Is It Worth It?
Pastor Julie Friday
You made it to day 6 Whoo hoo!!! Only 15 days to go! If by chance you started the fast strong and suddenly gave into the sounds of hunger pains just jump back in. You can do this!!! It’s time to pull out the Spiritual Q tips and clean out the junk that may be causing us not to hear from the Lord clearly.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27 NLT
”While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” — Acts 13:2
”For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” — Hebrews 4:12
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” — John 6:63
Here’s a funny story:
I remember MANY years back Brian and I were on a 3 day full fast. We were believing God for breakthrough in an area of our life and needed to hear His voice clearly. I remember it well. I woke up that morning ready to do damage to the devil’s kingdom through fasting and prayer.
When I woke up the loudest sounds began to erupt from my stomach as if I hadn’t eaten in weeks. I pushed through the growling and started my day. Work ended and it was time to get dinner started for the kids. I planned a super easy meal so I didn’t have to be in the kitchen around food for a long period of time. Remember this was day one of our three-day water/juice fast. The meal was frozen chicken fingers, boxed Macaroni and cheese, and peas. Now that doesn’t sound exciting at all!
I poured the noodles into the boiling water and they began to cook. Next I strained the noodles and then it was time to add the butter, milk and cheese. That’s when it happened. All of the sudden that fake processed cheese had an angelic sound (lol) and I could hear an evil voice saying, “take a bite just a little bite…I’m delicious”. Sound familiar?
My flesh was screaming for just one taste. Come on really? Yes, really! As I mixed in the fake processed cheese with the butter and milk I literally could hear my stomach manifesting as if I hadn’t eaten in weeks. It hadn’t even been 24 hours. The aroma coming up from the pot smelled divine. As I made one final stir I scooped up a cheesy spoonful and as it was heading toward my mouth (Sounds ridiculous I know but remember this was a long time ago), I heard the words, “Is it really worth it?”. I stopped immediately and threw the fork down and thought to myself, “why would I trade hearing God’s voice clearer for a spoonful of boxed mac and cheese?”, and better yet, “why would I trade it for anything!”.
We serve a big God that loves us and fasting is a small sacrifice that brings proper spiritual perspective. We live in the world and our lives are busy, therefore, it’s easy to become desensitized and spiritually lazy if we don’t stand guard!
Back to my story:
Good news! I didn’t give in, I had victory over my flesh, and we experienced breakthrough in our lives. I began to tell my body what it was going to do and not allow my body to tell me what to do. Sadly, we too often give in to our feelings instead of being led by the Spirit.
Fasting helps us get our 20/20 vision back. With the world we live in and the culture around us we can easily fall into the traps and allow our spiritual senses to become dull. Fasting helps sharpen those senses! What you feed on the most will become the strongest part of you. Fasting is time to get things back in proper perspective and put our flesh in its proper place. We should be led by our spirit and not led by how we feel (our flesh). It’s really funny to think about now but the battle was real. My flesh was screaming for a generic box of processed mac and cheese.
You will feel tempted. You will feel like you have every excuse to quit but push through for great is your reward! This is a special time to be refreshed and receive a fresh anointing to do what God has called you to do.
“But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” —1 John 2:27 NLT
“But the wonderful anointing you have received from God is so much greater than their deception and now lives in you. There’s no need for anyone to keep teaching you. His anointing teaches you all that you need to know, for it will lead you into truth, not a counterfeit. So just as the anointing has taught you, remain in him.”
—1 John 2:27 TPT
Let’s fulfill the divine plan God has for us. Stay connected to Him and don’t allow your feelings to drive you, rather, be led by the Holy Spirit and walk in the authority God has given to every believer.
— Pastor Julie
For fasting information and devotionals visit theseedchurch.com/2022