The Daniel Fast is a great opportunity for you and I and even our church family to focus and reflect on what God is trying to say to us and where He wants to lead us.
You have heard me say that listening to the spirit is vital to our growth as followers of Christ. It is the means by which God wants to lead us. Just like God used the cloud by day and the fire by night to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us and reveal to us the way He wants us to go. The real tension for you and I is this:
Am I listening for the Holy Spirit in my everyday rhythm of life? Am I willing to believe in Him no matter what He reveals to us? Am I willing to do whatever He asks no matter what?
You see how these three all build on one another? You have to be willing to slow down, eliminate the noise and take time to listen. When you and I do that, we can be confident that He will speak and will reveal something to you.
How? God speaks to us in a variety of ways, God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and your church family to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.
Did you notice why He speaks? To show you and I who He is – our provider, our help, our refuge, our deliverer, our peace, our healer, our sustainer, our refresher…I could keep going. He also speaks to show us His purposes. You want to find out His will – Do what He says – He will show you. Finally, He speaks to show us His ways. We learn how God works in and through our lives by following His voice. TRUSTING His voice and knowing that He isn’t going to lead us down a path of destruction.
This is why is should be easy to be willing to do whatever He asks no matter what. Yet it causes the most tension for most of us. Why is that? I would love to hear your thoughts.
As you are taking this time with the Daniel Fast and hopefully taking some time to listen and reflect. Here are some tips that might help you as you work out that muscle of LISTENING to the HOLY SPIRIT.
Where does God have you and where are you seeing Him working in your life? Is there a need or needs in you or others that you see? Is there a burden you feel or have that you can’t shake off? Is there something, someone, or somewhere that you see you can bring or be good news to? Why aren’t you going? What has God given you? Look around and really consider this in light of this question…Are you using it for Him or for you?
Please know that I am praying for you and with you as you take this journey. Be encouraged by these verses today as you think of LISTENING & TRUSTING the voice of the HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” (John 16:16) It goes on to say that the disciples struggled with (or experienced tension) what He meant by this. Yet, listen to these words He said just before that statement:
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:12-15
You really need to take time to read this entire chapter and even go back to Chapter 13 and read up to this point to see where this whole discussion began to gain a greater perspective. But look at this final question…
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered. John 16:31-32
This is where we are at now! A church scattered. Followers of Christ all over the world scattered abroad sent by God to be His expression and example to a world that desperately needs Him. This is why it is crucial that we ALL are leaning in and listening to what the Spirit is saying and BELIEVING it. This why it is important for us to gather and encourage one another to do just that…BELIEVE. Believe in who we know God is. Believe in what God has and is doing. Believe in what that means to us. Believe in who we are as a result of what He has done. THEN we go and do with confidence not in ourselves but in a God who loves us so much that He did all of this to show us the next steps.
