Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey
Matthew 27:62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, (I puzzled over with these verses. It finally dawned on me they had “worked” on the Sabbath to ensure no one could say Jesus rose, ensuring the tomb would be guarded and sealed. Okay for them to run out and beg to have guards stationed and body not stolen, but not okay for a cripple to be healed on a Sabbath, and carry his mat home.)
Mark 11:15-18 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of thieves.’” And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.
Mark 15:42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
Luke 23:54 That day was the Preparation and the Sabbath drew near
John 2: 14-16 In the temple courts He found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove them all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here ! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”
John 11:47-53 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
John 12:12-15 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
John 12:17-19 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
John 19:14,31.42 Now, it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”. . . therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a “high day”), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. . . . So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
On the Sunday before His death, many gathered and cried out, “Hallelujah! Our King is coming. Yay! He will beat back the Romans and help us get back to a sense of freedom, no more oppression and being unable to walk about our city freely. Probably He will reduce our taxes and continue to heal and feed us! Look! Here He comes surrounded by His friends and many others. A cause to rejoice!” This happy crowd who seemingly adored Jesus was cheering and so happy to witness Him coming into Jerusalem. He had healed many, ousted demons residing within some, had even raised back to life the only son of a widow, and a twelve-year-old girl, and finally, His friend, Lazarus, who had been dead for four days.
Their desire is clear. They want a King who can master death; death by heavy taxes, unable to afford bills and pay taxes so they are jailed, death from being oppressed by the Romans. However, it is their understanding that is still lacking. They do not realize Jesus must die before he can defeat death. They somehow thought this soft spoken, mild mannered Man would fight, develop an army and defeat the oppressors.
The next day was Monday, and on this day, Jesus bearing a whip and anger entered the temple courtyard, yelling for them all to leave the area, furious that the temple, His Father’s house was being used as a cheap marketplace to expand the pockets of the religious leaders—both Pharisees and Sadducees. (John 2:14-16). People were selling birds, some lambs, oxen, exchanging money and making the temple seem more like a marketplace for livestock animals for sacrifice and a gambling hall. The religious leaders were willing to sacrifice the sanctity of the temple to line their pockets with more money.
Did these people not know the first three commandments to love God, to not blaspheme Him in any manner, and to honor the Holy Day? Anger, dismay and the knowledge that He had only hours before He would be brutalized and killed had Jesus showing His fury at the disrespect to His Father; to the trinity, of which He was an equal member. Had His life all been for naught?
But His anger and temper display encouraged the religious leaders to grab and kill Him sooner than later. His shouting and demanding respect for His Father’s house was causing some to question perhaps He was right, and thus maybe the religious leaders were taking advantage of them. Afterall the temple was supposed to be for all people to experience God’s presence and forgiveness. And they had heard Him call the temple His house. They already recognized He had awesome powers—healing the sick, curing the lame, the blind, the deaf, the lepers, freeing people from demons, and raising some from the dead.
And Jesus announces He is restoring the temple to its original purpose—a place of worship, a place of sacrifice, and thankfulness for the awesome works of God for the past several centuries. He wants them to realize He will be the final sacrifice, and the old covenant is broken. He is the new covenant; if one will heartily repent and follow Him, they will have eternal life.
Now, Judas planned to turn Jesus over to the religious elite. He is given a miserly pittance for the life of another, promises to arrange a time to meet and deliver the Messiah.
While Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus is pouring fragrant spikenard on his feet and drying them with her hair, Judas slips out and arranges to betray His teacher, the Man he has chosen to follow for the past several months, for 30 pieces of silver.
On Thursday, Jesus and His disciples have their last meal together. I found some speculation that this may have been like a graduation celebration before Jesus met His death; and His apostles would then be alone, but with their knowledge. After His death, the coming of the Holy Spirit would come to them, and they would now be the ones to spread the Word, to show the Way.
I don’t agree with that supposition. The first Passover after fleeing Egypt, was originally directed by God to Moses to be on the 14th day of Nisan, the first month. I believe that Thursday evening was the 14th of Nisan, therefore, was truly Passover. The next day would have been the Preparation Day for the Sabbath meal which would begin at sundown on that Friday.
