By Joel Lowery, Lead Pastor

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.” - Genesis 32:24


As we wrap up week one of the CVC fast, how are you feeling? Have you been able to spend quality time alone with God?  When fasting, it is easy to get caught up in the details like, what is ok to eat - or deciding if it's worth the headache or the pain in my stomach.  In fact, I would say that giving what is important to us, over to God, is usually painful. I think God designed it that way, even if it is only for 21 days. 

When it comes to personal breakthrough, have you ever felt like you're in a wrestling match with God?  It’s like you know where you need to be…at least you think you do...and usually, the frustration sets in because you feel that either God is not doing it fast enough or that He just isn’t hearing you.

And this is where we usually get in to trouble…just like Jacob in the BIble.  His story is found in the book of Genesis.  Jacob was born in an unfair situation.  He was the 2nd son, which means he had no birthright. His older brother Esau, the 1st born,  was a man’s man…a hunter and supplier for the family.  Scripture tells us that Jacob preferred to stay at home & make soup. Not much in bible days would get a man made fun of faster than a man that wouldn’t get out of the kitchen to go get the food.

Jacob wanted a blessing but it was apparent that he wasn’t going to get it from his family. So what he did next is what so many of us do in our own "unfair" situations. He took matters into his own hands.  And just like us, that got Jacob in trouble.  Jacob made a mess because he thought he knew best. By trying to do it on his own, he actually made things worse.

But we read in Genesis 32 where his breakthrough comes. It comes when he is alone with God. Once Jacob was alone with God, he wrestled with Him. And you know what? The blessing that Jacob was willing to lie, manipulate and steal for...was available to him all along!  It was in his alone time with God - yes, even his wrestling - where he received his blessing.  


Questions for reflection:

1. How often do you get alone with God? Is it a priority?
2. How do you need to reschedule your day to make time with God a priority?
3. What breakthrough have you been trying to achieve on your own strength that needs to be given over to God?

“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting.” – Daniel 9:3

Hey Crossroads - we are now 4 days out until we begin our 21-day Daniel Fast!  As I mentioned in my last post, Joel and I are PUMPED about what God wants to do in us personally, corporately and even locally as we humble ourselves and seek the face of God during this time.  

I wanted to take a moment and encourage those of you who might be "on the fence" as to whether or not you should participate in the fast or not.  Perhaps you've never fasted before, and this is new to you.  If you're like me...just a couple of years ago...you most likely have formulated every excuse in the book as to why you can't or shouldn't fast.  Some of you might be thinking, "I'm not as spiritual as so and so is," or "I don't think I am far enough in my faith to do something this drastic."  Maybe you're experiencing a lack-of-food-phobia, asking questions like, "How can I survive without my morning cup of coffee??"  Or "I'm a meat-and-potatoes guy - you want me to eat only fruits, nuts and vegetables...seriously?"  

I'm with you.  Trust me.  I LOVE FOOD.  I love coffee.  I love pasta.  I love dark chocolate.  I like to eat what I want, when I want it.  I exercise, JUST so that I can eat the foods that I want to eat!  Catch my drift?  The fear of giving up the foods that I love paralyzed me for YEARS, and kept me from having the fullness of what God wanted to give to me me in fasting.  

I also claimed (telling others and myself) that I couldn't fast at all because I tend to have low blood sugar.   You know the drill...panicky, shaky feelings...sometimes weak or faint...until I treat it with food.  Some of you have this condition...and it is legit.  But even with the knowledge that there are variations of fasts (such as the Daniel Fast) that would allow me to participate...I used my low blood sugar as an excuse to not participate at all.  

Several years ago, I completed my first 14-day Daniel Fast.  Shortly after that, I completed a 3-day juice-only fast.  I learned through these 2 fasts that my fears and excuses to not fast....were only just fears and excuses. Nothing more.  And for far too long, they sabotaged my chances of meeting God in a powerful way that only comes through fasting!  

Friends - when it comes to doing something that will draw us closer to God...can fears or excuses EVER be a good enough reason not to do it?  No!  Never!  In fact, I will guarantee you that the reasons FOR participating in the fast will far outweigh your fears and excuses.  Here are just a few:

1. Learning to deny yourself to a place of weakness allows God to show up stronger in your life.  The less we become dependent on our own strength, the more God has room to show HIS strength and power in us!  Jesus tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His power works best in our weakness.  So when we fast, we are allowing our body to come to a place of weakness so that God's power can work best.
2. Fasting strengthens the right priorities in our heart, drawing us closer to Him.  Sometimes, we need to show ourselves that God is truly #1.  We may say that He is, but is He really?  Every now and then, we need to make a bold move such as fasting, to not only show God that He is #1, but to show our selfish selves that He is!  Food is one of our greatest needs and often one of our highest priorities.  When we lower the notch of the food priority and place God above it, we will find ourselves sitting in a closer proximity to Him!  When I am standing right next to you, you can hear so much more than if I were standing 100 feet away from you, right?  Fasting brings you closer to Jesus - so you will be able to hear Him so much more clearly!
3. Breakthrough comes through fasting.  Scripturally, there is a direct correlation between fasting and breakthrough.  God historically responds in a powerful way when His people fast and pray...especially when it is in a corporate, unified setting.  In my last post, I mentioned Esther calling a fast for all of the Jews living in Persia, which ended up saving their race from annihilation.  The disciples fasted and prayed after Jesus ascended into heaven...waiting for direction from God.  That was when the Holy Spirit showed up in power with tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost.  As we fast together, I believe that God will respond in a powerful way as well!

