Juice/Daniel's Fast Conclusion

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

I finished my fast at the end of September, so this post is a little late. I wanted to take some time to kinda reflect on the experience before writing about it though. (You can find my initial post about it here and my update during it here, which I had some issues posting, but I believe all is well now) There's so many directions I could go with this and so much I could say, but I decided to just pick a few things that I felt were close to my heart during this time. I think sometimes we all need to be reminded of things we've heard before and know to be true, but still struggle with making them our realities. Here's my top three:

#1 - Either pray or worry, you can't do both. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpassed all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

I think this is much easier said than done. It's probably safe to say that the majority of all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, cannot say they live a worry-free life. We worry about everything and anything, even though, as Christians, we shouldn't. In prayer, we have the opportunity to lay down all of our fears and anxieties, and pick up the peace of God. As amazing as that is, it is so hard to follow through with. It takes some serious trust and child-like faith. You know the kind young kids have in their parents, where they can be carefree just with one word from mom? Yea...I need to be like that with Jesus. I found during this time, being faced with situations completely out of my control, I had no other choice but to trust God. I had to pray and let it go or things would've probably driven me crazy. However, even when things seem to be in my control, I have to have that same attitude. Tough stuff.

#2 - Stop, breath, and count your blessings. "Sometimes we have so much to do and so many deadlines to meet that we forget this one simple part: stop and take a breath. Jesus, himself, often went away from the crowds to get alone with God. This is how he maintained his relationship with God. This is how he stayed in tune with God. This is how he was continually able to hear God clearly, by taking time away with God. If Jesus needed to do that on a regular basis, so do we." - Kim Potter

Those words hit home for me! The state of perpetual busyness is something I find easy to get stuck in. It often seems like there's not enough time in the day to get things we NEED to get done, done. Even sleep evades me at times! But if it's one thing this period of consecration has honed in on for me, it's the importance of just taking time for God. Taking time to take a deep breath, to think positively, to pray, to realize how blessed you are in spite of the current things you may be going through, to hear what God is saying to you or to just thank Him. And it doesn't have to be a lot of time, it just has to be a priority. I've realized that, sometimes, the things I get so caught up with, won't even matter in the long run. But taking time to maintain my relationship with Jesus (and my sanity at times) is something that will never perish.

#3 - Redeeming the time. "Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise, [intelligent] people. Making the very most of the time [redeeming each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

At work and even in school, I am great with time management. In my free time, or after a long day though... not so much. Sometimes, I just don't feel like doing anything! And as a result... nothing gets done lol! Granted, everyone needs their lazy times, I know I can do better. I just proved it to myself during this period of time. So now I can't let that standard down. Living on purpose is the goal.

I think writing about this experience was really encouraging for myself. It caused me to think through things in ways I might not have ordinarily and for that I'm grateful. And if you followed along/got something from it, I'm grateful for that as well!