THE NEED FOR A “ME FAST”
He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, You alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against You!”
2 Chronicles 20:6 (NLT)
This is the beginning of a prayer Jehoshaphat led the people of God through as an impossibly strong army marched toward them. But rather than launching into their need for direction or deliverance, he magnifies the name of God and honors the character of God! In that prayer, he not only glorifies God’s name but praises His unwavering promises. Why? Because God’s faithfulness and promise to an undeserving people are testaments to His love, mercy and power. Celebrating God’s promises as we pray, even before they’re fulfilled, shows our trust in His Word and our relationship with Him.
Every prayer we utter, especially when we’re in trouble or need guidance, should be more focused on who God is than the actual problem. Praying God’s greatness back to Him not only honors God, it helps us avoid becoming self-focused.
Before God brought me to a life of ministry in South Carolina and Latvia, I went through a period of preparation that was not pleasant. I was pretty much in the same whiny, entitled place the Israelites were, the desert. I didn’t know why God wasn’t coming through with His promise (in my timeline). So, I pushed, and I complained, and then I pushed some more. But God made it clear He wasn’t going to open the path to fulfilling His promise for me until having the promise was less important to me than having Him. God loves to fulfill His promises, but He may withhold what He’s promised you if you want the outcome more than you want Him.
So, in my self-focused ranting, I felt God leading me to what I now call a ME Fast. I had to fast from my selfishness. For 40 days, I didn’t pray anything for myself. I only prayed back to God who He was. His attributes, His character, His great deeds, His promises. It completely changed my perspective. And shortly after those 40 days, I was called to Brookwood Church.
Some of us need a ME fast now, because we’re so focused on what we want from God that we’ve forgotten who He is.
APPLICATION: Our breakthroughs can be hampered by what we want from God when what we really need is to be comforted by the character of God. Are we willing to step outside our desire for advancement, direction or rescue long enough to be truly present with God, reflecting on His glory, love and might?
PRAYER: Lord of eternity, Your name is glorious, and Your might in righteousness humbles the stars You created. You see the beginning from the end. You are the author of my life. Reveal Your glory so I might see and reflect on You, melting my own concerns in the warmth of Your light. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?