Good morning!
Today is day 35 – only five more days untill…
And that is the question we are looking at this week – “What does life look like after our 40-days for prayer and fasting?”
I can assure you today’s devotional is one that I’ve got to really pray about. I grew up in a home where fasting was a regular event. My father especially modelled the Christian discipline of fasting. I know from his life the benefits of fasting. However, in spite of that, fasting has never been easy for me. It is far easier to drift back into old habits after the 40-days. My old habits concerning fasting is that I am a “binge faster”; that is I wait until there is a very urgent need and I will fast in panic hoping that it will help. Or I wait until the 40-days and then really sacrifice during that season. Over the years I’ve gotten better at beating the binge habit, but I still have a ways to go.
Perhaps you are like me where fasting is not an easy discipline in your life. Today’s devotional is designed for you. It is a call to plan ahead how you will live a life of fasting and not just wait until there is an emergency or problem or a special season of fasting. As good as fasting is during times like that fasting can be so much more. Fasting at its best is a regular discipline of keeping one of the strongest physical urges – our appetite – under control. When we approach fasting like this it becomes more about changing us than changing our circumstances; and if you are like me, I have found that I am my biggest problem most of the time :).
Well enough of that, I’ll let the devotional speak for itself. In closing, thanks for putting up with the Kemp family photos. I’ve come to look forward to this little exercise each day. Choosing a picture to include with my blog has become a daily joy as I reflect back over good memories. Currently I am remembering February 8, 2012 when God blessed the Kemp family with little Anne Elizabeth.
I pray that you have a great day and make some good memories.
With warmest regards,
dlk
TUESDAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Matthew 9:15 (NKJV) And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
- Fasting is not an option for Christians. Furthermore, it must be more than an annual event that we participate in and then promptly forget, going back to our way habits. As you work your way through this last week take the time today to examine how your new understanding of who Jesus is to influence how you will fast going forward. Remember, to fail to plan is planning to fail.
- In addition, let me encourage you to examine those areas that you have “mortified” (giving up good things for the best) yourself during these 40-days. In light of your clearer understanding of who Jesus is how should you live your life differently going forth?
The ONE THING 