Passover was the first day of the weeklong celebration of Unleavened Bread. Thus, the Passover began on Thursday, 14 Nisan, and Jesus was tortured Thursday night through early Friday morning, then scourged, tormented and humiliated, then told to haul a heavy cross on His beaten back, shoulders, and body, and minutes later, nailed Him to that wooden cross. Being so badly beaten, He hadn’t the strength to carry out the Romans orders, and Simon of Cyrene was taken from the crowd and he lugged it instead.
Reaching the top of the hill, He was strapped down, pierced with huge spikes into both wrists and both ankles, the cross and body lifted, and there He hung. He was separated from His Father, and was suspended into a darkness and place of putridness while He defeated Satan and ended the time of believing that that sacrificial lambs, oxen, goats and so forth would be able to forgive their sins.
Jesus was going to be the blood sacrifice for all. There was going to be a new covenant — that if one believed Him to be the Son of God, and the Sacrificial and Final Lamb, He was the last Atonement for ALL sins—mine, yours, and for all. One only needs to be sincere, repentant and walk to follow Him, then gains forgiveness and is washed and will have eternal life. Physical death will come, but to live with God’s glory around you for all eternity, within the love of God, the Father, His Son, my Savior, Jesus, and the Hoy Spirit, that is a resounding win to me.
Father, I praise You and thank You that long before I was a thought, You arranged for the salvation of people so they would not forever be separated from You. Thank You for all the blessings You have given and blessings bestowed to me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.
Exodus 12:46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. (First Passover just before the Israelites fled Egypt)
Psalm 22:14-18 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet–I can count all my bones–they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Isaiah 53:1-12 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? . . . .(12) Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Amos 8:9 “And on that day,” declares the LORD God, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.
Matthew 20:18-19 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Mark 15:40-42 Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger, and Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come u with him to Jerusalem were also there. It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”–
Hebrews 9:11-28 Best for each of us to read and study this.*****
1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed
Isn’t it amazing and refreshing to watch people once the warmer weather makes an appearance? The steps are jauntier, the smiles more frequent, and the stores start carrying the pretty pastels of Easter, spring, and pots of tulips, narcissus, hyacinths, and more. It seems as though all the colors are brighter. There is a lift to spirits tired of winter and gray days, and the realization of rebirthing and renewing process has begun. It’s refreshing!
Easter is just a short few days away as I write this, but I’m still pleased and grateful for the meaning of the season. It’s so humbling for me to realize Jesus chose to go to the cross for US, for ME. Wow!
We know the purposes of Christ descending from heaven was to physically touch, teach, demonstrate, show how to love all others, and give His life for us. He spent His ministry showing others how to care for those suffering, touching the untouchables, those scorned and shunned, He showed love, kindness, understanding and gentleness while talking to those others who felt superior to many for whatever reason–illness, dirty, or the possibility that the other’s “affliction–bad luck, scarring, genetic deformity, blindness, or deafness might somehow also touch them. That is a way we can become blind and hardened to the needs of others. Jesus did not walk away, turn away, but went forward to touch in concern, kindness and love, forgiving sins and healing the person’s need.
His most important reason was to conquer Satan, hold the keys to Hell, and to redeem all those who believe Him as the Son of God and sincerely repent of their sins. He came to save us from the death we deserve because of our sinful, willful, arrogant natures. We sin and try to justify it, we compare one sin to another, we try to explain our heart’s reason to excuse the sin. But we are the sheep. We are not God. God commanded the early Israelites to take an animal’s life, spill blood for their sins. The ONLY way all OUR sins could be justified and propitiation made, was to have a member of the Holy Trinity, the Son of God, come to earth as full man and full God, to accept ALL sin of ALL mankind from eternity until the end, and to spill His blood, die, and THEN in TRIUMPH rise from death to resume His seat beside His Father.
