When you hear the word fasting, you automatically think of food, don't you? Fasting goes back thousands of years as a way to show God you were serious about something. We see examples of this all throughout the Bible. For example, in Daniel 9:3, Daniel is preparing to pray a prayer of confession and petition.
"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." NIV
But in today's world with so many distractions, fasting other things besides food can be just as important in our journey to grow closer to God and know Him better.
This morning, I am sitting in my local Chick-fil-A writing this because I have been a victim of distractions for too long. God has called me to do certain things and the devil has used my weaknesses to distract me from my best. Last week I was reading this passage in Daniel and in that moment God laid on my heart my need to fast - not food, but other things. For me, it is television, social media and other things using my electronic devices. Now, don't misunderstand - God wasn't asking me to get rid of these completely, but simply to fast during certain times and focus on Him.
As many of you know, I work from home and my house if full of distractions. I would wake up in the morning, ready to attack the day and I would look back at the end of day and I hadn't accomplished anything. Not even the simple stuff. This has been going on way too long and God knew my heart. He knew I really wanted to accomplish it, but the devil was messing with me and winning. I would find myself watching television even though it was a show I had seen hundreds of times. I would get caught up in my book and read all day long (fiction - fun not learning). I would even set boundaries - just 2 games - and end up playing 10. But not today!
I couldn't handle the distractions in my own strength; therefore, I removed them completely. And what I have found in removing them is a lessening desire to do them.
God showed me that fasting isn't just about food - it is about anything that gets in the way of spending time with Him and doing what He has called you to do. Maybe you think my distractions are silly - I should be able to turn off the television and just do my work. But we all have weaknesses. We all have something that the devil uses to distract us from God. I know someone who's distraction is housework. She cleans her house obsessively over 8 hours a day. I love a clean house and my house is clean, but the devil uses her perfection desire to take her away from her time with God.
I challenge you today to look at your day and see what the devil might be using to take you away from God. It can be something as simple as television, social media, your phone or tablet, but it also might be your kids, your spouse, your job, or even your clean house. God isn't asking you to get rid of all of these things - however, He is asking you to put Him first and the rest will fall right into place.
Have a blessed day and an awesome week! We love you!!
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