allume

real light living

Dry Bones Come Alive

By

I’m in a dry spell.

As in, my times with the Lord lately are hard…when I’m having them at all.  I can hear him, but I have to really clear out my mind, my space, and my time to do it.  It just isn’t easy right now.

And trust…that’s hard right now too.  It’s not hard in all areas, but in some….I just can’t get there.  You know what I mean?

I realize it’s early still since we just lost Fisher a couple of months ago, but I keep wondering about trying to have more kids.  While theoretically I really would like to have another, I’m just not sure I’m trusting Him right now in that place.  I don’t know if I can start down that road of excitement, and months of puking and nausea, picking names and planning nursery decor again and risk it not working out again.  What it all really boils down to though is…. Do I trust Him?

I want to say “Yes!!!” friends….I really do, but I’m just not there when it comes to that part of my life again.  Can I trust Him with my money?  Absolutely.  Can I trust Him with my business?  Yep.  Do I trust Him with my family?  That one is coming hard right now.  It’s fear, I know.

And I know that “perfect love casts out all fear” (1 Jn 4:18) and that “no weapon formed against me will prosper.” (Is 54:17)  I know that I am “more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus and that nothing can separate me from His love.” (Rom 8:37-39)  I KNOW these things….but I’m having a hard time snuggling up to even the truths that I know that I know.

I’m just being honest here.

And writing devotions lately is hard too….probably because even though I really am devoted, I just don’t feel that way.

I’m not the first person to land in this place.  I’d be willing to bet that each of you has been in this place before too…and it’s likely that it’s happened more than once as well.  While I sure love to think myself “original”… I’m confident that I’m no anomaly on this one.

So what’s a girl to do when she knows God is close, but in some ways feels so very far?

I’ll tell you what I’m going to do.  I’m going to fast.

I tell you this not to make a big deal out of it or to draw attention to it.  I tell you, because I have a sneaking suspicion that some of you have found yourselves in a funk before and don’t know how to get out either.  I’m telling you because I know I’m not the first person who’s had questions that I can’t seem to resolve on my own.  For the life of me, I can’t clear enough mental clutter to cut to the chase and get the words that I need.  I tell you… because sometimes we have to clear out the clutter in a tangible way and force the issue of focus.

I’ll be the first to tell you that this stuff is hard.  And I’ve only super successfully done it a couple of times.  Cheating really just cheats myself in the end.

I KNOW I want more of the Lord.  I KNOW I want that trust to return.  I KNOW I need some answers to some questions.  And I KNOW that I can’t do any of that on my own.

I also KNOW that He will restore my soul. (Ps 23)  I KNOW that He will restore what the locusts have taken (Joel 2:25.)  But truth is, I just want to feel that again.  And sometimes to get things back right with a relationship, we just have to spend some time focusing on it.

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and propose that I’m not alone in this place right now.  That this well isn’t the only one that is having to dig deeper than normal for water.  That my dry lands aren’t the only ones out there….and that some of you need to get serious about finding communion with our Father again too.

So as a part of this Allume community, I want to propose a fast.  What you literally fast from is up to you.  I’m not exactly sure what mine will be, but for this go round, I already know it’s gonna be something a bit more drastic with food.  I have to really get before the Lord to determine what that will look like, and you need to do that as well if this is something you want to do.  HERE is a great resource if you want to learn more about fasting and different ways to do it.

For me, I need to restore relationship with myself and the Lord after a hard couple of months.  I want to hear clearly with regards to my family and what it looks like now and for the future.  I also have a dear friend battling stage 4 cancer right now, and I’ll be fasting on her behalf this time too.  There are a lot of reasons to fast….these are just a few of mine.

Beginning June 1st, for 21 days, I’m gonna do it ya’ll.  And I want to invite you to join me.  Fast and pray for whatever thing you need to get straight with the Lord in your own life.  And if this is kinda scary for you, you can do it and know you won’t be alone.

