Spiritually Unequal Marriage

Subscribe

· ·

Monday Fasting: Ask for a Word

  Remember the end of day two will be the most difficult as your hunger rises. As the pangs in your stomach roar, that is your call to pray for perseverance…

Fasting banner 2011 
 
Remember the end of day two will be the most difficult as your hunger rises. As the pangs in your stomach roar, that is your call to pray for perseverance and to lean fully into the power of God.

Prayer Guide

Rosheeda Lee:

Today’s Activity: Ask for a word for the year for yourself and one for your spouse. Write it down and keep it close to your heart.

Today’s Focus: People in our spheres of influence. Pray for whatever concerns them, for their needs spiritually first, then naturally.

“I am not a sieve. I am Lord of ALL, good and bad alike. I want My people to understand that I am MASTER, not just a god who sits high and filters out the ‘bad’ things, only allowing blessings to filter through into the lives of My people. I want My people to want ME, not My hand. I want them to understand that I use ALL THINGS to work and will for My good pleasure in their lives.

I know their physical needs, their natural desires, but I will not give them those things at the cost of their spiritual health. I will not allow My people to die, for the sake of being popular among the pagans. I want instead that My people should live and thrive from the inside out – in plain view of the unbelievers.

I am a Giver of good things, but that means more than just possessions. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Seek ye first MY kingdom and MY righteousness and all else will be added unto you.”

I think that says it all.

Ro

 

So how did your fasting go yesterday. Are you ready for increased temptation, the enemy is ramping up, put on your armor. Let me know how your doing and how to pray for you. Hugs, Lynn

Comments

15 responses

  1. Chrystlyn Avatar
    Chrystlyn

    Lynn,
    My fast went well yesterday. I need you to pray for me though b/c when I started the fast yesterday morning my throat was scratchy and it still is. I am also going to the mall today and I will face increased temptation into eating and failing this fast. So, please pray that the Lord will sustain my health and allow me to persevere.

    Reply
  2. Rosheeda Avatar
    Rosheeda

    yesterday was scripture. Today is a one word description
    for the year.Literally just one word. Thought I’d clarify a bit in case it was unclear.
    If you’re not hearing God yet, keep pressing in. God will speak when He is ready. The first time I fasted, He didn’t speak until day 3,and I remember that I literally felt like He had pushed aside all the noise in my head so that I could hear Him plainly. He only said two words: Trust Me. And He was pretty quiet the rest of the time. That day was also the hardest day and the day i expected to hear the least… dont give up…
    When He’s ready, He’ll reveal Himself… Fight for your time with Him and stay before Him. Be diligent and just abide…

    Reply
  3. Cindy Costello Avatar
    Cindy Costello

    Is it okay that I am not doing a full fast? Since this caught me a little
    off guard after being at my Mom’s and away from the computer I thought I’d just do desserts which is definitely a challenge for me because I feel like I have been living on them however as yesterday progressed I felt that I should fast from breakfast and lunch and desserts since I will be by myself most of the week. Part of me doesn’t want to draw attention to myself with my family by not eating meals with them. I’m not sure how Mike would respond so I’m playing it a little safe but I am already feeling peace and closer to God which is awesome. Please let me know if you think I am doing the wrong thing. 🙂
    Thanks Ro for your input on hearing from God. That made me feel better.

    Reply
  4. Rosheeda Avatar
    Rosheeda

    You’re welcome! 🙂
    Fasting is so personal. You do as you feel the Holy Spirit leading you. Many people choose to fast the meals they are alone so that they can keep it private. Nothing wrong with that at all. I think that breakfast, lunch and desserts is a great sacrifice and I’m sure that you will reap much from the commitment you’re making, seriously. I do the same thing, as far as being alone as much as possible so that I dont have to answer questions. And for as long as we’ve been together I’ve been fasting and Heath still doesn’t know that that’s how the first week of my year is spent. I act as normal as possible w/him. I just dont eat; and if it comes up i just say i’m not hungry or somethin… Our body is asked to cut out entertainment television; my way around that is that i read a lot.So when he’s watching t.v. because likes me in the same room, i just grab a christian fiction book or something and sit and read while he watches whatever… all that said to say, God will give you a way to do it and do it in a way that wont be a detriment to your family… Keep goin 🙂

