Fasting From Sex

....Lol, I know what you are thinking: "fasting from sex?" Let me explain. I had the blessing today of coming across a blog about the Blessings of Singleness and it mentioned fasting from food. I started to think about how fasting from sex or abstaining until our season of marriage is like fasting from food. When we fast from food our stomach still grumbles like when we abstain (especially those who have been sexually active before) from sex we still have a desire for it; but we press through it and put it before God because He will give us something better than.......a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger from Wendy's, lol. It had me thinking: when we don't really stress it and approach it on a day-by-day situation and REMIND ourselves everyday that God is more than able (since He is our architect; He made us this way) to handle this and keep us, it gets a little bit easier. I remember when we did the Daniel's Fast how the first week was the hardest, but as each day passed I didn't think about it much. I was focused. If I approach this the same way, knowing some days will be harder and staying in God's word and before Him; it will get easier because He will be giving me the strength. That being said, I want to leave these verses (NIV) to encourage you:

1. Jeremiah 29:11 (My most favorite verse)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This verse reminds me that in that hour when it seems darkest and I doubt God; He already has it all mapped out and it will work out fine. All I have to do is follow that path He is leading me down.



2. Galatians 5:16

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

This verse is pretty much self-explanatory; live by the spirit (a lifestyle that is in the Word and led by God) and you will not gratify the desires that are flesh- based. If you live for God and have a relationship with Him you wouldn't want to grieve Him by following and doing things that you know will break His heart. It like God is your spouse; you wouldn't intentionally do things to strain the relationship and hurt Him, right?



3. 2 Corinthians 4:17

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

This one is the verse that belongs on my mirror so I can see it every morning. It just reminds me that this is nothing; the eternal glory, eternity trumps this little thing.



4. Isaiah 26:3

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

If you keep your mind on Christ not on who is in a relationship now or getting married while you're still single, blah, blah, blah.....you will be calm and in peace. Trusting God is the hardest thing to do nowadays; we live in a microwave nation and we expect God's time to match ours. But if just let Go and let God because HE DOES KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING we will be in perfect peace. Perfect is a powerful word; it means no faults, errors, nothing. Can we /will we trust God? What would that look like?



5. Psalm 37:4

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I am focusing on the first part of that verse, "delight yourself in the Lord". How can we or what can we do to delight ourselves in the Lord? I can think of one thing: treat Him like your best friend and tell Him everything, look forward to those times when you can speak to Him candidly. Get excited about this wonderful relationship you have with Christ Jesus!!!!!



That being said, I hope I have encouraged others in their season of singlehood; I know I have encouraged myself.





Be blessed!


image source: photo.net Entitled: Alone by Miguel Angel de Arriba Cuadrado

Prayer and Fast Day 9- On the Way

I wonder why God stays with us in the midst of all the mess that we do, I mean if you think about how many errors you make in one day; would you stay by your side at the end of the day? But God is merciful, and His grace is sufficient. He is amazing to us and does amazing things for us. I know I am not worthy of the blessings He bestows upon me and I won’t lie and say that I am. I know where I have been and what I have done. But the sooner I realize how far He has brought me, the sooner I can realize its better to stay in Him and not in the world. One of my friends on Facebook used the quote “There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going”. That is so true when you think

Prayer and Fast Day 8- I Will Remember You....

Today my grandmother passed a year ago. She was the cornerstone and backbone of my family. I never loved someone as much as I loved her. The hardest thing for me was watching her slowly disintegrate. I will always remember that she was fond of light houses. When she used to live in Barbados as a little girl, she used to live in one. The funny thing is that she was a light house for me. She showed me that you could still stand for Jesus and let her light shine. I will always remember and always love her.

Prayer and Fast Day 7- Relax

Today after church, we went to see the movie The Proposal. It was great: great shoes, great guy, great girl, and great concept. I enjoyed being with the girls and in the city for something either than work related. Afterwards, we went to my best friend’s boyfriend LES apartment (did I mention I am in love with him, lol) to play video games and hang out. I realized in the midst of the hanging out that I actually felt lonely. I felt like I was alone in the crowd. It’s a funny feeling to try to describe. I know that God is there in the midst of everything, but sometimes we need a little reminding.

Prayer and Fast Day 6- Wake Up Call

I have never been so shaken to my core from a dream that seem so real and it wasn’t a nightmare. The problem was that it was a nightmare for the other person in the dream and I was the monster! I was ruining my ex-boyfriends current girlfriend’s life; and in the dream I was totally oblivious to it! I couldn’t go back to sleep. To someone else, this sounds like nothing but to me it feels like a wake-up call. I need to let go completely. That little remnant, that little remainder of hope that we still carry needs to be killed, destroyed. The funny thing is that I have no one to talk to about this but the Lord. I remember hearing that God would put you in a place where you can’t go to anyone else but Him. It’s then when you get your release, because you went to the One person who can take care of it all.

Prayer and Fast Day 5- It Finally Happened!

My phone keypad stopped working! I had to give it up for an hour to be repaired! I knew it had to happen, I actually feel better without it (maybe that’s because I know it’s only for an hour). I feel that you have to make certain things priorities and certain things optional. I am asking the Lord to reveal to me the Ministry He has called me to and help me discern his voice.

Prayer and Fast Day 4- Keep Me Lord

My phone is starting to act up………I know, don’t say it! I feel that this is a hindrance in my relationship with God. The phone needs to take a serious back seat. Sigh. My friend that would like to be my “boyfriend” and believe me, I use that word very loosely isn’t speaking to me as much. You know what’s so funny; he barely talked to me this whole fast. Its only shows to me who belongs in my life and who doesn’t. I was reading a snippet from this book called Fasting- by Jentezen Franklin in Barnes and Noble; and I can’t wait to buy it! He says when you fast you open yourself up to hear from God! How amazing is that! I think that makes withstanding and seeking Him so worth it!

Prayer and Fast Day 3- Argh!

I really think the devil is trying me. I have a co worker, (well two now) who like to talk to me like I am not even human. They sad thing is they act like this when I am trying to help them! I have to show kindness at all times, and let them see the Jesus in me. It’s not easy, believe me it’s not. But it will be so worth it later.

Prayer and Fast Day 2- The Flesh is Weak

I am starting to realize certain things about myself; I have no self control sometimes. I mean, I behave myself…. A lot…..but then there are times when I have to look at myself and say “that’s not you Michelle”. There are areas in my life that I haven’t given completely over to God, and as I enter this fast I am slowly seeing those areas revealed to me. I have been trying to get rid of things that would seem like everyday novelties to others but pose as stumbling blocks for me. I wish it could be easy but I have to realize God’s strength in my weakness.

Prayer and Fast Day 1- You Know What They Say When You Assume....

Because I am a lady I won’t finish that sentence, lol. But I was very upset to be lectured by someone who assumed I didn’t know anything about the Indian history before we did the Bollywood Bridal Shower for my best friend. We knew what things meant what, and we excluded anything that would conflict with us being children of God. So imagine my surprise when I am lectured and told things I already knew. The thing that got me is that this gentleman and I rarely text and he texts me like he has every right to tell me what I can and can not do. All I could think at the time was “Lord, I really want to say what’s on my mind but…..cover me!” SMH, I don’t get men sometimes. I think they’re more complicated than women.