2011/ Day 6: A Test Between Feelings and Faith!

Let’s be honest!  Somewhere over the past six days, you’ve said to yourself (because you wouldn’t dare want people to think you’re not spiritual), “This is CRAZY!”  Now, before you think I’m just writing words, I’ll tell you, I’ve said it too!  OK, there you have it. I may not be as spiritual as you think, BUT I am honest.  I fight my feelings and faith big time, just like you.

So what do we do when our feelings and faith start fighting?  Remember the very foundation of why we started this fast in the first place.  I didn’t do this to diet; that’s a wrong motive.  I didn’t do it because a lot of others are doing it; that would just be religious.  This isn’t some hollow religious exercise; my God is personal and has purpose for all of His directives. 


I entered this season of fasting because I believe God’s promises.  Have you read 2 Peter 1:3-4 lately?  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

E.M. Bounds, the great prayer warrior of a century past, said, “Without the promise, prayer is eccentric and baseless.  Without prayer, the promise is dim, voiceless, shadowy, and impersonal.” 

Now, what’s that got to do with you and me?  Everything!  As you spend quiet time today in prayer and continuing your fast, I want you to remember ALL the promises God has made throughout Scripture to His followers:  Abraham, I’ll make you a father.  Hannah, you will give birth to a son.  Nation of Israel, you will see Jerusalem again as your own.  World, I’m sending the Messiah.  Church, you will receive power from the Holy Spirit. 

But let me leave you with a promise from Ezekiel 36, as the prophet speaks to a people with spiritually hard hearts:  “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God” (Ez. 36:26-28). 

Your fasting will be attacked by your feelings, but don’t give up.  There’s something great at stake as you pray for family, friends, jobs, finance, the church, power, hope, encouragement, peace; and the list goes on and on.  You’re going to get the promise of a new heart and the Holy Spirit’s power.  That should be enough to win the battle between feelings and faith. 

Keep fighting, Soldier of the Cross…VICTORY is ours in Jesus’ Name!

I’ll meet you at the Throne…

Pastor George 

2011/ Day 5: Imitators: Good or Bad?

In my daily devotions this morning, I read again the Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthian church. In 1 Corinthians  11:1 he writes, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”  Several translations translate the word ‘example’ as imitate.

It got me thinking about the concept of imitating.  When I was a kid, we would make fun of people by imitating their kooky or crazy actions.  We would act like them and then laugh, thinking we were cool. Now I know how hurtful that can be.  Still, my favorite venue at Sea World is the sea lion exhibit.  It’s not just the sea lions, but the mime that performs prior to the show.  He imitates people as they come into the stadium for the show and people love him!  He makes me laugh like crazy, although I’m glad he’s never caught me, yet!

Paul genuinely asked the Corinthians to follow him and do as he did as he imitated Christ. He understood that our actions and attitudes should be just like Jesus.  Do you want to know if you are lining up spiritually?  Ask yourself, “Did Jesus do it?”  I know the WWJD bracelets are old news and mostly out of style, but the concept is correct.  Paul knew that imitating Jesus was the right thing to do. 

When Jesus is your Savior, you want Him to shine in and through you at all times.  Jesus understood the value of fasting and prayer. May we find that what we are doing during these 21 days is exactly what Jesus would be doing!  Like Jesus, we should be praying for spiritual discernment, seeking guidance about who to touch with the Kingdom message today, sensitizing our hearts to what issues must be addressed now, and wanting to please our heavenly Father in everything that we do.  We are more able to do all these things, and much more, when we fast and pray.

We can imitate bad things or choose to imitate good…it’s your choice. As Paul says, “imitate Jesus”. Your world will be a better place when you do!

I’ll meet you at the throne,

Pastor George  

Don't Forget to Rest

Aren't you glad that when God created the world He put in a day of rest? (Gen. 2:3)  He understood from the beginning that man would have a hard time making himself rest, so He ordered a day for nothing other than to selah (pause & reflect). 

Today is Cheryl’s and my Sabbath, the day we rest from our daily routine.  For six days, I give myself to God's work, but Thursdays, I let my body, mind, and spirit rest from the pressures of life and ministry.  In a culture that never stops, our loving heavenly Father preordained the necessity of every human being having to recharge their batteries.

When you fast from food, you are allowing your body’s digestive system to rest from its normal routine.  And if you're fasting something other than food, you are resting your senses from the normal stimulation that activity produces.  In either case, rest is good.

But there is one very important aspect to fasting which we cannot forget.  To fast without acknowledging our Creator and His Word to us, is nothing more than a diet.  Sadly, too many followers of Jesus believe they are involved in spiritual disciplines when they are only going through the motions.  Please read Isaiah 58 today and see exactly what I'm talking about.  The prophet addresses people who were fasting, but ignoring God and His directives.  Those who were just going through the motions caused God great displeasure.

Why is this important to me?  Attitude...only God and I know my heart.  I must be very careful NOT to become religious, but remain relational with my God.  

Let this fasting season take you to a place in your relationship where you will find rest.  That is what God wants!

I'll meet you at the throne,

Pastor George   

2011/ Day 1- Questions, Always Questions

As I start Day 1 of 21 days of prayer with fasting, there are logical questions which come to mind: 
·        What will this season bring? 
·        How well can I physically and spiritually handle the fast?    ·        What’s going to happen as a result of my fasting?

What is it about the human heart and mind that is always questioning?  The challenge lies in our struggle to walk by faith and not by sight.  Our spiritual journey runs parallel with the daily routine of life.  In life, we want to know our decisions and direction are right.  We seek to live so often without risk.  Asking the tough questions first helps us alleviate any potential failure.

But in the life of faith, you must walk without seeing what is ahead or knowing in advance what the outcomes will be.  Faith is simple trust that the God who has spoken will produce His good in and through your life (Romans 8:28-30).  Everyone in the Bible who walked in faith didn’t know what was ahead, but they realized the God they followed did and trusted Him explicitly.

Let me give you my first praise report that occurred the day before the fast began.  Yesterday (Sunday afternoon) my sister called and shared that during the worship service yesterday in Columbus, Georgia, her pastor came to her during worship to share the following.  (I have never met him, which is what makes this is so special). 

He said to my sister, “You have a brother who is a pastor?" She responded "Yes". He then said the Holy Spirit spoke to him to tell her to tell me the following.  “I gave him a promise many years ago that he has allowed to gather dust.  Tell him to clean off the dust, for I have not forgotten my promise and today that promise is beginning to be fulfilled.”

What a comfort to know that when you fast and pray and submit to our heavenly Father, He does not forget things promised in the past and is at work to bring them to fulfillment in the present.  So as you fast and pray, remember, God is at work in both your life and in every situation.  He will keep His promises!

I’ll meet you at the Throne…

Pastor George