Day 6

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A Warfare of Rest – Day Six - The Doing Fast

Waiting is a lost art.  In the age of fast food, real-time computing and instagrams, we don’t expect to ever have to wait for anything.  Think about the last time you were in a line-up, anywhere. How many people were calmly standing, waiting their turn? And how many were texting, tweeting, surfing, updating their facebook status, taking photos, listening to music, talking on the phone? 

We live in a society where our value is measured by productivity.  Showing initiative, getting things done, driving a vision forward are qualities to be greatly admired. 

But the kingdom operates on a different grid.  To build the kingdom is to die to human initiative – our own ways, thoughts and plans – and to submit ourselves to God’s higher ways and thoughts. And one of the primary ways God brings death to human initiative is through waiting.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:37)

Sounds relaxing, doesn’t it?  But for most of us waiting is uncomfortable.  Why? 

I’m not a coffee drinker but I have friends who are borderline addicts.  They tell me, “I can stop coffee any time I want.”  I laugh.  Because the truth is, it’s not until they are forced to stop – say by a fast – that they start to realize just how dependant their bodies have become on that jolt of caffeine.  They get headaches. They are tired.  They are grumpy.  And it usually it takes a while for their bodies to recalibrate back to the non-caffeinated state.

The “doing drug” can be just as impacting on our souls as caffeine is on our bodies.  When we are doing, we feel good.  In control of our lives, knowing  where we are going.  We make our plans and our checklists and as we tick off every completed task, we feel that surge of pleasure that comes from accomplishment.

But let’s say one day you make the decision to be completely radical and live literally like Jesus did.

I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. John 5:19

If you take this challenge, the first thing you will notice is that the waiting quotient of your life is going to dramatically increase. Most likely you will be ok for the first day or so.  It’s almost like an adventure – waiting to see what the Lord will instruct you to do.  But as time wears on and “nothing’s happening,” that’s when full effects of the “doing fast” really start kicking in.   You feel uncomfortable.  Edgy.  Fidgety. Unhappy. Why?

Because the waiting is starting to expose just how much of your identity and sense of self-worth is dependent on what you do versus the revelation of who you are: a son or daughter of the Most High God. Loved, cherished, adored.  Even if you do nothing. 

The persistent need to run on the endlessly-spinning hamster wheel of human performance is one of the biggest open doors that reduces our capacity to walk by faith and gives the enemy access to establish unbelief in our lives. It’s not what or how much we do that is the real problem; it’s the drivenness to do from which God wants to set you free through a greater revelation of His love.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

If you are willing to enter into “the doing fast”, then let’s pray this prayer together.  “Father I want to live like Jesus lived, not doing things from my own initiative or good ideas, but only that which You want me to do. Please Lord, set me free from the  driven need to perform in order to feel worthy or loved.

Lord I’m asking that you would grant [me], according to the riches of [Your] glory, to be strengthened with might through [Your] Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in [my} heart through faith; that [I], being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that [I] may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen!” (Ephesians 3:16-21)

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!  (Isaiah 30:18)

I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord.  More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. (Psalm 130:5,6)

With love,
Stephanie
On behalf of the Awaken Team

 

We would love this journey to be an expression of the corporate body and not just a few of us, so if the Lord gives you a vision or dream or speaks to you through a scripture or if you have a story or testimony you would like to share, please send it to share@awakenthedream.org.

If you would like to join this consecration and receive the daily exhortations you may sign up at http://www.awakenthedream.org/connect.