Fasting - Day 4

Purpose
This is our 4th day of the 21 day fast. Prayerfully by now, you have settled in to fasting and have been experiencing God in a new and powerful way. As the days progress, you will notice that you have more clarity. You will become more sensitive to the things of the Spirit. You will begin to hear God’s voice more clearly and even nature around you will become more vivid and you will be more in tune to your spiritual life. The Word of God will fill you like never before and the Holy Spirit will illuminate scripture to you as you read and study.
I want to encourage you to spend quality time each day before the Lord. To sit at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to minister to you, love on you and speak to you. Don’t let this time of prayer become routine or a time to just lay your petitions before Him and walk away. Allow time and room for God to speak with you. God always desires to speak to you each and every day. The truth is that, most of us are too busy to stop and listen. So, during this time of consecration, please take the time to be still before God and truly listen for Him to speak to you.
So far, we have concentrated on His presence, His power, and His provision. Today, I would like you to meditate on His purpose for you. Each and everyone of us has a purpose. We are not here at this day and this time in history by accident. God created us and placed us here for a purpose. There is something that needs to be done for the kingdom of God that God only wants you to do. He has created you and gave you the necessary skills, gifts, talents and resources to accomplish it. The struggle for most of us is finding out what that purpose exactly is. Do I serve a purpose? Can I be used for something greater than my current meager existence? YES!
I want you to concentrate on His purpose today during this time of fasting and prayer. If you do not know or are not sure of your purpose, this is a perfect time to allow God to speak to you. In times of prayer and fasting you can go before God and ask Him to show you who you are and what you are here for. It’s a perfect time because through fasting you are denying the flesh for a spiritual purpose. That is to become closer to God and know Him more intimately. Spend time at the feet of Jesus today and let Him show you who you really are and what He has called you to do.
The Bible has much to say about purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Now we know that in context this scripture was not written for us, it was specifically stated to the children of Israel. However, this does not discount the truth stated in this scripture. The truth is that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The mission of God has not changed nor has the heart of God changed towards His creation. The truth in this scripture is that God loves us and thinks about us more than the sands of the seas, the Psalmist says (Psalm 139:18). He knitted us together for a purpose in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16). He created us for a purpose and had us in mind at creation. And Jesus had us on His mind at the cross. You are important and have a purpose. God still thinks of us and His desire is to give you and me an expected end as the KJV states. That is a great statement because you cannot have an expected end if you do not have a purpose. If you are not here for a reason, then there is no expected end…but God has an expected end for you and me. He has a plan for us and a purpose for us that will lead us to His expected end and our purpose.
John 15:16 Jesus says that we did not choose Him, but He chose us and appointed us to go and bear fruit and abide in Him. You cannot be chosen by someone if you have no purpose. The very fact that someone chooses you (spouse, boss, friends etc.) means that you have a purpose.
Spend time today meditating on your purpose. You have been called by God, chosen by Jesus and the Holy Spirit abides within you. WOW! No one would spend that much time on creating us, or send His Son to die for us, or send His Spirit to abide in us, if we did not have a purpose in this world. You have purpose today. Take time to thank God and worship Him because He has given you purpose and has a plan for your life. If you know your purpose reaffirm and solidify it with Christ today. If you do not truly know your purpose, then sit before the Lord and allow Him to show you.
 
Blessings to Each of You,
Pastor Russ