Eyes on Jesus. Watching His eyes to learn how He loves everyone on whom His gaze rests. Jesus is a Good Shepherd.
Listening to His heart as He blesses, teaches, corrects, and sings with delight over His sheep.
Watching the love and delight in His countenance as He hears the varied and distinctive voices of His beloved ones in worship.
Reading His word back to Him. Singing praise to His name. Grateful to receive the gifts of His hands. Loving the sheep next door.
Waiting at His feet. I choose to calm and quiet myself in peace. I choose to rest. I choose to learn. I choose contentment. Not because I am calm or quiet or content, but because Jesus is.
Eyes on Jesus. Watching. Learning. Choosing. Surrender.
Many are fasting at the beginning of the year. I’m one of those who doesn’t love to fast, but loves the cleansed, purified feeling after the fast.
I’m choosing to consecrate myself through a 21 day fast because it’s the best way for me to stay focused on Jesus right now. Intentional fasting is the best way for me to focus on what He is asking me to do this year. {Watch. Weep. Whisper.}
The process of consecration is hard, not pleasant and generally not my idea of a fun time to schedule on my calendar. However, I have submitted to the process enough to now realize the amazingly, glorious benefits.
Kind of like scheduling a teeth cleaning with my dentist. I can’t say that I love the teeth cleansing process. I do love my dentist and I do love his wonderful staff. Yet, they are not motivation enough for me to submit to the process.
What is motivation enough is the end result. You see, I have submitted to the process enough that I fully understand what I will receive at the end. And I absolutely love the fresh results of having my mouth thoroughly cleansed.
Furthermore, because I am of a mature age and experience, I’ve learned that when I take better care of my mouth in between cleanings, the process is not nearly so difficult.
So, I choose to fast from certain foods during these 21 days. More importantly, I am choosing to look at Jesus during these days. I am choosing to watch for Him. Weep with Him. And whisper my gratitude for His goodness.
I trust that this consecration time will remind me of His purity and how good it is to stay right up close to Jesus. In a dark and scary world, He’s my nightlight. He keeps me at peace, settles my nerves, and helps me sleep through the night.
How are you doing? I know it’s a scary time for so many. Exciting too, which comes with it’s own feelings and pitfalls. Would you like to have peace? Do you need a nightlight? How about drawing near to Jesus who never sleeps and never abandons His own?
Would you like to spend 21 days of focus on Jesus? I hope so. Let me know you are joining in and I will pray for you in the process. I know you will be ecstatic over the results.đź’–