So will you join us on this fast?  Will you give God a chance to meet you in a way that you haven't been met before?  Will you lay aside your fears and excuses and allow Him to truly be #1, Lord of your life by participating?  If so, get ready for a powerful time of God's strength, closeness and breakthrough!!  I look forward to the journey with each of you.

Christina Lowery
Co-Pastor

Today marks 7 days until we begin our Daniel Fast!  Pastor Joel and I are massively expectant for what God is going to do in us and through us as we release some of our comfort in exchange for more of Him!  

Is this your first fast?  Congratulations!!   This signifies a MAJOR milestone in your spiritual maturity and journey.  I believe that you will be able to look back at this fast for years to come and recall the great things God reveals to you, the breakthroughs you encounter and the closeness you experience with Him.  

I wanted to take some time this evening to give you a few pointers and tips of how to prepare your heart, soul, mind and body for the fast.  

1. Fasting with a purpose.  Throughout scripture, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, people fasted not as a religious exercise, but with a purpose:  Esther, the Jewish Queen of Persia called for her people to fast & pray for 3 days.  They were in serious need of a breakthrough - plans had been made by an evil and powerful leader to massacre the entire Jewish race.  Esther desperately needed God to step in and fight on her behalf as she pleaded with the King to change the evil ruler's decree.  We can read that not only was her own life spared, but the lives of every Jew.  In the book of Daniel, we can read about 3 separate fasts that he went on - each with it's own purpose.  And throughout the New Testament, believers fasted whenever they needed guidance or answers to prayers.  So as you prepare for your Daniel Fast, what are the breakthroughs you are needing from God? Each week, we are going to be focusing on breakthrough.  In Week One, we will be focusing on personal breakthrough.   I encourage you THIS WEEK to journal some of the areas that you would like to see God breakthrough in your personal life.  Are there special needs in your family?  Is there a loved one who needs to meet or reconnect with Jesus?  Do you have financial pressures?  Do you or someone you love need healing? Do you need a new job or help with your business?  These will be your subjects for prayer and bible study.  Amazing things happen during our times of fasting and prayer!  Seek Him - He is our Almighty God and nothing, no nothing is impossible for him!  
2. Come up with a food & meal plan.  Preparation brings peace!  This could not be more true for the Daniel Fast.  You will want to make sure to have the right kind of foods in the house, and begin to "put away" the foods that will be a temptation for you during the fast.  You can see a complete list of foods that are ok and not ok here.  Planning for Daniel meals will take longer than normal meals because you will be using all natural ingredients and cooking from scratch.  So using the recipes on this site or others such as (UltimateDanielFast.com, Daniel-Fast.com), I would encourage you to plan it out on a calendar.  If this is your first time, take it a week at a time, as it can get a bit overwhelming when looking at brand new recipes you've never tried before.  
3. Begin to wean yourself from caffeine and sugar NOW.  Removing caffeine and even sugar from your diet cold turkey can be one big HEADACHE.  (Quite literally!)  If you are a big coffee drinker, I would suggest to start by going to a half-caf early this week, and then gradually go decaf.  Unless you drink your coffee black, you will be forgoing coffee during the fast so don't shock your system on day one.  Ease into it.  I crave coffee more for the taste than the caffeine - so on Wednesday, I am going to start drinking caffeine-free herbal tea instead.  Just so I'm used to the change when we begin the fast.
4. Block out a time for your quiet times.  Plan out where and when you will spend time with God daily.  For me, mornings are the best.  I don't claim to be a morning person, but I do know that when I start my day with God, the rest of the day flows out of that.  Some of you however are night owls and you are at your most alert state after dark.  So if that's the case for you - and you can stay away from the t.v. and find some alone time, then go for it!  The key is that God has a time of your day that is solely His.    
5. Determine potential distractions.  What are those things you fill your idle time with?  Is it Facebook or social media?  The gaming apps on your smart phone or iPad?  T.V.?  Are you a Sports Center junkie?  What ever it may be - I'm sure you're already thinking of what THAT THING is.  That thing that you know just might distract you away from the purpose of your fast.  Decide now what limitations you need to protect your time during the fast.  You may need to cut it out completely, you might limit yourself to a couple times a week or maybe even once a day.  I encourage you to prayerfully plan this out and perhaps ask your spouse or a friend to hold you accountable during the fast.  

I do believe that these 5 things will give you a jumpstart to your preparation as we look forward to the fast beginning in ONE WEEK!  (January 6)  If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in a comment!  God bless you in your preparation!

Christina Lowery
Co-Pastor
Crossroads Vineyard Church