Lee McDowell Christian
Ministries LMCM
Nacogdoches,
Texas Gal. 2:20 KJV
Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 64
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859 almi@abidinglife.com
We just finished celebrating that annual holiday on most calendars: Thanksgiving. This writing is a couple of days late due to holiday travels. How many of us thought about the things Michael points out in Day 91’s writing…after we said, “No thanks, I can’t hold anything else” to those wonderful cooks who prepared the grand meal laid out before us?
Not
too many Christians spend much time in fasting.
Interesting. Could it be that man
has tried to “drive” us there, instead of the Spirit?
Michael
gives us a very interesting perspective of what it is like to have a full soul…enjoy!
Fasting
You have made known to me the path of life: you will fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand. --Psalm 16:11
The Spirit drove
Jesus to the wilderness, which, along with fasting, would prepare Him for the
coming temptations. In the wilderness He was cut off from all outside support
with only the Father on whom to lean. The soul--like a baby, with a need for mother's milk and
constant feeding--can be fed from the outer life and world by choosing facts
and emotional stirrings. However, being fed by the world is similar to giving
water to a baby when it wants and needs milk. The baby will become fussy and
testy. In the wilderness
and in fasting, the soul has only one place it can feed, the Father! The soul (mind, will, and emotions)
discovers the Father is the food that satisfies and chooses the wisdom of God
over knowledge and His presence over feelings. "My soul is full,"
says the Psalmist. When full, no one can tempt a person with more food. When the soul is full of God,
the world just cannot tempt with its offerings. Jesus said, “No,” to
stones becoming bread. He was full without bread. He said, “No,” to kingdoms and
the spectacular. He had
what He needed and did not choose excess. He is holding all things with
an open hand. Jesus stands at the door and invites us to eat with Him, to have
our souls satisfied.
I have experienced a bit of giving myself to prayer and
fasting and want to do more in the future. I love having a full soul, never once wanting food,
lacking curiosity about my surroundings, not giving even a casual glance to
shops, and not needing anything. It is like Thanksgiving dinner when I
finally say, "No, thanks! I cannot hold anything else.” No man can call another to a fast in
the wilderness; the Spirit must drive him there! I would encourage prayer that He do just that, so
we believers can get away from all the external supports, even if it is just one
day sometime this year. He will fill our soul.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
There are some wonderful things to make note of in this day’s
writing.
First, look at what the Psalmist said: “You have made known to me the path of life.” How wonderful is this!?! And then he says, “you will fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right
hand.” Ever since the advent of personal
credit, man has been longing after the happiness (not joy) so-called pleasures
the world has to offer (and, with credit, man has been able to obtain these
with “play-money”). Too many Christians
are seeking the world’s pleasures instead of the presence of the Lord, and the
eternal pleasures at His right hand.
2nd, it was the Spirit that drove Jesus to the
wilderness. How many Christians are in
the wilderness by their own choosing…or from allowing the enemy to drive them? Unbelieving Believers.
3rd, that brings us to fasting. It is the “lost art” of Christianity. Add that too many Christians don’t realize or
recognize that we are double-souled. Can’t
have the mind of Christ without being double-souled. Holy Spirit-driven fasting allows us to
experience, and focus with, the mind/will/emotions of Christ to “discover the
Father is the food that satisfies” and choose “the wisdom of God over knowledge
and His presence over feelings.” The
natural soul we were born with will not acknowledge this…living in the flesh
(natural) chooses that which is in opposition to God. And we, too, like Michael, can “love having a
full soul, never once wanting food, lacking curiosity about my surroundings,
not giving even a casual glance to shops, and not needing anything.”
4th, when we choose to live in His soul (led by His
Spirit living in us), we will ALWAYS be living with a soul full of God…and “the
world just cannot tempt with its offerings.”
How stunning of a revelation is that?!?
Let all Christians pray fervently for a Holy Spirit-driven
fasting, whether in the wilderness of life, or simply for a Soul Filling! Great insights and revelations from God come
in times like that.
If
you have any desire to interact with me on something Michael has written,
and/or any of my thoughts, please note the email address just below my name at
the bottom of this.
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Living
Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com Look to the top right hand side of the page,
enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT. You will receive a “confirmation email,” and
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NOTICE: beginning in
January, 2014, a new blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The
Wilderness.
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
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