I sat down for what I knew would be barely a 5-minute “Quiet Time.” Convicted, I confessed to God, “I know something has been standing in the way. I wake up and rush to work and barely spend a few minutes with You. I’m sorry, Lord.”
That night, I heard someone on TV speak on fasting. So I decided I should fast – but from what? And for how long? The next morning, after fixing my coffee, I sat down to pray and ask God, “From what should I fast, Lord?” The answer was as unexpected as it was unappetizing,
“Your coffee.”
“Oh no, Lord. Not that! I don’t think I heard you right!”
“You look forward to your morning coffee more than you look forward to Me.”
Ouch. But He was right. I poured my coffee down the drain and spent the entire day at work with a fierce headache. Whenever it demanded my full attention, instead of getting coffee or taking an aspirin, I prayed. I thanked God for my job, prayed for my co-workers, the progress of my book, or whatever else came to mind – anything to get my mind off my headache. At about 4:30pm, I could stand it no longer. I was off-site between two meetings with 20 minutes to spare. I picked up my cell phone and called my best friend, whining about the headache and the 30-day fast. “Did God actually ask you to fast for 30 days or was that your idea?” she asked. “Uhhh…I didn’t ask about the time. I just assumed a fast was supposed to be 30 or 40 days.”
“Well, then why are you wasting time talking to me? You need to talk to God and ask Him what He really wants.”
With still 15 minutes before my next meeting, I went outside and sat in my car. I pulled out the pocket-sized bible I kept in the glove box and began flipping through the pages. My eyes fell on Psalm 94:3, “How long, Oh Lord?” Taking the verse entirely out of context, I looked up at the roof of my car, and cried out, “How long, Lord?”
“As long as it takes.”
“To do what?”
“To put me first.” “You see, my child, the headache you have is just a picture. This is how you suffer spiritually when you deprive your spirit of time with Me in the morning.”
It was one of those “ah-ha” moments. It was not that God wanted to see me suffer, or to deprive me of my morning cup of coffee, something I really enjoyed. He simply wanted it moved out of first place. First Place is reserved for God. That’s why the length of the fast was never clear: it’s not about time, it’s about position.
When I choose to give God First Place each morning, I invite Him to pour out His Spirit into my soul. And as I drink in His reviving goodness each morning, I will be filled with the strength, confidence and spiritual vigor to face whatever may come my way.
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
If you’ve enjoyed this week’s “Moments with God”, please share your comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Shadia Hrichi
Thanks to your Facebook link I saw and read this. Wonderful eye-opener!