Hello dear SUM community

Day 2 of our fast.

How is it going? If you didn't manage what you hoped, don't worry, pick yourself up, get back on the horse and start again. It is not about performance, it's about the heart, and God loves our efforts.

Now, here's a thought I had today. Fasting involves two things --

#1: Weakening ourselves by going without food.

Phewee it's tough eh!

And --

#2: Spending time with God, quietening our soul.

During this particular fast, Bryce is at work, I have cleared my calendar of all things this week, and in theory I do have hours available to sit with God.

I have a nice little spot in the sun that I've made, and I sit there with my Bible, journal, laptop, and relevant books to dip into.

HOWEVER, I find when I sit with God I say to him "What shall we talk about?"  Or ... "How do I connect with you?" I drum my fingers, and then after a little while I reach for my phone or some other distraction. "Oh, I'll just text this person... then I'll carry on talking to God."

No, be still, my soul!

I've realized this time round that one of the biggest challenges of fasting is not only going without food; it's also the ability to quiet myself.

Thankfully by day four or five, I'll be in a state where I just lie on the bed, and perhaps then it might be easier. I'll play a bit of worship music then while I lie there and will wait on his voice.

So our prayer point today is about connecting with God. How do you connect with God? 

One of our SUMites, Jeanne R wrote this to me this week: "I often take communion each morning during a fast, praying for Jesus to feed me with his body and pleading his blood over myself, my family, my home and workplace."

How else can we do it? Let's pray:

Lord, quiet my soul so that I can spend time with you.

Lord, help me not get distracted from keeping my eyes on you.

Lord, show me ways to connect with you creatively.

Well, SUMites, I do have a story for you that I mentioned last week, but I'm going with the flow as to what to post this week, so I might write that tomorrow, or leave it to early next week. We'll see where the Spirit leads.

All the very best with day 2 of your fast. You can do it!

Ann