Fasting and Feasting

While in Nicaragua, some of my squad and I did a 3 day fast. We had an ideal set up for fasting: no food in sight for the 3 days, accountability, beautiful scenery, and nothing we had to get done. Even still, it was hard. Even though it was challenging, it was such a sweet time of feasting on the Word and realizing my deep need for Christ. (Also we had a delicious feast of repochetas, cookies, and ice cream to break the feast so that was pretty great haha!)

3 Things God Taught me while fasting:

1. Humility– During the 3 days, John 3:30 was on repeat in my head. “He must become greater; I must become less.” When hunger would strike, when questions of why I was doing this would come to mind, when I would lay down and when I’d wake up wake up- “He must increase.” I was learning about John the Baptist’s ministry and how big it was. He was baptizing tons of people, yet he would undermine his message so that the message of God would increase. He wore clothes made of camel hair to show that he was unclean and to point to the one that was perfect. It’s easy to try to bolster our message- fill it with eloquent words and good works, rather than let God’s word just speak through us- that which has all authority and power. It doesn’t need any help from us. This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Let’s walk in humility so that people’s assurance won’t rest on human power but on God’s power!
2. Identity– God told Jesus that he was His beloved Son with whom He was well pleased BEFORE He raised the dead or healed the blind (Matthew 3:17). And the same is true for us. Before we did anything, God loved us more than we could ever imagine and He won’t stop loving us. That is super cool to rest in. Our identity is the foundation of our faith and that makes it an easy target for the enemy. Don’t let that be the case. Stand firm in the truth of who you are and whose you are.
3. Radical faith– I don’t just want to settle. I don’t want to take the easy, confortable route. “Normal Christianity” isn’t enough. This is a prayer I wrote on the third day of the fast and my prayer is that it is the desire of your heart as well. 
   

Father, I just want you.

I want Your desires to be my desires.

I want Your heart to be my heart.

I need You Lord.

I need You for every breath.

I need You for every step.

 

You are above all, in all, and through all.

You are worthy of all praise and honor.

You are my path.

You guide my path.

 

You are working in this place.

I praise You. 

You are changing hearts. 

I praise You.

You are sparking revival.

I praise You.

You are building up the army of the dawn.

I praise You.

 

There is no one like You.

No one else I want to give my life to.

 

Shape me, mold me, draw me close to You

Have Your way in me.

Your will is greater.

You are greater.

 

I love you.