While He walked and taught, He touched the bodies of damaged, dirty, and scorned people, people others feared and widely avoided. Jesus touched not just the bodies, but the hearts, bringing healing, love, and forgiveness to them. People were truly healed, not just physically, but within their hearts, and minds, and were given, light, hope, wanting to keep this effervescent, joyful feeling of being touched by the Son of God. This was so different for them all to be touched by this man who saw deeper and loved them to forgiveness. And they felt it; they knew they had received a miracle healing–of illness, and of heart, and of forgiveness. Remember when you were first saved?
And for us Christians, it is a time of reflection and marvel that the son of God walked this earth, endured those trials, temptations, scorn, rejection and His steps did not falter. He stayed the course, knowing all the while he would suffer abysmal torture and then hang from a cross as one of the worst offenders of that time, all while He was innocent. But He chose to do this, His Father’s will, for us….for me. I can’t fathom how I was worth it. But very fortunate for me, I do not have to understand how He could do this, only be extremely and eternally grateful that He did. And I try to be the best I can be to others, to share the lightness of knowing Him, and try to become more loving and giving and kind to all He places in my path each day.
We as Christians have so much to be thankful for with His teaching, coming to earth and showing others how to live in love, faith, light and truth and teaching them to pass that on, to tell others their testimonies, the truth they lived and shared with Him. We get to believe and know Him from the stories we are told. Then we get to have a relationship with Him; not just read stories. Jesus lived for about 33 years, He touched persons in His life–siblings, earthly parents, friends, and then He started His ministry.
There was no fancy temple built for Him–the Creation of the World which He, His Father, and the Holy Spirit agreed together to form and create; that was His kingdom. Since He was not apparently as appealing as King David–no earthly, handsome descriptions are found for the Son of God–but He drew people to Him. He gathered over a fairly short period of time, the twelve men He had chosen to be His closest, to teach, guide, lead, show, love, and shepherd so they could go out to pass the message on. Jesus showed them all the true way to live and follow the Ten Commandments.
For us though, we have the entire book: “In the Beginning….throughout the OT and into the NT learning the lifetime of Jesus and certainly His ministry as an adult. We learn how He was so unjustly accused of things deserving of death–blasphemy, loving persons on a Sabbath so an affliction may be cured, interrupting the money changers and the monies that also crept into the Pharisees pockets, and correcting others to look at their HEARTS and not their idea of the law, and disobedience; so He was killed.
And yet that was God’s plan all along. The only way to bring us back close to Him, was to have a blood sacrifice which would be offered to take our sins, and if we believed He was who He said He was, and we followed in the loving path He wanted us to walk, repented of our sins each time we sinned, we could be accepted and live life eternally with Him. Because we love Him and what He did for us when we are totally unworthy, He urges us to follow Him. give up our “cross” and become more like Him–loving others, showing kindness, as we learn and grow in His light and truth.
Easter comes in the Spring season. Our minds are excited to be done with the drab of gray, cold, and we are ready to be in a garden–or if not actually gardening, you can enjoy the different plants and colors our God has created for us. He warms the soil and raises the perennials, bringing light and happiness, and uplifting of our thoughts and hearts. For Christians, we are reminded of our Lord’s death and His resurrection–our forever Light, Truth and Way., and He sacrificed His sin-free life for our corrupt self and arrogant lives. The winter pall is fading, and the spring days are here. So, with the new colors of flowers, longer days, and the Easter season, I am humbled by what Jesus did for ME, for ME. And for all who choose to believe.
Lord, Jesus, I thank You for Your wonderful sacrifice to save me. You have brought light, truth and the way to offer everlasting life to those who believe in You, have repented of sins, and seek to be more like You. Your death defeated Satan and freed me from my darkness and sin. Thank You for all You have done, Your blessings, and all You continue to do for me and ‘mybellaviews.
So, no wonder there is brightness. The Son is shining! He is my most favorite and wonderful blessing. The best of “mybellaviews!”
Psalm 2:1,2 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings plot of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed One.
Psalm 69:8 I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother’s sons
Psalm 89:3,4 “I have made a covenant with My servant David: ‘Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.'”
Psalm 118:22,23 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Isaiah 50:6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting
Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read the Scriptures” the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone
Mark 11:1-10 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it….then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who followed cried out, saying “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!”
