In this series we have been learning of a few things we can tackle in order to create momentum for our life in the areas where we desire it the most. Recognition, obedience and discipline top that list.
We need to recognize our storms and accurately name the fear we have that’s holding us from stepping out into faith. Then we must be obedient when God calls.
Have you ever thought about how ridiculous it is that we beg for guidance and clarity and when God speaks to us we not only question if what He’s calling us to do is best for our life, but we actually weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to be obedient?
Practicing obedience goes hand in hand with practicing discipline. And how do we practice discipline, you may ask?
One suggestion is to set aside forty days to give to God. The logic behind this is pretty simple: if something is significant enough to create life-change, it’s probably important enough to commit to God over an extended period of time.
So what do you do during these forty days? First and foremost, you pray. But not just any old air prayer you send up while sitting in traffic and you have a few extra minutes. If you really want to see God work in a certain area of your life you must pray with intentionality.
One way to get on the track of praying with intentionality is fasting. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is known by many but understood by few.
Pastor White teaches about this discipline in the sermon series Fast Forward. “It heightens your senses,” he explains, “it awakens your spirit, because too much food, too much drink, too much of anything, creates a dulled and deadened spirit. So fasting is what allows you to empty your life of something numbing in order to fill your soul with something awakening.”
What is in your life that you need to get rid of?
What do you have in your life that is numbing?
What do you have in your life that is taking you away from God?
As things enter your mind to answer those questions you’ll begin to rationalize that they aren’t that bad or you don’t really need to fast from them.
Well, then don’t. Fasting is an act of worship meant to glorify God. It is not meant to super charge our prayers and it certainly shouldn’t feel forced. We have the privilege of being able to fast when we want to grow closer to God. It’s an issue of the heart and our motives should be pure.
(Hopefully the guilt-trip worked and you’re re-examining those things that first entered your mind.)
You can fast from anything. You can fast from certain foods for a period of time or from all foods until a particular pre-determined hour of the day; you can fast from spending unnecessary money by not using your credit card; you can participate in a media fast and go without television or Facebook.
It doesn’t matter what you fast from so much as it matters how you’re spending your time. The time that would normally go to whatever you choose to fast from should be specifically devoted to prayer. The time that would normally be taken away from God should be given back to Him.
We should dive into the Word during our fast and that will help us determine how to pray and what to pray for. To help some of us out with prayer, Joel Lindsey offers these words of advice: “Don’t make praying the focus of your prayer. Many of us sit down to pray, and our primary thought is: ‘I am now praying. Praying is good.’ But focusing on the fact that you’re praying is like trying to drive while looking at the windshield instead of through the windshield. In prayer, don’t focus on the conversation you’re having, focus on the person with whom you’re having it.”
In other words, stop making small talk with God and start having some of the best conversations of your life.
When we fast we learn how the desires of our heart compare with the desires of the Lord. We gain clarity and experience peace regarding the challenges we are going through.
And when you start having those conversations with God you’ll be amazed at the momentum your life will receive. Pun intended.
Resources
James Emery White. Momentum. 2011. Sermon series available at Mecklenburg Community Church.
James Emery White. Fast Forward. 2010. Sermon series available at Mecklenburg Community Church.
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