fasting...in a different way.

what's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word fasting? If you're like me it is probably something along the lines of "uh, no Zaxby's for a long amount of time.." lol. We all assume that fasting is something that is done with food, but that is not always how it has to be.

take lent for example. lent is a forty-day time period leading up to Easter when many Christians choose to give up a delicacy or love of theirs in order to focus more clearly on the promise and love shown to us through the time of easter. many give up something like chocolate or soda or sweet tea, but some choose different route and give up something inedible such as their cellphone, their social media, or maybe their car. it is all about what  will bring you to that place where you can turn your focus away from something on this earth you enjoy and give it to the Lord. but fasting is not something that is only done at lent. you can fast whenever you feel led. there is also not a "time limit" on fasting. it does not always have to be forty days like lent. it can be for a week, ten days, one day, a month... however long you feel led.

if fasting the way most people think of, with food, is something that will bring you to a place of surrender to the Lord then by all means! fast with food! but if, like me, you know there are other things that need to be given up to get to that place of surrender where you are fully focused on the Lord and prayer and truly hearing what He has to say. for me, that was a certain person that I am"fasting" from for a week in order to focus less on them and more on the Lord and His plan for us.

this relates back to idol worship. right now, in my deeper bible study with my wonderful youth leader and some amazing peeps from my youth group, we are studying Gods At War by Kyle Idleman (RECOMMENDED!!!) When something in our life comes before the Lord, nothing will work out. People are not meant to be put on pedestals and worshipped...they were not designed for that. i've been through many times where i put people on pedestals above the Lord and all that led to in my life was pain and years of depression and self-harm that i am just recently recovering from. i refuse to allow anyone in my life to become an idol. i refuse to place people above the Lord because doing so only brings pain and hurt. but placing the Lord on that pedestal, His rightful place, results in joy and happiness and comfort and peace that surpasses all understanding...

..which is why I am on this fast. things happen and my selfish desires and the world take over sometimes and place things above God that were never meant to be there. The Lord will be the center of my life. i will fast indefinitely from all that comes between that because a relationship with the loving Creator of the whole gosh darn universe is so much more fulfilling than a video game or a silly boy or chocolate or twitter or working out (lol bc everything is more fulfilling than working out) or texting or ANYTHING!

so guys, i just want to encourage you guys to fast. fast from something that has been hindering you in your relationship with the Lord.. because nothing is worth giving up your relationship with God (trust me. i've learned this the hard way).. and fasting is a way to take another step closer to becoming the true, joyful followers of Christ that everyone's soul truly longs for (if they realize that or not).

"And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.."- matthew 6:16

"the reason why God has such a huge problem with idolatry is that His love for you is all consuming. He loves you too much to share you.." -Gods at War - Kyle Idleman