Resources
Trusting God’s Word never goes out of style. The Word of God will program your life with the power and promises of God.
For
no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.
And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2
Corinthians 1:20
We must determine that God’s word is our guide, and if it’s our guide it must be a priority. We must learn to see the Word of God as an investment. It’s investing in my life, family, future, and it’s investing in the knowledge of Christ. The more you pay for something the more its worth to you and the better you’ll value it. Focusing on the Bible may be a big task for you today. Remember fasting is not easy, but it’s worth it to focus on God. A great way to do that this week is by focusing on scripture. If you don’t know where to start read the Gospel of John and learn more about our Savior. We also have tons of resources at www.christianlifefoley.tv
SOAP is a great way to feed
yourself daily.
5 Things you need:
1. Bible.
2. Journal.
Spiritual DVR.
We’re just not spiritual enough to think that we’re going to be able to remember everything.
3. Pen.
4. Reading
Guide.
You’ll always have things that pop into your mind
while you’re reading and praying. It’s good to have scratch paper to write it
down and free your mind to focus back on your reading.
S = Scripture.
Underline things that stick out to you. I look for words that jump off the page at me.
Scripture
- John 3:16 NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
O = Observation.
Observation – “In this verse, John makes it clear that the only way for us to have the kind of life we all dream about is by embracing Jesus Christ. God doesn’t want to see us destroy ourselves, that’s why He sent Jesus.”
A = Application.
Big Question: How does this apply to my life?
Application
– “I want to live my life to the fullest.
I want the kind of life that God promises. I don’t want to live a life of destruction
and death all around me, so I need to daily continue to respond and embrace
what Jesus has done for me.”
P = Prayer.
Turn your observation & application into a dedication. This is where we make a commitment to God.
Prayer – “God, today I recommit to Your way of doing life, to Your plan for my life, to Your ideas, Your agendas, and not my own. I know that when left to myself, it only ends in heartache and destruction, so I embrace You once again today. Amen.”
The best way to reinforce
what you’re learning is by sharing it with others.
Read Mark 4:1-20
Jesus gave us insight into understanding how His Kingdom would work in our lives. Like a farmer sowing seed, amazing things happen when the seed falls on good, healthy, fertile ground.
Our hearts are like the garden. The things we plant into our lives will grow, and weeds can sprout up if we are not paying attention. If we are going to experience all the amazing things Jesus has provided, we must be intentional about planting the “right” things in our hearts and getting rid of the “weeds”. Plant His Word, cultivate it, and it will produce an incredible harvest. As you fast, expect God to reveal Himself to you more clearly. We must allocate time to listen if we are to cultivate our relationship with Him. That means you’ve got to slow down; you’ve got to make time to be quiet; you’ve got to put it into your schedule so you have time to hear God speak. It’s hard to hear God when your mind is crowded with other thoughts. When your mind is crowded with worries and concerns and anxieties, they usually take our full attention. So, as we are fasting, lets give God our full attention and focus on Him. Let’s be good soil. “God, I’m willing to do whatever You ask me to do, and I’m willing to step out of my comfort zone and be obedient.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank
You for helping me see the amazing truth of sowing Your Word into my life. The
harvest that is produced is transforming my life. Help me to see You for who
You really are. Help me to see myself in light of who I have become because of
Your gift of righteousness. Amen.”
We are in a season of fasting and
prayer here at Christian Life Church, and I am so glad you decided to partner
with us. “Declare a holy
fast…summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the
Lord your God, and cry out to the
Lord.” Joel 1:14
Fasting is a time of denying what we want, for what God has; whether direction, clarity, courage, salvation of the lost, joy, or hope. You may be denying yourself food, media, Internet, or many other things this fasting season. We want to start strong and finish strong, so here are a couple suggestions that may help.
First, if you are fasting food or a certain food you will experience discomforts such as headaches; this is normal. You may want to take the first 3 days of the fast to “wean” yourself off caffeine and sugars. You will be hungry so keep water and approved snacks handy. You must fight to maintain focus on God, not on what you can’t eat during the fast.
Secondly, if you are fasting TV or media you will have a lot of free time on your hands; make plans on how to best use it. Of course you want to set time away for Bible reading and prayer, but you may also want to do a few other things. Maybe have a family game night, go for a walk, visit a friend or relative you haven’t seen a while, take your wife on a date, play with your kids, start a hobby or even read a book. The book “Weird” by Craig Groeschel is a great one, or “Entreleadership” by Dave Ramsey if you own a business or another on of his books titled “Financial Peace” for personal finances. Another good is “The Barbarian Way” by Erwin McManus. Again maintain focus on God and why you started in the first place.
Lastly, fasting anything is not easy, but push
through and don’t give up. Fasting
can help you recover your passion, recapture your dream and restore your joy! Fasting is a principle that God intended for
everyone to practice. It is not a punishment; it is a privilege! We encourage
you to seek the Lord in prayer. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during
your time of fasting and prayer. We believe that, as we pray and seek God and
give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year
(Matthew 6:33)!
Blessings,
Pastor Todd