Philippians 4:13

This well known verse is my "verse of the week" to encourage myself in daily fasting.

I want to make something clear on this verse. Paul was talking about his personal history of being poor and being wealthy. Then he says that either way, he has learned how to live in Christ.

He says, "I can do all things in Christ who strenghtens me".

We use this verse to tell ourselves that we can do whatever we set out to do through Christ. While that may or may not be so, this particular verse merely states that whether Paul was poor or rich; hungry or well-fed - he could do all of those things in Christ.

This is a verse about circumstances, not projects. Are you poor, yet you have children depending on you and going to work would either leave them alone or rob all your paycheck to see they are care for? "I can do all things ... " You see, God is not going to leave us unattended when we are first doing His will.  He is more powerful than a 9-5 job. A good job that allows you to care for your children too will come to you.

Are you rich and are beginning to think that you have it all - you don't need God? Think again. Deuteronomy 8 is an excellent chapter to read to make us realize we must never forget the One Who gave us our riches. And, everyone is rich compared to someone else, just like everyone is poor compared to someone else. It all depends on how you look at it yourself.

The promise here is to those in Christ - so make sure that you are in Christ, if  you are counting on this promise. Read the scriptures, especially the book of Acts to see the history of the church and how the people were added to it, which is being in Christ. Go read.

For me, this verse helps me to know that God is providing what I need, which is not a continual supply of food going in my mouth. (Bleh!)  I'm thankful for this verse this week.

To change the subject, I feel SO much better with less food. I had a great day yesterday - I actually went up a small mountain with steps rather than take the shuttle, walked around the folk demonstrations & shops at the top of the hill and came back down the steps. This was the first year I had felt like doing this in about six years. We go to the same place every year on their opening weekend. (Ozark Folk Center at Mt. View, Arkansas, if you are interested). Even though I stopped twice going up, and once going down, I was proud that I did it. My goal is to be able to go up and down without stopping by the end of this summer.

Eight Good Thoughts

The verse of the week changes today. When I begin to think that I can't accomplish something, like daily fasting; when I begin to talk negatively to myself, I will pick out each of the eight things to think of in the verse of the week this week: Philippians 4:8 - What ever is ...

1. true  Fasting is a healthful thing to do for my spiritual as well as physical life
2. noble  Also, "honorable" in other versions - Fasting is an honorable thing because of the sacrifice
3. just  Fasting brings to justice my over-eating habits
4. pure  Fasting helps to purify the body and the mind
5. lovely  Not only a lovlier body, face, nails and hair, but everything around - all nature seems more colorful, more lovely when the body is not overstuffed with food
6. things of good report  The reports going around of me losing weight and gaining health will certainly be good reports
7. virtue  Virtue means good, moral and clean.  Fasting is definitely a good and moral and clean way of getting control of eating habits
8. something praiseworthy  about fasting - I can certainly sing the praises of fasting, even daily fasting.

This is a good thing to fast. Daily fasting may not seem like fasting to anyone, but it truly is. I'm thankful to have found others who do this. There is no reason to think this is unhealthy. Eating too much every day is what is unhealthy!

These eight guidelines to keep my thoughts positive will help me all week.

Prayer and fasting just go together

I've learned something interesting why perhaps it's so important to combine fasting with earnest prayer. Each time I thought of food, or felt hunger, I prayed for the man needing to find a job. When I was eating for the five-hour period, I didn't pray as earnestly. Hmmm.

I can see why fasting and prayer go together. Like peanut butter and jelly, love and marriage - prayer and fasting are a perfect pair.

For the sake of prayer

I've been O.F.F. the daily fasting for I can't remember how long. But, I'm starting again.

What happened? There is a man at church who lost his job due to downsizing in the company where he was employed. Now, his wife does work, but he is without a job and they have three daughters - one in college and two about to be in college.

We, in the church, really don't want this family to have to move. Since they have moved here, we've gotten very close to them. They are like family to us now. I think they feel the same way. We are hoping and praying that he will be able to find a job close and stay here.

Sunday, I asked him how that job hunting was coming, and I told him that I would pray for him on that. I had already decided to dedicate all day Monday with fasting to prayer for him if he hadn't found a job yet.

That's why I'm back on the daily fasting today. Everytime I thought of food or was hungry, I lifted his family up in prayer. I've decided to go back to the Fast-Five type of fasting with this prayer. I will lift this family up in prayer daily until the dad has a new job that he will be happy with and one that will have good bosses and co-workers.