The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
"This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16
Most times when someone I'm helping is not breaking through in some area of their life I ask them, "where are you at with spiritual disciplines?" Typically they are lacking and a reminder is needed to go back to the basics -- the Word, prayer, fasting, etc.
Right now I'm needing an answer and so I'm ramping up on certain things in order to get the answer sooner rather than later. One of those disciplines in order to get that answer is fasting. On Sunday morning I taught on fasting in regard to breakthroughs, and Larry preached on healing in the morning service. It dovetailed nicely.
Some things I talked about...
Mark 2:18 & 19 "Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?" Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
There are times when it feels like God is not there. We wonder if he is hearing us. That is our call to fast. Because when we fast, the "bridegroom" comes closer. Jesus said it himself that there would come a time he would be taken from us, and on that day, we would fast. This would lead us to believe, He will come close again. If we want the next level, we will have to pray and fast if we expect to have what God has designed for us unfold, rather than the enemy to prevail.
I'm really sick of the enemy prevailing in a certain area of my life, and I'm ready for a breakthrough. Some things God gives us the power to do. If you can do it, you should do it. But if you can’t do it, it’s something you need to ask God to do! When our DESPERATION, no matter the cause, intersects with true FAITH, it produces a total DEPENDENCE on God. The result is breakthrough.
The key is desperation. We are at the end of our own abilities and wisdom and need God for His intervention. When we fast to the point of expressing this desperation, it gets the attention of God. This is the key. It’s not about impressing God with our spirituality. In fact, fasting does not make us more spiritual. It’s all about recognizing we must have God come on the scene.
Did you ever notice just how much fasting tests the flesh? OH MY. Brownies call me by name, and I. am. serious. Fasting applies pressure to our flesh and you will be shocked at just how much it will kick and scream. Twice Larry and I have gone on a 50 day fast. And we've gone on a few shorter ones, everything from a day to a few days, to 21 days, 40 days, etc. I remember one time he begged me to go off of the fast I was on because I was going through caffeine withdrawals so much that I just laid in bed holding my head and moaning for hours with a monster headache. But I wouldn't let go and abandon that fast, I was determined to press through. We aren't to be led by the flesh. Flesh is what WE can do – spirit is only what HE can do! It's definitely time that the flesh is removed from the role of God, and dethroned. It's not about willpower because that’s your will and your power…and really it's about His will and His power!
Fasting also slows life down enough to examine unconscious patterns of living, forcing us to face the chaos. It is like pressing the pause button of life and quietly observing how crazy and detached we have become.
Are you willing to go to desperate lengths to see change happen?
If you are desperate and willing to be dependant, you are a candidate for a breakthrough. You don’t need education, experience, a special “calling”…this is about two things, desperation and dependence.
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