DAY 13 of 21 "ReBUILDING"

RECAP:

Hey fam!! Sorry I didn't get to really post yesterday. My day was a wee bit crazy but I hope you all still had a chance to read the scripture and message for yesterday. If not, I would encourage you to go back and check it out because as always it slapped me in the face. God might have a slap in store for you too lol.

TODAY:


So today's scripture is REALLY powerful! Well every day has been great honestly. Shout out to mom for finding this 21 day devotional for us ;-)! Anywho, today when I read this passage and the message, I thought about making Christ our cornerstone and really started to apply it to my life. We are all familiar which church lingo, so we've heard that Christ was our chief cornerstone over and over again. But what does that MEAN for me?? Well the way I thought about it today, which hit home, was like cement. So you know when they are making sidewalks and the cement is liquid? If you stick your foot or something in it for a little bit and take it out, you will make a print that will remain when it dries. But what if you dug your foot deep into the cement and stayed there until it dried??? Guess what, you'd be STUCK!! Now this scenario would suck if you were really on the street somewhere stuck in cement lol. But if you think about Christ being that cement, it's an AMAZING reality!! It's not enough for us to make footprints with God. In other words, we can't keep "testing" the foundation and pulling ourselves out just because things aren't happening when we want! Cement takes a while to dry so if someone were trying to achieve making this their foundation in real life they would need some SERIOUS patience! They might have to see people pass them, miss out on making some friends, and sacrifice their will to go where they want. But mannnn once they are PLANTED??....it won't matter! ALL of their actions will now be based on that foundation and they won't be able to be moved! I'm challenging each of you to stick your feet deep into the cement (God as your foundation). Be prepared for the uncomfortable feeling at first. It's going to make you want to jump out like you've always done.  It's going to get even worse as you feel yourself getting stuck because you KNOW you are releasing your will forever....BUT DON'T STOP!! It's time for real action, real growth, and real movement! So for all the stuff we are trying to lay down for the sake of being built up, I leave this piece of 1 Peter 2:1:

"Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with....<INSERT YOUR ISSUES HERE>"(NLT). 
 
1 Peter 2

You are chosen, holy, and set apart, a royal priest…you are a child of God.  You may be in need of an anchor right now.  Set Christ as your cornerstone today.  Write down the ways He has brought your from darkness into light.  Spend time in prayer today thanking God for beginning a work in you with His Son set as the foundation for Him to build upon.

DAY 12 of 21

2 Corinthians 1

Food is a source of comfort for many.  How much of your thoughts have been focused on or overtaken with craving of certain foods, or missing the things you’re fasting from?  If it often?  If it were alcohol or a harmful drug, would you consider yourself addicted if you were this consumed with your desire for them?   This fast may begin an awareness of a harmful place food or certain behaviors may have in your life.  If can reveal an addition.  Pray that our God, who is full of compassion,  and all comfort will become your primary source of comfort.  Ask Him to use this experience with suffering to remove anything in your life that has taken place of the Holy Spirit’s place as your comforter.

DAY 11 of 21 "BE About IT"

You know it's funny that today's scripture is really challenging us to be real DOERS and not just bystanders in our faith. Based on our family call last night, which was great by the way, it seems like we are all kind of at that place. That place where we need God to pour out a little extra strength on us because we are ready to pick up our feet and actually MOVE forward! I think this first week and some change was a chance for us to really dig to see what the roots of some our issues were. Sacrifice kinda drives you to that place. Have you ever noticed that? Like as soon as you stop allowing your flesh to resort to its natural instincts you just start seeing ALL your foolishness come out. Shoot, you might even drink lemonade and iced tea (Shout out to Uncle Bernard LOL)! Naw, but seriously you never really know how dependent your body and spirit are on certain things until they are off limits. But we have been pushing  through that aspect of the fast and NOW that we are all exposed and what not, it's time for ACTION! My action today was actually PRAYING! I know that sounds weird, but I'm always on the go. I do talk to God, but we often have a very "in passing" relationship if you know what I mean. I don't really stop to say "Yo wasup G" (that's what I call God sometimes lol....don't laugh). So today I paused and checked in. It wasn't too long or drawn out but it was his time. I felt great about that and I plan to keep taking steps every day. What's YOUR ACTION today??

