How's It Going So Far? (The Fast!)

New Life readers--how's the fast going so far?  Has God shown you anything yet?  When I start to consider God's will, I always think of Henry Blackaby's great book Experiencing God.  In that book Blackaby points out that God communicates His will to us in 4 ways:  through the Bible, through prayer, through our circumstances, and through other believers.  From my experience, one thing you'll experience this week if you haven't already as you fast, is God's word in the Bible will become clearer.  In the past, as I've fasted specific verses have come to mind as I've gone about the day.  At other times, as I've sat and read familiar verses God has applied new insights into my mind and heart.  When physical food is removed, and the hunger comes, I've often turned to God's word and found that the "nourishment" there has provided satisfaction that physical food cannot.  That must be why Jesus responded to the devil's temptation to turn a stone into bread after His forty day fast, with the words, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 

The main thing that God has made clear to me so far--and it's early in the week--through this time of fasting is an affirmation of my call to serve as Pastor of New Life.  As I said yesterday at the close of worship, I know that I am doing what God has called me to do, and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else or serving anywhere else.  The joy of that truth is great, and it challenges me to live fully right here in the greater Saxonburg area with the love and life of Jesus evident for others to see, and to listen carefully to how, when and where God is calling me to serve each moment.  I know that God isn't done using me on the mission field, but I am seeing a reality I have always known:  the mission field STARTS where we are.  I believe that I will be crossing an ocean to do short-term mission work in the coming year, but while I am HERE, my work is to be FULLY here.  Maybe there's a word for you in that as well---whatever you are doing today, this week, this month--do it in the name of Jesus and to His glory.  That's the only way to be ready for whatever Jesus has for us. 

I'd love to hear from any of you who are fasting, both to know how it's going, and to hear what God is saying and doing in your life throughout this week!