We are nearly finished with week #3 of FAITHdare, and I feel like this week was pivotal for some of you. I would like to keep my recap of this week's dare short, and instead invite you all to share with each other in the comment section what God is doing in you so far. It is important that we do this together and encourage each other along the way. So...here's my recap of FAITHdare #3:
I used my time fasting this week to pray, asking God to give me a desire for Him as gnawing and consuming as my desire for food after going without for just a few hours. It was a very good reminder; I might just continue this dare!
How has God met you so far in FAITHdare? Which week has been the most convicting for you so far? Are you struggling? Are you soaring? Please share how God is working in you.
I used my time fasting this week to pray, asking God to give me a desire for Him as gnawing and consuming as my desire for food after going without for just a few hours. It was a very good reminder; I might just continue this dare!
How has God met you so far in FAITHdare? Which week has been the most convicting for you so far? Are you struggling? Are you soaring? Please share how God is working in you.
Confession time. This was one of the hardest week ever. I feel like I need to explain, not that it matters, but somehow it helps. I didn't grow up in a Christian home, as a matter of fact I didn't become a Christian until I was 24 (I'm 32 now). So fasting, has never been done or I it never even been modeled. The closest thing I have come to it, is by reading it in God's word. So with that being said, I was really scared/confused/unaware and many other things. I had long talks with my husband and God. I even came to tears one night because I felt so lost. My husband finally said to me, "I have seen only two people in my life fast, and those were my aunt and uncle, and they were a true example what biblical fasting was all about. This is not for you, and you should not be stressing about fasting, fasting is not for everyone" We prayed and I confessed to God that I was trying to do all of this own my own, trying to keep "these rules and regulations". I guess, I was trying to get something out of this, when God only wanted my time and my prayer time, my longing to be with me. That's when I truly understood what David was saying in his psalm. Also during this time God reminded me that I had stopped praying for my friends and for everything that God had done through out all of the past weeks. It was almost like I was so focused on trying to DO this fasting thing, that I had forgotten what this week was all about. I WAS BROKEN! but glad! It is good to be broken, so God can put back together the pieces of how He needs me to be, TO HAVE MY FOCUS ON HIM. So I stopped fasting and I read psalm 63 over and over again, and worked on memorizing Mathew 10.
ReplyDeleteSo Abigail and friends, I believe every week should be convicting one way or another, if not we are not growing in holiness, therefore we will struggle (and that's ok) and we will soar for His glory.
I'm exited to see what next week is going to bring and what God is going to keep on doing in our lives.
I do have one question; Abigail, what do you mean when you ask, "how has God met you...." sorry I didn't understand that question, maybe if you start writing in spanish i can understand better :)
Praying for you all,
Monica
Monica,
ReplyDeleteI think the fasting dare has been hard for a lot of people, so I really appreciate your honesty. This is the exact reason why I kept this post short and asked for people to give their own input about the week. There is such a fine line between "faith without deeds is dead" and "we are saved by GRACE alone." I think you are so right, though...if fasting is a stumbling block for anyone, it should be avoided! I love that you had the wisdom to stop! And I love that you spent the time refocusing! Some people could fast perfectly but miss the entire point; other people never fast but live a life transformed and led by Jesus. I think it is a learned spiritual discipline (that takes lots of practice), one that I have not yet mastered.
Sorry about the religious lingo...I forget what I'm writing sometimes = ] I'd love to start writing in Spanish, but I think my entries would consist of only "hi," "how are you," and maybe "I like chocolate milk." May not work for FAITHdare = ] When I said "how has God met you," I'm really just asking what God is teaching you, what areas of your life He is touching/convicting you in, how God is working in you...Which you answered beautifully!
Thank you for sharing with honesty!
Praying for you! (and tell your family hi!)
I have always found Matthew 6 to be very interesting in this regard. There, Jesus speaks about 3 spiritual disciplines and the importance of doing them privately. In my version of the Bible it uses the words "When you....your father will reward you." It doesn't seem to prioritize one of these disciplines over the others but Jesus simply expresses that when you do these things (as if it is expected that they will be a natural part of your lifestyle) to do them in the right way.
ReplyDeleteSo what are these 3 things that God will reward when done in private? You will have to read for yourself in Matthew 6. I also found Acts 10:31 to be an interesting related verse.