What we cultivate is what we’ll give to those around us.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

This morning I woke up with this thought, “I need to fast today.” I don’t know about you, but giving up food for any reason whatsoever is not a thought that flows through my mind naturally. Nope! That requires divine inspiration. Why? I like food, especially chocolate covered food (yes I do consider chocolate a food group). Normally when God puts the desire to fast in my heart there is an instant (and I mean INSTANT) argument as to why it is not a good time, a good a day, legal… But this morning I woke up with a DESIRE to fast. I may not enjoy the idea of fasting, but I have to admit I love the byproduct. I like the intimate access before God’s throne. I love that feeling that there are no barriers between God and I. But for me nothing beats praise and worship during a time of fast. Today sermon really spoke to me, but it was the close of the service where I realized the true beauty of what God did in me last year. On the first Sunday of the new year, my Pastor traditionally gives an alter call for Christians (people who know God, but have fallen away for one reason or another)  it’s a chance to start the new year off on the right foot. Every year I feel the need to go forward, I get that nudge in my heart that says “Let’s put God first this year.” This year as I was sitting there, guess what? No, nudge. Why? He is first! He really, really is. I wish I had words to explain what I felt in my heart, when I realized the reason I didn’t feel compelled to go forward, was because I was walking the road that God wanted me to walk, and I was doing it willingly. I am so excited about the future. God did so much in and through me last year (when I wasn’t so willing), I can’t imagine what He can accomplish now that I am willing. Look out world, here I come!

“The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy” (Mark 12:30, Message Bible).

So what’s my plan of attack? Keep God first. Everything else will fall in line.