Psalm 40 (New King James Version)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
The Bible says when we draw near to God, He draws near to us (James 4:8). That is the primary focus of our First Fruits Fast. We are seeking God first in 2009, "waiting patiently" for Him instead of setting out under our own power. As you wait patiently your expectations will grow and the presence of the Lord will be more real to you.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
Extreme circumstances require extreme action. Whether the circumstances are of our own making or not, we can humble ourselves in prayer and fasting. God is our healer, deliverer, and restorer. Fasting and prayer will get you out of fear and into faith to see your circumstances change.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
Just imagine the testimonies that you will be praising God for as a result of diligently seeking Him. There will be people who will put their trust in the Lord as a result of your miracle.
4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Any doubts we have about trusting the Lord completely in 2009 are going to submit to the Word over the next twenty-one days. That means He is going to speak to your heart about some issues.
Practical Tips for Day One
1. Write down your prayer requests and things you need to hear from God about. Write down the names of people God has laid on your heart to pray for. Pray specifically over each need every morning.
2. If I know anything for sure about fasting it is that God will speak to you through the scriptures. Fasting will increase your faith. During the fast, focus on the Word of God. When Jesus fasted, He was tempted by the devil, but in every case He used the Word of God to defeat temptation.
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2 comments:
I thank God for a Pastor, Friend, and Leader that is looking for God's direction and understanding, instead of using his own. It is hard to find someone these days that walks what he preaches. Thanks so much for all you do. I am looking forward to the GREAT things God has for me during this fast.
There are many things that I could include on my list, but I have narrowed it so that I can focus on the things that are truly pressing on my heart! I know that by diligently seeking God during this fast, I will have answers and praise reports to share. His word is the truth that I must KNOW in order to be set free!
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