Regaining Focus

4-11-12

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18

The Daniel Fast has come to a close.  We broke out fast on Sunday and I actually felt a little sad!  I was really enjoying the fast.  Not only was I enjoying the food, because of how it made me feel better, but I loved how I felt like my life wasn’t so distracted, but perhaps I bit more balanced.  Michael and I also agreed that for us, during the fast, we just felt loved and valued by God. 

I remember talking to a friend on Sunday and telling them that I wished it wasn’t over.  They said, "it doesn’t have to be!"  You know what, they are right.  I got to thinking about it and I really want to incorporate some of the different things I learned from the fast.  I wrote on an earlier blog post about how I found myself using food.  Well, I am now trying to be more aware of that, I have found that it has really helped calm my anxieties at times by not trying to find satisfaction in food.  This lesson, I want to hold onto and take with me.  I also learned that getting away from distractions is so beneficial to our life in Christ.  I was praying about the fast I was doing from TV, and have felt the Lord calling me to extend this fast.  So I am and I’ll break it when the Lord says it’s time.  He's got more work to do in me.   

I cannot even begin to express to you how beneficial fasting truly is.  We all need times where we can get away, and regain focus.  Life is busy and it’s just plain messy at times.  The longer we go without taking times for rest, the more our hearts are in need of renewal.  I praise God, because in ways I have felt renewed. I have also seen God begin to answer some prayers we prayed during this fast.  Fasting is a good thing, no a great thing, because when God calls us to fast He always meets us and empties us so that we may be filled with more of His Love.   

So my encouragement to you today is to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting.  Ask Him how He might lead you in fasting.  Perhaps it’s a food fast or maybe it’s a TV, Facebook, coffee, internet, shopping, video game fast.  God knows what you need and He also knows what you need to take a break from so you can better focus on Him, your family, and the mission He has for you in this life. 

This is my prayer for us all: Gracious Father, fix our eyes on You, not on temporal, earthly things that do not matter, but on You and the mission You have for us.  Empty our hearts of the vain, temporal, insignificant things and fill us to the fullness of Christ.  Remove from us our divided hearts of stone and grant us undivided hearts of flesh, that we may be fully devoted to you in singleness of heart and action.  Yes Lord, we are Yours, grant us Your vision.  Amen.