James 1

This chapter has many convicting challenges – one being for you to match your faith with action.  Don’t just read, hear and/or think about God’s Word – do what it says.  You are now beginning the second half of your fast.  Reflect on whether your fast would be characterized by listening or doing.  During this second half of the fast, ask God for wisdom about where He wants to lead you.

DAY 10 of 21 "A NEW way to fight"

You know, one thing that I keep saying over and over again about this fast is that the progress is REAL. I'm sure we are all striving our hardest to stick with it. I'm not just talking about sticking to the natural restrictions, but even maintaining consistency in the spiritual aspect. It's difficult being forced to look at yourself in the mirror everyday and accept that YOU are the main obstacle in front of you! As a matter of fact it is during those spiritually fragile times when the enemy comes in to whisper a few things in your ear. That's when he tries to plant little seeds to lead you away from your progress. Even if he can just get you to bear to the left or right juuuuust a little....he gets you off the path. So as I was reading today's passage when Jesus was being tempted by Satan in his wilderness, I realized something key about the way Jesus fought back at the enemy. If you haven't read the passage already, check it out and see how disgustingly deceitful the enemy was in trying to tempt Jesus to lose focus. Anyway, as I was reading I saw that Jesus constantly replied to whatever the enemy tempted him with by saying "The Scriptures Say...". I don't know about anybody else but I was able to see the humanity in that. Jesus knew that HIS words weren't enough. As a matter of fact, if all he based his responses on was how he FELT in the midst of his 40 day wilderness he probably would have responded differently. But instead he fought with the WORD OF GOD. It made me think 'WOW, the word is really important'. Don't judge me....I'm not saying the word was never important to me until now lol. I'm saying that the WORD is our only real offensive weapon. It's funny because when we are in our hardest places we sometimes shy away from it....ESPECIALLY if we feel like we're in sin or something. But the reality is that the Word is the only true way to get the enemy to shut up! 

Through this fast, I'm learning to lean on it more and more. I'm learning that the reason it's not enough to just whisk by a scripture everyday and not really internalize it is not  because it makes me a bad Christian. It's because I'm weakening my defense AND offense against the enemy. None of us REALLY know the stuff the enemy whispers to each of us when we're all alone. That's the stuff we don't share. But WE know how beligerent he has been our ENTIRE lives! Aren't you tired of it? I AM! So I'm thankful for today's scripture because it's showing me how to fight in a different way and I plan on using it.

Luke 4

Forty days of nothing?  Not hardly.  Even though Jesus fasted for forty days, He clearly came out stronger than ever based on the events following it.  How is your fast strengthening you?  Do you feel  like you’re struggling and/or stumbling?  Maybe in the natural you are not yet seeing the outcomes you expected.  Remember the race is not given to the strongest or the fastest…but to the one who endures to the end.  Ask God to help you to persevere with a heart filled with faith and expectancy.

DAY 9 of 21 "LOVE over LAW"

Today's passage of scripture is one of my favorites because it challenges us to change our perspective of God's "law". The scripture talks about us being free from the letter of the law so that we can obey the spirit of the law. What does that mean? It's kinda like this fast. We talked a few days ago about how it's not as much about the food sacrifice as it is the spiritual. You can eat mustard seeds and water for 21 days, but experience NO spiritual growth. HOW??....by focusing on the guidelines rather than the purpose OF the guidelines. I'm still learning the importance of the message in this and I'm encouraging each of you to do the same. Stop validating yourself by what you DO or DON"T DO, but judge yourself by the condition of your HEART! I couldn't tell you what the struggle was that Paul was referencing when he said 15 I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate but what I DO know is that Paul was a man of God despite his struggle and that God's grace covered every mistake he could ever make. So I'm going to keep this in mind. As I move forward, I'm going to work hard to remember the importance of God having my heart! I'm going to remember that I'll probably always struggle with SOMETHING because that's just our 'Don't tell me what to do/You ain't the boss of me" human nature when it comes to following God's law. But most of all I'm going to remember that when it comes to how God wants me to commit to Him, He will ALWAYS want my LOVE over LAW! <--- By the way, more than likely if you just focus on loving God, the law thing will fall into place too ;-).
 
Romans 7

This is a great time to explore how you can present your body as a living sacrifice to God.  This passage starts with that challenge and offers many ways to express it.  In what ways has your fast been helping you experience true worship in new ways?  Write them down in your journal.  Pray today and ask God to continue to reveal His will for you during this time of sacrifice and worship.

