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What is lent? Where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God.
Why ashes? Historically, ashes are a sign of mortality and repentance. Morality, because we die, our bodies come from dust and return to dust. Repentance, because long ago, when people felt remorse for something they did, they would put ashes on their head and wear "sackcloth" to remind them that sin is pretty uncomfortable.
Repentance is to change. To say no to sinful behaviors he's showing you and yes to new actions and attitudes he's inviting you to.
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What is fasting:
Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus.
Distractions are everywhere. When you decide to pray it’s like everything in creation collaborates to pull our attention in other directions.
What distracts you from praying?
What distracts you from spending time with God?
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Why fast?
Have you ever looked up at a ceiling fan blade and notice the dust that builds up over time?
Even though we might clean on a regular basis there are times when we need to go a little deeper.
The same thing can happen spiritually.
As we go about our daily lives all the stuff in our life sometimes builds up and without realizing it we lose some of our passion for God.
In Matthew 6:16 Jesus doesn't say "if you fast" he says "when you fast." This implies that God wants you to fast, to do a deep cleaning from time to time!
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Pastor, Levi Lusco, asked a professional race car driver: What’s the biggest thing people don’t know about fasting?
Answer: The brakes. Proper braking is the key to going fast
A fast is a break essentially. Braking going into a turn helps you accelerate coming out of a turn
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Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
o To grow faster in your relationship with God sometimes you need to take some weight off. Not all weight is sin!
o Hopefully none of you are at "yea I’m good with where I’m at. I’m scraping by spiritually but I’m good"
o No. hopefully you want more.
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So what do you do?
Remove a weight or distraction and replace it with something that will help grow in your relationship with God.
Examples of fasting. Give up an electronic. Tv, video games, texting, snapchat, Instagram, Netflix, youtube /give up sweets, soft drinks, starbucks
What to do instead: pray, read a devotional, forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it, become more thankful-write a thank you note to people each week, pray for others
*when you take away something that you want so that when you crave it, you pray.
*When you cut out a distraction it’ll help you hear God’s voice better
* it’s like when you’re on a roadtrip and the radio station starts getting staticy. It’s still there it’s just getting harder to hear. Fasting helps us tune out the static so we can hear God more clearly
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Closing:
o Pray about the kind of fast you should take
o What distractions do you need to remove so that you can focus on God?
o Prepare your heart to hear the voice of God and ask God to help you remove distractions that keep you from focusing on him and hearing him clearly
o It is important to fast in a way that works for you. The goal is that you choose a fast that will be challenging for you but will work within your life. You should choose a plan that will cause you to rely on God and will create space in your life for Him to work.
o As you pray today, ask God to show you any areas where you could use a refreshed spiritual focus.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to tune in to You. As distractions and temptations come, give me strength to turn to You. Teach me. Give me eyes and ears to hear Your voice. Open my heart to Your Word. As I’m challenged in the days ahead, please give me what I need to humble myself and honor You. Help me to take time to be holy, to spend time with You in secret, to trust in Your Word. You are the potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me according to Your will. Thank You for being a God who I can trust. You are so faithful to me. I am Yours.
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