There’s Something About it…

There’s something sweet about being called away from the busyness of life to spend time reconnecting to God’s heart.

There’s something comforting about redirecting your focus from the world to your family.

There’s something humbling about realizing you’re not as important as you thought.

There’s something rejuvenating about giving your mind and body intentional rest.

There’s something profound about stepping back and seeing the bigger picture.

There’s something calming about the absence of deadlines staring you down.

And I realize for this to happen, sometimes you have to give up… to gain.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  (Jeremiah 29:13)

When you seek with all your heart, you are giving up what your flesh wants.  You’re more interested in knowing God than satisfying your earthly needs.  You desire Him in earnest.

Sometimes we make a conscious decision to do this.

Other times He invites us.

And there are also instances where we have no choice.

My social media and blogging fast was prompted by a personal appeal from the Creator to reconnect to Him.  He invited me to a private party.  God wanted to spend one-on-one time with me.

While I was a little apprehensive to accept His offer and unplug, I was excited to see what God’s plan was going to be.

Sisters… It was sweeter than I could’ve imagined.

-          I was able to rest my mind and my body.

-          We had some amazing family time.

-          I learned more about the heart of my kids.

-          My husband and I connected deeper.

-          I heard God speak easier.

-          I realized I wasn’t as important as I thought I was.

-          I lived life at a slower pace.

To be honest, I was just as tentative to step back onto the treadmill of life as I was stepping off.  I don’t want to become so entrenched in what this world offers that I ignore what God offers.

The world isn’t worth it to me.

It shouldn’t be worth it to you, either.

I wonder… is God asking you to set something aside and spend time seeking Him instead?

Where does He want more of you… your time… your efforts… your trust… your action… your rest?

What if you decided not to ignore His invitation this time?

Girls, in this noisy world where we get pulled in a million directions… we cannot allow ourselves to disconnect from the only One who can sustain us.

Sure, we can hold down the fort for a while, but we weren’t created to handle it all.  While we are smart and capable, our abilities have human-sized limitations.

We can’t do life without Him.

Are you trying to?

REALITY CHECK:  If you are not as close to God as you used to be, who moved?  (Author Unknown)

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© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

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When You Deny Yourself… You Find Him

The 40 days are up today.  For those new to my blog, let me get you up to speed.

I felt led to fast from sugar and carbs for 40 days.  I was looking for spiritual clarity in some areas and God prompted me to turn my attention towards Him and take my eyes off of me and my circumstances.   Believe me… that was not an easy thing for me to do.  You?

Once the idea grew on me a bit and I accepted His challenge, my thought was… “Hey, if Jesus can do it… so can I!”

Wow… maybe I need to work on my pride next.

In my original post, I cited a desire to deepen my relationship with God as a reason for fasting.  I needed some answers and direction.

This act demanded that I deliberately deny my flesh so I could feed my spirit.  And to be honest, it was so much harder than I thought it would be.   Why?

• This is pumpkin spice syrup season at Starbucks
  
• It’s also “candy corn mixed with peanuts” time of year
• We’ve celebrated Sam and Wayne’s birthdays… with cake, of course
• I’ve attended one too many events with a Mexican food buffet
• All my good friends cook and bake like there is no tomorrow

And that is just scratching the surface.  But you know what?  God really blessed my efforts to seek Him more.  I wanted to share some of what He revealed to me in these past 40 days:

1. I was able to define the direction and specific mission of my ministry
2. God challenged me with a new teaching style that allows me to hear the Holy Spirit’s prompting better
3. Some very deeps hurts were healed
4. He gave me a deeper desire for Him
5. I’ve learned to pray with more authority
6. God gave me mentors for different areas of my life
7. I was given a new retreat topic to develop
8. He opened doors for new friendships which are rich and deep
9. My husband was divinely blessed with a new job close to home

Through this fast, I had my mind set on God and He once again proved so faithful to bless my obedience.  I sought Him and He showed up.

I wonder what answers you are seeking today?  Maybe there are “cloudy” areas that need clarity.  Are you needing more of Him and less of you?

Consider fasting.

It can look different for everyone.  For example, I know someone who has fasted from their computer.  Another fasted from shopping at Target.  Still another fasted from peach tea.

Don’t laugh.  These are real examples of real people feeling led to give up something “difficult” for them so they could seek His presence.  Scripture tells us that when we seek Him, we will find Him.  And find Him, I did.

You lookin’ for Him, too?  Think about it…

©2010 careyscotttalks.com

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40 Day Fast

I’m doing a 40 day fast from sugar and carbohydrates.

Please understand that I don’t share this to elevate myself at all… Jesus specifically instructed us in Matthew 6:16-18 to let our fasting be done privately and in humility.   My hope is that by sharing, others will feel led to answer the Holy Spirit’s prompting (if it is there), especially knowing an “ordinary” person like me does it.

You may be wondering… Why fast?

GREAT question!!  I ask myself that often because it’s hard!!!  But I know when I do, it is God-ordained.  I truly feel this fast is a step towards another level in my relationship with God.

