Day Six. Today was the hardest, physically speaking. It wasn’t because I felt hungry. I just haven’t felt good all day. I have felt tired with no energy and sort of “puffy” and stiff. I don’t know if it is because my body is detoxing, hungry, low on fuel or a combination of all three. I had potato soup tonight. Actually, I have had it 3 times during this fast. The first time I pureed it, the second time I picked around the potatoes and mushed them up but tonight I just ate it straight up. I felt guilty for a minute and then I realized how stupid that was. This is where the enemy wreaks havoc with us. He tries to condemn and shame us and make us feel like failures. This is why we have to know truth. Truth about our God and His Word and His love for us. I don’t really think God is mad that I ate potato soup with the potatoes in it.
Oh, and have I mentioned how hard it is to fast and not tell anyone? The very first night I was eating, or I guess I should say drinking my soup and my husband flat out asked me if I was fasting. So weird. I told him I was cutting back. I just don’t think we are supposed to talk about fasting when it is a personal fast. The only reason I am blogging about it is because I am going to post this after the fast to share my experience and to encourage others. I am not sharing this to brag about it in any way. I want to share with others what God is teaching me because after all, He has called me to teach.
Today’s lesson is about first time obedience. I have a wonderful friend that lives in a nearby nursing home. She is like family to me. God brought the two of us together and it is like we have known each other our entire lives. She is a strong Christian and such a Godly example to me. Well, she hasn’t been feeling well this week. I knew I was going to see her today but God made it very clear when I got in the car that I was to go immediately.
I am soooo glad He told me to and that I listened. I walked in and knew something was wrong. Long story short, after talking with her it really sounded like her blood sugar was not right. I am not a doctor, I am just married to one. I have heard enough medical jargon through the years to be able to ask some questions. Good thing I did because sure enough they checked it and it was sky high. Why am I telling you all of this? Because I want you to learn to listen to that still small voice that prompts you. It is the Holy Spirit. The enemy doesn’t want you to hear it. He will do everything possible to distract and confuse you. That is why it is so important to ask the Lord to help you hear and be able to discern when it is His “good spirit” (Psalm 143:10) leading you and the voice of the enemy trying to throw you off. Had I not gone today, my sweet friend could be have ended up in bad shape. PLEASE hear me when I say this, “I” didn’t “do” anything! God did. I just chose obedience and He used me as the instrument to help someone.
Obedience feels good. And it should. Not following God is miserable. There is no joy, no purpose, no fulfillment. You can spin your wheels all day and even be a millionaire, but you will never be satisfied if what you do is not for God. At my Church our mission statement is to “Love God, love people and make disciples.” This is the Gospel in a nutshell. All the other stuff we do here really doesn’t matter. Don’t get me wrong, I love living. I love cooking and taking care of my home and immediate family. I love my job. I love having good friends and I love the rest of my family. I love going to Church and serving at my Church. Life is good but it gets messy. So much to do and not enough time.
I was talking to one of my sisters today. She works like a Hebrew slave and has two kids and a husband. There are not enough hours in a day for her. If there was ever a mom that would love to stay home with her kids it would be her, but she can’t. This is what I am talking about. I don’t think Mary had to choose between paying the bills and taking care of baby Jesus. But that was then and this is now. I wonder what Jesus thinks about now. A woman who works outside the home and at home is a super hero in my book.
I know God gave us a brain and that man has advanced through the years etc… I just don’t know if all of it keeps the Gospel at the top of the list where it is supposed to be. But, here we are and we must be good stewards of here and now. Our time, money, talents, and resources all came from God in the first place. All of it should be used to advance His Kingdom, not ours. So in the here and now, in this thing we call life, we have to listen. We have to obey. We have to go to the Nursing Home as the first stop on our list even if it means nothing else gets done because following God is always best.
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. “
Matthew 6:33
It works every time.
Living free,
Rene’
