I was asked to write a blog for the week of Fasting at CCF Manila. I thought I would share it with you:
Two eminent psychiatrists, one 40 years old, the other
70, occupied offices in the same building. At the end of a long day, they rode down in the elevator
together. The younger man appeared
completely done in, and he noted that his senior was still quite fresh. "I
don't understand," said the younger, "how you can listen to patients
from morning to night and still look so happy and alert? "The older
psychiatrist shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Who listens?"
Sadly, so many believe that God is not really listening,
when the very opposite is true! God desires to commune with all of His
creation. The problem is that we have many misunderstandings about Prayer. That
is why spending time in a Fast is so helpful! When you Fast, no matter what the
fast is; Limited foods, only liquids, denial of activities, or even sleep, i.e.
getting up earlier than usual to spend time with God, when your flesh feels
that tug of desire for whatever your Fasting, your spirit consciously reminds you
why you are Fasting, and then you talk to the Lord about the items that are so
important to you that you are investing this time of denial (fasting) to
intensify your prayers concerning these issues.
The pressures of this world causes so many to worry and be
gripped by fear, that is what anxiety is! This is why it is so important that
we understand what prayer is for: Paul gives us a clear admonition concerning
our struggle with Anxiety.
Philippians 4:6–7 Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
[A] First, we must understand what prayer is for! This passage is
not how to solve your problems, but how to approach your problems! When we
make a list of issues that we want to bring before God, fasting enables us to
be more intentional and fervent.
Prayer is not an easy way of getting what we want but the only
way of becoming what God wants us to be.
[B] Second, the
“problem” is not the issue with God; He is more concerned with teaching us how
to handle the problem!
To be Anxious means
to be divided or distracted.
When we are anxious
it exposes several problems we are experiencing with our Faith.
{1}
We don’t believe God is Sovereign, really in control.
{2}
We fear God is mean, not wanting us to have our desires.
{3}
We fail to believe that Rom 8:28 is true.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work
together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his
purpose for them.
* All means ALL! Even when we cannot see it we should Trust
God.
[C] Third, we must understand what
prayer is! It is NOT telling God what to do! God wants you to believe that He
can and will do anything, BUT - He does not want you to demand it. Even in the
garden Jesus made it clear He did not want to go to the cross, BUT He did make
one thing even more clear, God’s will be done!
As you Fast consider
the words used in this passage:
* Prayer is not a
monologue, but dialogue. As you pray and read God’s Word He will commune with
you.
* Supplication is
bringing your urgent needs, like a child to their Father. Fasting helps you
focus with God on how important these issues are.
* Thanksgiving, not
only for what God is going to do, but for the situation that brought you to
this! This kind of humility is very attractive to God and He honors that.
Fasting empowers you to become master over the old nature. Controlling any
appetite builds a healthy discipline in your life. The more you commune with
God the stronger you become.
[D] Lastly, we need
to understand what the true answer is! This helps us if the Lord knows that
something other than what we wanted was for our best! The goal of prayer is not
a yes for everything we want, the goal is possessing God’s peace, no matter the
circumstances. Many people have money, power, fame, yet do not enjoy because
they lack peace. As you fast, your heart aligns with God’s and He brings a calm
to your life and the situation you are in. Then your desires become His desires
and you will see how generous and giving God is.
In closing a true
story: When I Pastored in Virginia a very good friend of mine was a Chaplain
and was on the front lines of the war with Iraq. My secretary had a nephew that
was a solder on the same front, but was not a child of God. We brought both men
before the Church for fervent prayer, both were named Charles, and we told God
that we believed He would do a powerful work of protection. Several weeks later
during a time of testimony my secretary tearfully stood up to share. She held
in her hand a letter, written by her nephew Charles as he described being in a
fierce firefight and found himself sharing a foxhole with an Army Chaplain name
Charles! In that foxhole he committed his life to Christ! Both returned home
safe, one entered the family of God in a way that only a miraculous God could
perform it!
The So What? What
is your attitude toward your problems? What if God does not give you the
solution you desire? If you have gained any new understanding about prayer
today, what is it?
