Things above...

I decided to fast and pray with a friend this week. I know, I am sooo spiritual... and that's what I would think typically, but something has changed. This time fasting just felt like the natural thing to do, the next step I guess. There was nothing more to it, it just came as a desire from both of our hearts, just felt right for us to unify in prayer. It was as simple as "lets fast', "okay when"... Monday? Cool. We haven't really talked about it any further yet but I know we are on the same page. There is a confidence in me that God is doing something special and I am pleased to be a part of whatever He has for us, and honestly just thankful for a tender heart towards His quiet voice lately.

We are very excited about the way God has blessed our efforts to honor Him with our talents. We wrote six songs of worship in the last two weeks. We only met three times and spent a total of maybe 10 hours. Never have I finished songs so gracefully or quickly and never have I loved their content or had so much fun writing them. Refreshing. But we are also ready to work hard for this new little endeavor of ours.

During my fast I was reminded of how beautiful this spiritual discipline is. I was being bombarded with food from every side. By 8am I had more cravings for breakfast than ever before and I typically just have a coffee. I got to work and saw cookies at my desk. I decided to be strong and put them away. By 10am I didn't remember being as hungry as I was ever before in my entire life... but I hadn't changed a thing from my daily routine just yet, it was before my regular lunch just alike a typical day! Only difference was I decided to fast the night before and everything changed. I reminded myself to pray and focus my desire my need my hunger on God and He satisfied me. I was still physically hungry but utterly satisfied.

Around 2pm my wife texts me that she is making dinner. She hasn't offered to make dinner in a long time (to put it nicely) and what a surprise, the same day I am fasting she will be making something yummy to eat! Everything has a way of being magnified when you are fasting, everything seems beautifully in its place. I had been so humbled by this point I would catch myself praying prayers of thanks to God for all the little things He would bring my focus upon. I realized again how blessed I am to know Him and how He continues to provide for my family's every need. God is good. It was a thought I could not escape in my hunger, I smile.

Prayer is now my central focus. I am still at work but I am filled with peace and gratitude. Its hard to care for anything too much since everything seems so earthly and of little value compared to the things that really matter. Things above. I can see how fragile life is and how deep down I am not satisfied with anything here on earth. Don't get me wrong there is plenty of things I love, but nothing hits my core like Jesus. No one satisfies me like He does. And I realize what little I have, what little I know of Him, and a deeply want more.

When our minds are fixed upon Him other things start to fade. Lesser important things find their place well below the high calling I have to be in communion with God. Through Jesus I am able to meet with God. I feel so rich, so privileged to know Him and to love Him. He has done so much for us, for me. And I fall into His arms, look to the cross where He showed His love and paid the price for my sins. Glory. Glory to Him alone. Glory, to the One who was able who said 'it is finished' and who molds my life. He is by my side, and never has left me, He is faithful and He cannot deny Himself. He is love, He is good, and I trust all I am to Him.

I am meeting up for some prayer around 8pm with my friend Joseph and I am so excited because I know we will not be alone. There will be a third person among us when we pray tonight and I couldn't be more excited. Its not that He ever left us but we are aware of His presence because things are in their rightful place. Our citizenship is in heaven and we are aware of the fact. We see Him beside us, and all around us, He is working all things for our good. We love Him, cause He first loved us.

To Live is Christ.

He is Faithful by Jesus Culture

I have heard a sound coming on the wind
Changing hearts and mind, healing brokenness
I feel a generation breaking through despair
I hear a generation full of faith, declare

And our song it will be
Out of the darkness we will rise and sing

He is faithful, He is glorious
He is Jesus, all my hope is in Him
He is freedom, He is healing right now
He is hope and joy, love and peace and life

I have seen a light like the break of dawn
Giving blind men sight and letting lame men walk
I see a generation with resurrection life
We are a generation filled with the power of Christ

He has paid the highest price
He has proven His great love for us
We will praise Him with our lives
And proclaim our love for Him