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What Do You Hunger and Thirst For?

Eat.

Drink.

Snack.

Repeat.

 

We are consumption machines. And our consumption isn’t merely limited to food. Relationships, media, nearly anything can be used to whet out appetites.

 

But what do you hunger and thirst for?

 

While it is comforting to find fulfillment in people and things, divulging in those things alone still leaves me longing. Because truth me told, after a while people can get on my nerves and people can let me down if I misplace my expectations. And things…well, they too lose their luster after a while. The once shiny isn’t so glossy anymore.

 

It is only in Christ and in His Word that my hunger and thirst are satisfied. To feed my innermost mental, spiritual and emotional needs I have to feast on His word.

[bctt tweet=”God’s Word is LOVE and it is LIFE.” username=”inspiredfully”]

 

And in doing life, situations can be hard. Feelings like abandonment, rejection and disappointment can seemingly be prevailing forces. This is precisely why we have to hungrily digest that Word and hide it in our hearts.

 

[bctt tweet=”When doubt and discouragement come knocking, saturate yourself in TRUTH.” username=”inspiredfully”]

 

My reliance of the Word is an absolute necessity which is why I was delighted when fellow blogger, Nylse of LifeNotes invited me to be part of her Women of the Word Series. CLICK HERE to find out HOW I dig into the Word. Yup, join us now over at Nylse’s place and you’ll hear how I first got into the word, my study methods and more…

 

LifeNotes: Women of the Word

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired to Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News: Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Chasing Community, Grace & Truth

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Feed Your Spirit

There’s lots of attention these days on eating clean, eating right, eating healthy, whole foods, real foods and the like. That is but a small part of TOTAL nourishment. A well-balanced, nourished life feeds the mind, the body and the spirit.

 

How crucial it is friends to properly nourish the spirit. Just as the physical body requires daily sustenance for optimal performance, the spirit if not more, requires daily nutriment.

 

You must feed your spirit.

 

And as the physical body sometimes needs additional nourishment by way of supplements, extra calories, increase of whole foods and decrease of processed foods coupled with extra rest, massage and maybe some chiropractic or acupuncture care, your spirit man may be in need of a boost through a time of consecration including prayer and fasting. Some things can ONLY be moved through prayer and fasting.

 

“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21

 

Have you ever been in a season where God is downloading nuggets of truth but you don’t necessarily know how to process the information?

 

Have you ever been in a season where you feel like you can’t hear from God?

 

Have you ever been in a season where you need CLEAR answers and direction from God?

 

These are all times that may call for additional prayer and fasting. You know like the holidays call for bigger more substantial meals, you may need a bigger meal to feed your spirit.

 

The Lord has really been doing a work in me. But it all seems so disjointed. He’s been giving me visions, had me engaged in frontline warfare, has me speaking in ways I’ve never spoken before, He’s stretching my faith. And all these separate occurrences I know will somehow work together for my good but its all so much, so quick. I can’t make sense of it. And what’s impressed upon my spirit is to not try to make sense of it in a way that makes sense to me. But to simply yield to Him and He will bring it all together seamlessly in His perfect timing.

 

Some of the things He’s spoken to me though require action on my part. To prepare myself to take action, I will clear my heart and mind to receive my instructions. I will consecrate myself through prayer and fasting so I can get my walking papers in hand.

 

To hear clearly I am minimizing things that can dull my spiritual receptivity. For the next 3 days, I will consume minimal food and drink, only in taking that which is necessary for sustaining health and vitality. A nourished spirit is a strong spirit.

 

You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

 

 

The Word of God will be my food. As I feast on God’s timeless truths, He will reveal the next steps I’m supposed to take. He will strengthen my inner man. As I crucify my outer man’s desires and longings for temporary gratification through food, He will feed me with spiritual food that will not only sustain me but will provide answers I need.

 

Answers to prayers I’ve prayed.

Answers that will bless others.

