Day 2: Prayer & Fasting journey
When I was about 8 or 9 my Dad had a problem with me. He felt that he could not get through to me because of the television. He would get home from work and proceed to switch off the television looking very angry. At first I would be quite hurt that he would just switch off the TV without telling me that he was going to switch it off or even saying Hello to me, but as it turned out he would have actually been trying to address me for the past few minutes, calling to me in a very loud voice before resorting to turning off the tv. I would not have heard him because I was more invested in the voice of Voltron or Captain planet or whatever other cartoon I was watching at the time. Switching off the TV suddenly brought me back from a world of unreal fantasy and adventure which restored my hearing and I could suddenly hear my Dad again. As you can imagine my Dad often threatened to sell the television because of its distraction.
Fast forward to now, I have the same problem with my own children especially my son who is
9 years old. Both children can be so fixated on the television or their computer devices such that I can shout very loudly that even the whole nation of Australia would pay attention some thousand miles away but somehow not my own kids sitting a few metres away from me. My wife however showed me a way to get their attention that brought a new revelation of why we pay attention to some of the voices that speak to us and not to others in our lives.
Both kids were glued to the TV and I had been trying to speak to them but obviously they were not able to hear me. I thought it was because the volume of the TV was too loud for them to hear me but my wife said no just watch, She proceeded to take a packet of mini chocolates and opened the packet. The very soft rustling sound of the clear plastic material of the packet opening worked wonders, Both Kids turned their head immediately towards their mum who had not said a word, their eyes locked onto the packet of chocolates and the TV program was paused all of a sudden the kids were interested in us again or so it seemed. The voice of a chocolate treat was valuable to both kids.
God spoke to me in this sobering moment, He allowed me to see that I myself am like that with him. I allow the attractions and the pleasures of my world activities to drown out His voice. It can get so bad that sometimes I start following the voices of my Career, my ambitions, and my desires instead of following after the voice of the Good Shepherd, My God, who is my creator who has the ultimate plan of purpose for me.
As we are on Day 2 of our 7 day journey of Prayer and fasting, Let us take time to understand that God desires to speak to us and to direct us. Jesus paints a picture of his sheep knowing his voice and that they respond to his voice, sheep do not respond to the voice of an unfamiliar stranger. John 10:27
Who’s voice have we become accustomed to in our lives? Have the voices of Social media, world news and negative people around us become our shepherd’s voice that we are tuned in to? Has the voice of our desire for pleasure become more prominent that we find ourselves chasing after fame, sex, drugs , alcohol, money or even food in a self-destructive way? Whose’s voice is leading your life?
Today God’s voice is calling us into His presence. God desires us to be in a place of true, peace, satisfaction, joy and victory which can all be found in His presence. This week in our time of prayer and fasting, as we walk away from food, social media, and certain habits that we have become accustomed to, allow the Voice of the Holy Spirit to instil a new desire to be in God’s presence. Allow God to transform your Hearing and your vision so that you can be made sensitive to a desire to be in God’s presence always. You will find yourself following after God’s peaceful soft voice that leads you towards his awesome presence. Remember you will not listen to a voice that has no value to you, so spend time with God in his word so that you begin to understand the unmatched value of his Love, Power and Joy. As you do so, the less valuable voices of the world will become increasingly less attractive in light of God’s Presence which offers his divine goodness and everlasting promises.
Join us tonight for Day 2 of the 5 x 5 Prayer & Worship. Last night was Powerful. If you are struggling to enter into Gods’s Presence, Praise & Worship is an awesome way to begin to experience the voice of God calling you into His Holy presence so join us each evening of this week until Friday from 7pm to 8pm at our 3 Locations. We will end of the 7 day journey of Prayer & fasting on Sunday with a huge celebration Service of Worship at our 6pm service at Table View.
Scripture Reflection:
'O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. '
Psalms 63:1-8 (NLT)
WORSHIP ENCOURAGEMENT
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