I went into deep prayer when I woke up and soon after I received the Lord’s message.

Then you will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked;  Between him who serves God, and him who does not serve Him.

- Malachi 3:18

Praise God for His message.  I have had this message discerned already by my spiritual counselor and KG facilitator.

There are no specifics yet as to how the Lord wishes me to serve Him but the calling is there… and I am ready to act upon it as soon as the Lord reveals to me details of it in His time.

All glory and honor to the Lord alone!

]]> http://speaklord.wordpress.com/2007/12/21/calling/feed/ 0 chuckster http://speaklord.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/fasting-and-feasting/ http://speaklord.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/fasting-and-feasting/#comments Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:50:56 +0000 Chuck http://speaklord.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/fasting-and-feasting/ ]]> The other day I went on a whole day fast… no food or water whatsoever.  I started my fast at around 7:00AM and ended it exactly at 12:00 Midnight.  During this day, I started out with intimate prayer which lasted around 30 minutes… just me and my Lord and a small candle lit right beside me providing me with just enough visibility to maneuver inside the prayer room.

After prayer, I went about  my chores and commitments for the day.  Though hectic, I never faltered to pray… constantly recharging my spirit and replenishing my strength through prayer and meditation… regularly feeding my spirit with words from the Bible.

The Lord spoke to me all throughout the day… I was so filled with the Holy Spirit and I could feel the Lord guiding me the entire day.  What a wonderful feeling it is to know and feel God around you, within you, loving you, touching you…

I went into deep prayer again just before I took my first my meal after fasting.  I also had friends who asked me to pray for them and their immediate concerns, so I did.  I lifted everything to the Lord… I thanked Him for all the blessings and for making me feel His presence every second.

The next day, I went straight into prayer as soon as I awoke.  I asked for the Lord’s guidance and constant anointing.  I asked for a message and opened my Bible.  As soon as I opened my book, my eyes led me to Psalms 91:9-16, which reads:

You have the LORD for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.

No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.

For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.

With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.

Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.

All who call upon me I will answer;I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor.

With length of days I will satisfy them and show them my saving power.

- Psalms 91:9-16

This has been the Lord’s message to me as soon as I got up the morning after my fast.  Praise God!

I have now made a decision to fast regularly.  To commit 2 days every week to fasting and sacrifice.  Because through fasting… I am actually feasting on the Lord’s words and though my stomach is empty, my spirit is filled.

I so desperately prayed… so hard that I wanted to feel His love and mercy… I cried out to Him asking for forgiveness. I needed to feel Him… I needed to have the Holy Spirit within me… but during that moment, my guilt and despair was like a thick hard wall preventing me to come closer to God to receive fresh grace.

It bothered me… I couldn’t hear the Lord… I couldn’t feel the Spirit. Regret and pain were consuming me… but it never hindered my efforts to intently pray.

I dismissed the evil spirit of despair… and I held on to the Lord’s unwavering mercy and unconditional love.

Praise God! He has spoken to my heart… my heart is blazing like wildfire… aflame for the Lord. The Spirit has consumed my entire being and I am once again overwhelmed.

I opened my Bible and the verses that touched a chord in my heart weren’t so hard to find. In fact, they immediately popped out right in front of me as I opened my book. It answered every immediate concern hanging above my head. Praise God!

Though I completely read 2 consecutive chapters of Sirach (Chapters 29 & 30) since every teaching moved me, I will only list down on this entry the more notable verses which have made the most impact.

Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due; Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.

- Sirach 29:2-3

Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;

- Sirach 29:23

He who loves his son chastises him often, that he may be his joy when he grows up.

He who disciplines his son will benefit from him, and boast of him among his intimates.

He who educates his son makes his enemy jealous, and shows his delight in him among his friends.

At the father’s death, he will seem not dead, since he leaves after him one like himself, Whom he looks upon through life with joy, and even in death, without regret: The avenger he leaves against his foes, and the one to repay his friends with kindness.

He who spoils his son will have wounds to bandage, and will quake inwardly at every outcry.

A colt untamed turns out stubborn; a son left to himself grows up unruly.

Pamper your child and he will be a terror for you, indulge him and he will bring you grief.

Share not in his frivolity lest you share in his sorrow, when finally your teeth are clenched in remorse.

Give him not his own way in his youth, and close not your eyes to his follies.

Bend him to the yoke when he is young, thrash his sides while he is still small, Lest he become stubborn, disobey you, and leave you disconsolate.

Discipline your son, make heavy his yoke, lest his folly humiliate you.

- Sirach 30:1-13