Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Day 6- Prayer on Fruit of the Spirit
Today may be alarming to some in that we all are taking a journey down a road seldomly traveled. Many vices and temptations will used to divert our attention from the goal that we seek to accomplish from this quest. However, share your story of how your fruits are growing regardless of the storms that have tried to drown your joy or the sunshine that have scorched your peace. Because if your seed has taken root, you can withstand the changes in weather.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Good morning all! Praise and honor are His this morning! I pray you all are doing well on our first day of Water and 100% Juice only. I wanted to share the notes that my Bible has for Galatians 5:22-23.
ReplyDelete"The word fruit is significant for three reasons. (1) It means the result, product, outcome, or effect produced by the Spirit in the believer's life. (2) Unlike "the gifts of the Spirit" (plural), only some of what are given to a Christian, each believer is to have all nine virtues composing of "the fruit of the Spirit" (singular). (3) As fruit on a tree takes time to grow and mature, so the Spirit does not cultivate these virtues in the believer's life overnight. LOVE is the willing, sacrificial giving of oneself for the benefit of another without thought of return. JOY is gladness of heart. PEACE is tranquility of mind, freeing one from worry and fear. LONG-SUFFERING is patience with others, the opposite of a short temper, a disposition quietly bearing injury. GENTLENESS is kindness. GOODNESS is generosity. FAITH here is dependability. MEEKNESS is gentleness, that is, courtesy and consideration in one's relations with others. TEMPERANCE is self-control, that is, the ability to harness and control one's passions and lusts."
I pray that we all open ourselves up to the growth and maturation of all these virtues in our lives.
May God bless you in your journey!
(I'll share my experience of today at the end of the day, as well as my reflections on how my fruits are growing.)
Today is really hard. Eight more hours to go and I'm feeling weak. Not weak like I'm going to give in, but weak like I have no energy. I guess fatigued is a better word. I even took a vitamin last night, thinking it would prepare me for today. I guess it's not working. Anyone else feeling weak and drained as well? What are you doing to manage?
ReplyDeleteI, too, am feeling weak...fatigued. I've pretty much stayed at home all day so that I could try and preserve as much energy as possible so that I can make it to church tonight. So, I do feel where you are coming from. I plan on continuing with the water and juice for tomorrow...to basically prepare myself for three days of it next week. Stay strong...
ReplyDeleteI am just beginning to feel weak & VERY tempted!! But I am not going to give in. This is the first time I have ever done a fast, so its new to me. I was unaware if those 3 days back to back were water & 100% ONLY since it didnt state the word "ONLY" but it seems that has been clarified...thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe only suggestion I have is to stay busy...while at work today, I didnt think about eating (even on my lunch break), but now that I am home doing nothing, I think about it more.
Did anyone else find that the service yesterday was just what you needed to make it through the rest of the fast yesterday? Reverend Johnson really brought the Word, didn't he???!!! My spirit was renewed and my passion was re-enflamed. What really got to me was thinking about holding up my fellow brothers and sisters. He made me think about how MY success is not just about me, but about US all as a unified Body of Christ. And honestly, I REALLY don't want to be the weak link! I don't know about everyone else, but the thought of letting Satan infultrate our hedge gave me goosebumps last night. I know he's hard at work because of the awesome journey that Pastor Oliver has set us on, but as Rev. Johnson explained, God wants to bless us in a major way. I can't wait! I know that I have my work to do to prepare for these blessings and I'm thankful for the chance to do so collectively with my wonderful EBC family....
ReplyDeleteafter I had all of these thoughts last night following the service, I went home rejuvenated. But then it sunk in and I was feeling weak again. I prayed. I then went to sleep. And guess what??? I woke up this morning and I WAS NOT HUNGRY -OR- WEAK!!! It had been 36+ hours (since my fast really started at dinner on Tuesday evening, not midnight since I don't eat after dinner) and I was doing just fine! And that was enough to just make me praise the Lord!!! And that's what this fast is all about, right?
I struggled throughout the day but once 12:00 hit I felt empowered... Now asked me how I'm feeling next Wednesday after 3 days... LOL! It was quite the struggle and a definite sacrifice but I'm very proud of myself for the journey I have made thus far with this fast... I didn't think I was discipled enough to come this far but I have... LOL!
ReplyDeleteThis was a tough day for me. Breakfast was cool because I have been omitting it during the omit 1 meal time, but lunch and dinner were HARD! I thank God for placing individuals around me to encourage me. But, after HUMP Night, at home with noting to do...eating is all I could think of, so I read my word and prayer and God fed me spiritually to satisfy my physical hunger. Praise God for what He has done, is doing and will do for all of us during this 30 day journey!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am posting this after the fact, I just wanted to write and share how AWESOME God was in moving during this day. Not only did I come to church and my boyfriend joined EBC...moments after leaving the church on Camp Creek parkway the enemy tried to attack our spirits but God prevailed. I was involved in a car accident! The other car t-boned my car and shattered the glass, smashed my door in and caused what I know now to be over 4 thousand dollars worth of damage. But let me tell you what, not once was I even stirred. I knew we weren't hurt (my car nor the other car), I knew that GOD was STILL who He said He was and that I could praise Him and thank Him even in the midst of this "trouble." It was just a car and we had our lives (especially now in light of recent events). Additionally, on the scene I took a moment to just pray and talk to God and ask Him to show me what I could learn from this incident and how He could use me for His glory. I talked to the other car about God after the accident which was awesome. AND, the police officer deemed no one at fault and no one has to go to court. It's just amazing how that situation could have been a really bad day for me, but turned out to be a great one because I had a God-perspective instead of a human one. ALL GLORY be to God! :)
ReplyDeleteAmber:
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that AWESOME praise report. It's amazing, isn't it? We spare a few meals and look what He does in return. I praise God for what He did for you that night and for all He's doing in the EBC family.
WE ARE MOVING MOUNTAINS!!!
Congrats on your boyfriend joining EBC last Wednesday. I know he'll begin to unlock and unleash his prayer power too, and I pray that God will continue to bless your union!