DAY 8 of 21 "The STRENGTH of JOY"

So you know the passage of scripture where I think Paul says he finds joy in his tribulation? I'm sure biblemom knows the reference for it lol. Anyway, I never thought I would feel that way. I always read that scripture and thought "He TRIPPIN" LOL. I'm just being real. I did not understand this "joy" until recently. Besides the fact that we've made it through our first fast WEEK as a family, I have joy because I can feel REAL growth. No I'm not ready to be the first Archbishop of the African Church of Christ Who Died and Rose Again, Inc. (whatever that means lol)....but I'm being the real me....making real progress....one day at a time. No it doesn't feel great, but the knowledge that I'm working towards something does. Today's passage in Psalm 100 gives us every reason to have JOY! Now, I'm not talking about happiness. I heard someone say that "happiness is based on happenings". In other words it can fade in and out of your life based on situations. But JOY?? That's a consistent state of mind based on unchanging variables. Read Psalm 100 to see what those unchanging things are that we can have joy in and let that filter into every area of your life. Even the areas that look the most grim are no match for who God is and will ALWAYS be! So with that being said....SMILE!!! ;-))))

 
Psalm 100

You are entering week two of your fast!  This psalm talks about entering into God’s presence with thankfulness, gladness, joy, and praise in your heart.  If you’ve become focused on the physical hardships you’re facing or the burdens you’re bringing to God in prayer, then spend today just being joyful in the Lord.  Write down some things that bring you joy today.  Sing a song of praise to Him.  Pray that God will stir an urgency to press in and see what God has for you beyond His gates.

DAY 7 of 21 "BROKEN & POURED"

So today, I think the little blurb below that expounds on the fast hit me even more than the scripture itself. Well I'll say it made the scripture REALLY hit home! **Feel free to jump to the bottom and read the paragraph before continuing lol** In any case, this was the word for me. I'm not sure if you all remember the initial text message I sent out about this fast, but I made a very transparent statement at that time. I said that "I feel stuck in a place between who I've always been and who I'm SUPPOSED to be in God". I really did, and still do, feel that way. But today I was able to get some clarity on that place. I know some of you probably identified with my statement when I sent it, so this may help you too. At church today, my Pastor spoke about the convenient places in our lives. Those places that are the go to spots when things don't work out the way we'd like. They are the places we use as our backup plans when our faith isn't strong enough to believe that God's PLAN A will succeed. It's the place some of us have LIVED for so long, but were only meant to VISIT. I don't mean to make it sound too ambiguous, but it's something different for each of us. For me, my convenience has been FEAR! I've been afraid my whole life of everything. At first, in the beginning stages of life, it was something that I thought would fade away and then it turned into a lifestyle. It became my retreat and often first instinct. I would pray half prayers....putting on the ACT like I was getting something through when really on the inside I had already set up a PLAN B for when God didn't respond since I didn't feel like I was worthy of a response anyway. I would vacillate consistently in making decisions (hence that DARN indecisiveness of mine mom lol). I didn't vacillate because I was weighing options though. I went back and forth because I was AFRAID of taking a step in any particular direction. Fear has been such a large part of my life that it became a part of who I am. So today I realized that this "in between" place that I'm in is really God working at my core. God can't...well He WON'T throw me into a new place that requires more of me and not strip me of the old weights. Man, Fear is just the beginning for me. I know that there are even more things deeper beneath the surface, which I will find as I continue digging through this process. There is a real demolition that is about to take place and as I am broken more and more, I will also pour out the crap in me that's been holding me back. I'm talking my "Logic", my "Will", my "Inhibitions", my "Doubts"....all of that stuff. I'm letting it go piece by piece for HIS sake, so that I can create the space for the building of a new me. I don't know if any of you are in the same boat....but that's my heart today. 

Mark 14:1-26

Broken and poured out.  You see those words in both the story of the woman and the last supper.  Since bread and wine are likely not options for you to remember Jesus during these 21 days, do what the woman did.  Do what Jesus did.  Live your life broken and poured out in remembrance of what He has done for you.  How can your life be a living memorial to Christ?  Talk to God about things in your life that need to be broken and poured out like that vase of perfume.