If you are an active part of the B4 community, you have likely been hearing about our shared commitment to 21 days of prayer and fasting that will conclude this weekend on Easter Sunday. Like many of you, I purposed to set aside some things the last couple of weeks to give the Lord a larger portion of my time and focus, and I have had heard some good stories of things people in our church received from the Lord as they journeyed through the book of John as outlined in our devotional guides. Personally, I am very thankful for the helpful insights from Pastor Steve Mitchell, who put the "OPEN" devotional guides together for us.
For me, one main lesson has come to my heart from this season of prayer and fasting. For the first time in my life, I chose to take a day a week to set aside all food (drink only water). There are many valuable ways to fast and set things aside to prioritize relationship with Jesus. I’m not suggesting this is the best way, and I certainly don't share this with any sense of comparison or pride. It was simply what I felt the Holy Spirit was encouraging me to do, and it definitely provided a crystal-clear object lesson for the Holy Spirit to apply in my life.
Like many of us in the suburbs of Portland, my life is well provided for by the Lord, and I have the privilege of being involved in many activities in my ministry assignments, personal life, and family. Most days, I move quickly through my schedule, trying to accomplish as much as possible and attempting to be thankful for God's provision along the way. However, I don't think I realized how much I take His most basic provision of life and energy for granted. After just one day without food, I was not only hungry, but I was exhausted. I anticipated feeling hungry, but I was unprepared for how tired I would be. I tried to do some work at my desk in the afternoon, and my computer screen appeared to be an unintelligible series of blurred lines I couldn't focus on. I barely had strength to play with my kids at the end of the day, and I even struggled to have a coherent prayer time in the evening. I was shocked at how quickly my body was reduced to an ineffective skeleton with virtually no capacity to do the things I normally do with ease.
One day. ONE. DAY. That’s all it took for me.
In the reality of my human condition, I don’t have even a single day of strength in me. Without God’s provision of life, health, and basic necessities like food, I’m done.
It’s the Easter season. At this time of year, we stop to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and I am typically reminded of the fact that I find my sufficiency and worth in my identification with Him and His victory over my sin. This year, the fast provided a real-life object lesson of my dependence upon the Lord and need for him to be sufficient in my life on a practical basis as well. It was very apparent I cannot successfully live even one physical day without food. It might be a little less obvious, but in a spiritual sense, I cannot live a day without the life of Jesus in me either. I wake up most mornings with health, strength, and joy from the Lord — this is a gift I find myself increasingly aware of and very thankful for. Although invisible, the spiritual life Jesus offers me is available each day as well, and I simply need to open my heart and ears to receive and follow Him each day. This is the motivator for my worship this Easter. Jesus is alive, and I want His life in me.
I invite you to respond with anything the Lord might have shown you through this season of prayer and fasting. I hope you are finding your heart drawn ever closer to our Lord and Savior this year as we observe good Friday and celebrate Easter this weekend.
I look forward to worshiping with you if you're able to join us at B4 for our Easter services on Saturday or Sunday.
Blessings,
Brent
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