GET READY

Grace and Peace!

The Lenten Fast is here and I am excited about this powerful combination of prayer and fasting!  The windows of Heaven are open because people from all over are coming together to pursue a deeper, more meaningful and more powerful relationship with God.  Let your expectations be high because God desires to bless His people in ways that will blow our minds.

During the fast we are devoting more time to pursuing God than we are in other pursuits.  We are rearranging our normal daily routines to include much more time with God through prayer, fasting, study, meditation, praise, worship and fellowship.  Get some good music to feed your soul, listen and feast on it during your meditation and devotion time. 

PRAYER

We are praying three (3) times a day (Daniel 6:13) at 6:00 a.m., 12 noon and 6:00 p.m. CST.  It will be powerful for prayers to reach the heart of God at the same times from so many people and from so many different places.  You should consider praying at least one time a day with your prayer partners.  If you don’t have prayer partners, this is the perfect time to ask God to lead you into relationship with some praying people. Jesus says in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”  Partnering in prayer is also great to have someone to encourage you through the fast if you start to falter, get weak or a little wishy-washy…

God has much to say to us so remember that prayer is a conversation, not a monologue.  Be sure to take time to listen to God.  And if there are no words or revelations shared, just rest in God’s Presence – this is where joy is found (Psalm 16:11). 

FASTING

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that goes hand in hand with prayer.  Fasting is to abstain from food with a spiritual purpose in mind.  We are participating in a Daniel Fast which is basically eating those foods which grow out of the earth; nothing that walks, swims or crawls.  

This fast may be a challenge to some, but with proper advanced planning you will meet it with grace.  Consider taking your lunch and snacks with you when you go to work or school.  This will save you money, time and aggravation.  I encourage you to post recipes in the comments sections here http://lentenfast2009.blogspot.com/2009/02/recipes.html so our friends who are not on Facebook can benefit from your suggestions too. 

-Oatmeal and fruit is a good idea for breakfast.  Add some flaxseed to it (some call flaxseed the colon sweeper). 

-Have fruit, raw veggies, nuts and seeds on hand for snacking during the day.

-Hummus and carrots are another good snack.

-Indian food is a good option if you have to eat out.

-This is not a starvation diet.  Eat to your fill but you probably should be careful about eating a whole bag of cashews.

STUDY

Study the Word of God.  Your sisters and brothers have written devotions based on passages from the Gospels.  Take time to read and to study these passages. The devotions will be posted on the Daniel Fast Facebook page, on http://lentenfast2009.blogspot.com and www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com.  

We are a people formed by the Word of God.  Furthermore, the Bible holds keys to our identity, our future, our purpose, our hopes, our dreams, our healing, our salvation, our love, our joy and our peace.  It is essential that we are diligent in studying the Bible, especially during this Fast. 

If you have not really studied the Bible much before, the Gospel of John is a great place to start.  Consider a translation that is easy for you to understand.  If you want more information about how to study the Bible, email me: rbelin@mac.com. 

Read something edifying.  We are looking for holistic benefits from our Lenten Fast.  So, grab a good book and read.  What are you going to read during Lent?  Post your reading suggestions in the comments section here http://lentenfast2009.blogspot.com/2009/02/readings.html.    “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster is an excellent resource on the spiritual disciplines. 

Remember to post recipes, book suggestions, words of encouragement, testimonies and questions. 

I’m praying for you.

Roderick Dwayne Belin