Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fasting.

The leaders of our church have called us to a 40 day fast together.

As they have presented this to our congregation, my heart has been wrestling with God.

What is a fast?

Fasting is refraining from earthly things, usually food, for a spiritual purpose. It says to God, ‘I want your way more than I want mine; I will depend on you for what I need, rather than what I think I need.’
As a congregation, we will be praying and meditating over the same scriptures together each day as God draws us closer to Him.
Many people are choosing to use the Daniel fast or a modified version of it.  But as I prayed and asked God "what takes me away from you most? What would you ask me to give up that will bring me closer to You?", the answer I got was difficult....

social media.

I struggled with this because I have developed so many close relationships through my blog, etc.  And I am a people person. Would You really ask me to not communicate with my friends for 40 days?  And my answer was...yes.  I started evaluating how much time I spend on-line.....surfing, FB, visiting blogs, pinterest, just reading what people are doing and saying.  Not bad things.  But if I choose to take that time and spend it with God...what would our relationship look like?  After all, I say that He is the most important relationship I have.....is He?  Or is it just talk.

So starting Wednesday, I will be fasting from social media until Easter.

What will that look like?

I will still be emailing...though only when necessary.
I will still be posting Project 365...however, I won't be visiting all y'alls blogs.
I "may" be posting when God leads me to share with you what I am learning.

That's it.
I would love for you to be praying for me.  That I will have the discipline required to finish this fast well and that I would not only hear God more clearly, but apply to my life what He teaches me.
 Isaiah 44: 6
"Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; 'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me."

I want to know Him better.

11 comments:

Skoots1moM said...

may none of us treat this medium as 'an idol'...blessings as you center on Him

Willys and Elizabeth (Lizzie) said...

I will be praying for you Sara...May God use this time in your life in a mighty way!

Darla said...

sounds WONDERFUL! I have found that cutting out social media has been a blessing for me. I no longer have facebook, and I don't blog hop anymore, I vowed to not even get started with pinterest, haha. Go, and be with HIM. Love ya sister!

LuAnn said...

sounds great !!! you have my support. I too have given up facebook for Lent. Thinking maybe I should just be done with it all together because it does take up way too much of my time.

God Be with you as you draw closer to him during his state of suffering for us.

Mocha with Linda said...

I'll miss you but I know you will have an amazing time with God.

Hugs.

Cathy said...

Sara:

Our church is having a 40 day fast too. I've been considering the same thing as you, but haven't decided for sure yet.

I believe what you are doing will be blessed by God and I will pray for you my Sister.

Kim said...

Wow.
Just commented on another post (Rita's DIL) about stepping away from the computer/social media. I said it would be really hard for me, since it's my life-line to friends and family back in the states. I can't imagine going two weeks without communicating, especially with my kids.
We'll miss you, but look forward to hearing what God is doing in your life!
Prayers for a blessed, wonderful time with God over the next 40 days.

Robin Lambright said...

I was thinking about that this morning, lent and what I was going to do in observation of it. Last year I gave up FB games, and as a result I have now totally given them up. It was a really freeing exerciser. You never really realize how much importance you place on things until you make an effort to remove them from your life.

I will be praying for you in your efforts, praying that God will reveal his presence to you in a very special way as you move closer to him.

Blessings
R

Penny said...

I had a friend who did this last year. She said it was hard at first...but then she was really blessed. =) Enjoy your disconnection!

Lisa said...

Love it! You will surely not regret it.

riTa Koch said...

Blessings ahead!!!