The Fast: Day 28

Just wanted to check in to let you know it's going VERY well!! God has given me some HUGE revelations (including showing me how the enemy twisted me by luring me into passivity, then giving me some counterfeit "supernatural" experiences (there's a difference between "supernatural" and "spiritual"), then tempted me with sin (desire was conceived in my mind but the Lord graciously protected me from allowing it to give birth to sin/death! (James 1:14-15)). The Devil even had me convinced that I was soooooo spiritually "good" because I was reading my Bible, and praying and doing devotions and serving and yada yada yada (doing, doing doing) but it was in the FLESH. It was NOT in the spirit. He was shutting down my spirit....disconnecting me from God! UGH!!! He is SOOOOOOOOO TRICKY!!!! I must be ON GUARD! Walking, praying, seeking in the SPIRIT to combat him. The battle is already won- I must stay on the right side (not by my WORKS, but by my DEATH/surrender of self).

I am no longer lonely - actually, yesterday I was mourning the fact that half of my retreat is already gonezo - over - I don't have much more time here (9 days) and I really must cherish each moment that the Lord has given me - this concentrated time where it is just He and I and He is TEACHING me.... this is important time. He is educating and equipping me so that He can send me out.... I must not neglect this time of preparation! 

Here's a picture (I like the way it looks through the screen- I feel like it's artistic- :) ... the clouds and sky and mountains are such AWEsome examples of His MAJESTY!! Rue wouldn't leave my side at all yesterday, I couldn't figure out why until this MASSIVE storm came in last night... it lit up the sky, rumbled the mountains, and the wind, rain, and hail threatened to rip the house off its foundation for well over 2 and a half hours (I finally passed out at 1:15am-ish when I could no longer stay awake- :))... but the POWER that was in that storm is just an INKLING - a DROP of the power of GOD of HEAVEN'S ARMIES!! I admit that I was a little afraid (not as scared as I was last week when I was still under the influence of evil spirits)... but I must get to the point where NOTHING scares me (except NOT obeying/ living for & by the power of the Holy Spirit). I must be prepared for ANYTHING... to be STRONG... to be willing to SUFFER... all for the GLORY of GOD! Strengthen me, Lord.

Lord, I pray for more spiritual wisdom, understanding, and discernment so that I may honor and please you and grow and so that my life produces fruit (Col 1:9-10). I pray for the cares of this life- of my flesh- of my soul (my will, mind, and emotion) to be STRIPPED away. I pray for complete submission to the Holy Spirit and for strengthened intuition so that I may follow, worship, and fellowship with You in a manner worthy of being your child! I pray to be a martyr- that I would die for my testimony about Jesus (Rev 20:4). I pray that today (and everyday) I would DIE to all the things of this world.  You have taken my sin already- it was crucified on the cross with Jesus - let me walk in that freedom. I pray that I would continuously- every day - multiple times a day - put my SELF (my heart, mind, soul, and strength) on the altar. All my desires... my cravings... my dreams... my plans, expectations, experiences... my EVERYTHING... I lay it on your altar Lord. Have your way with this new [wo]man...  Teach me. Guide me. Strengthen me. Fill me....FOR YOU. Amen.