Testimony Part 2

If you read my Giving my life to Christ blog, this will be a continuation of what happened. To get a better understanding, you may want to read that one first if you haven't already.

I'm looking at my 2010-11 calendar and see that the man of God prayed for my daughter and I on November 17, 2010. On Saturday, November 20th, he came back with a team and prayed for my siblings and husband. His team consisted of a Pastor and his wife, and other believers who attended that Pastor's church. (The man of God attended a different church.) We were surprised that the gentleman we met was a Pastor because he was young, maybe late 20's or early 30's. Anyhow, the Pastor invited us to their church, so we attended the next day. (God works in mysterious and wonderful ways and knew exactly what He was doing.) My husband was reluctant, but I was going and nothing was going to stop me.

The church was surprisingly a good fit for us at that time because the majority of the congregation were in their 40’s or younger. A lot of them were young couples, just like we were, and it wasn't long before we got to fitting right in. Many were also new to the faith just like us, but also many who genuinely and deeply loved God. It was something that I longed for also. By God's grace, we continued going to the church and in January of 2011, we were given the opportunity to participate in the Fast that the church did every year.

At first we were nervous. Fasting equaled starving, right? We didn't know why people fast or what was the purpose of it. However, the Pastor did a great job of informing us and by the start date, we were ready to go. It was a 21-day fast and we could fast from anything we wanted, as long as it was challenging. Some fasted from Facebook, movies, YouTube, while others fasted from food. I chose a Daniel-fast approach and fasted from rice, noodles, meat and sweets. I ate fruits, vegetables, cereal, eggs, and toast. The timing was perfect because (as you know) I needed help with my marriage. I needed God to help my husband get off the drugs and for good. (Just because I accepted Christ doesn't mean he takes all of my problems away, remember?) I believed that God would to restore our marriage and break my husband's drug addiction. (I also fasted so that God would protect my family and for the salvation of my brothers and sisters, but we will talk about this more another time.) My husband, on the other hand, fasted from drugs and soda; his purpose was for God to break the drug addiction as well.

Fasting was quite hard. I had to clean our pantry and fridge of anything that wasn't on my list and only buy what was allowed so that I wasn't tempted to break the Fast. I remember going to sleep with an empty and grumbling stomach many nights, but I knew it'd be worth it. I'd have headaches and even dreams of eating food. But each I felt weak or vulnerable, I prayed and God gave me strength and energy to carry through. An added bonus was that I grew closer to God with each passing day and spent a lot of time in His Word. I don't know if I'd call it faith or desperation, but I had a knowing that God would pull through for us. He couldn't have taken us all this way just to abandon us, and I so badly wanted Him to help. After all that we'd been through, we needed Him. We needed a change or we weren't going to make it. So I focused hard on God, with all I had.

My relationship with God grew very rapidly during that time. My desire was to know Him and to build this relationship, that so many people in our church had. I clung to Him out of mere desperation. He could have turned His back or rejected me, but He drew near as I drew near to Him (James 4:8) and I learned that I could go to Him for anything—that He could make a way when there seemed to be no way. During that time, I felt so close to God, something I had never ever felt before. It was the closest to Him I'd ever been before and I wanted more.

I learned that I was spiritually hungry, and that put me on a mission to be filled. I began reading His Word, going to different Bible studies, listening to sermons. His Word was so filling that some days, I hardly noticed my hunger pains. One day, a scripture that spoke to me that read man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). I was beginning to understand why I was so famished and felt so empty. I was starving spiritually. God spoke to me about so many things and His Word really did renew my mind. He was changing me day by day. First on the inside, within my heart. Experiencing God was amazing. I'd go to work, and I couldn't wait to come back home and spend time with Him. I was blessed by His peace and comfort. I was like a little child, curled up in the arms of my Heavenly Father.

And you know what happened? God was faithful; He honored our 21-day fast. He came through. People ask me all the time how my husband was able to get off the drugs. And I have the same answer every time, it was God! Matthew 19:26 says that with man it is impossible, but with God, nothing is impossible. My husband, with God's help, was able to go cold-turkey and break the addiction. There's no way my husband could have done it himself. After all, he had using for almost two years. We fasted and prayed, and God broke the need for my husband to use and put Jesus in its place instead. A relationship with Christ is so much more fulfilling and satisfying that drugs will ever be. Trust me when I say this (my husband agrees).

So if you are in a tough situation and see no way out. Maybe you or your husband is using drugs. Maybe you are in debt. Maybe you just lost a loved one. Maybe your family has abandoned you or someone you love has hurt you. Whatever your issue, Jesus Christ is the answer. He is the hope of all the earth. Isaiah 40:28 says Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

I challenge you to pray, and even to fast if you feel called to it. God doesn't take fasting lightly. He will be compelled to do something, because that is His nature. He loves you and desires to help. He longs to intervene and to save you from whatever is hurting you, from whatever has you bound.

If you do decide to fast, make sure you are challenged. Don't say you're fasting from fishing if you don't like to fish or from TV if you don't watch TV. The important thing is to spend time with God. If you are fasting from Facebook, you are going to have extra time on your hands. (Yes, fasting from Facebook really helps). Use your extra time and talk to God during your fast. Talk to him about anything and everything. Pour out your heart to Him. He won't reject you or be shocked by what you tell Him, because He knows all things anyway.

*If you are fasting from certain foods, check with your doctor to make sure you are able to do so. Also, do not forget to pray,. worship, and read the Bible. God is going to speak to you, renew you, and transform you through His Word. Ask Him for energy and strength. Cling to Him. You can fast for one day, or as long as you think would be sufficient. You can go to this link for more information. It helped me get a better understanding of fasting. You'll have to copy and paste the URL. http://www.upperroom.org/lent101

Now, let us Pray.

Heavenly Father,

We praise You. You are still on the throne and you are in control. You hold us in the palm of your hands. Nothing is too hard for you. You make a way when there is no way. Father, I thank you for giving me the privilege to share your Mighty works with the people reading. Father, help them just as you have helped me. Show them what You can do. Not for my glory, but for Yours. How can anything be impossible for you when all things were created for you and by You (Colossians 1:16).

Lord, there may be some reading who have reached desperation. They have reached their limit or they're at the end of their rope. Use their desperation, use their faith and bring healing, deliverance, and salvation. Be their Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) or whatever they need you to be. You are my Lord and Savior Jesus and You died for them also. Help them to know you. Show them you love them. There is hope and You have not forgotten about them.

To those who will be fasting, give them strength and energy to fast for your Word says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Break the bonds, chains, yokes, and shackles that holds them. You reign Lord and nothing is too hard for you. Thank you in advance for all that You are going to do and let Your Will be done.

In Jesus' Powerful and Righteous Name I pray, Amen.

Prayerfully,

Pam