Allume is a safe place.  It’s a comfy chair.  We’re a community of women walking in the Light of Christ together…and sometimes it’s ok to admit that the light feels dimmer than normal and we want that thing burning brighter again!

Join me?

**How about you?  Is your spiritual life in a dry place?  Are you in a situation where you need more clarity?  Perhaps you need relationship with Father restored (or any earthly relationship restored for that matter?)  Do you need to kick off some clutter just to focus better?  Whatever it is, know friends that you’re not alone, and that this mountain you’re facing can be defeated.  Sometimes we just have to buckle down and start climbing.

Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’
  “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. (Eze 37:4–5)

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.
      At an acceptable time, O God,
      in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.  (Ps 69:13)
      Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;
      according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. (Ps 69:16)

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;  (Joel 2:12–13)

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.  (Ac 13:2–3)

  • I LOVE here how after a group of people were fasting together, the Holy Spirit used that time to give them clarity about the work He had in store.  Then, as a group, they prayed and sent off Barnabas and Saul to walk in their callings. Too cool!

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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.  (Mt 6:16–18) 

Image Source

Comments

  1. Yes, girl I’ve been there.  As a matter of fact, I have only recently come out of the desert that I wandered in for a few years.  God sent brief respite periods during that time, but it took awhile.  He had a lot of work to do in my heart.  Keep seeking Him as you are doing and you will hear from Him.  Prayers for so many of you sisters I don’t know who are walking in a desert!

    •  I’ve definitely been in desert places before too.  This time though, I feel the Lord prompting me to directly address it and get on it.  I am confident that he has great things in store for all of us as we join together to seek his face!

  2. I think this is a great idea. I know exactly what I need fasting for, and it’s for direction with our adoption. Will be praying on this.

  3. Bless you, Logan.  I have prayed for you.  I will pray about your fast and about joining you.  

  4. I too will pray about joining in the fast. Thank you for honestly sharing your struggles in your faith journey with our community.  God bless you and all the Allume community.

    •  Thanks Leah.  We all have things in our lives that could use more submission to the Lord, whether fasting is right for you or not I’m sure the Lord will tell you.  Thank you for sharing too!

      • I am planning to fast beginning tomorrow, and my fast is something that is not easy for me to give up… I keep my smartphone by my bed every night.  I play games on it to relax before sleep.  When I wake up in the night, I grab it and read email, play a game, check the weather, etc.  I’ve even been known to read Scripture on it. 🙂  Right after you announced the call to fast, God showed me that I need to give this up.  It is taking away from my relationship with my husband as well as affecting my sleep and energy level.  The most damaging part of this behavior is that I have chosen to replace conversation with God with entertainment.  I look forward to getting back to having those middle-of-the-night meetings with the Lord – that is, when I’m not snoozing away…  Thanks, Logan!

  5. I think you are in this funk BECAUSE you are close to God.  The adversary doesn’t like that so he is going to try his darnedest to break up that closeness.  You have to fight back, keep on doing what you know is right and you will be blessed.  

    •  Maybe so Lisa….but that’s the truth…the enemy does go after those he thinks will get in his way too.  I guess on some level, the attack is a sign of perhaps something he is afraid of.  Either way…I’m excited to see how the Lord uses this time of focus with him.

  6. When you hear something more than once, it’s not a coincidence.  I’m in that dry valley and we are dealing with another issue that can most likely only be helped with prayer and fasting.  In fact, I can already see some benefit from just the prayer.  It will be nice to do this with others.  Thanks, Logan!

  7. Thanks for sharing so transparently Logan! I intend to join you and look forward to doing this in community. Thank you Lord for the wisdom, discernment and intimacy with you that lies ahead of us all who embark on this fasting journey together. Please protect each one of us from the enemies attempts to discourage or destroy us from this precious time ahead of us…Amen!

  8. The last time I was in a funk like yours I also fasted. I fasted all food for a week, except when, per a friend’s advice, I broke the fast each evening after I put the kids to bed in order to take communion- just me and God. Eating only the Lord’s supper for 7 days completely changed my perspective. I didn’t get more than a couple of days into it before I felt the nearness of God again. I’m praying the same for you.  