Matthew 26:67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him.
Luke 23:11 Then Herod with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
John 7:3-5 Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His own brothers did not believe in Him
John 7:42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
Do you ever think about the few days before Jesus was crucified? He rode into town on a donkey colt, hailed by a large crowd or cheered Him, wanted to make Him king. People who were enthralled with the stories of His healing of lepers, casting out demons, healing the ill, feeding thousands, and with the possibility He truly was the Messiah. Some firmly believed and knew in their hearts He was. But within days they were possibly part of the crows yelling for His crucifixion. How did things change? How did their desire to see Him, touch, be with Him change to one where they were willing to demand His death. Were they stirred to excitement because of the miracles, the healings, the feeding of the thousands? Were they believing the hope had at last arrived to free them from the Romans? He rode in revered, honored; but within hours, things changed.
Crowds can be influenced by anger, others yelling about unfairness of something. Fear and anger together can stir up a crowd that can become violent. Anger is addictive, and also bad for your physical and mental health. There are several factors that can influence crowd behavior—and have the majority turn to dangerous confusion. Many of the factors are anxiety, anonymity, emotions, weather, and a few members yelling different things that can stir the crowd, influencing the ideas and the make-up of the crowd.
Any herd can be startled and cause the entire herd to flee. One animal starts, the others sense danger and they all run—the majority have no idea of what they run from; but they run.
This social contagion even happens with humans. A few can yell and cause doubt and anxiety in a crowd and soon the entire grouping is yelling and angry—maybe completely switching their mind on why or how they were initially in the group. Could that have happened, according to God’s plan, as His will needed to e carried out to save us as we are sinners who consistently and persistently sin—whether we want to or not. Romans 7:15-20
It is easy to prey on others’ fears and this will increase the unpredictability of a crowd, and fear can escalate behavior to strike out—and a crazed mob can be the result. Fear and anger from a few can lead to horde or mass unrest and it feeds, spreads and grows.
It happened while Moses led the Hebrews through the Wilderness. They had no water so they grumbled and then loudly proclaimed they would be better off returning to Egypt. I don’t believe Moses intended to be disobedient—I think he struck the rock twice in anger at these complaining people and the weight they were around his neck and shoulders. They complained earlier about bitter water. God told Moses to throw part of a tree into the water, and the water became fresh.
They complained of no bread, no meat—loudly and that caused more and more to find fault. A few that are unhappy can create more and more to find fault—crowd mentality. These people did the same when it was time to enter Canaan, the Promised Land, filled with lovely fruits, milk and honey, “large giant people. We will be doomed.” Those ten men caused fear to run rampant in the crowd, so they again went against God’s will for them, did their own, and then had to endure the consequences of that disobedience and stayed in the desert for 40 years instead of a much shorter time.
I think that is what happened with God’s permission and plan. The Pharisees stirred up the crowd, aggravated the people to cause Pilate to give them what they cried they wanted, and Jesus was sentenced to death.
Jesus was a hero to many, certainly not the Pharisees or Sadducees (they enjoyed their power and wealth too much), but they were able to verbally call out and say Jesus was not obeying the laws—God only initiated a few, buy the time these men had dictated laws to others, there were 630—and they did not even try to obey them; they were just quick to point out those who did not obey and call them out publicly. They cried out against His statements of being the Son of God. After seeing the miracles He performed, I am unsure how anyone could have doubted it. But the religious leaders did NOT want that and their “learned” arguments of His claims “were grounds for death; we must kill Him.”
I think that is in large part what happened a few days after people honored Him coming into Jerusalem to then screeching for His crucifixion. And of course, that was God’s plan ensuring the only sacrifice which could save us was an unblemished, sinless full man, full God, God’s only Son, Jesus.
Lord, You knew what was coming; You knew about those fickle crowds–adoration and honor one moment; then betrayal, lies, abuse, and torture. I am so sorry for all You went through during those hours. But without Your sacrifice, I would not have You in my life, blessing me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Exodus 34:28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments
Ezra 8:21-23 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek Him, and the power of His wrath is against all who forsake Him.
