Fast Night 12: Clutter

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. Col 3:13b

Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Eph 4:26

Settling into sleep is a perfect opportunity to review your day and where you might need to forgive someone. If it has been a day of fasting and seeking God, you especially want to make sure your focus on Him during the day was not in vain. Sometimes when we fast and it is something we are truly missing in our day, we might get cranky or irritable. We might speak sharply to people in our lives. We might be judgmental about people who might get in our way on the road or in a line. I try to take care of others and serve more when I fast, but life is life, and we are not perfect. Because we are fasting, the devil and our own selfish thoughts sometimes seem to pull at us more strongly.

Yesterday, I was helping clear out the clutter in my husband’s former home to make it a rental. It was a day for sun up to sun down fasting for me and I was constantly reminded to converse with God during these chores. I was feeling pretty good about myself, but as the day lengthened into two days I found I was being a little too short with him over the small trash pile and the burgeoning keep pile.

Before sleep, God stepped through the clutter in my emotions and nudged me to find complete forgiveness for my snarky attitude. It was an opportunity to reflect on the total forgiveness that I experience through Jesus. I slept well. This type of clearing out is a habit to be treasured.

Father, forgive me for letting my own control, needs, and desires overpower what could have been an even sweeter time of fasting and tasting Your love. Amen.