April 22-24

Connecting the dots...

In this fast group we use on Matt 5:6 as our focus verse:

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

I want to just throw it out there and say that God is the righteousness this verse is focusing on. How could we as sinful beings ever hope to say that we are righteous? We can have righteousness take hold in our hearts and manifest in our lives but apart from God, Who causes that to happen, we are not righteous.
So what does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness? It means to burn to be more like God. Hungering after God is a gift that He gives us to increase Himself in our lives. He tweaks our hearts and causes us to run to Him.
So what should my response be if im burning to know more of God or if i'm wanting and willing to act upon the way i feel towards Him?
Well there are many things you can do, but im going to highlight something out of Matt 9:14-15

14Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"
15And Jesus said to them, "The attendance of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast."

Mourning after Jesus is longing for God in our lives. We all have a God shaped hole in our heart that only He can fill. Nothing else will satisfy. What happens when we come to grips with ourselves and actually want to do something about the longing for God that we have? Well Jesus invites us to fast.
I believe the best way to increase hungering for Jesus (the word, prayer, dwelling with His Spirit) is to fast. and i also believe it should be the next step in the relationship. Jesus said "But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast." Those days are upon us, its now that fasting and longing for righteousness and Jesus apply to our lives.
So i'd invite anyone who strolls upon this page or who regularly reads and even fasts to 'sign up' again this week and take time to fast and pray and really seek the Lords heart either on this topic or on another area of your walk that He has placed on your heart. I want to hunger and thirst after Jesus, i want to be lovesick for my Bridegroom. Fasting a little or a lot won't change the fact that God wants to satisfy. He'll meet us all where we are and give grace to those who seek Him. Lets just take things in stride this week and press in. Don't be shy.
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!