Fast Day 23: Full

We are fasting so that we recognize how God longs to feed us from His heritage, the land of milk and honey (Isaiah 58:14)! He has created a promised land of true Life for us. It is full of things that are good to feast on, that give us strength and that will fully satisfy our thirst. In His land, the sweet stream is always running within our reach. His food is full of eternal nutrients.

You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. You who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what does not give you strength and your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me and eat what is good and delight yourself in abundance. Isaiah 55: 1-2

He is not stingy with His children. He promises to personally bend down to feed us (Hosea 11:4). He is interested and attentive to us and wants us to be full of all that He has to offer. And He has so much to give!

All He asks is that we come to Him and we listen carefully. He wants us to be quiet and hear Him speaking kindly to us (Hosea 2:14). He wants us to prioritize the good things He has to offer our life. Our money is no good. Our good works can’t buy anything. Our bank account was filled up with heavenly coin the day we first believed. This generosity is His joy!

All that God gives is based on the fullness of who He is. Our God, I AM WHO I AM, came to our earthly realm to share Himself. Jesus, the demonstration of God’s love (Romans 5:8), shows us His fullness:

For of His fullness we have all received (John 1:16).
The church is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Eph 1:23).
Know the love of Christ, and be filled to all the fullness of God (Eph 3:19).
Be a mature man, to the measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13).
He will supply all your needs, according to His riches (Phil 4:19).
The Father’s pleasure was for all the fullness to live in Christ (Col 1:19).
For in Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Col 2:9).

Every January I ask God for a one word goal (myoneword.org). This is not a New Year’s resolution to change a behavior, but an easily-accessed one word prayer that God will grow who I am. A “new being” prayer! Two years in a row my word was fullness. And, in the midst of my late husband’s cancer and his death, God was fully there for me. I didn’t feel it every day, but looking back from this new place of fullness, I saw how He did fill me. He buffered the pain, the hurt and the wondering. He was the rock so big I couldn’t see its edges. He was my reason and my heart. He was I AM WHO I AM and I was humbled before Him. He was the fullness I needed and I was grateful. He filled me up and spilled out of me, as I was going: Nursing Steve. Writing a book. Leading my life group. Needy family mentoring. Heading the Connection Team. Blessing other widows. Doing a mission trip. Life coaching others. Not me, but Him! In His fullness we can find the freedom to be His light.

What difference might focusing on the fullness of God make in your life as you are fasting?

How might that affect your day to day life after this formal fast is over?

If you asked God for a one word goal, what might that word be for the growth you yearn for? Don’t wait until January, start now!

My one word goal for this year is humility. I want the hunger I feel for Him to prompt humility in my life and attitude!

Lord, my Provider, You are all I need! Fill me with the fullness of all that You are. Spill Your light out of me to others in my life. Amen.