A key to unlock the door to the past. A person to bring that past into my present. An experience to change my life. And now... I'm left feeling like it never happened. So how do I tap back into that? Prayer? Community? Holy Spirit power? ;) Prayer for others. That's it. Putting others before myself, serving as I was created to do.
Right now, I am praying for someone very dear to me. This person means everything to me. I pray for God to give him the grace to receive the mercy, forgiveness and salvation which is meant for him. It is bittersweet, knowing that I can't play an active roll in bringing him to Christ. However, it is pure sweetness to offer sacrifice through fasting for his sake. Have you ever tried fasting the right way? It's extremely rewarding. Here, check out this awesome scripture passage which explains it perfectly:
Isaiah 58:3-9
'Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?'
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?
"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am."
So... what did this teach me? I know that there is a lot of reference to things we don't do anymore, like wearing sackcloth and ashes... But often, we don't understand what fasting is really supposed to be like. This passage, and a very good friend of mine, explained the truth about fasting. You can't fast and say a few prayers or just your normal prayers. Fasting is one of two things: 1) Starvation or 2) Prayer.
Let me explain. Through my hunger (during a fast), I realized just how much my life depends upon what God has given me. He has provided me with a job to pay my bills so I can have a warm home, food, and transportation (along with many other things). My hungry stomach also made me realize that I am not just physically hungry, but spiritually hungry. Just as my body longed for nourishment, so too does my soul yearn for the nourishment, which only our Lord can provide.
Through this fasting, which I did for my dear friend, I have grown in trust and patience. Just a little. Hopefully, it is affecting the person I'm praying for, at least as much as it is affecting me. For this I pray. And I pray that you will try fasting, it is an incredible experience. If you have any questions or need any other helpful tips to get you through your fast, please do not hesitate to ask. I am learning just as much as you are. God Bless!
Right now, I am praying for someone very dear to me. This person means everything to me. I pray for God to give him the grace to receive the mercy, forgiveness and salvation which is meant for him. It is bittersweet, knowing that I can't play an active roll in bringing him to Christ. However, it is pure sweetness to offer sacrifice through fasting for his sake. Have you ever tried fasting the right way? It's extremely rewarding. Here, check out this awesome scripture passage which explains it perfectly:
Isaiah 58:3-9
'Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?'
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?
"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am."
So... what did this teach me? I know that there is a lot of reference to things we don't do anymore, like wearing sackcloth and ashes... But often, we don't understand what fasting is really supposed to be like. This passage, and a very good friend of mine, explained the truth about fasting. You can't fast and say a few prayers or just your normal prayers. Fasting is one of two things: 1) Starvation or 2) Prayer.
Let me explain. Through my hunger (during a fast), I realized just how much my life depends upon what God has given me. He has provided me with a job to pay my bills so I can have a warm home, food, and transportation (along with many other things). My hungry stomach also made me realize that I am not just physically hungry, but spiritually hungry. Just as my body longed for nourishment, so too does my soul yearn for the nourishment, which only our Lord can provide.
Through this fasting, which I did for my dear friend, I have grown in trust and patience. Just a little. Hopefully, it is affecting the person I'm praying for, at least as much as it is affecting me. For this I pray. And I pray that you will try fasting, it is an incredible experience. If you have any questions or need any other helpful tips to get you through your fast, please do not hesitate to ask. I am learning just as much as you are. God Bless!
