A call to fast.....

Recently, I have felt the call to fast concerning our adoption. As usual, I drug my feet. I mean honestly, who really likes to fast, especially if you are like me and food is a main source of entertainment. Anyway, more and more lately I began to feel it coming, if you know what I mean. Like God was working me up to it. Then tonight as I couldn't sleep, I kept "hearing".... A call to fast..... So I decided to get out of bed and started reading my Bible and searching different scriptures on fasting. This may seem strange but I strongly felt lead to post... a call to fast. I know there are many that read my blog that are in the process of a Haitian adoption and let's face it....the process needs help, our children need help, and we need help. So read on and let the Lord lead you in what He might want you to do.

Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

I proclaim a fast, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. Over and over I hear the scripture, If My people called by My name would humble themselves and pray..... Fasting is a sign or an act of humility. We are humbling ourselves before God, offering a sacrifice, devoting our time to be spent with him, seeking His face, instead of stuffing ours.

We are not trying to convince God of anything. It's not a hunger strike. It's just being obedient to the Word and humbling ourselves before our God. I would venture to say that many of us felt "called to adopt". We believe the Lord prompted us or lead us to this journey. If so, then we are called by His name. He has called us to this purpose and it is up to us now to walk in that purpose, to follow His plan, to seek His face and know His will. Fasting is a consecration, a time we set apart for Him, to spend with only Him, to hear His voice, to make our requests, to offer our petitions, to praise, to worship, and to obey. In Matthew the Bible tells us that Jesus fasted, and He teaches us about fasting. Did you know, He said, "when you fast," not if you fast? He expected that we were going to.

Philippians 4:6 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" He wants us to come to Him. He doesn't want us to be in worry or stressed out, but to be at peace knowing we are in Him and in His will. This verse goes on to say "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." This is His will. He wants us to come to Him with praise and thanksgiving, prayer and supplication and then His peace will guard our hearts and minds.

Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.

I pray you will seek the Lord in this. He may not ask anything of you, but for some He may ask for 1 meal, 1 day or 1 week. If so then I encourage you to be obedient to His voice and as in Ezra we will say, "So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayers."