40 Day Sugar Fast…Day 17

DAY 17 — Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Don’t shoot off your mouth or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God‘s in charge not you – the less you speak, the better. Ecclesiastes 5:2

“Hearing God’s voice has become the singular quest of my heart, the sole pursuit that alone satisfies the great longings of my heart. I strongly advocate for a prayer life that is comprised mostly of silence. It’s a great delight to talk to God, but it’s even more thrilling when He talks to us. I’ve discovered that He has more important things to say than I do. Things don’t change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me. When I talk, nothing happens; when God talks, the universe comes into existence.” Bob Sorge, Secrets of the Secret Place

Is hearing from the Lord the singular quest of your heart? I’m not there yet, if I’m honest. I have the tendency to read a verse or two and then tell God (and others) all about it. However, I want to learn to be a better listener. I want to learn to sit for a long time with the Lord in His quiet and calming Presence, and let Him transform (not only my figure, but) my life.

What was your main take away from today’s reading?

40 Day Sugar Fast

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“Things don’t change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me. When I talk, nothing happens; when God talks, the universe comes into existence.”

I live alone now. So I have plenty of alone and quiet time on my hands. I do make it a point, almost daily, to spend quiet time, or as I like to call it, time to ‘just be’. Is it always with God, no. Is it always quiet, no. I have a mediation app I like to use to help empty my head of all the stuff clogging it. My go to in the afternoon is a calming guided prayer meditation that really helps put me in a calm quiet state. Afterwards, I try, (emphasis on try), to hold on to that quiet feeling of calm for a bit longer, ‘listening’ for what God has to say.

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Jeremiah 33:3

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

40 Day Sugar Fast…Day 16

DAY 16 — Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Amazon Prime. Target. Social Media. Starbucks… What is the Lord teaching you about Himself today?

I’ve been thinking about Amazon Prime myself… how I can place and order and two days later (BAM) it shows up on my front door. BUT WITH JESUS… with Jesus we’re told that He’s already on the front door knocking. He’s already there, eager to be let into the deep empty places.

I want to be filled to overflowing, how about you?

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“A full cart never makes a heart full.”

“run to the Comforter, He will fill you with His comfort.”

My life changed drastically the day my husband died unexpectedly of a heart attack. 3 weeks after his death found me packed up with few belongings and moving in with my son and his family. Things eventually settled down and I was able to find my own place to live…I get by on a fixed income..the thing I discovered was how much stuff I can truly live without……though admittedly, I have used retail therapy to help me get through some of those tough days when grief comes knocking at my door. Instead of letting it in and addressing it and turning to God, I’ve opened up Amazon, or taken a walk through Kohl’s for my sneaker fix. I know I need to turn … no actually I do need to run to God and His Word, and remember I am full, with the Holy Spirit:

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; Acts 7:55

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26

40 Day Sugar Fast….Day 15

DAY 15 — Monday, January 20, 2020

Everytime we do this fast I hear from my fasting friends, “I struggle with sugar, no doubt, but SOCIAL MEDIA IS MY BIGGEST STRUGGLE.”

Friends, there are few things that disrupt our real-life relationships (with God and our loved ones) more than our phones. They are divisive, dividing us from God and others.

Please share what’s on your heart today. Do you tend to fill every void with social media? God wants those holes so that He can make us holy… and tell us that we are wholly loved! Nobody who “likes” you online, loves you like that!

What do you think?

40 Day Sugar Fast

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Social media is here to stay. It can and is a wonderful tool, let’s face it I wouldn’t be ‘here’ participating in this fast with y’all if I wasn’t on FB.

I live 10 hours away from 2 of my children and 5 of my grandchildren, these devices keep me connected and help make that distance just a bit more bearable.

Through my blog I have forged a beautiful friendship that would never have come to fruition without my IPad.

Like so many things, it’s about moderation. I readily admit to spending to much time mindlessly scrolling, and those are the times I know I need to log out and log in to reading my Bible, or sit in quiet time out and pray.

So I will be working on balancing my time on my devices…..

40 Day Sugar Fast…Day 14

DAY 14 — Sunday, January 19, 2020

Today’s reading is packed with great quotes! Which words leapt off the page as you read today?

Also, I’d love to know, what are some of the other misplaced cravings you are having to lay down on the altar beside your sugar?

I can’t wait to hear how the Lord is kindly convicting you and giving you the courage to GIVE UP MORE, that you might EXPERIENCE MORE OF HIM!

40 Day Sugar Fast

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What jumped out at me was “what you live to fill, Christ died to fill!”

I’m good during the day. Making healthy meal choices and spending time in God’s Word, Bible Study, Prayer Journaling as well as quiet time to Just Be with God……But as I said yesterday, though I replaced the not good stuff I was reaching for while I Netflixed and Facebooked in the evening with healthier options…..that’s not exactly what this fast is all about now is it?! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’ve still got some major work to do.

“GOD Has the power to turn our hollow places into a hallowed place.”

40 Day Sugar Fast…Day 13

DAY 13 — Saturday, January 18, 2020

If one verse could sum up the way we are crowding out sugar, it’s this one here: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

When we fix our eyes on Christ (and His righteousness) it’s miserably hard to fixate on foods.

Please take a moment to give me a big, juicy update. What is the Lord teaching you these days as you fast and pray? How has the Lord encouraged you? Share it below so that you might encourage others!

40 Day Sugar Fast

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Wow! This Chapter was just WOW. I’ve pretty much dieted on and off it seems like my whole life. I’ve been extremely heavy and I’ve been thin and everywhere in-between. When I hit the thin stage my thought was nothing feels better then skinny feels. I was treated differently thin..people made it a point to acknowledge me….when I was heavy, they did not. Thing was, even at my thinnest, I wasn’t fully happy or content. There was always something missing……………my journey has taken me up and down and all around, and because He is a loving and patient Father, He never gave up on me.

1 Samuel 16:7 really speaks to me…”The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

While I’m making progress in spending more time in Gods Word and prayer instead of reaching for the chocolate, wine and ice cream, I have to admit I’m still reaching for something to help me get through the nights. I’m making better choices in what I’m reaching for, but I’m still reaching.

Dear God I come to you for strength—strength of body, strength of mind and strength of soul. I feel the infilling of your Spirit. I feel the assurance of your upholding presence. Thank you, God, for strength.