Answers that will move the Kingdom agenda forward.

 

When we pray according to His will, He hears and He answers.

 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:14-15

 

His word is my SOUL FOOD. A heaping plate of fragrant, steamy goodness. As I delve into His word I will take my time, chew His words slowly, savor each morsel then swallow it down so that it becomes a part of me, nourishing my blood, muscles, bones, heart and mind. As that nourishment becomes a part of my being, I am strengthened and fortified to walk out my PURPOSE!

 

When was the last time you gave up something, sacrificially to hear from Him?

 

Are you in need of direction/answers?

 

Considering setting aside some time for prayer and fasting.

 

For additional inspiration and nourishment click the following links:

 

MIND

For The Rest of My Life

Battlefield of the Mind

Stinking Thinking

 

BODY

Healthy Eating On The Go

10 Keys To Eating Right

Who Else Wants To Get Fit

 

 

SPIRIT

Being Strong In Spirit

Engaged In Spiritual Battle

Lord, Here’s My Worship

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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Principles for Daily Living Pt 1

Sometimes resolutions are made and forgotten. Sometimes they’re discarded altogether after a few days. A few years ago, after years of unsuccessfully executing my resolutions I decided to give them up. I have purposed in my heart to live a life based on principles and to steer me along I adopt one word that frames my year. You can read more about that by clicking here. And it’s not so much that I adopt the one word as the word chooses me and I accept.

 

The one word is lived out through my principles. My principles are my fundamental truths that influence my actions. And living out these principles has seen its share of evolution. I am grateful today that the TRUTH has settled in my heart and I no longer view my principles as items to be ticked off a checklist. Yeah, I used to be like the Pharisee. There was a time I actually thought to be a ‘good’ Christian woman I had to literally ‘be’ the Proverbs 31 Woman. I actually made a list of the things I could do to ‘accomplish’ each of the attributes she possessed. Yup, I actually did that. I thought that was what was expected of me until I came into the truth and oh how liberating it was.

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

 

Let’s keep this in proper perspective. My relationship is with God and not with the principles. By living a life surrendered to Him, He leads me in the way and His power at work in me enables me to live out the principles. So here are a few of my foundational principles for daily living as it relates to my relationship with the Father.

 

Obey

As the hymnal goes “There’s no other way than to trust and obey”. I believe if we love God, we are compelled to obey what He tells us to do. Is obedience easy? NO. Do I always want to obey? NO. But I know that He knows what’s best. And out of my love for God, I want to obey. My obedience is a form of worship.

 

Follow

When we obey God is it a natural progression that we would then follow him. Time and again Jesus admonished his hearers “Follow Me”. We want to blaze our own trail. We want to create our own path. God said he would make a road in the wilderness. I think it would be easier to take the route already mapped out for me. Do you agree?

 

Faith

This is a work in progress for me. God has been so faithful to me. Yet doubt can sometimes creep up when I am faced with the unknown. Do I have faith that He will protect my children from danger? Do I have faith that He will heal me: mind, body, spirit? Do I have faith?

 

Prayer

I just have to talk to God. If I didn’t, I would really lose my mind. Prayer enables me to clear my head and to hear from the Lord. I’ve learned over the years that prayer is not a monologue but a dialogue with God. He’s waiting. Won’t you chat with Him today? Nothing fancy, no need for flowery language or rote repetition but sincere two-way dialogue.

 

 

The Word

His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. God speaks to me most often through His word then He sandwiches the revelation through a confirming word from a person and/or an act of nature. Man I just love how the Father speaks to me. The Word gives me guidance, clarity, perspective, encouragement, chastening, and more.

 

These are just a few of the principles I live by that influence my relationship with God. These principles help keep me anchored so that I’m not left to my own devices making decisions based on how I feel at the moment.

 

What principles influence your relationship with God?

 

Tomorrow I’ll share what principles influence my relationship with self.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

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