This past month has been a trial of sorts.
As I attempted to take part in a corporate fast with my church, I couldn’t help but feel far from God.
I sat at my desk trying to come up with vital questions that only the Lord can answer through fasting, even though I knew my heart was closed off for some reason.
Still, I wrote 3 questions and picked a verse from Psalm that asks God to teach His ways to me.
I decided to do this all on post-it notes and I purposely stuck them on my computer where they would be there waiting for me.
Day after day, the sticky notes were a reminder of a fast that I wasn’t truly invested in. Yet, I went on limiting my favorite foods hoping that my discipline would help turn up a revelation from God.
I was missing the point on a massive scale and I knew it. I left myself there in this state, not changing a thing, out of frustration.
For the last two weeks, I even worked on a blog post listing my top tips for a successful fast.
But how could I possibly share these ideas when I, myself, felt lost in the act of fasting?
After much evaluation, I am here to tell you that you can always start again with God.
What God desires most is not about what we give up or how much discipline we have; it’s about how we seek Him and include Him through the process.
This is what I was missing and it’s a mistake I want to help others avoid.
Stop And Check In With God On A Regular Basis
When you can’t find direction, while fasting or otherwise, be willing to stop and check in with God.
Begin to seek Him! Truly seek Him when your focus is off or your heart feels heavy.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13 HCSB
One of the best ways to do this is to go back to His Word because this is where we can focus on Him and gain an understanding of Father God himself.
This will then open the door to see what wasn’t so clear before – God’s plan for each of us.
During the fast, I was not seeking God or His wisdom. More so, my mind was concentrated on what I couldn’t eat and if I was doing well enough to be part of a corporate fast.
If anything, I was turning away from God and focusing on myself.
I decided to end my fast and regroup with God. I turned to the bible, and there, God met me.
He immediately gave me examples of what it means to seek Him.
“The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you.”
2 Chronicles 15:2 HCSB
This is powerful. All it takes for God’s guidance to come through is to be with Him.
Through my own doing, I was fasting alone, not spending time in prayer or reading God’s Word first. The Lord brought this right to the surface the instant I was willing to turn to Him. He made everything clear for me, just as He wants to do for you.
God is simply waiting for each of us to invite Him in.
Use Prayer As An Invitation To The Lord
At first, I felt like I failed the fast, but by being honest with myself and God about the fact that I was spinning my wheels to nowhere, He gave me the steps needed to start again.
When something in our lives isn’t adding up, we have to stop and return to the basics.
Get into prayer and start a conversation with God. Invite Him into your day. If you want to start a fast to get closer to God, invite Him to lead you through it.
Try picking a verse and meditating on it for a few days. This is where the wisdom of God is released into our minds and hearts so that we can move forward successfully.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
The Lord is giving us a pathway here that teaches us how to stay on track with Him.
I had no idea I would need to go back to the basics with God at the beginning of this year, but sometimes that is what God needs us to do.
Nothing complicated. Just start over again with the Lord by your side. Return to Him through prayer and His teachings. Include Him in everything.
Let’s end with a prayer seeking God …
Father God,
I love you. I am beyond thankful for the love and patience you show me every day. You never waver. Your promises are true. I am sorry that I let my mind drift into what I want without turning to you first. I am sorry I have not studied your word as I should. I want to know more of you Lord. Help bring me to a place of focus where I can learn and understand you better than I do now. I pray that as I seek you, I will be able to hear your voice over my own. Please continue to lead me Lord; today, tomorrow, forever.
Thank You Father God,
Amen
Danette, I love your blogs. They are always spot on what is happening in my life. They lead me in the direction I need to go. Thank you.
Thank you Linda! I was struggling this past month and wanted others to know the minute we include God, there is clarity and hope.
Love the back to basics. Something so simple but the most helpful!
Thank you! 🙂