Nehemiah 1:3-4 And they said to me, “The remnant there is the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Esther 4:15-16 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Psalm 69:10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach
Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Daniel 9:3-5 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking Him by prayer and pleas for the mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.
Daniel 10:2, 3 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
Joel 2:12-13 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Matthew 6:17-18 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the LORD in whom they had believed.
I love food, almost any food you can come up with—almost. I am not a person who eats at 7, noon, and between 5-6. I like being up for several hours and then prepare breakfast between 9:30 and 10 AM, and may be will do ‘suplunch’ 4-5:30. I can be enticed to add another meal if going out or whatever. My point is, I rarely miss an opportunity to eat, but generally do not follow a schedule.
But recently, I have been thinking about fasting.
There were a couple of gals I worked with at my last church and they decided to do a fast. In part it was to lose weight, in part to challenge themselves, and in part to see if some of their prayers would be answered. Both felt they did enjoy a closer, more enriched walk with God after completing their fast, and one met a wonderful man—a minister in a church in eastern NC, whom she married within four months; and they are still madly in love.
Anyway, I read different devotions and topics within the Bible app each year: Tauren Wells, Priscilla Shirer, Craig Groeschel and many others. But somehow, I chose Fasting as my extra subject this time, and must admit, I am a bit excited about it. I want a deeper relationship with God. I realize I am probably growing in Him, but it does not always feel like that—and I want to FEEL it.
One of the 5-day app versions about fasting, 5 Days to Victorious Fasting by Jamie Rohrbach talks about preparation, having legitimate prayers regarding your time with God—not trying to manipulate for something you want. You may be praying and trying to seek God’s guidance through fasting on a relationship that needs improving, a child who is making continual poor choices and what to do, should you take a new job, move to a different area, and so forth are legitimate things to ask God while fasting. But the true, spiritual goal of fasting is to bring you closer to God, the realization you need Him in everything–everything!
I have read, thought about and prayed over this for a week or so, and will continue to learn more. Certainly at this point, I am not prepared enough to jump into a 40 day fast, but I am considering a 24-72 hour fast. I don’t know if even that is perhaps too lofty. (Have I mentioned I love food?) Everything from God is a gift; to offer Him a true sacrifice, something my selfish, carnal being loves, for a closer walk with Him, I think will please Him. I know He wants the closeness–but it is my actions that will bring that about as it shows I am serious, just not mouthing, but heartfelt following through. Fasting and spending more time just seeking Him, thanking Him and reminding Him I want to walk closer with Him. Since He created me He is well aware of my selfish, self-centered being and my love of foods, therefore, He recognizes the heartfelt desire to know Him more deeply and the sacrifice of foods, a certain meal or many meals over a certain amount of time. He knows it and will help me find the directions and answers I am yearning for.
And with all He has blessed me with over the years, He certainly deserves me sacrificing for Him, a day of not eating. For now, I am working on eliminating bakery products and chocolate, and wine. But I know I want to do and feel more, feel deeper. From the reading I have done, you cannot just jump into a lofty goal and master this. You are encouraged to drink water—and if attainable to get distilled as both tap and bottled waters have things that can make you feel unwell—chlorine in water makes one author have terrible headaches. Tap water is the worst as you can be taking in various viruses and/or bacteria that you are easier able to combat when you are eating, but with no solid sustenance, then you can feel nauseous, weaker, and may even have other more significant GI upsets.
One of the articles also mentioned decreasing your food intake for 2-3 days before the actual fast so your stomach is more familiar with dealing with a lessened intake. And I do not like to miss out on any pleasures; and my mouth and stomach enjoy several. So for now, I am preparing, and within a few days will be starting, and so looking forward to delving into a deeper relationship with Him. He is beyond worthy of me missing a couple of meals. Perhaps, I will start with a goal of 24 hour, and if not suffering and “hangry” will proceed to 36 and gauge from there if I can go on. I certainly do not want to get discouraged and say “I never want to do that again.” And my spoiled disposition might very well spout that comment—and mean it– at least for the time!
I will have my list of prayers and things I am seeking His guidance with and knowing “all things are possible with Him who strengthens me” will begin a journey I have never attempted before.