During this fast, I am denying the natural desires of the “flesh” and instead feeding the “Spirit.“

Fasting is a good exercise because it requires that we show self-control and discipline.   It’s intentional.  The purpose is to take our minds and desires off the physical things of this world and instead intensely concentrate on God.  The end result being spiritual clarity… it allows us to hear God more clearly.

In theory, our hunger should change from “earthly” wants to “heavenly” wants.

It draws us closer to God.  You know what else it does?  It demonstrates a profound need for God’s help and guidance through complete dependence upon him, because to be honest… I’m not sure I could do this without Him.  I love my frapp’s, you know… and they are not on the menu.

Fasting must be important to God because He provides so many examples of it in scripture.  From the Old Testament…

• Moses fasted 40 days on behalf of Israel’s sin: Deuteronomy 9:9, 18, 25-29; 10:10.
• David fasted and mourned the death of his child: 2 Samuel 12:16.
• Elijah fasted 40 days after fleeing from Jezebel: 1 Kings 19:7-18.
• Ahab fasted and humbled himself before God: 1 Kings 21:27-29.
• Darius fasted in concern for Daniel: Daniel 6:18-24.
• Daniel fasted regarding a mysterious vision from God: Daniel 10:3-13.
• Esther fasted on behalf of her people: Esther 4:13-16.
• Ezra fasted and wept for the sins of the returning remnant: Ezra 10:6-17.
• Nehemiah fasted and mourned over the broken walls of Jerusalem: Nehemiah 1:4-2:10.
• The people of Ninevah fasted after hearing the message of Jonah: Jonah 3.

Shall I go on?  Yes?  Ok…. from the New Testament.

• Anna fasted for the redemption of Jerusalem through the coming Messiah: Luke 2:37.
• Jesus fasted 40 days before his temptation and the beginning of his ministry: Matthew 4:1-11.
• The disciples of John the Baptist fasted: Matthew 9:14-15.
• The elders in Antioch fasted before sending off Paul and Barnabas: Acts 13:1-5.
• Paul fasted for three days after his Damascus Road encounter: Acts 9:9.

Here is what fasting is NOT:

1. It’s not a way to earn God’s favor or try to manipulate Him to give us what we want.
2. Should never be on public display. (I received Godly council with the okay to share this… again not in any effort to elevate)
3. While Old Testament fasting was a sign of mourning, we should practice fasting with a cheerful attitude.
4. It is never for the purpose of punishing or harming the body.

Are you needing answers or looking for spiritual clarity on a situation?  Consider fasting as a way to get your mind set on the things of God.

©2010 careyscotttalks.com

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Shortcuts, Deals and Discounts

I am always looking for a deal.  A shortcut.  A discount.  My husband loves it because I’m very conscientious about how I spend my our money.

To be honest, I actually really enjoy seeing what kind of deal I can get through coupons, secret sales, b-day month discounts, etc.  I love finding the cheapest ways to go on vacation.  I look for ways to streamline my day or my errands so things don’t take as long.

I’m all about shortcuts, deals and discounts.  Freaky, I know.

But there’s one place I can’t implement these kinds of strategies because they don’t work for me.  It’s my relationship with God.  Unless I put in the time and the effort with Him… the relationship goes south, and quick.

Is it the same for you?

When you cheat God and your relationship with Him, you may find:

• that you don’t hear Him like you used too
• you’re unsure what His will for your life is
• that you live “in” your circumstances rather than “above” them
• a lack of grace for others
• an increase in anger, bitterness and frustration

You see, we have to invest our heart, time, effort and energy with Him.  But I know us.  And sometimes we look for ways to get the “benefits” of the relationship without actually giving it the “time” it needs.  When we do that… we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and distance.

Last week, I had coffee with a friend who was sharing her frustration with God, saying that He was not speaking to her regarding a specific situation.  She had been fasting and was not “hearing” Him at all.  She was beside herself angry because she couldn’t understand why.

I couldn’t either!  This friend is a Godly woman who loves God… so I was concerned and decided to pry a little.  I asked her what she was doing to try and “hear” Him… essentially asking her what time and effort she was putting into their relationship.  I asked…

• “Have you been reading your Bible, looking for some words from Him?”  She replied, “No.”
• “Have you spent time listening to podcasts or CDs or DVDs seeing if He would provide an answer that way?”  “No,” she said.
• “What about your prayer time?  What has he showed you through that?“  “Nothing.  I’m not praying to Him because I am mad.“

I’m not surprised she wasn’t hearing a thing.  She thought by the act of fasting, God would answer her.  In her poorly planned strategy to receive God’s answer, she had left out one very important part…

… a sweet and rich relationship with her Heavenly Father.

My friend was looking for a deal.  She deliberately took a shortcut rather than wholeheartedly looking for God’s answer through time with Him.  And she admitted hoping for a “family” discount just because she was His.

It rarely works that way.

Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us that we have to invest all we have.  The verse says, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (emphasis mine)

Feeling distant?  Ask God to show you where your being “thrifty” in your relationship with Him.

He wants all of us.

©2010 careyscotttalks.com

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