A WeakDay Devotion: WAYS TO FAST

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The WeakDay Devotion originated as encouragement for a dear friend who was having difficulties with her job.

It is especially for my family, firends, business people, students, pastors, teachers and a myriad of pre-, new and long-serving Christians who want more Scripture with their devotion than many of the regular devotionals offer. it is also written to be short so you can get on with your day, but filled with a new idea from God's Word that is practical and applicable. You can also have it sent directly to your email box every day - just send me an email (DarleneRichard@gmail.com) and I will add you to the distribution.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

WAYS TO FAST

Day 3

[Jesus teaching] “’Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

“’And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

“’But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees in secret, will repay you.’” Matthew 6:1, 16-18.

Fasting doesn't have to mean refusing to eat. For some, that may be dangerous or impractical. You may have an illness that makes it dangerous to fast (like diabetes).

You may find it is far more important to share a meal and time with someone during this time than being legalistic about keeping to a fast or calling attention to your fasting. Be creative! Think of other ways to fast.

For instance, you could:

• Eliminate or moderate eating foods you truly love and crave. (for me that would be salt and chocolate).

• Decide not to eat anything fried (and you really love fried foods)

• Give up coffee or tea (because you can't get through the day without them.).

• Skip one meal every day for the forty days.

• Skip solid foods and have only liquids.

• Fast from solid foods every other day.

Remember the purpose is to take extra time to pray. It is about heart attitude rather than sacrifice. Grumbling, or using it as an excuse to be grumpy, or complain; or bragging how amazing you are for/at fasting is NOT acceptable.

PRAY

• During the mealtime you would have been eating.

• Every time your tummy rumbles.

• Whenever you see someone eating foods you love.

If you are considering or beginning to fast and you are prone to sickness, are very young or mature be sure to consult with your doctor before you begin.

We are not to put God to a foolish test. We must never expect that if we do something unwise that God will be forced to work supernaturally in our lives to keep us healthy. Fasting is about Him, not us, after all.

Whatever you do, be sure to drink lots of fluids. Some people find sucking on lifesavers or barley sugar (for those of you in Australia) a good idea to keep energy levels up – but be warned it will make you feel hungrier a short while later.

Choose foods or meals you can give up consistently for the entire 40 days. The desire of your heart should increasingly grow to please the Father – that is worlds more important than if you give up chocolate cake!

You may find God calls you NOT to fast in the “normal” way, but to pray in an exceedingly personal and/ or frequent and/ or lengthy manner or to read more Scripture each of the 40 days.

The Holy Spirit will "witness" with your spirit what is right for you.

Finally, whether you have chosen to fast or now, please join me in praying for anyone who participates in fasting during Lent this year (starts 26 February and ends 9 April), that they will be focused on Him and not their tummy or other desires.

Finally, there is an excellent book about meditating on Scripture, what it means and how to enjoy it. It would prove an invaluable read during this time, entitled God Up Close by Doug McIntosh, published by Moody Press (ISBN 0-8024-7079-3).

Take care with love, especially His! Your servant and friend in Christ, who still prays for you each morning. Darlene

PS: My statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com You can find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for “WeakDay Devotion” (Also, there is an android “Google Blogger” app you can download to read them on your phone.)

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS and UPDATES

(NOTE: Words underlined have a link embedded to provide more details)

For more information, I’m researching and pulling an overview of this for you at: https://newsaboutcovid19.blogspot.com/

Please pray for the health care workers, those trying to contain the spread and most importantly those who contract the virus – that they are wise and take precautions to protect others.

Latest Update: (source John Hopkins) Please note that the stats are typically updated about five hours from now, but these reflect the changes overnight.

o Today in 50 countries (Iran new today)

o 82,758 confirmed cases

o 8,571 critical condition

o 2,817reported deaths (all in China except 26 Iran, 17 Italy, 13 S Korea, 4 Cruise Ship, 4 Japan, 2 HK, 2 France, 1 Taiwan, 1 Philippines)

Scott – getting Married March 26th, they will be a blended and Blessed couple. Thank you for praying all these years for him and his children.

Baby Jolie– a year old struggling to recover from meningitis and kidney failure. Still in hospital. Her leg wound remains a concern and amputation is still a possibility. She is responding and VERY SLOWLY getting better. Many hurdles have been crossed with prayer and great Doctors, with several more to cross before she can go home. (she will need full-time nursing care) but it could be as soon as two weeks. Praise the Lord. Family so grateful for all your prayers.
Savannah – has a very long road to travel. The 15-year-old granddaughter of Cliff and Beth, diagnosed with a difficult-to-treat, psychological disorder with potential serious consequences. New meds seem to be helping. She is showing progress with this brain injury. Pray for her attitude, wisdom for her health carers, patience for her parents and complete healing.
USA President Donald Trump – It is our responsibility as Christians to remember God has a plan through this man. If you doubt the importance of his appointment, just look at how much antagonism there is against him. Surely Satan is NOT happy and means to thwart God’s plan. Pray someone helps President Trump understand the true meaning of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that he will have a driving hunger to read God’s Word for himself and that God sends a Bible-believing Christian to regularly disciple him in the Truth and that God shuts the mouths of the false prophets who circle around him.
Fred – is making plans to move from California to Tennessee in the first quarter of 2020. Pray for his wise attention to details and stamina as he makes this life change.
Tracey – Pray Tracey finds a new role to satisfy her and allow her to grow and share her skills and wisdom.
Me – The Lord has provided me with a short, 4-week project. Thank you for praying. Please pray He finds a way for my laptop to be fixed soon (if you receive the email version with the full prayer list, the formatting is different (sorry).

