Breakthrough Fast 2010 – Day 7 “Move Beyond Resolutions to Breakthroughs”

Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it own my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

At the beginning of each year, we make resolutions to live better, eat better, love better and save better. However, after the initial enthusiasm of a New Year wanes and the pressures and realities of life return, unfortunately, remnants of complacency return and the strongholds of resistance to change slowly begin to seep into our minds. And truth be told, the noble promises that we made to ourselves in January turn into another set of hollow resolutions that are easily broken and eventually discarded by February.

During this period of fasting, I encourage you to submit to God’s plan for your life. New beginnings start and breakthroughs are possible at that moment you realize that you are powerless to change yourself. But an encounter with Jesus can change you forever. If you submit to God, You can live debt free. If you submit to God, You can find love and happiness. You can live an active and healthy lifestyle. You can rebuke the Adversary and live in the favor and under the authority of the Holy Spirit. You can live the life that God has promised. And most importantly, You can move beyond resolutions to breakthroughs!

7 Days of Fasting and Still Going Strong!
Rev. CAM

Goals for Today
- Read Daily Bible Verse for the Day: DONE
- Spend 30 minutes in prayer and meditation: DONE
- Completed Day 7 of Daniel Fast: DONE
- Write blog: DONE
-Drink 1 gallon of water: DONE!

Breakthrough Fast 2010 – Day 6 “You Have only One Master”

There are some who position themselves between you and God. Tonight, I had some things. What is the worst thing a person who is fasting has to do...GO ON A BUSINESS DINNER! The dinners are never at McDonald’s or a place that you go every day. The dinner was at Chops Lobster Bar; one of Atlanta's best restaurants.

For those of you out of town, Chops Lobster Bar is known for its fine wines, sumptuous steaks, generous portions and of course, lobster. Let me give you a sense of the menu tonight: Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail with Crab Mustard and Cocktail Sauce. Jumbo Gulf Shrimp. Lobster Bisque. FRENCH BURGUNDY ESCARGOT baked in a small pastry crock and garlic butter. Oysters Rockefeller. YUM! And these were the appetizers. Then came the salad, the soup and the main course: US Prime Steaks cooked to perfection. Surf and turf, king crab, lobster, fish and every possible combination of wine you can imagine. “Sir, what you would like to order?” “I will take a vegetable plate and a glass of water. Plenty of lemons please!” UGH!! :)

After a few minutes at the table, I could hear Curtis Blow rapping "The Message" in my head: “Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge. I'm trying not to lose my head, ah huh-huh-huh say what? It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder... how I keep from going under. It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder... how I keep from going under...”

I share this with you to say, I have my moments on this fast. But when I lose focus, I think of the words found in Matthew 23:10, “You have only one Master, the Christ.” Unplugged and uncensored, Jesus reminds us that you don’t need elaborate prayers or special VIP access to seek God. All you have to do is call. So as the plates were passed and the glasses were filled, I called on God.

“That steak looks good. But God I love you more. That wine smells so sweet. But God I love you more. That dessert looks enticing...and you know I love chocolate. But God I love you more.

That is all that was needed. The more I called on God. The more the hunger pains went away. The more I focused on God the more the temptations subsided. Tonight, I won the battle over the eyes and the stomach. The Adversary won’t give up that easy. There will be other battles. But I will be ready.

I have to go to bed now. I feel the Adversary trying to make a comeback.

Sincerely –

In Love with Jesus....but one hungry brother! :)

Goals for Today
- Read Daily Bible Verse for the Day: DONE
- Spend 30 minutes in prayer and meditation: DONE
- Completed Day 5 of Daniel Fast: DONE
- Write blog: DONE
-Drink 1 gallon of water: DONE!

Breakthrough Fast 2010 – Day 5 "Can You Carry the Weight?"

How often have you heard the proverb, “God will not give you more than you can bear?” If you are like me, I have heard this phrase all my life. And I have often used it myself. But that is not what the Word says. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

The Word does not say that you won’t be challenged beyond your ability. It doesn’t say that you want be stressed close to your breaking point. It doesn’t say that you won't be tested or tempted beyond your threshold of comfort. It doesn’t say that you won’t be driven close to the edge of destruction. In reality, there are times that God gives us more than we can bear. There are times when the pink slip comes. There are the times that the divorce papers arrive. There are times when the doctor delivers a negative report. There are the times when a loved one disappoints us. There are the times when our children go astray. And there are times when we are assailed by doubts; pummeled by demands and drenched by the waves of fear. In life, you will go through situations that are more than you can bear alone. But Hallelujah --- you don’t have to bear them by yourself. For it is only when you can’t carry the weight that the strength of Jesus Christ kicks in.

