Thursday, September 1, 2016

Month 7 is here...

At work a few weeks ago, a friend of mine said, "Wow, it feels like you've been doing 7 for like, a year!"

............you're telling me.

But here we are, the finish line in sight. Something that didn't seem possible after my millionth scrambled egg in March. If you've read along the last 6 months (most likely questioning our sanity at many points), then you know it's been quite the journey. And although it's had its challenges, each fast has gotten easier and easier.

With every passing month, as God has gotten ahold of me and convicted my heart, whatever we're supposed to give up just doesn't seem like as big of a deal. My attitude has shifted from "I can't do it, why did I ever agree to this?" to "Bring it on. Try to break me, 7."

My priorities have changed. And the way I look at possessions and people's opinions of me have totally shifted. God has knocked down some huge walls in my heart and showed up in big ways as a result of our prayer and making space for Him. Yet both Emily and I are super hesitant about today. You're probably wondering why since it seems we should be 7 pros at this point.

It's because this month is intangible. We're not eating 7 foods, wearing 7 outfits or spending money at 7 places. We're simply pausing.

At 7 different points throughout the day choosing to stop whatever we're doing. Pray. And invite God into our circumstances. Interceding for ourselves and others, thanking Him for who He is and what He has blessed us with, asking that He would weed out any unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts, and praying for His blessing, guidance and discernment in everything we say and do.

Midnight. When I wake up. Mid-morning. Noon. Mid-afternoon. Dusk. Nighttime.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about taking all this time to intentionally talk to and commune with God. It's something I know I need to do more often anyways. What's making me nervous is my schedule, the busyness of life, and the fear that I'll totally blank and miss, like, 4 pauses in a row. I tend to go, go, go with little time to rest. And when I do rest, I struggle to not let the remainder of my to-do-list interfere with that time.

So I've set alarms and have my Bible handy. Because slowing down is hard and I need all the help I can get. Wish me luck.

- Morgan

p.s. Enjoying some morning work and Day 1 prayer time with my friend here. She says I should do a month 8 where I fast from my love of cats. So there's that.