    Reply
  5. Cindi Avatar
    Cindi

    That’s what I am fasting from….television….wow..what time I have spent in the word already….what a delightful time I had in the Word yesterday evening with the T.V. off. My husband was in the other room watching so I had time to myself. It is amazing what the enemy uses to keep us from spending time with God…No T.V. is giving me all kinds of time with the Lord ( and we always claim we have no time…hmmm)Thank you Ro for your committment to us all. Love this!!! God is Great!

    Reply
  6. sharon Avatar
    sharon

    Hi Cindy, I’m a nursing mom so doing a full dry fast is not exactly feasible for me right now. Instead, I go dry till 2pm then go on liquids till 6pm. Like Rosheeda said, it is such a personal thing. But I can feel my life turning inward…like my whole being is tuned to the Lord, waiting for the slightest sign or hint from Him. I don’t know if I’m explaining this well, but I think ultimately, how you choose to fast is between you and the Lord.

    Reply
  7. Noreen Avatar
    Noreen

    Hi Ro and Lynn, Firstly I just want to say thank you Ro for doing this-for us and with us! Today’s post is so very powerful, something we all need to hear again and again. For me, with hubby home full time, I can’t fast from complete meals but I’m giving up something very dear to me-sweets of any kind-desserts, candy, dried fruit etc. Also, the only time I get to listen to christian radio is when I’m driving in the car alone so I am giving that up as well so I can spend more time in prayer and not get distracted-this also is a big thing for me. So I think the Lord looks at our hearts and see what we are giving; for some it might be a meal or might be t.v. and for others something that means alot to them. Blessings to each person doing this and again thank you Ro for heading this up!
    Hugs, Noreen

    Reply
  8. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Sounds like everyone is doing okay. This is the longest I’ve ever fasted and God just seems to be shielding me from temptations. Very awesome! 🙂
    Got my words, still waiting for more Scriptures for my family.

    Reply
  9. Alison Avatar
    Alison

    All of you ladies, thank you for posting, every one of your words is a great encouragement. God has very clearly led me to fast from the internet, allowing a brief time each day to check emails and this blog. Even though I fell down yesterday and got lost in browsing, I love that in Him we can re-commit ourselves any time, anywhere. I am struggling with the food side of fasting – I know He has called me to this as well, I just haven’t heard specifically clear direction as to how. I started on Sunday here in Australia, nearly a whole day before the rear of you, with the plan to fast from coffee and sugar, which are true auctions of mine, and from one while meal (likely dinner). Well I got to 10pm, and thought ‘I think I’ll start properly tomorrow, to be in line with everyone else in the US’, and proceeded to eat something for dinner. So I started again yesterday, and immediately started trying to plan when I would eat to be the least hungry 🙁 I woke up with a major headache from the coffee/sugar withdrawal, and I struggled all day desiring food and internet time, and whilst I was able to pray, I didn’t spend any time in His word, instead making excuses ‘I’ll spend this time with the kids before they go to their dad’s (whom I’m standing for) on Wednesday’, and by the time they went to bed I had a migraine and went to bed too. Through the day I had nearly convinced myself that I actually shouldn’t fast from food at all because of my chronic health issues, when in actual fast how I was planning to fast would only be beneficial to my health. On top of everything, I didn’t hear from God at all, no specific verses or anything, which is actually what I thought would happen, because God shows up when He wants to, not at my beck and call. I have a verse God gave me last week that smacked me between the eyes, Isaiah 43:16,18-19, so I continue to meditate on that, along with Romans 12:1-2, which is one of my life verses.
    Fortunately for us, He is a God of grace and mercy, and today is a new day. I know if I am desiring so much that which He’s called me to fast from, then I ned to lean into Him to resist temptation, to find the strength in Him to know He is enough, and that ‘stuff’ cannot fill me like He can.
    Could I please ask for particular prayer to just be seeking Him during this time, as I know my intention is to see His hand at work, which isn’t the purpose of this fast. Also for the strength to keep seeking Him when I’m feeling almost resentful of not eating/drinking what I want, when I want. Thankyou ladies 🙂