What weight are you carrying? How much longer can you bear it? The good news I bring to you is ---the strength of Jesus Christ is available to YOU.

In this season of fasting, seek God! Worship God! Trust God! Unexpected life event! God I trust you! Lost job. God I trust you! Failed relationship. God I trust you! More bills than money. God I trust you! Struggling business. God I trust you! Haters all around you. God I trust you! Diagnosed with cancer. God I trust you! Kids tripping! Husband hoeing! Wife nagging! God I trust you!

God will NOT give you more than God can bear.

Goals for Today
- Read Daily Bible Verse for the Day: DONE
- Spend 30 minutes in prayer and meditation: DONE
- Completed Day 5 of Daniel Fast: DONE
- Write blog: DONE
-Drink 1 gallon of water: A Work in Progress!

***Special shout-out to Brenda and Taurice. Thanks for taking this spiritual journey with me. If you are partaking in The Breakthrough Fast 2010, post a comment.

Breakthrough Fast 2010 – Day 4 "Grace for the Moment"

I was busy at work yesterday and needed to put in some family time last night. So I am quickly writing this morning about yesterday. Simply, all was well.

I’m glad to report that I am spending more time in personal bible reading, prayer and meditation. Usually I am reading to write a paper, a bible study or a sermon. But I am seeing how important it is for me to have my own personal prayer time. That is why I am committed to reading the entire bible this year. There are many daily bibles and devotional tools to choose from. I am using Grace for the Moment - Daily Bible by Max Lucado. He is one of my favorite writers. (http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Moment-Daily-Bible-reading/dp/0718018001) When I think about having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ --- this season of fasting has reminded me that it begins and ends with spending time with the Lord. Therefore, make time to spend with God. Make prayer and meditation a priority in your life. I believe it is through our daily studying of God’s Word that spiritual growth and healing occurs. And it is through our prayer life that the Holy Spirit anoints us with a fresh portion of God’s grace. That is why the Psalmist wrote: “We are your (God’s) people, the sheep of your (God’s) flock.” Psalm 79:13 God is waiting to hear from you.

Let me give a shout-out to a few people ---the Willis Sistas, Tabatha, Angela, Kim, Ann-Marie, Sam and Monique, my mother, Gran, The Breakthrough Family and of course the queen of the house, Jennifer. Thank you for taking this spiritual journey with me.

One last item...there have been a lot of requests for recipes and food ides for the Daniel fast. Here are some resources to check out:
http://www.christ-web.com/missions/farho/daniel-fast-recipes
http://danielrecipes.com/

Goals for Today
- Read Daily Bible Verse for the Day: DONE
- Spend 30 minutes in prayer and meditation: DONE
- Completed Day 4 of Daniel Fast: DONE
- Write blog: DONE
-Drink 1 gallon of water: Still work in progress!

Breakthrough Fast 2010 – Day 3 “The Question”

“Why do you fast? Do you think you gain anything from it?” These were the “innocent” questions a co-worker asked me today. At first, I was taken aback. It was not that I didn’t have an answer. What struck me about her question was the opportunity --- the opportunity to witness about Jesus Christ.

I admit...I thought she was trying to be sarcastic. But the more we talked the more I discovered that she was searching for answers that I had already discovered. She was searching for the answers that prayers give. She was searching for the answers that are found in God’s Word. So, instead of getting mad or blowing off her question, I shared with her my story.

I shared with her how fasting at the beginning of 2009 opened up so many doors for me and how my career, my ministry and my family were blessed by my act of worship and obedience. I shared with her how fasting removes the clutter from my life. I shared with her my belief that fasting is one of the most powerful weapons that God has given us to fight the Adversary. I shared with her how people of faith around the world are fasting at this time in worship and reverence to God. And I shared with her how excited I was about fasting again this year; about the new visions and the new purpose God was revealing to me for 2010.

I’m not sure my witness made her a believer. But I thank God for the questions. For without the questions, I would not have had the chance to tell someone about the joy of knowing Jesus Christ!

