To watch day 2 of my Vlog click here.
Recently I did something pretty crazy or audacious, as my Pastor would say. Last October during my quiet time, preparing for bible study, God lead me to a 40-day juice fast. Let me be completely honest here, I had never completed a 24 hour fast of any kind. I’ve always overlooked the fasting thing in the bible because personally it was something I really did not want to do. I know that’s not making me look too great as a “Christian Life Coach” but I’m just being real with you. The truth is we all have certain things that we want to ignore and pretend it doesn’t apply to our life.
Well, that particular morning, I was trying extremely hard to ignore God’s prompting so I actually starting arguing with him. This is how it went down. As I was reading scripture, I got that gentle nudge in my spirit that said 40 day juice fast. I sat in my chair and literally looked up at the ceiling and spoke out loud, are You serious? No food, just juice for 40 days? I shook my head and headed to the kitchen to pour myself a nice cup of hot coffee and while I was walking back to my chair I started complaining. “There is no way in creation that I can go 40 long days without chewing any food. No way, no how, can I do that. Forget it.” And then I heard Him again (not audible, of course), if I can’t trust you with food, how can I trust you with people? I immediately tossed my hands in the air and said, ok fine you got me! My life is about reaching women with the love of Christ through coaching, writing and speaking so this was a big eye opener.
Luke 16:10 reads, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much…” Don’t you hate it when scripture backs up the truth you were so hoping to avoid? You know I’m just kidding, but heck 40 days was more than I wanted to bite off…LOL!
Today I want to encourage you that you can be trusted with more. I want to challenge you to stop ignoring God’s promptings and embrace the truth. Why, because the Holy Spirit lives inside you and if you press past your fears and seek His constant presence in everyday life, I promise you all things are possible.
What has God been prompting you to do lately? Did you avoid it or embrace it? Leave your commits on my blog today!
Linda! The video blog is a great idea! I love that it’s like we’re chatting together! Your questions and challenge prompted me to ponder a few truths..or Trusts. I am amazed at the blessings at OBS..it is a huge encouragement to press on.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the vlog! Yes, Online Bible Studies is an absolute blessing for some many people!
We must continue to FROG-Fully Rely On God 🙂
Linda Kuhar
Hello Linda,
Well, I just had to comment. I just read your blog and listened to you Vlog. AWESOME!!!
God has been impressing me with “exactly” this same message these last few days. 2012 was a difficult year and at times, I think I embraced and handled faithfully the challenges and storms I was facing. Other times, I can look back and say.. I wasn’t grateful for all he was showing me and asking me to do. I wanted it to be different without taking the steps to get there without “taking care of” what He had asked me to do. He asks us to be content with what we have, thankful and generous and then, He blesses us with more. Lord, 2013 is a year of courage and action! A year to boldly receive and give out the great gifts that you give us as we trust you and step out boldly! God will trust us with more, if He can trust us with little!!
Living courageously,
Melissa
I love that Melissa, a Year of Courage & Action! I’m embracing it with you. Thank you for encouraging me for my vlog 🙂 It seems so silly that something so simple can stress me out. It’s sitting in fear that’s the hard part, not moving forward in the action your called too.
FROG-Fully Rely On God
Linda Kuhar
Linda ~ I love this. My blog today was on my prompt from God. Funny how we like to argue with him yet he always wins the battle …I too said okay to Gods prompt to me. Thank you for sharing and being honest.
That is funny that you wrote about God’s prompting today as well! Boy He must be trying to get his point across to us 🙂
Linda, thank you for openly sharing today. I love your honesty and the reminder that we all need to trust God – completely, not holding anything back.
Jamy, thanks for your encouraging feedback! My one word for 2013 is Trust. I know in the past when I walk by faith and not by sight God always shows up in a big way, so I am determined this year to Trust!
Does postponing it count as avoiding it?
Thought I was going in the right direction but God said, nope, that’s not what I said. So after my current commitment is done – it’s on to following God.
Just a little while longer (a week and a half) and I’ll be good to go. I just pray I don’t mess up again!!!!!
Great awareness to God’s prompting! And remember if we mess up God can always use it for our message 🙂
Wow Linda! This really spoke to me. I, too, have been being stubborn lately. I KNOW what it is He has laid on my heart. I can almost get a mental image of a child stomping her foot. Thank you for your honesty and heart.
Jennifer, I’m glad to know I’m not the only stubborn one 🙂 Now that you Know what He has called you to do, what are you going to do to guarantee you move forward?
Dear Linda,
Loved your post on Trusted. This was a good one to think about. I have never done a fast either. However with that being said, I have fasted from other things that I have done in excess. Take for example TV. I have watched it constantly from sun up to sun down if I did not have anything else going on. The past six months we have been a completely free TV family and it has been wonderful. Now this morning we have hooked the TV back up. I thought I was going to get on it and do the same thing. I went on for a minute or less and flipped it off. It felt good to have this feeling that God has taken away the need for TV. Now if I could have the same thing happen with food then life for me would be so much better. Maybe I will do something like this on a slow basis and not do it all at one. Thanks again for posting. Blessings and Keep Smiling. Jeanie
Jeanie, that is so cool that you now know you don’t need TV. I believe in you and that you can do the same thing with food. It’s all about surrendering and you’ve already accomplished so much with TV that I am confident you can do it with food! Let me know if you decide to do it and I will pray for you during the process!
FROG-Fully Rely On God
Linda
Thank you so much for the video! I’ve missed you and I not only love reading your words but hearing your sweet voice. Your blog definitely touched my spirit because there are times that I feel that tug in my heart to do something for God and then the questioning process begins. Of course, prayer, Godly counsel and asking God if this decision is in line with the Scriptures is imperative. But, sometimes you just know it’s from God.
My prayer this year is to continue to trust Him even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s inconvenient. And to FOCUS on Him so that I will know which route to take. It’s a process not a project and I’m so thankful for God and for wonderful people like you who are on the same journey. Love you sister!
Kristi,
I miss you too! So tell me, do you have a word for the year? It sounds like Trust & Focus will be your priority this year. My word is Trust. I’m letting going of trying to figure everything out and just Trust God’s divine plan for me. Thankful for you!
FROG-Fully Rely On God (which means Trust)
Linda
We just talked about fasting in last nights Bible study, and to be honest, it was something that I had always ignored in the Bible, too… until I got a little nudging during Bible study. This is kind of like confirmation, but I’ll probably be like Gideon and ask for a second sign… while praying about it in the meantime. Thanks for sharing =)
Hi Lauren, this is your second sign! You can do it!! 🙂 Fasting was the most amazing spiritual intimacy I’ve ever experienced. I completely put ALL my trust in God one day at a time….one meal at a time and He provided everything I needed and more. It was funny because during that 40 days strangers would even tell me I looked like I was glowing. I thought yep that’s God glowing right through me 🙂
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up.
Great testimony Linda. Not sure I could do a fast like that but we never know, do we? I am hoping I have not more rivers to cross soon and hope God has be planted for a bit. Last year was a huge year – retirement, leading OBS, and subsitute teaching with special-needs children. All things I could never have done on my own but all blessings now that I have done them. Blessings to you Linda and thanks for all your encouragement. Debbie W. (OBS Leader)
(OBS Small group leader)
Loved your blog I can relate to the whole
fasting thing i think we all struggle when we have to fast something proud of you praying for you