I did try fasting—for dieting; not to deepen my relationship with my Creator. For sure, my reasons were all based in selfishness—probably a bit of Pharisee-ish… But my motives and desires and goals are much different this time. My God has abundantly blessed me throughout my life. And I want a deeper relationship with Him, and also want to honor Him with a heartfelt sacrifice, and fasting is a means to do that.
Lord, I thank You I stumbled across these devotional apps on this subject. You always guide me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.
Psalm 78:4 We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord his power, and the wonders he has done.
Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace: they will bring you the delights you desire.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord
1 Timothy 5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Titus 2:7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good.
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
During part of the years we lived in Germany, both sons moved back to join us when their Dad was diagnosed with cancer and needed treatments. There was very little American TV since 23 lived on the economy, so it was either German shows, or we rented VCR (yes, a LONG time ago) movies. Most of what the American facilities had were comedies like Dumb and Dumber, Major Payne, Animal House and so forth. Seeing them once was just fine for me; I did not need to see them more frequently yet, that is the type of humor in movies my sons and husband loved. And each time they watched one of those comedies, no matter how often they had seen it, they all giggled like it was the initial time they were hearing the line and seeing the silliness. You have no idea how often I thanked God that the boys were there to watch these and entertain my husband, so I could be buried in a book, deafening out the comedy.
While there, one son worked for the motor pool on base, while the other worked for the Commissary (the grocery store for American on base). Many people interacted with one or the other of us in our separate work environments. I worked at the base medical clinic.
It was almost daily that one or two of the patients in the clinic would spot my name tag, then asked if I had a son working at the commissary, or at the motor pool. What a pleasure to hear these people say what a hard, helpful worker he was—did not matter who they were discussing, the consensus was the same. The boys were polite, hard workers and very helpful. At the time, both were in their early 20’s. What a wonderful reassurance that we had raised good young men! It was a delight to hear the praises these strangers shared with me, and after the interaction, I would just tell God how thankful I was that He had guided our steps while raising these kids and He had apparently helped us make more right decisions than wrong. It was a blessing to hear that my children were respected for their hard working and polite work ethics. But all the glory and thanks went to God.
We had combined our family when the three kids were thirteen, fourteen and fifteen. My husband had been a single parent when his first wife walked out leaving him with a two- and four-year-old. We met when the kids were all just entering teen years; Becky was 12, Scott 13, and Justin 14. The boys were just 7 months apart. How blessed we were to have three teens come together, wanting to be family, and always treating one another as such. My biological son was moving to Germany—uprooting him from all he knew. But, because this was God’s path for us, it all went smoothly.
Hearing so many compliments I was afraid I might feel arrogant and prideful. But as I was proud that my sons were good men and workers, it was easy to remember this was all God and His direction for our family. Both boys also worked at a family Gasthaus close to where we lived. They would work in the kitchen helping prep food, wash dishes, and whatever needed to be done. In the Fall they would help make Schnaps with the gentleman who owned the Gasthaus. Herr Rauser was a gruff man, not at all fond of Americans, but as we frequented the Gasthaus often, we were visible and able to change his mind a bit.
We would all gather the fruit early in the mornings from the fields. Although, the man they worked with was not fond of most Americans— he did enjoy my sons. He had seen how they worked at the Gasthaus (which he owned), saw how we all picked up fruit and turned it over to him, and the boys would follow his directions—much only understood through miming of the motions, but the three of them worked well together; and Herr Rauser gained a better appreciation of a culture he had deemed as all unworthy. In all truthfulness, I think during World War II, Herr Rauser was a mid teen to a young 20-something. A very tough time in that country and growing with a war, fighting, and lies being told, and he developed a disdain toward Americans. His heart softened some, at least toward my family–another way to show love to others and soften hearts.
God helped us raise our three children to be hard working, competent adults, good and generous people. I am blessed and thankful for who they are as adults. Even without knowing they are my own children, I would be pleased to meet and respect these people. Thank You, God for always guiding our steps and blessing me with these wonderful adult children. You have always been there for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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