The wonders of a fast...

Hi all- The Call Institute, my program at IHOP basically fights for ending abortion and calls people to fasting and prayer to change things in the world. (thus the name!) Anyway, in light of the present state of California's demise sexually, morally and in every pervers way, and in light of the coming elections, we have been doing a 40 day fast topray for God to change things in America. (we are currently on day 16, oh and I went to the KC zoo today fun!...yeah random sorry:))
So I am doig my first 40 day juice/water fast and I'll be honest.....I wanna eat! But I am realizing that God is sooooo gracious to give favor and clarity even when we are grumbling and in wrong motivation. He sees beyond to our heart and He is faithful. Right now I can hear His voice like razor sharp and that is awesome but it is not because I am doing so well on the fast (as I have slipped up a few times!) It's because He meets us where we're at. We are very fallible people but when we trust and believe in the power of His might, He shows up in that very power. The bible even tells of how Abraham was allowed to ask God to consult him first before causing a nation to perish...who are we that God should give us this type of privilege? But the truth is it is about LOVE. He loves when we come to Him declaring we are weak and in need of His strength. Can we do that in a fast to say hey GOd, I am no one, but you are everything and because you love me, will you change America?
The below if from TheCAll website I encourage you to read and go radical...ask...seek...knock...FAST!
Every dynamic new force for change is undergirded by rigorous disciplines. The slack decadence of culture-Christianity cannot produce athletes of the spirit. Those who are the bearers of tomorrow undergo what others might call disciplines, but not to punish themselves to God. They simply do what is necessary to stay spiritually alive, just as they eat food and drink water.Engaging the Powers, Walter Wink p. 261“Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” - Matthew 4:4
Fasting:1. Act of non-conformity in the face of a matrix glutted with worldly pleasures.2. Act of spiritual defiance to the mighty tidal waters of godless enculturation.3. Weapon of the weak to resist the power of the strong.4. Statement to soul and body by the spirit that demands, “You will not dominate me.”5. Weapon of the weak that deals with the true source of injustice, the unseen powers that govern kings and rulers.6. Fasting does in the spiritual realm what a hunger strike does in the natural realm. It states, “I will not go your way, even unto death.” It is an appeal to a higher court of justice.7. Fasting is the God ordained mean to seek with all your heart, to return to God with all your heart as in Joel 2.8. Fasting is a God ordained means of cleansing the image of the matrix off the lenses of your mind; it prepares your spirit to receive new light images from heaven. The image of Christ is more readily beheld and imprinted.9. Fasting curbs the appétit of the flesh while intensifying the appetites of the spirit. Man shall not live by bread alone.10. Dreams come where there are many thought and cares, bombarded with images. Fasting prepares the heart to receive images (dreams) from heaven.11. Fasting is a sort of spiritual detox. It is a cleansing of the soul from deadening poison, giving the addict a new lease on life.“Fasting begets prophets and strengthens strong men. Fasting makes lawgivers wise. It is the souls safeguard, the bodies trusted comrade, the armor of the champion, the training of the athlete.” - Basil of Caesarea

One of John Wesley’s disciples was William Wilberforce. At first, he thought he would go into the clergy, but he was led to go into politics. God needs altar builders in every area of life. With the passion and support of Wesley, his spiritual father, Wilberforce used the power of God to change society in England and end slavery there. Wilberforce was greatly influenced by Wesley, who was then 88 and close to dying. Wesley’s last written communication was to Wilberforce:Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils, but if God be for you who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Oh, be not weary of well doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might, till even American slavery, the vilest that ever saw the sun, shall vanish away before it. That He that has guided you from your youth may continue to strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, Dear Sir, Your affectionate servant, John Wesley.A few days later, Wesley died, giving to Wilberforce his mantle for revival that would end slavery in England. Slavery was ended in Britain by 1833, throughout the empire, and that began to stir the debate about slavery in the southern part of America.”Can abortion end in America? Yes, if God can find a generation of Wilberforce’s. God chose, from the time of the Creation, to work on earth through humans, not independent of them. He always has and always will, even at the cost of becoming one. Though God is sovereign and all-powerful, Scripture clearly tells us that He limited Himself, concerning the affairs of earth, to working through human beings.
Dutch Sheets, 10/10/2008

Day 14 - Father NashHaving experienced a terrible overhaul of his own spiritual experience, Nash, Finney’s intercessor, emerged from a cold and backslidden condition to faithfully labor for souls, full of the power of prayer. He prayed daily – often many times a day – for those whom he was led to place on his list, frequently literally in agony for them. Multitudes were thus converted, many of them hardened, abandoned characters who could not be reached in any ordinary way.One such example involved a bartender violently opposed to revival meetings who would deliberately swear outrageously whenever Christians were within hearing. It was so bad that some of his neighbors considered moving because they could not tolerate such swearing. When Father Nash heard of this situation, he became very grieved and took this man on in prayer. Day and night he labored in prayer for this ungodly bartender. Several days later, the tavern keeper came to a meeting, confessed his sins and came to Christ. His confession was one of the most heartbroken Finney and Nash had ever heard and seemed to cover the whole ground of his treatment of God, Christians, revival, and everything good. His barroom immediately became the place where prayer meetings were held.Can bars, mosques, crack houses or other sin-dens become prayer rooms in our day? Can vulgar God-haters, drug dealers, porn-peddlers and others of ill repute become passionate followers of Christ? Only if we find the “Father Nashes” of our day – those who refuse to accept status quo and through fervent and agonizing prayer bring the will of Heaven to earth. Have you been infected with this heavenly virus?
Dutch Sheets, 10/7/2008