A couple of weeks ago I wrote about life in the fast lane and the importance of fasting.   I had a whole a different blog prepared for this week, but I  guess the Lord had something else in mind.  I could not get this food fast and sacrifice out of my heart, so here goes the new blog.

Now fasting often scares people off and may be very intimidating. Let me assure you, it needn’t be.  It is a great spiritual discipline that can be truly life changing.

March 9th will be Ash Wednesday and the beginning the forty days of Lent.

Lent and fasting go hand in hand.

Now you know what I am going to say next, Go for it!  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  And you can fast for the Lord, I promise.

This would be a perfect time to begin a fast  as we prepare for Easter.  

As believers we can spend these forty days fasting and repenting as well as learning moderation in areas of our lives. Ok, Ouch! That may hurt a bit.

Moderation.  No one really likes the word moderation. Sometimes that word makes us a bit touchy and is a bit uncomfortable.  It is not one we usually like to hear.  But when I think of moderation, I think of  DSW, Hobby Lobby or TJ Max. Seriously, you may think I am kidding, but as Winters says, not so.

Like Randy on American Idol.  I am just keeping to keep it real.

There are times we need moderation and yes, that is a bummer but it is the truth.

There are times in our life we must realize this and be willing to act.  Whether it is in the area of dieting, spending, drinking, exercising and yes, even shoe shopping.  Yes, heaven forbid, surrendering shoes to the Lord.  Sometimes we just need moderation.

Fasting and moderation are all spiritual disciplines we must learn to practice.  Honestly, for me it is as simple as practicing stillness.  I am certainly a doer and I have to sometimes just simply pull back in areas of my life and be still.  Be still and know the peace of God. It is refreshing to say the least!

Years ago our pastor held an Ash Wednesday service.  I had never ever attended one and it was pretty awesome.  They had taken all the palms that the little children waved during the Easter celebrate the year before.  They burned them and thus we had the remaining ashes.

Our minister lightly rubbed the sign of the cross with ashes onto all our foreheads.  When I say it was incredible, I mean it was incredible.

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So next Wednesday we will enter the season of Lent.  Whether you attend a service or no, it can be forty days that could change your life.  Fortydays of fasting, self-reflection and moderation.

So again, I say go for it.

Why not give God an opportunity to change your life forever through one simple act of surrender.

The word surrender should not scare you off.  Surrender is a good thing.

When you surrender to the Lord and His perfect will, you can stop striving. Stop striving for the things of this world and press into the Lord and experience holiness, peace, grace and so much more.

So bottom line, I encourage you this week to seek the Lord with an open heart and mind.  Take the next few days to ask Him to search you.  Ask the Lord to search your feelings, thoughts and actions.

This is the perfect time to get serious and ask those tough question of yourself and the Lord.

Simply say Father, “What would you have me surrender at the foot of the cross?” Or at least work on surrendering.

The word says that, to obey is better than sacrifice.

I Samuel 15:22

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Obedience must accompany sacrifice. They go hand in hand.

So, I too plan to spend the week in reflection and I will also seek the Lord for direction. I to will ask Him what I need to surrender. Truth be told, I have already and my list feels pretty long.

But the good news is, Jesus is more than willing and able to help us!

We all have things we must be willing to lay down for the Lord to take us to a deeper place with him. The only question really is when will we surrender them.  So let’s get busy surrendering!

You sweet friend, are safe in the arms of Jesus and safe in the arms of the cross at Calvary.

Remember Resurrection Sunday is coming! A life of holiness awaits you