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21 Day Blog Fast

Although we are moving fast into the New Year, I am still excited about the fresh starts, new beginnings and inspired to set new priorities for the next 12 months.

I'm wading through new notebooks, prayerfully deciding on a new Bible Study and praying for new opportunities.  Proverbs 3:5,6 is an excellent guideline and reminder to seek the Lord FIRST!  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

 Another powerful spiritual practice is fasting.  God's Word talks much about fasting and prayer.  One of my favorite verses is found in Isaiah:

 Isaiah 58 - "Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?"

All through the New and Old Testament are examples of godly saints fasting.  Fasting may be defined as sacrificing or going without something to pursue the things of the Lord.  Often times, meals are skipped and that time spent in prayer instead of eating.  Fasting is a form of denying self to diligently seek after the things of the Lord.  There are many ways to fast - fast meals, specific items (soda, sweets, etc.) a Daniel fast which is strictly vegetables and water etc. 

I am participating in a local churchwide 21 day fast and was pondering what to give up for 21 days. Coffee, sweets, eat only pure foods?  Nothing clicked in my spirit.  Today was the beginning and I prayed that the Lord would show me what I needed to let go some. Guess what soft word was spoken into my heart?  The blog.  My blog????  This is 'my ministry', I argued within myself.  I enjoy meeting so many people, and my blog seems to be doing well...if I take three weeks off, nobody will come back and read it....my blog is an extension of me.  "ME< ME>ME"  All my arguments were about "ME".   Isn't the purpose of fasting to deny self and follow HIM?  Although I've never heard of 'blog fasting', I know this is an area I need to let go and give to the Lord and use the time spent each day in front of the computer to seek the things of true importance.

So, as I sit one last evening at the computer, with the dog curled up asleep in my lap to let you know I'll be absent from here for at least three weeks!  Your prayers would be appreciated as I seek to follow the leading of the Lord, deny myself and choose His will and open doors.  Many blessings to you all!

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Comments

  1. Miss DebbieJanuary 10, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    I will miss you, but it blesses me to know that you heard from God and that you are obeying Him. I will pray that this time will be life changing for you and I look forward to hearing all about it when you return!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Farm GirlJanuary 10, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    Wow I just came in from Debbie's blog and I admire you very much. That would be hard to give up something that you want to be God's and yet it becomes about us. I just went through the same struggle over my followers. I was more interested in being popular and having followers than blogging about what God wanted me to blog about. It was a hard, hard struggle to give up But I did because obedience is better than sacrifice. I will be praying for you and I admire you and I will be back in 21 days.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SharonJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    Blessings to you as you take this brave step of faith. I call it brave, because I understand all you said about the attachment we can get to OUR blogs. My prayers will be with you...

    GOD BLESS as He leads you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. BARBIEJanuary 11, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    May you be blessed during this time of prayer and fasting! Our church is also doing a 21 day fast, we call it the First Commandment fast, getting to knowing Jesus more. I am stilling blogging, although not as often.

    ReplyDelete
  5. MindyJanuary 11, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    Selfishly, I was thinking maybe you heard the Lord wrong... :)

    Thankful you are obedient, and will look forward to hearing how the Lord speaks to you during this time.

    Yes, it is a great ministry. Maybe the Lord will be refining it, but I am thankful for your service to the Lord through your writing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa GraceJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    Can't wait to read in a few weeks all that God has poured out on you and in your life as you set aside more time for Him!

    ReplyDelete
  7. JenniferJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:20 PM

    Praying God blesses your time - truly grows you and teaches you much. And, then:), I will look forward to when you get back....you will have much to share, I'm sure.

    God bless -

    ReplyDelete
  8. Leah January 12, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    Your blog gained one new follower today - me. I loved this post so much, reading about your internal struggles with obedience in this area, that I knew I needed to be a faithful reader. Thanks for your honesty and transparency. I'll be back!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ToiaJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    I just got off a blog break. So a blog fast is a great idea!!! I can't wait to hear about how you have been bless by fasting!!!

    Blessings to you in this new season!!!

    ReplyDelete

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