GOD IS NOT A RUBBER CHICKEN!
There are some days in life when you almost need a "Blessing Scorecard" to keep track of all the cool things that God has done.Fasting can open the door to breakthroughs in every area of your life. It's okay to expect God to bless you. It's not okay to look at His giving as the reason you fast and pray. God is not a rubber chicken that you can squeeze when you need something. God will make some noise in your life, but it's probably not wise to squeeze Him!
Pastor Ken Dutton is a friend of ours in Arizona. Both Ken and his wife Deanna are Pastors at Without Walls Church. One of my favorite all time sayings is attributed to Pastor Ken; "You can't put chicken in the gas tank!" His point in making that statement, was to tell folks who contribute to ministries that money is needed for expenses. We love when you feed us, but sometimes we need a couple of bucks for gas!
God knows our needs. Fasting is a way to get close to God. That should be your number one goal. When you take your eyes off of God and focus on His gifts, you're drawing your attention away from Him. It's not wise to focus on what you have received and lose your relationship with the Giver. When God feeds our needs, we have a tendency to get complacent and lazy. Study your Bible, watch for the pride that causes the fall.
Draw near to God and stay near to God.
Pastor Ken Dutton is a friend of ours in Arizona. Both Ken and his wife Deanna are Pastors at Without Walls Church. One of my favorite all time sayings is attributed to Pastor Ken; "You can't put chicken in the gas tank!" His point in making that statement, was to tell folks who contribute to ministries that money is needed for expenses. We love when you feed us, but sometimes we need a couple of bucks for gas!
God knows our needs. Fasting is a way to get close to God. That should be your number one goal. When you take your eyes off of God and focus on His gifts, you're drawing your attention away from Him. It's not wise to focus on what you have received and lose your relationship with the Giver. When God feeds our needs, we have a tendency to get complacent and lazy. Study your Bible, watch for the pride that causes the fall.
Draw near to God and stay near to God.
DAY 16 WORD
Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Hebrews 7:19
(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
Acts 17:27
that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 16:8
I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 73:28
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Hebrews 7:19
(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
Acts 17:27
that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 16:8
I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 73:28
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.
DAY 16 PRAYER
Closeness God,
That's what we desire, closeness.
Break down every prideful barrier that separates us.
Pull up the tent stakes of our selfishness.
Enlarge our longing for You.
Stretch Your place in our hearts,
O King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Make us militant in joy and compassionate in justice
as we walk humbly before You.
Your face O Lord we seek continually.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
That's what we desire, closeness.
Break down every prideful barrier that separates us.
Pull up the tent stakes of our selfishness.
Enlarge our longing for You.
Stretch Your place in our hearts,
O King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Make us militant in joy and compassionate in justice
as we walk humbly before You.
Your face O Lord we seek continually.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
DAY 16 DEEP THOUGHTS
Examine the fruit of your fast so far:
- Do you feel closer to God?
- What breakthroughs have you witnessed?
- What habits are you developing during your fast that you can continue after these 21 days are done?
- Has your joy increased? Can you be compassionately joyful?
- What is militant joy? Can you be a soldier for God with a smile?
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