NT24 FastSample

Day 5 by Nicole Bartley, Operational Project Manager of UPPERROOM

Today’s Reading: Luke 13-24

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

When I fast, there is a tension I become uncomfortably aware of in my soul, a wrestle that takes place, a battle of my will. I notice I become more sensitive to everything around me, to my Father’s voice, but also to the desires of my flesh. In some moments, the voice of the enemy feels loudest, tempting me, trying to get me to quit. There is a battle on this side of heaven taking place for our hearts, our souls, and our minds. It requires us to be active and not passive. It requires us to fight to stay awake and to stay connected to the source of our strength.

There’s a warning here in Luke 21 - to be on guard and to not let ourselves fall into the trap of a weighed down heart of sorrow, to stay awake and to pray for strength. I’d encourage you here on Day 5 of this fast to press into the tension and wrestle as you’re physically hungry and your soul may be squirming for earthly comforts. Don’t numb, don’t cope, don’t succumb. In the end days, we are going to need strength that comes only from Him. Let the tension today press you towards our Source and not away. Heed the warning. Move towards God with your pain, your sorrow, your frustrations and your questions. Be honest, He can take it. Indeed, He so desperately wants to take it…but you have to let Him. There’s a beautiful invitation for exchange today. He’s an intimate, patient, tender God. Give Him what’s weighing on You today. Give Him what You have.

Prayer: I repent today for holding onto the weight my heart has been carrying. Jesus, I exalt You and Your sacrifice above my pain and my wrestle again today, and invite You to come in. I invite You to search me and know me, and to take the weight and put it back where it belongs – on that bloody cross from 2000 something years ago. I allow the grief to come. I feel it and then let it go. I let You take my weakness, and in its place, You give me Your strength.