  9. Hmmm….I’m going to have to pray about this. 
    I have never fasted since I have become a believer. I will have to take a look at the resource you posted. 

    Thank you for sharing your story. You are not alone. 

    •  Missy, it is hard in the physical (even if all you’re doing is not eating sugar or something simple) but I have found that the times I’ve been very intentional in my fast, I see great results in my relationship with the Lord.  Think of it like an intentional time spent investing in a loved one.  The resource I posted is a GREAT one!  It is a neat time for sure.

  10. I’ll fast with you. We’re moving for ministry purposes, but I’m focused on the move itself rather than on God.

    •  Sometimes we just have to push ourselves to intentionally look in the direction of the Lord and he promises to show up and take it from there! Join in friend!

  11. Logan, my husband and I are doing a novena of prayers leading up to Pentecost because we are in dire need of clarity from God.  (He just lost his job, and we are a family of 6.)  There are different specific Scripture passages to read each day for 9 days, and today was Ezekiel 37:1-14!  Come, Holy Spirit!  I’m praying for you. (Here is the novena: http://www.rc.net/lansing/ctk/2012PentNovena.pdf )

    •  I LOVE that Amanda!  Love when he drops the same thing in our laps multiple times!  Come alive dry bones….come alive!  Thanks for sharing!

  12. Fasting is a wonderful way to take the focus off of you and set your eyes upon Him.  It is also an amazing way to hear the small still voice of the Lord. 

    Try meditating on Jeremiah 17:8 while fasting:

    They will be like a tree planted near a stream
    whose roots spread out toward the water.
    It has nothing to fear when the heat comes.
    Its leaves are always green.
    It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought.
    It does not stop bearing fruit.

    You may be experiencing a drought, but you can continue to bear fruit.  The heat may be on you, but you have nothing to fear.  Spread your roots out towards the water, the Living Water.  He will sustain you, protect you, and guide you. 

    I have been fasting regularly for many years.  It is not a magic solution.  But it is a meaningful experience and you will be rewarded.  I will keep you and everyone else who joins you, in prayer during this important time.

    •  Thank you for your good words Debi!  I love that verse in Jeremiah!  Such a good thing to think about.  I think more than anything, we just come into seasons where we literally lay ourselves out before the Lord and let him know we’re expecting him to show up.  And He always does!

  13. Logan, I love and so appreciate your transparency here….I know that I relate…and I’m sure many others do, too! That’s what the body of Christ is all about…joining hands as we seek to glorify and move closer to Him…so thank you for giving a place for that!

    I know so well what you speak of…I’m in fact on a blogging “fast” that the Lord led me to take a while back, not sure how long it will be, but it has been so refreshing. I’m actually praying about fasting for a couple of specific things. 🙂 Here’s the verse the Lord’s given me and I’m clinging to, especially concerning areas of hurt, disappointment, misplaced trust or lack thereof, etc….

    “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” 

    Praise the Lord that He CAN make a way in the wilderness and bring rivers in the desert!! 🙂

    xoxo
    ashlie

  14. This is a beautiful idea. I love seeing people embracing the spiritual disciplines (actually “disciple” is my word for the year!). I would love to join in, but I don’t know how realistic that is, since I’m due with our 3rd child on June 11.

    •  Beth, I have fasted during pregnancy but you do have to be careful…AND, with a new baby (Congratulations!) just surviving is part of the process.  Perhaps you can use the times of late night feedings and down times of feeding to pray for clarity and also to pray for all of your Allume sisters who will be journeying in fasting during this time!

  15. Thank you! God has been speaking to me too. Am considering fasting with you, but am wondering if I can fast from something other than food.  Not because I am not willing to give up some food, but because I think God may be calling me to fast in another area. I am just not sure how to go about it.  So I am praying. I thought it was interesting that a lady commented she was fasting from blogging. I just wanted to say thanks for the encouragement. And how great it is to be part of a community of people seeking God!

