New Year Refocus

The Christmas season is so fun and crazy...and a total departure from "regular life". The regular routine of life is pretty much out the window for most of us! You stay up late - talking, playing games, watching movies - with relatives, friends...then go to bed (usually in the guest room or on the pull-out couch)...then wake up, after sleeping in late, and eat an incredible amount of fattening food all day long. There are always plenty of emotions to tap into when you're with family you don't see very often. Someone's usually annoyed or frustrated because of someone else, the kids are usually loud and easily bored, and it's difficult to remember what day it is because things are so "not normal". Hopefully there are also wonderful family moments, warm hugs to share, and maybe even a few sentimental words exchanged.

And I look forward to the crazy wonderful chaos of it all every year! But now that's it's winding down, I am really looking forward to a week to refocus and "start fresh". I am looking forward to the week of prayer and fasting more than ever this year. I don't know if you've ever set aside time for fasting before, but here are a few reasons why I enjoy this time (even though it's very difficult at the same time).

• The end of the year usually seems to end with lots of disorganization (for the reasons I mentioned in the first paragraph). So after the new year begins, I am SO ready to get refocused. I don't really buy into the whole New Year Resolution thing, but I do believe that it's important to take time to evaluate where you are, where you'd like to go, and how you think you'll get there. I think that the perfect time to do that is while you're fasting! Your body is cleansing itself of impurity - what better time to allow your mind to be washed by the Holy Spirit? There's a certain spiritual clarity that comes when you commit yourself to a fast.
• Don't allow your fear of having wrong motives stop you from fasting. Something I hear from a lot of people about fasting is that they are afraid they're doing it for the wong reasons. Like "I like losing weight, I feel like I'm being more 'spiritual', I'm going to try to convince God to do something for me..." Those are all things we've all thought about. I've decided in the last couple of years that I'm not going to let those things stop me from developing a spiritual discipline that Jesus Himself practiced! Yes, I think I will struggle at times with having right motives while I'm fasting. I think that's part of the struggle between the spirit and the flesh. But instead of giving up, I'm going to talk to God about it (He already knows), and ask Him to help me grow in faith so that my motives come into line with His will. Developing a discipline is always a good idea! You may waffle a bit in why you're doing it, but it will be another weapon in your spiritual arsenal...and when you get stuck in a difficult place, you will be glad it's there.
• I don't want to just keep trudging along in life. I know that God has guided my life and will continue to do so. But I'm serious when I say I want to see Him do something HUGE here. I think there are a lot of amazing stories that He's waiting to write, but He's waiting on us to be ready. We get too caught up with just trying to make our life better that we miss some incredible opportunities to impact others for the Kingdom of God! Wouldn't it be awesome to see a great move of God in our community? Like to see people crammed into a church service because they just can't wait to see what God is going to do next? Maybe it won't look like I imagine it - but I know God desires to see an epic revival - even in little old South Dakota. :o) On whatever scale (large or small) it might be, I want to see God's Spirit move among us...and I want to do whatever my part of that might be. From what I see in the Word, Jesus said that His followers will fast when they're seeking His return. I'M READY!!!
• Good death practice. Paul says that we have to die daily as we walk this Christian life. Fasting is definitely dying to the fleshly appetites. By telling your body NO, you are setting aside the natural desires and appetites, and asking the Lord to fill you with supernatural nourishment. We ALL need more of this. If you really want to see your loved ones come to know Christ, if you really want to see your school or workplace filled with believers, if you really want to find God's purpose for your life...then this is a great time to put more of you to death. Less of me, more of Him.

I'd like to challenge you to go a step farther in your fasting this year. We are fasting together as a church - to seek God's direction for us. If you have no other reason to fast - that's your reason! We are only as effective as we are surrendered to the will of our Heavenly Father. Without His direction and the fuel of the Holy Spirit, we are just running in place here. Working hard - but not going anywhere.