    Reply
  10. Rosheeda Avatar
    Rosheeda

    Alison, you got it! I will be praying and askin God to walk with you in this! I’m proud of you for making the effort. It gets easier. The withdrawl is the worst but it will pass. Keep pressing!
    ro

    Reply
  11. Cindy Avatar
    Cindy

    Stay strong Allison. This is not an easy thing. This is the first time I have done it for more than one day and I am very hungry right now. There was a few times I saw a grape or something small and almost popped it in my mouth but God reminded me! :)I believe God appreciates any attempts we make at getting closer to him, whether we do as well as we had hoped or not. I kept myself pretty busy today so it wasn’t too bad but we’ll see what the rest of the week we’ll be like.
    Father God, I hold Allison up to you today and everyone who is participating in this fast. Strengthen us, Lord so we can press in to you. Protect us from any temptations that the evil one may throw against us. May your still small voice be louder and stronger than anything we hear from the enemy. Lengthen our patience, Lord so we can wait for your perfect timing in the receiving of your word. I praise you and thank you for longing to have a more intimate relationship with us. You are an amazing God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
    Blessings to all!
    Thanks to everyone for responding about my question. That made me feel better.

    Reply
  12. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Alison, I’m praying for you right now. Hang in there. I know exactly what you’re going through. I’ve struggled with food in so many ways and God is freeing me from that finally. He will do this for you too. I know he can if he did it with me! I’m so stubborn!
    Those are great verses and I’m seeing so many saying the same. God is definitely at work corporately among us. That’s so exciting! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Alison Avatar
    Alison

    Ladies, thank you *so* much for your prayers and words of encouragement. I can absolutely tell you I *felt* the power of your prayers today, after I posted this morning – – I had some hunger pangs about lunchtime (the meal I chose to fast today), and the remnants of the migraine, but I felt the Holy Spirit carrying me through that time, and the hunger went away, and II had an almost divine certainty that He was going to continue to carry me through the fast, as long as I trusted Him.
    Now here’s the interesting bit – my Mum and I took the kids to the movies tonight, and thought we’d take them to MacDonald’s for tea beforehand. I had planned to have the ‘healthiest’ thing on the menu (a grilled chicken burger), even though I wasn’t actually hungry. I didn’t feel/hear God say to me ‘don’t eat’ particularly, and I have to admit I was thinking ‘I should probably eat something, even though I don’t feel hungry or at all weak’. To cut a long story short, to avoid a hassle I had a disgusting Big Mac, and almost immediately felt gross. And an analogy I often use smacked me between the eyes – I see my life as choosing to consume ‘junk food’ (tv, internet, time spent idly, books that have no nourishment, you get the idea) over the wounderful bounty of ‘healthy food’ (time in the Word and prayer, time just with Him, turning away from the things of this world) that Christ is offering me. I can actually see a picture of Him holding out His goodness to me on a silver platter, and me shaking my head and saying ‘nah, I’ll take the crappy stuff that will give me instant gratification, as opposed to waiting for that from You which will give me the only nourishment I will ever need’. Crazy, huh, but I tell you what, it was a great lesson learned. Tonight I chose the rubbish food over His goodness – the Big Mac over continuing to fast and wait on Him. I don’t feel any condemnation for my choice, but I’ve absolutely learned a lesson, and a wonderful one at that!!
    I was almost certain I wouldn’t hear from God again today, but I am very glad to be able to say He proved me wrong, yet again 🙂

    Reply
  14. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Alison, this is an amazing story, girl! Thank you for sharing it. It’s a perfect analogy of what we all do more times than we realize. Hugging you! So exciting how God is working in your heart right now. So cool!

    Reply
  15. Cindi Avatar
    Cindi

    The verse I came up with is Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged.” Praying for you….:)

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *