Recharging and Resetting…
June 12th, 2007
40 days is a long time.
I, for one, am finding myself in dire need to refocus and set myself again for the next phase of our 40-day fast and not lose momentum. Initial zeal and passion that ignites the heart at the beginning phases of a corporate fast can quickly fade in the midst of something like this. It’s so easy for me to disconnect from the reasons that I said “yes” to this fast in the first place and lose my way a little related to time, energy, and prayer. How tragic to endure a 40-day fast and find that I prayed less not more?
It’s a fight in our weakness to say “yes” to God - not one time, but minute by minute, choice by choice, step by step. I feel like the offer of a lifetime has been extended to me - to participate in a historic fast that in many ways is a continuation of a true historic fast - and yet my mind and my heart are prone to wander. And so it is that I present myself to the Lord again today, asking for fresh grace and power to lay hold of a resolve that is beyond me. I want a resolve that is God-birthed and ignited. I want a fresh zeal to arise within me to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
I do not simply want to lay hold of an expression of Christianity - even a “better” one. I want to lay hold of Jesus. And so I press on.
How are you doing today? Let’s go again, together, into the fresh pursuit of His heart and His high calling for our lives.
David
Entry Filed under: life at ihop-kc, prayer movement
9 Comments Add your own
1. Jerry James | June 12th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Thanks for the slap, David. I needed that.
2. Nathan | June 12th, 2007 at 8:18 am
This has been an incredibly encouraging post. Losing focus is an accurate description of what’s been happening to me.
I guess I thought that going on a 40-day fast would make me ultra spiritual, but how wrong I was! It’s the same old me, and it’s only by His grace that I’m here.
I would like to join you in a fresh pursuit of Him.
3. Cathy | June 12th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I needed this also. The fast is going very well for me, but the prayer part has been faltering due to an extremely busy schedule. Not good. Thanks for this.
4. Julia Binkowski | June 12th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
You just described my fast.
Thanks for the post David. I also would like to join you in the fresh pursuit of Him.
5. Not Unto Us » Stand&hellip | June 13th, 2007 at 6:08 am
[…] my morning readings, not praying, getting to work late, and just generally not being spiritual. Recharging and Resetting by David Sliker is a post where he speaks about the spiritual lull he’s going through, and […]
6. chuck scott | June 13th, 2007 at 6:34 am
Thanks for the encouragement. I remember you teaching on fasting one time and you claimed to be the worst faster. I have claimed that title buddy. I’m not too sure that I want to though. This fast has opened a lot of doors for reflection. It had made me look at my weakness and realize just how much I must depend on God, and that I can start fresh daily.
Thanks again.
7. James | June 13th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
David…yes, yes, and yes! This has been a strange fast for me as well. I have cheated myself in more ways than one. I know that perseverance is key and self discipline needs endurance from the Spirit. I’m praying for you brother….
8. Sean MacNair | June 14th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
“I do not simply want to lay hold of an expression of Christianity - even a “better” one. I want to lay hold of Jesus. And so I press on.”
Ya really gotta quit knockin on my door there, Dave. Every time I tune in I see one sentence that really strikes me, and God speaks to me through it.
9. samuel | June 22nd, 2007 at 7:25 am
Jesus!
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