By last night, I so…wanted to eat something, anything! Watching TV they were showing mac & cheese, and I so wanted that. Going to bed I told Sue I wanted a bagel & egg sandwich when I got up in the morning! I didn’t do it, but I wanted it!
Once you have passed three days of fasting, the hunger pains can become minimized, but the “Mindset” of needing food can intensify. If you are experiencing these craving understand they are normal and won’t kill you.
I would like to focus on a passage of scripture in 2 Chronicles where Solomon has just completed the temple, and has been praying and offering vast numbers of sacrifices to the Lord for its dedication. The Lord comes down with fire to consume the sacrifice. That had to be scary! The “Glory” of God was so intense the priest could not enter the temple. I pray the glory of God defends on our ministry!
2 Ch 7:11-14. “If My People”
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace.
Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
[14] and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
[15] “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
Here’s what we need to see:
1) God’s Glory – came after the sacrifice was being set aside.
2) The Fire – came after the sacrifice was laid on the altar.
3) The Lord Appeared & Spoke – after the sacrifice was received by God.
It is also interesting that God starts the conversation with “I’ve Heard Your Prayer & Chosen this Place”. That would have been so exciting till we hear the next thing God says – “If I shut up heaven! Seriously! Does it seem out-of-place for God to really start his message with the negative on how to handle judgement?
When bad things happen, it is so easy for all of us to assume or at least think and feel that maybe God doesn’t love us. If we look at Solomon’s experience, we are given insight that sometime bad things happen because we got off track and need a course correction.
Aren’t you glad God doesn’t leave us with trouble, but with hope! I sure am.
“If My People Will Humble Themselves” This is encouragement to seek “Humility” as an attitude, and that’s where fasting comes in. Fasting is all about seeking humility by denying our passions to increase our hunger for the Lord. You may have to chew on that for a moment.
I know that if we follow the Lord’s instruction, healing will come to us and our country. Boy do we need it!
1) Humble Ourselves
2) Pray & Seek God’s Face
3) Turn from our Wicked Ways
The promise?
1) God will Hear Us
2) Forgive our Sin
3) Heal Our Land
Love Fasting With God For a Purpose.
Pastor Dale
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