Giving Up Coffee!

 

My “coffee” cup is filled with Hot Chocolate and it has been that way since February 6th. I am presently in a 30 day fast and time of prayer. During this time of fasting and prayer, I have eliminated coffee and ice cream (Two of my favorite things). Although we are no longer to sacrifice at the Temple like they did in the Old Testament, making a sacrifice to the Lord, with the right posture is a special act of worship. Even if you are not seeking answers to one specific question, seeking the Holy Spirit, making a sacrifice to the Lord can be a powerful experience. 

For me, prayer and fasting is a great way to connect with the Lord. It helps me stop, take inventory of my life, and either proceed on the path before me, or head down a new road. And I promise, God will speak. No, he might not speak audibly, although he might. At the very least the Holy Spirit will guide and direct your thoughts to his path and his plan. 

Today I continue my studies in the book of Acts and I am thinking about my namesake, Stephen. (OK, he does spell his name differently!) At the end of his Holy Spirit driven sermon in Chapter 7, he really opens up to speak to Israel’s leaders:

“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One— the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” (Acts 7:51-53)

Stop being stubborn, resisting the power of the Holy Spirit! Reconnect with God, pray to him. Let the Holy Spirit flood your heart, your mind, and your soul, with the mission God has assigned you. Submit yourself humbly to the Lord as the ultimate sacrifice to him. Clear your mind and your heart from the distractions of this world and seek God’s face, make room for the Lord. 

I ended 2024 with a time of prayer and fasting form Social Media. As I continue in 2025, I am in another time of prayer and fasting. It is so easy for me to get distracted by the speed of life and the busyness of my schedule. I am seeking God’s will, th things of Heaven and not from Earth, and to confidently trust the Lord answering his call.

Let me end with these three passages:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” (Colossians 3:2-4)

“So, do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36)

Dear Heavenly Father, Speak! Your Servant is listening! Amen!