Jehovah was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake: Jehovah was not in the earthquake.
And after the earthquake, a fire: Jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire, a soft gentle voice. (1Kings 19:11-12)

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

When You Really Need To Feast For the Next Forty Days {Words of Life Wednesdays~A Link-up}

{Join us below for Words of Life Wednesdays with a link-up of your post.
We'd love to hear how God's Word has been nourishing you.}


"Now I would remind you, brothers [and sisters], of the gospel I preached to you, 

What if it's not fasting we need?

What if it really is feasting?

It's a minor thing, at first glance it is merely a vowel, but it could make all the difference.

Many are giving up something starting today. This day is recognized as the first day of Lent, which literally means 'forty'. So for the next forty days people will deny themselves of something. Things like chocolate, coffee, bread, meat. Some will get really creative and give up things other than food. My daughter thought it would be a good idea to give up snow this year. I told her she wouldn't be able to go skiing and she re-considered.

Honestly, I have to tell you, I've never practiced Lent. I've never been involved in a liturgical church and it was not part of my upbringing. I'm not here to tell you to participate in the observance or not. I don't know your heart in the matter.

I do know that I need to feast. Maybe, you do too?

What if for the next forty days instead of fasting from luxuries, we feasted on the grace of the life-giving Gospel?



It's not just stuff we need to give up for forty days, but our selves we need to give away everyday.

We are a people that crave acceptance, affirmation and purpose. We want to feel like we are doing something to improve ourselves. We think knowledge will fix all the problems. We desire to end poverty and at the same time live in absolute luxury. We work hard to pay for stuff forgetting it's the poor in spirit who is truly blessed and will receive the kingdom of heaven. Those who feast on the Gospel receive eternal glory.

But, we've made our own rules. We've made ourselves gods. With no need for God.

To admit that we cannot fix ourselves in completely humbling. And that's the tipping point.

The call on the Christian is complete surrender. Not just giving up parts of your life. But, your whole life. To see that you are a sinner and there is nothing you can do to overcome that sin on your own, in your own power or by your own will.

Nothing.  Not today, not for the next forty days, not ever.

It's all grace. We're talking about the Good News. It is truly amazing.




Christ already paid the penalty for sin. By faith, and faith alone, we receive new life.

So for the next forty days, why don't we gather around and feast of the glorious grace of the Gospel?

Get down on our knees, dig deeper into His Word, and grow in His love.

We will sit at His feet, abide in Him, and rest in His embrace.

We don't just have to give up something, but we give Him everything.

Let's feast on His grace, hold fast to the Gospel, turn from our own ways and give of our selves.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took the break, gave thanks, and gave it away. His body was given for us. His blood was poured out for us. When we've feasted, we are filled to pour forth and share the glorious Good News of the body broken and the blood spilt and we spend our lives giving away our selves. All to the praise of His glory.

Let's see how that prepares us for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday and every day of our lives for all of eternity.


***
Would you join us in the comments if your heart's desire is to feast on the Gospel for the next forty days. Let's hold fast to and remind ourselves of the Gospel that we have heard and believed.

A Soft Gentle Voice

also linking with (Coffee For Your Heart)





14 comments:

  1. I really like your fast/feast thoughts. So much of what you said goes right along with what God's been teaching my heart.

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    1. I'm always amazed at how God teaches us. He desires for us to really know Him. May we seek Him more and taste of His goodness and love Him with all our hearts.

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  2. I love your thoughts on fast/feast. In reading your words, I came to realize this is exactly how God has led me this year. While I will be giving up something, I am also embracing something. I will be giving up bread to embrace the Bread of Life in reading the New Testament in 40 days. Funny that He led me to fast & feast at the same time. I am grateful to have read your post this morning. Blessings!

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    1. They really have to go together, don't they? You wouldn't know one without the other. May you be filled in His Words of Life in the next forty days; filled to overflowing. Blessings to you!

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  3. Wonderful post, Rebekah! I need this kind of feasting every day - I've never participated in Lent, but have always been mindful of it. I think spiritual disciplines and traditions are important, when done with grace. Have a blessed week!

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    1. Yes, yes, and yes!! Always grace. Thank you for linking up.

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  4. I never noticed the vowel difference between the two words -- one little letter. My background is liturgy and Lent has been a part of my life forever. And I think there is a feast at Lent, too, if I alter my perspective a bit -- it is in the letting go that I make more room for Him. And more of Him is a feast.

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    1. Jen, I pray you tasted the grace in these words. I did not want to condemn certain practices, just because I've never participated. What has been my background and a part of my life is to gather around the Lord's table and break bread to remember His death and resurrection every Sunday, but I believe we need to remember and feast on the Gospel everyday. It's not the doing, but the abiding. There's nothing we can do to add to the Gospel, and for that I'm grateful, for I have absolutely nothing to add. Amazing grace. Thank you for being here.

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    2. I totally agree with you. And yes, nothing but grace did I taste here. I also realized that I read this post, not the one for the SDG link-up, but I think it was totally God! This morning, I read another post about feasting (a theme!) and wanted to connect y'all. Here's Kel's post: http://kelrohlf.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/unlent/

      I am giving up criticism for Lent, but I am also asking God if there is something more here. As I give up, perhaps I will receive something else that will take up that space??

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  5. Yes feasting--I love that! Great post and just what I needed to start Lent.

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  6. Oh, sister, I totally relate to this whole post and wrote something similar in the my post today too. Thanks for the opportunity to link up here!

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  7. I so agreeing on the feasting because I know to find freedom for my eating disorder it does not require just giving it up...it requires surrendering to Him and feasting on His word for the next 40 days and so on. I so need Him. Love, love, love you!!! Another beautiful post. {Hugs}

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  8. This makes perfect sense to me. I've grown weary on this journey, yet am still trying to pludge along. And honestly reading all of the posts about Lent and how everyone is giving up this and that has had me scrambling and wondering if I should be doing the same. But all I hear is to "sit and be still". I want to give up my negative thoughts during this season as I draw closer to Him.

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  9. This is beautiful and very insightful..i feel like so many times we focus on what not to do or what to give up and miss out on the Joy, because fasting was never a permanent state but temporary...life is mostly time for feasting...thanks for the reminder

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