Just Beginning a Fast?

If you've never fasted before and you're responding to Journey's challenge to a 21 day fast, the following tips from Jentezen Franklin will be helpful to you:

How to Begin

Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.

Preparing Spiritually

Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).

Deciding What to Fast

The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.

Deciding How Long

You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.

What to Expect

When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus' example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God's face.

How to End

Don't overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

Also, be sure to check out Journey's fasting prayer list on a previous post this week.

Fasting Resources

I had no idea that our fasting challenge was aligning with other churches across the nation! Wow!

Click on the title of this post for a lot of fasting resources - even recipes for the Daniel Fast.

Please feel free to post your fasting stories or suggestions by commenting on this post. (Remember to comment as "anonymous" this time so we don't temp ourselves into the wrong motivation for fasting :-))

Devotion - On Your Mark

This past Sunday we talked about Devotion (committed love) for the Lord. Jesus shared three primary ways for us to show our devotion in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Specifically we looked at Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 where he talked about giving, praying and fasting.

As a result, members and attendees of Journey are invited to join in a 21 Day Fast. Knowing that many would have to plan for it, there was not start time given. Some began on Monday. Whenever you'd like to start would be great.

Here is a partial prayer list to get you started.

Personal Renewal & Needs

Journey Renewal

A Rekindled passion for Jesus, His Church & its mission

Renewed commitment to invest & invite

Numerical and conversion growth

Financial/Budget needs

10915 Dixie Highway

Leadership and discernment if this is right for Journey

The right scenario/negotiations

Provision of the needed funds for lease and improvements

Elders & Staff

Dan

Kevin

Mike

Karen - Journey Kids

Vinny - Journey Students

Kyle & Heidi (potential worship pastor): pray for God's will to be made clear in their lives.

Collins Elementary

This is our last Sunday to bring school supplies for the Ready-Fest at Collins Elementary. If you weren't at Journey this past Sunday, check out the video.

Philip & Tamara With Their New Son - Daniel Vasya

CHILL: Make Room

Today, we continued our new, summer series CHILL by talking about our need to Make Room in our lives. The benefits of "making room" are many: peace of mind, better health, stronger relationships and availability for God's use.

To Make Room in our lives the first thing we have to do is: Accept Our Human Limitations.

I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands! Psalm 119:96 (MSG)

God has given us some built-in warning lights to let us know when we're reaching our limits: pain, fatigue, stress, loss of joy, irritability... Are any of your God-given warning lights blinking? Are you aware of your limits?

Notice the second part of Psalm 119:68 - the inference is that God is limitless. And that's why, after accepting our limitations, we need to Do Less & Trust God More!

Remember, God can do more in 20 minutes than you or I can do in 20 years.

…We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure… As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally – not a bad idea since He’s the God who raises the dead! 2 Cor. 1:8-9 (NIV/Msg)

So what's your next step this week?

How about memorizing Proverbs 22:3

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)

Then you can Read & Meditate On: Psalm 119:89-96

What "you-specific" steps will you take this week to build margin into your life?

Good Reads:

Making Room For Life by Randy Frazee

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Phusical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson

A Minute of Margin: Restoring Balance to Busy Lives by Richard Swenson

The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits by Richard Swenson

Insanity

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

In our lives, in our families, and in our church, if we're hoping for change yet still doing the same things over and over - making the same mistakes over and over, aren't we at least a little crazy (insane)?