A Different Kind of “Fast”
Happy October, friends! Here in Texas, we’re finally enjoying some sub-100-degree temperatures, and we’re happy about it! “Hotober” is a real thing. For the parts of the country that are already experiencing true fall weather, we see you – and we’re jealous!
The other great thing about October is that it’s only one month away from my favorite month! November Roses is so, so ready to celebrate the month of gratitude, and this year, we’re taking a slightly different angle.
I have a little explainin’ to do…
I’ve been reading Wendy Speake’s devotional book entitled A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving. Wendy challenges her readers to join her in a 30-day fast – not from food, but from asking God for things. This “ask fast” encourages her readers to rephrase their petitions to God as praise to Him for what He’s able to do and to thank Him for what He’s already done. Some examples she gives of reframing our requests are:
“God, I need…” becomes “God, You know my needs.”
“God, heal me…” becomes “God, You are the Great Physician.”
“God, pull me out of the pit of despair…” becomes “God of all comfort, how kind of You to meet me in the depths of my depression.”
Wendy says, “Instead of presenting our petitions, we proclaim our praise – and in so doing we profess our faith in God…The breakthrough we need is to break free from our self-focus and reorient ourselves to a God-focus, regardless of what we are enduring or enjoying…The heart of an ‘ask fast’ isn’t trying to manipulate God into giving us what we want; it’s trusting that He is able to accomplish what He wants for us.”
Here’s what you can look forward to next month here at November Roses. Each day through Thanksgiving, I’ll share a story with you – maybe a full-circle story, maybe a story with an ending we haven’t seen yet – and we’ll highlight the attributes of God and the aspects of His character that we can count on to meet the needs expressed in that day’s story.
I’ll close each post with a brief prayer of praise and thanksgiving for all that God is able to do in the hard and beautiful circumstances of our lives. And every prayer will begin with remembering God’s love and goodness and His perfect will for each and every one of us.
Wendy began her journey of “fasting from asking” with a focus on Psalm 100. Next month, I’ll be emphasizing one or two verses from that short Psalm at the start of each week and challenge myself and you to memorize those verses until we have the entire Psalm written on our hearts and in our minds.
May I ask a couple of things from you? (I know – the irony of an “ask fast” and here I am asking you for something! Ha!) First, will you join me in praying for the November devotionals? My goal is always to glorify the Lord and to make His love and purposes known to any and all who “happen” to run across these writings. Second, if you have a story you’d be willing to share with me or if you know of someone willing to share their story, I’d be more than honored to visit with you or them and bring to light God’s protection, presence, and provision in the valleys and mountaintops of life.
There’s nothing we lay in the Father’s hands that He can’t help us with. October will fly by, and November is wide open – to dedicate 30 days of gratitude and worship to the God Who carries us through every circumstance with His grace, tenderness, compassion, and boundless love.
Please join November Roses for a fast like you’ve never known before – an “ask fast.”
(If you have questions or would be willing to share your story, please reach out to me via email at tdvick1981@gmail.com. Thank you for considering this opportunity to join me in glorifying God!)
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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is He Who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100
