Fast Focus

Fast Focus

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV).

The Lord knows what is in our hearts.  God will search our heart and will purify our motives. 

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

The Bible says that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  But if we openly confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Most merciful God,

I confess that I am captive to sin and cannot free myself.

I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,

by what I have done

and by what I have left undone.

I have not loved You with my whole heart;

I have not loved my neighbors as myself.

For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ,

have mercy on me.

Forgive me, renew me, and lead me,

so that I may delight in your will

and walk in Your ways,

to the glory of your holy name.

Amen.

The fast is setting aside 21 days to pray, fast and seek God and God’s will. This is a great way to start a new year in a fresh and powerful way, knowing that you are refreshed, renewed, recreated, redeemed, and revived.

On this first day I am taking time to learn more about the spiritual discipline of fasting.  There are times that we need to be broken by the Lord in order for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  In this form fasting is a new spiritual discipline for me.  I've moderately and halfheartedly participated in the Lenten fast practice.  But in this form, at this time, I truly want to combine fasting with prayer and reflection each day.  I am fasting through a partial fast where I will not take or eat lunch and take that time to pray and reflect over the course of the next 21 days seeking God’s direction on my life and His purpose for me.  Through this period I will be search more for God to speak to me and fill me more completely with the Holy Spirit so that I can do the work which He has set before me.

Prayer: Psalm 51: 10-12 (NIV)

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Amen.

Call on Jesus - Nicole C. Mullen

Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave