Daniel Fast
2012: Day Nine
For
this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in
heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his
glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in
your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith.” Ephesians 3:14-17a
Giving God glory
strengthens our inner being!
As a couple we desire to create a culture of honor, glory and awe for our
Bridegroom King Jesus and our Heavenly Father. The most practical
way for us to create this culture is a slogan Jessica uses to keep it
about Him, “When in doubt, give Him glory!” This reminds us to keep
our eyes fixed on Jesus. When we pause and take a moment to
worship, glorify, praise, pray, read, bless, and converse about Him our
hearts and the atmosphere around us changes. As we give the
King and Creator glory it helps us to get out of ourselves. Our
attention and focus turns away from ourselves. Our heart
opens and our spirit expands inside us. The self/flesh must submit
to our spirit that is alive in Jesus and for a moment we lose ourselves
giving Him glory. Our inner being or spirit opens up to the Spirit
and we are empowered from heaven! When we give him glory our self
life diminishes and our spirit soars. Put on worship that glorifies
Jesus, sing aloud and declare His greatness, join with the host of heaven
who right now are praising and worshipping our almighty God! This
is the practical piece we do together to experience God and elevate the
atmosphere of our home. In our home we have two phrases to remind
ourselves and our children that we live unto Another and others, not
ourselves: 1. Remember—it is not about you! 2. You’re not the
center, who is the center?—Jesus!
Practically we love others and create a runway or “on ramp” for others to
experience our Father and King by meeting people’s felt needs.
Every human being has felt needs that can be met through loving,
attentive listening, active inquiry, caring, feeding, fellowshipping,
serving, and blessing to name a few. As we lay down our lives for
others through meeting felt needs we represent Christ and the Father to
others. We conduct the life and love of a triune God to others by
meeting practical felt needs. Recently Jessica met a man named
Bruce in the local grocery store. Bruce was a hurting man in his seventies.
He was lonely, a bit odd and somewhat awkward. Yet, Jessica slowed
down and she engaged. She listened to Bruce. She inquired,
cared, blessed and prayed. Bruce opened up and shared many of the
painful and broken places of his life in the middle of a grocery
aisle. And in the midst of this interchange, Bruce was a voice of
truth in Jessica’s life. He did not have any natural children of
his own. He always wanted kids. Bruce reminded Jessica how
important it was to love and appreciate the children whom God has given
you--they are a gift that not every person enjoys. In the midst of
meeting a felt need the Father spoke back to her. As we lose our
lives for others we gain life!
Mucho Amor,
Andrew, Jessica, Isabel, Sara, and Flynn Arnold
(Laramie, WY)
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