PRAY FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

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Background of WeakDay Devotions

Over eleven years ago a dear friend couldn't find a job. She's brilliant, skilled & experienced -- but simply couldn't find a position to suit her. After about eight months of struggling & searching, she was hired to work with the Sydney Olympics but six months later the role turned feral. She was discouraged as she pulled herself into work each morning.

Then it became apparent they were trying to "move" her out. She struggled. At least once a week she would be on the phone to me or be sitting on my balcony talking/crying her heart out. I found myself being a sort of Christian coach/mentor for her.

One morning after my quiet time, something I learned seemed relevent for her, so I shared it with her in an email. She wrote back that it indeed helped. Next morning the same thing happened. Again the Lord used it to encourage & strengthen her. The next morning nothing seemed good to send, but I searched till I found something I hoped would strengthen her. The Lord used it. Each week day morning from then on I would get up early & write her a note of encouragement.

A month went by & another friend sent me an e-mail expressing their own frustration with a work situation. I sent them a copy of the e-mail I'd sent my friend that very morning. They were encouraged & asked me to include them each morning. After a couple of weeks both wrote to me to say they'd been sending the email to others & would I just add theses new names each morning. They also suggested I ask others if they'd like to be included. I did & many asked to receive it. One day, I was asked to do a radio interview with Gordon Moyse ("An Ordinary Christian"). He had heard about the morning "WeakDay Devotions" & wanted his listeners to know more about them.

Almost every week day morning since that first e-mail, I've written a fresh word of encouragement for (by now) an untold number of people around the world. It was originally mostly business oriented, but has grown to be more general in nature with Christian business people knowing it is the little personal details of their walk that need a boost anyway.

Within the distribution list now are Christians or pre-Christians (Catholic & Protestant), some are Jewish, some have not made a decision about what they believe, yet. There are several pastors; a Catholic priest, a Jewish teacher and a Christian Web page creator (and pastor) who distributes select ones to his readership. There’s even a pastor in the USA who uses them as part of his daily radio program.

Many who receive them forward them to others & they ricochet around the world. They're used as morning devotions between friends at work in the USA, Argentina, the Philippines, New Guinea, Hong Kong & places I don't even know about yet.

The Lord is using these meek & meagre "presents to Him" for His own purposes in the lives of others & I'm constantly surprised & humbled at the encouragement I've found in my own personal time with the Lord because of their ministry to me!

If you'd like to have them emailed directly to you each day, just send me an email. I'm open to comments, suggestions & criticisms.

Again, it's almost always only one screen long, so you don't have to take too much time with them, they always come marked "Urgent" so they can be found more quickly. Finally, the distribution list is "blinded" so everyone's privacy is assured (although I pray for everyone I send to & know them all much better now).

Every day is different, some days are very short -- sometimes only one verse or two, but there's always a Bible verse (I always use the New American Standard Bible translation, unless otherwise indicated). There are also times when there is a suggestion for something special as an assignment. I've also written a variety of series, such as: The Ten Commandments, Forgiveness, How to Know God's Will, Fasting, Unmet Needs, etc.

Stay close to His Word.
Your servant and friend in Christ.... Darlene

The First Devotion

"And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; for Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee." Psalm 9:10

From George Muller's Autobiography:

"I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished.

"The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord's blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God; searching, as it were, into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word; not for the sake of reaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this...that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer."

Have a wonderful day resting in Him....love, your servant and friend in Christ...D

Another style: The Princess & the Pea

[Jesus teaching] "'And why do you look at the spec that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?'" Matthew 7:3

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." James 2:10

"So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!" James 3:5

"Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.'" Matthew 13:31-32

Ever notice how it's the little things that get under your skin and grow out of perspective? Think of the time you spend looking for a misplaced file or phone number. What about when you're late and get a red light or someone pulls out in front of you in traffic. Or how about when you get a paper cut or have a hang nail? How about forgetting someone's birthday or when you lose your glasses or keys? Any of these things can make us "lose our cool". As Christians we must be ever vigilant to how the little things can stumble our walk and witness with Christ.

It reminds me of the fairy tale of the Princess and the Pea (where a prince looked for a gentle and delicate princess to help rule his kingdom. He arranged a test of all the fair maidens. He had a stack of mattresses placed one on top the other and each "princess candidate" was invited to spend the night in the castle. The Prince became discouraged because no one seemed to respond to the test until one morning a lovely woman complained she could not sleep, as the mattress was too lumpy. Unbeknownst to her (and all the other candidates) the Prince had placed a single pea under the bottom mattress. No one else had been sensitive to the little things. Of course they lived happily ever after. In our Christian walk we need to be that sensitive to the little things that stumble us! Take care, your servant and friend in Christ – Darlene

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