August 11, 2010, "Am I fasting my spiritual food and water?"

Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by: Teresa Criswell

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."
~ Matthew 5:6 ~

I woke up this morning writing in my journal to our son who is 18 years old. As I was writing to him, a phrase came forth upon the page as the ink flowed from my pen:
"We cannot fast our spiritual food or water. We must hunger and thirst for God's righteousness moment by moment." Upon reading this, I was led to Matthew 5:6...don't you love it when you receive confirmation from God's Word? The Holy Spirit within us desires and longs to reveal Who He is in us and through us.

As I thought about this phrase that I was led to write, I realized the times where I unknowingly fasted from God's word. I unknowingly fasted from my communion with Him. I unknowingly fasted from stirring up and drinking from the Rivers of Living Water, revealed by the Holy Spirit. Another way to say it is, I abstained from and denied myself my LIFE my Reason for living! Upon this realization, it led me to the condition of my heart (my friend Julie has helped me with this realization; it's always about the heart). This abstaining from is the cause to the condition of our hearts, this is the cause of the condition of the body that says it's the Body of Christ. Yet without condemnation, how can I say so loosely that I am part of the Body of Christ when I don't feed and drink from Almighty God, revealing His love and His hope?

I am reminded that I have used this term so lightly, "I am part of the Body." But really, am I submitting myself to the Head of the Body which is Jesus Christ?

I am being reminded at this moment that being part of the Body of Christ has nothing to do with how I feel or how I have been wronged or how I think our lives should go...it is truly about our Father God.

Upon that reminder, I am reminded of something else; the Kingdom of God is built upon the revelation that Peter received when Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?" And Peter said, "You are the Christ the Son of the Living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." I must remember that the rock ( or the revelation) is not built on Simon Peter, it is built upon the revelation that Simon Peter received from Almighty God (Matthew 16:15-19).

We must be so intentional to learn that we are not the kingdom or the church; it is God's government that is the kingdom and the church; we serve within that kingdom or we don't. We have fallen into this pit of not understanding the Kingdom of God; yet look at all the examples that Jesus gave of the Kingdom of God. I want to be so careful that I do not get caught into this trap of self-deceit and the traditions of man. We are part of the body; but what body are we part of? Are we part of the body of the world? Or are we part of the Body of Jesus Christ? The Body of Jesus Christ feeds on God's Word and thirsts after Him, The Living Water.

I am so being challenged this morning as I see God's great love revealed in Truth being shed upon the lies that I have fallen prey to.

Father God, thank You for showing me who I am in You. Thank You Father that I must reveal you by not abstaining from You, my Life, my everything! You are so lovely Father. Thank You for your Freedom in Truth! You are amazing God and I get to call you Abba! Daddy! Thank You Jesus for providing the Way to be reunited with our Father!

Comments

  1. Hi Teresa,

    This was a heartfelt post: "We cannot fast our spiritual food or water. We must hunger and thirst for God's righteousness moment by moment." -- Otherwise our living is in vain.

    Submission is a key component of my relationship to Christ if I am to truly hunger and thirst for Him.

    I am blessed by this post my sister.

    Blessings and peace to you.

    MTJ

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  2. How true! If we don't desire to eat His Word, we won't have that knowledge and understanding. Like this precious time you had with the Lord, you ended up knowing more about Him. Awesome! God bless you sister.

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  3. Amen! Never have thought of neglecting the Word as fasting, but it is just like that, isn't it? Great post, Teresa...

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  4. This is a very powerful, challenging reminder! :)

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  5. Fasting spiritual food... there is so much food for thought in this post. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. When we fast, naturally speaking, we go through a cleanse. There are things that our body releases that maybe aren't so nice and definitely not necessary for me to live in a healthy way. When we fast the Word and our fellowship with our Father God, we also go through a process of things coming out of us or being released, that maybe aren't so pretty.
    I know, for me, I'm "addicted" to God. Like an addict, I HAVE to have Him everyday. I'll do whatever it takes to get Him, at whatever cost, at whatever needs to be lost, whatever the fight, I have to have Him in my life! Fresh manna from heaven everyday is my major source of Life...time to pull up to the table! Such a great post, Teresa!
    Time to eat! :) xxoo~P.K.

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