Shoutlouder

let the Holy Spirit speak – fast day 4

// January 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Holy Spirit, Prayer

I know I missed Day #3 so I’ll try and make this one twice as good!

As Day #4 is fast reaching towards it’s twilight I have to say the impulse to eat lots of food seems to have receded into the vast recesses of my memory. It’s interesting how quickly we soon come to forget the things of less importance whereas my brain is constantly reminding itself of the need to make good use of this fast. After all there is a real reason to fast so if ALL you do is fast and forget to actually PRAY then all you’ve done is not eat for a week and feel hungry… rather pointless that it seems!

So my advice to anyone fasting right now… do actually pray!

Acts 13:2 starts: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…”

I love the example of the early church here. Acts 13 is one of those pivotal points in the Early Church story because its the moment when Barnabas and Saul (very soon to be Paul) are set apart for the incredible journey that leads them all across the known world and seeing the Gospel spread like wildfire! And it all began with some fasting and praying and a willingness to start to listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say!

Right now there is some divine wisdom for your life, just a listen away, that could change everything!

diary of a fast – day 2

// January 12th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Prayer

It’s Day #2 of what’s been tagged on twitter as our #onetruefast!

Most of today as been involved in meetings so I have to say I’ve not had a lot of time to myself – which is probably a blessing when you fast cause the last thing you want to do is hang around doing nothing. Best to stay busy.

What is happening though around my life is a lot of reinvention so I do believe that this seven days of fasting is incredibly well timed. It’s in the dawning of a new season and the start of a journey into undiscovered territiory that taking time to press into God is the most valuable thing you can do.

Fasting is not about starvation as some form of self-inflicting humility on the body in order to present oneself to the Almighty in a way which may allow us His time and response. Fasting is about bringing things into perspective! It causes you to ask the question – “What is really important?”- or more correctly – “WHO is really important?”

When all you can think about as you drive past McDonalds is “how tasty would a Big Mac be right now…?” we have to stop ourselves and question is that really the sum of what we value most in life? Or is our relationship with Jesus far more important than the hunger in our bellies? Do we crave him far more than any fast food meal or even a 5 star banquet? If someone walked up to us today and said, ‘I’d like to take you to the most expensive restaurant in London and pay for whatever you want’ – would our response be, ‘Well, yeah!! I can always fast another day…” Or do we see that right now – as we fast and pray – we’re positioning ourselves in the greatest of all banqueting halls – the hall of His amazing and life-giving presence.

Once we can make Him the most important need in our life then we create the foundation upon which He can build something magnificent. God is looking for some faith and expectation – but more than that He’s looking for our undivided attention.

Make Day #3 all about Him!

diary of a fast!

// January 11th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Prayer

About a week ago the leadership of Hope City Church decided it would be a great idea for us all to fast for seven days and really press into this year with prayer as we believe for a greater move of God than ever before! So I thought it would be really good idea to diarise some of my thoughts this week as I fast – especially if you’re thinking about fasting with us and believing to see God at work in your own life in so much more! So here it is…

Day #1: Feeling really hungry! That’s all I have to say about that!

I’m sorry but what did you expect from Day #1? Amazing revelation from the heavens… to be honest this is just the warm up day… all I can think about today is food! So hopefully tomorrow will bear a little more excitment!! But, after all, that’s what most of life is really all about.. pressing on, pursuing and reaching towards the prize. Stop expecting all the answers when you timetable them! Sometimes we need to give God a little time to see that we’re serious. He’s looking for some faith to respond to. His answers will always come – we just need a little patience.