One Desire Fast is HMCC’s annual fast so we can start off the year hearing from God, both individually and as a church. This year’s theme is Simple Pursuit.
As we’ve been journeying in God’s presence for the past ten days, how has it been for you? Perhaps it has been challenging, perhaps it has been easy, perhaps you are looking forward to the fast being over, or perhaps you are contemplating how you can continue to sustain all that you are experiencing so far. In the beginning of the fast, we shared that we wanted to see how simple it is to come before God and listen to Him. Often, what is needed is for us to live out Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God”. Sometimes, we simply just need to be still and be in His presence without complicating things with all the desires and questions that we want God to answer.
However, taking the time to pause and be in God’s presence means more than just emptying our mind! We believe that God can and has already imparted different things to you throughout the fast. At this moment, take time to look back on this whole journey and identify what God has been consistently speaking to you about in this fast. “What is God saying to me?” Whatever it is, this message from God is important as it will be the reason and motivation for you to persist in pursuing God through all that you do.
As you allow that personal lesson to settle in, the question to ask yourself now is “What am I going to do about it?”. When God speaks, we must obey. There are many examples in the Bible of direct obedience, especially after God speaks to someone about something. For example, in Genesis 17:23, Abraham responds immediately to what God spoke to him about. He simply heard, and then obeyed what God was calling him to do.
What steps of faith are God encouraging you to take in light of what He is speaking to you about? How have you been complicating the simple posture of listening and obeying God? There are many needs that God could be calling you to. Perhaps it is to be faithful to what you already are committed to. Perhaps it is to take a step of faith and commit to serving others through being part of your LIFE Group’s SALT community, our church’s ministry team, or applying to the upcoming missions project. Or perhaps it is to commit to trusting in God and to devote your life to becoming a Christ follower. Whatever it is, what we must do is to simply listen and obey.
As we take time today to reflect and listen to what He is speaking to us about, may that become the conviction that helps us to take next steps forward in obedience.
Reflection and Application
- What is God saying to you?
- What are you going to do about it?
- Who can you share with so they can keep you accountable with your next steps?
Prayer Requests – Focus
- Deepening our members’ understanding of the Gospel and their relationship with Jesus.
- Disciple the next generation of disciple makers among the Focus ministry.
- Develop influence in our communities and Gospel impact to our city.
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