Help! I'm Hungry!

It isn't easy going without food, or rest, or TV, or housework. The seemingly urgent usually wins the contest of choices. How in the world do we enter a 2 day fast with any hope of achieving our goal whether the goal be no caffeine, or no lunch, or no shopping mall, or less computer, or no television time? The spirit most certainly is willing, but the flesh most definitely is weak (Matthew 26:40).

Jesus spoke the previous verse to the disciples because they could not stay awake in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus understood their struggle.  But after His death and resurrection God gave us the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, "The Helper" (John 14:15-27) to help us in our weakness.  Philippians 4:13 reads, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Here the Apostle Paul is reassuring the Philippian believers of how well he had been cared for by the Lord. These Christians had been concerned for Paul's needs and had indeed helped him financially. Paul gives to them a sincere "thank you" but goes on to let these believers know that anything he has needed has come from the Lord--even hunger. Paul had learned to be content in any circumstance, including abundance and need.

But Paul also recognized the remaining battle with conflicting desires.  While in this life, we will war against our flesh.  That's what Romans 7 is about.  Any time we want to perform a spiritual exercise, the flesh wages war against us.  It is good to know this.  We are not alone in this battle.  It is "common to man."  But God always provides a "way of escape" for every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

So, if we fast and pray, and have some measure of success, that success comes only through the help and gracious activity of the Holy Spirit within us.  By ourselves we will fail every time.  So, my first word of encouragement to you today is this:  as you prepare yourself for More of God, or as you sit for your morning devotions, it is good to recognize you are entering a spiritual battle zone.  It is real.  It is a battle for your soul.  Ephesians 6 teaches us how to prepare for the battle.  We must be fully equipped with the armor God provides.

My second encouragement for you today is this:  If you find within your heart a desire to be in God's presence, be encouraged!!  That desire did not come from you.  In our flesh we do not seek after God.  If we are seeking Him it is because He is seeking us first!!  So, if you desire Him, draw from the Helper, the Holy Spirit to assist you.  Put on the armor of God as mentioned above, and be ready to fight the flesh all the while clinging to His promise:  "and without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

In faith toward God and His promises, find one thing you can let go of in the next two days and use that "space" to find and be filled with More of God.

I'm still praying for you ladies as I pray for myself. We are in this battle against the flesh together.  It's a battle, but it also a battle already won!! Thank you for standing with me in the love of Jesus our wonderful, wonderful Savior.