Back in Jersey, sittin’ in my easy chair, reflecting on 18 days in Brazil….
Hey, what can I say? I like this picture.
Anyway, Gail picked me up from the aiport at 6:30 a.m. this morning. Flight was fine, and I was able to share Jesus with the Brazilian woman who sat next to me. She had been raised without faith, and had very little knowledge of Christianity. She listened and seemed open.
There is a lot to reflect upon. For me the absolute high points were two prayer meeting we had together at Tom & Kathy’s house. The first I wrote about earlier, and the second coincided with the Cry for Awakening Prayer meeting on the 8th. Both meetings were great testimonies to how much our brothers and sisters in Brazil are connected to the prayer movement here in NJ. Before I left Tom reassured me that he was going to begin meeting with leaders in Nova Lima to pray together for what is going on here in NJ. That just floors me. People 5000 miles away concerned enough about what the Lord is doing here to commit themselves to praying.
Both meetings also included prophetic words and intense weeping for the move of God in our area. Judson’ s leadership in the second prayer meeting was so helpful. He literally sang every prayer, taking our intercessions and turning them into spontaneous songs.
One of the things that God really spoke to me about while in Brazil was fasting. I have avoided fasting since I developed diabetes, but I have always felt uncomfortable with that position. While I was down in Brazil over and over that theme came up and each time I felt the Spirit convicting my heart that fasting must be part of the sacrifice we offer to the Lord during this season of seeking Jesus. Fasting is a part of the spiritual disciplines, and ought to be a part of every Christians normal spiritual practices. However, I am not talking about fasting as just an aspect of normal Christian discipline, but as a part of our intercessory commitment as we pray for awakening. I am trying to understand this and I confess that I need to understand more about fasting as it relates to praying for revival. I know that we do not offer our “works” in exchange for revival, but there is a relationship between fasting and seeking the Lord. Any insights you may have are appreciated.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
I think you may try it but besure to have very low carbs and sugars for a few days going into the fast. Maintain 64 oz of water/day, no diet soda, the artificial sweetener tricks the mind into thinking it’s sugar. And most of all monitor you sugar throughout the day. The problem will not be a diabetic coma induced by high insulin and no carbs. For a short time the body will give up sugar stored in the liver and your blood sugar will actually go high, but this only lasts a few days. So the pattern would look like low blood sugar, high blood suger and then low, possible very low, but that’s where you have to watch carefully. How long to do want to try it? Stay away from fruit juice it will just make your sugar crazy.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Mar, thanks for the wisdom. I will follow it.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Mare, that’s awesome. Helpful to me, too.