Rob Parker's Blog

The Emotional Roller-Coaster

Fasting can be an emotional roller-coaster. There are moments you feel like you are on top of the world and moments when you feel like an emotional wreck. That is why it is important during the fast to remember the purpose of fasting, to draw close to God.

As you continue on this journey allow God to show you things about Himself, yourself and how He wants to bring transformation in your life. Have faith that during this journey God is present with you each step of the way.

One last thought, any negative emotions you may be facing are lies. There is a presence out there who wants to confuse you and that is Satan. Do not believe the lies but trust in the truth that God is your father and you are His child.

Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.
James 4:8

Search Me
Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Over the course of this fast The Plant has invited its members to be studying the book of Proverbs. Along with the reading there are questions to be answered:
God, what are you showing me about your character?
God, what are you showing me about my character?
God, how do you want me to begin to embrace today’s Proverb in my life?
God, how can I love my neighbor as myself today?

The intention of these questions is to cause an individual to become vulnerable before God concerning their character. Allow yourself the freedom to let God search you, to know you and to reveal areas that He wants to reshape.

Prayer Cravings
Over the course of this fast you will begin to have cravings from the objects you are fasting from. As of now you have probably have had many cravings to the point it is almost obsessive. You have probably never thought that the object you are fasting from has had such a stronghold in your life. Yes, ice cream, Facebook and even coffee can become strongholds.
The main point of fasting is not denial it is focus. When you take something away the goal is to replace it with something else. The something else in fasting is prayer and the Bible.
There is one goal today, replace your cravings for that “thing” you are fasting and put it on God. Allow your cravings for the things of yourself to become a craving to communicate with your Savior Jesus Christ.

Hearing From God
As you are approaching the third day of your fast there is one major component that God is wanting you to learn, hearing His voice. Too often the busyness of life crowds out our ability and willingness to stop and take the time to actual know God wants to speak to you.
During this 21 day journey one of the major goals is to take time to quiet your life to reintroduce you to the voice of God. It is not God’s desire for you to deny yourself for no reason. It is God’s desire that you begin to open space for His voice to speak to you.

Yesterday The Plant started a 21 Day Fast. The challenge to the congregation was to fast from either foods, beverages or media for 21 days. During this time of fasting the challenge was put out there to seek God with expectancy not expectation.

In my personal reading this morning I read about Abraham. God had asked Abraham to step out in faith to trust His plan for Abraham’s life. Abraham’s trust was sealed by his willingness to be circumcised. This was a very bizarre act of faith but that is not for us to judge.

In Romans 4:10 it states, “But how did this happen? Was Abraham counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!” Abraham had stepped out in faith to follow God. It was through his faith God saw Abraham’s heart and called him righteous.
As you go on this journey for the next 21 days do not think about your fast as an act of righteousness. Rather be like Abraham and allow this time of fasting be an act of faith. In your faith come with expectancy that God is going to reveal Himself to you in a new way.