Jan 04

Preparing for a Deeper Relationship

avatar Published in Untagged  by Pastor Mark
                      It is now the 4th of January and we are all well into the New Year of 2008.  If you are like me you look at the beginning of every new year as a time of new beginnings and clearer direction.  More than a new year's resolutionGod is calling us to not only take stock of our life at present but to also look at head to God's great future of grace that He has planned.  When you and I contemplate the next 361 days we need to look at them through the aspect of what God intends, not what we might plan.  You and I must not fall into the trap of attempting to draw closer to God in our own power, but to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.

That is why we as a church body chose the first part of the year to set aside time to fast and pray. Now for some who have not yet been active in fasting it may seem like a strange and even foreign concept, yet it is something that Jesus taught His disciples to do and was used by the New Testament church for direction and spiritual refreshing. 

As we prepare for this time of fasting we are asking each person to get with God to decide what their fast will look like.  Some will give up food and spend that time they would normally be eating and pray and seek the face of God for His will and direction and more than that just for a deeper relationship with our creator.  Others will commit to a time of adjusting their life as a fast by giving up television or changing their eating habits in order to focus on God.  There are other ways as well, I heard of one man who last year fasted football on TV and spent the time with the Lord instead.  Whatever it may be that God is telling you to do, now is the time to decide before the fast begins.  For Me I ask the Lord how I should fast what He would have me do, and to the best of my ability I surrender my own desires for food and other things over to Him and say "Lord I want to know you more than anything else."  I have found that if I determine prior to fasting what He would have me to do, it is much easier for me to stick to it.  Whatever it is that God is saying to have you give up to go after Him, it should not be guilt driven.  God is not so much impressed with an outward show of devotion as much as He is an inward devotion and response.

During this corporate time of fasting, we will use this blog as a tool of encouragement.  Each day we will be writing about the scripture emphasis of each day and just general feelings and experiences that may help you during the fast. 

Please take time in the next few days to spend time with God and say Lord what would you have me do and what are you asking of me.  Whatever it is let's do it willing and with great expectation of a deeper relationship with the one who made us to have The Life You've Always Wanted.