Saving...
As Claire & I look forward at the coming year, writing down the vision, the plans, and the faith goals we have such a sense of expectancy. Vision Sunday on 8th January will begin the next phase of the unfolding destiny God has for all of us here at WHBC.
So as a springboard for the year we are calling the whole church to a 21 day fast!!
Starting on the morning of 8th January and finishing on Sunday 29th January we are asking everyone to do one of the following:
- Miss one meal a day; either lunch or dinner
- Miss breakfast & lunch but eat normally in the evening
- Do a “Daniel” fast, eating vegetables & pulses only & drinking only water.
(more details can be found at daniel-fast.com) - Do a “Full” fast, no food, only drinking water.
(if you are doing this please ensure that you inform your Life Group Leader and chat to a doctor regarding your health)
BUT the main point is to use the time to pray!
Fasting is a dedication of ourselves to God. It is not something that we do just out of obedience to our leaders. It is also not a fad that we do because other churches or people are doing it. It is something that we do to humble ourselves before God, denying ourselves and dedicating more time to prayer as we seek more of Him in our lives.
Fasting is not an end in itself but creates an environment in which we hear our Heavenly Father more clearly. By denying our “flesh” (normal desires) we focus our spirit man. Fasting does not produce better faith but because we hear from the Lord more clearly our faith grows in times of fasting.
It is also a time for believing for breakthroughs in our lives. I can look back and remember how by developing my relationship with God in this way has led to answered prayer over the years. My wife & I prayed to be debt free and we did get out of debt. We prayed for a car, for a friend to conceive a baby, for various marriages around us and for the health and welfare of our kids. All of these and a lot more prayers and faith goals were answered.
But these blessings are just bonuses. When we fast we seek after and dedicate ourselves to the Giver, the one who blesses us with these gifts, our Heavenly Father. Our goal is always to grow more in our faith, to enjoy a more mature relationship with Him.
Denying ourselves of food for a few days is a small sacrifice compared to the reward of having a fresh encounter and new revelation of God.
Get ready for an exciting year:
2012 will be full of good things!
