Sunday, January 8, 2017

8 January 2017 - ENCS

As ENC globally heads into a prayer and fasting week
On the topic of fasting Pastor Joshua Harris did speak
With a look at Matthew nine verse fourteen he did start
With a reminder that Jesus’ answers focus on our heart
That passage says to be relational rather than religious
For getting closer to God is obviously more prodigious
That should be our purpose of fasting from whatever
For by freeing up time to talk with God, we are clever

Proper fasting can turn a perceived duty into delight
Some effort may be required but the result is alright
Remember that whatever we do for God does pale
In comparison to what He did for us in gory detail
That is evidence of His infinite love for every person
When we do not love others, we therefore incur sin

Pastor Josh then turned to Psalm sixteen for advice
It states that God does not delight in our sacrifice
Rather, God takes delight when we do listen to Him
For then we do God’s will and the result is not grim
By letting His Word take its rightful place in our heart
Our lives will illustrate His glory as we all do our part

Fasting’s focus changes from deprivation to desire
And from desperation to devotion we should aspire
Per Joshua three verse five, in order to aptly prepare
We should focus on God so that He can show His care
Josh said that by fasting at the beginning of the year
It is like rebooting a computer when problems appear

We should thus move from religion to relationship
And remember we have nothing to fear on life’s trip
Per Psalm sixteen, God provides counsel for the heart
Peace and pleasures forever is what He does impart
Joy means having positive expectations all of the time
Hence what God is doing in our lives becomes prime

In summary, as we fast from things that get in our way
We should focus on the eternal, not temporal, each day

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