There are no options. It is vital as saints that we keep ourselves alert and prepared at all times. Jesus teaches about staying alert through the Gospels:
“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
Matthew 24:43-44
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take heed, watch, and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”
Mark 13: 32-33
“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
Mark 13: 37
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 14: 38
“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”
Luke 12: 37-38
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12: 40
I believe that God delights in rewarding us and blessing us. He is such a wonderful and merciful God. We have to be ready and alert to His blessings. We have to be ready to receive them. We have to be ready to invite Him in when He comes. We must stay prepared!
God wants us to seek Him, to establish a closer, intimate relationship with Him. With God, His door is always open. He is always prepared. He is always welcoming. We must extend that same gesture.
So what I’ve learned: I must be prayerful; I must be faithful; I must be prepared; I must be ready. For anything and everything. God is the great I AM, He is the Alpha and Omega. All I have to do rest in Christ, the Holy Spirit, my constant companion. That is all you have to do as well. When we stay alert and prepared, we’ll hear that knock on the door. Most importantly, we’ll be able to answer it and say “What a pleasant surprise! I’m so glad you’re here. Come on in!”
Be blessed saints!
“Rejoicing in hope: patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
(Romans 12:12)