During this period of fasting, share your story with someone. You never know what God can do through you.

Goals for Today
- Read Daily Bible Verses: DONE
- Spend 30 minutes in prayer and mediation: DONE
- Completed Day 3 of Daniel Fast: DONE
- Write Blog: DONE
- Drink 1 Gallon of Water: UGH! A work in progress!

Breakthrough Fast 2010 – Day 2 “I SURVIVED!”

This is day 2 of my fast. Only 2 words could properly describe my day, “I SURVIVED!”

Today was a long day. Church was good but after 2 services, my caffeine withdrawal made my temples feel like my head was about to explode. When I got home, I tried to take a nap in order to sleep the pain away and to escape my cravings for some of Gran's "mouth-watering" banana pudding. Or my mother's collard greens with ham hocks. Or the left over fried chicken. (I'm sorry...I digress.) But there is no sleeping in a house with a 2, 3 and 9 year old.

I started to turn to my wife for comfort and support. But did I tell you that she is doing the fast with me? Simply put, Mama wasn’t happy today. To escape my cravings and the lingering temptations of Christmas and New Year’s dinner, I went to a place that always makes me happy --- Barnes and Nobles. Big mistake. As soon as I walked in the door, I ran into the sweetest aroma I have ever experienced --- Starbucks coffee and chocolate chip cookies. OK...I’m being dramatic. I know the bible says that we should not covet another man’s wife. But does that mean Starbucks and sweets as well?

I sound like a baby, you say. You are right. I’m being a baby. I admit it. Fasting is not a punishment; it’s a privilege. Where is my bible? I need more pray. Tomorrow will be a better day.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18) Obviously Matthew never had a Starbucks addiction.

Goals for Today
- Pick 2 areas to focus on for my fast: DONE
- Read Daily Bible Verse for January 3rd (my goal for 2010 is to read the entire bible): DONE
- Spend 30 minutes in prayer and meditation: DONE
- Completed Day 2 of Daniel Fast: DONE
- Write blog: DONE

Breakthrough Fast 2010 - Day 1 "Seeking God's Face"

Today is my first day of The Breakthrough Fast 2010 (21 Day Daniel Fast). As the night sky gave way to the morning light, I woke up with these words in my spirit. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NRSV)

This simple sentence suggests four powerful scenes to me:

Scene 1: "If my people who are called by my name..." No matter what I (we) have done, said or thought, I am (you are) still God’s people. God loves me. God loves you. We are God’s people. Don’t ever forget that.

Scene 2: “If my people...humble themselves, pray and seek my face...” My relationship with God must be a priority. In order for this to happen, you have to be intentional about seeking God. This may require that you adjust your schedule in order to find time to pray and meditate on the Word. You might have to wake up 30-45 minutes earlier in the morning, turn off the TV or the computer, put down the PDA or go to bed later so you can spend the necessary time to develop a more intimate relationship with God. Commit yourself to detailed accountability. Invest in a daily bible and a devotional book. Journal your spiritual progress every night. Open your spirit (humble yourself) to the conviction, the compassion and the comfort of the Word of God. Daily spiritual discipline is key to developing a more intimate relationship with God.

Scene 3: "...and turn from their wicked ways..." A sacrifice (fasting) seems hard when you have not made the choice to change. In this season of fasting, we have a choice. We can choose to live beneath God’s visions for our lives or we can choose to live the life that God intended for us. We can choose to acknowledge our sins, to be free and to come before God, naked and unashamed. Or we can choose to live in fear that our secrets will be discovered. We can choose to believe that we can’t fast. Or we can choose to believe that through fasting, prayer, the Word and our relationship with Jesus Christ that the broken places in our lives can be healed.

Scene 4: God desires a relationship with me (us). “Then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” God is not distant. God is waiting for me; God is waiting for you, to seek Him, to worship Him, to thirst for Him. That is why I love Jesus so. Jesus made it possible for us to have such a relationship.

My prayer for you and for me these next 21 days is that we seek God humbly, eagerly and honestly. God wants to bless us spiritually, numerically and financially. God wants to heal our broken places. God wants to restore love and kindness to our lives and our relationships. God wants to deliver us from our strongholds. Are you ready to be blessed? Are you ready to seek God’s face with your family, your career, and your finances? If so, your breakthrough begins today!