    • Amy, our pastor shared several examples of things he has fasted from over the years on Sunday. For him, there were different things that he realized he felt he ‘needed’ each day that he didn’t want to have ‘control’ in his life. If God is prompting you to fast from something other than food, then I would listen to His leading. Blessings, Tammy

      • Thank you for sharing. I appreciate your input. I do not know much about fasting, but this year I am trying to practice it more.  

    •  Amy,
      YOu can definitely fast from lots of things.  I commented above in a reply to Julie Wilson that may help you.  Mostly the goal is to move you towards him in something that is regular and likely hard for you to actually avoid.  What He tells you to abstain from is between you and the Lord.  I will say though, if it’s not kinda hard…I tend to wonder how much it will help you refocus on Him. (But that’s just my personal feeling on it.)

      • Thank you.  This may sound a little weird but for the last few weeks I feel like He has been speaking to me about some type of silence fast.  It has been interesting how scripture, books I have read, blog posts, and even friends have mentioned something in regards to silence or  speaking less, listening more, etc… But am praying about how to do this as I do have three children and a husband and am pretty sure I cannot be completely silent for 21 days. But God has been laying on my heart that I do talk way TOO MUCH!! And say so many “idle”, unnecessary words.  Some of my ideas were, possibly an hour or two of complete silence a day.  Making a point to Pray BEFORE I speak, Watching my words carefully to be sure I am edifying, speaking with grace and not complaining if I do choose to talk.  But mostly being silent, quiet… I thought about the food part also though and I may fast in the evening from 6pm to 6am or something of the sorts. Well, If you have any suggestions.. I would surely appreciate them.  I know this for me will not be an easy task.  

  16. Been thinking on this since I read it last week… asking God about some things and was all ready to give up BLOGGING for this time period, because it’s becoming a stumbling block.  In reading the site you linked to it mentioned Biblical Fasting being from food… so I need to rethink and add a food sacrifice to my fast!  Looking forward to encouragement from the Allume Community to get me through this!!

    •  I think you can fast from lots of things, but I do know for myself…food is something I have to deal with multiple times a day, and since I’m feeding children as well, the attention on food for myself is particularly hard.  It’s so easy for me to toss a couple of goldfish into my mouth when I’m pouring them for a snack, or eat the last half of their BBQ sandwich for lunch instead of taking time to figure out my own food then.  I’ve fasted fully with food a couple of times, but also have had times where I fasted from sugar or carbs….basically forcing a component of really having to think about it and thereby prompting me towards the Lord.

  17. I read this the other day and began seriously considering it. Then I spent the day with a friend who has completed several spiritual fasts over the last year and was able to see the impact it has had on her and her marriage. Finally, our pastor addressed this on Sunday. I believe I am in a season of ‘feeling’ very close to God but also in a season where I am seeking His guidance and blessing over several issues. I will be joining you ladies and praying between now and then on exactly what God would have me fast from as I seek Him in prayer.

    •  Tammy, this came for me after feeling promptings from the Lord about it for probably a month.  All it took was a sermon for the Lord to really smack me in the face with a “DO THIS LOGAN.”  Sometimes you just can’t ignore the promptings anymore.  Excited to have you join us as you seek direction from the Lord!

  18. Ever read something that just draws you in, and you know this is for you? If I had read this a couple of days ago, I would not have been ready for this fast. I am in that dry place. I’ve fasted before, but my why was too vague. I feel like I’m to narrow my focus, and really concentrate on specific areas for this fast. I’m praying about that focus and what to fast from. 

  19. I’m joining in the fast. I’m excited to see what the Lord will do. I’m in!

  20. Logan,

    I hear God’s Word in you…I know He has rewarded you with more of Himself because you chose wisely to seek Him first.

    “O, God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly;

    My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh longs for Thee,

    In a dry and weary land where there is no water.

    Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary,

    To see Thy power and Thy glory.

    (Psalm 63:1-2)

Trackbacks

Categories

Archives

Google+