DAY 10 OF MY FAST: Doing Better

It's a new day and things seem to be more settled for me as I get into the routine of this fast. I juice every morning, making enough for the whole day, and then follow my plan of "eating" for the day. Fruit in the morning and late evening. Veggies and broth for lunch and dinner. It's feeling more comfortable for me, so take heart fellow, Fasters! It does get better!

No. 1 Result from this fast so far: A clearly defined calling from God.

MY CALLING: To encourage, equip and empower Christian women to live an abundant life in Him, bringing hope and healing through a deeper relationship with Christ, sharing testimonies of His life changing power and living a life led by the Holy Spirit.

I've been a business consultant and lay counselor for women for years. I have known God was leading me into a coaching practice as my vocation for quite a while now. But, the conflict for me had always been who was He calling me to....the world or the church. Yes, we are all admonished to share the Gospel and be a part of the Great Commission, but I do believe He also has specific people or groups that He gifts us to serve. He called certain of His disciples to bring the Gospel specifically to the Gentiles and not the Jews, whereas, others were called to the Jews. I'm not an effective evangelist and that has always bothered me. I try to share the message of God's truth and redemption with everyone, especially women, but I know I am not gifted in this area. But, what I feel God has given me grace to do is help women, who are believers, work out their faith and lives in Him as they pass through the different seasons of life, directing them to learn more about living in the power of the Holy Spirit and managing their lives more successfully. He certainly gave me enough personal experience over the years. Through my journey with Him, He taught me His ways. I followed and the results brought healing and blessing to my life. He is no respector of persons, so what He has done for me and others that have seen Him move powerfully, He will do for all of His people.

This may seem like a small thing as you read it, but to me, it's BIG! It's HUGE! For the Lord to show me that He has called me to believing women is monumental in my life. That doesn't mean I won't be sharing the Gosple with unsaved women, but it does mean the focus of my ministry will be to my sisters in Christ. I'm excited and so grateful. This fasting is good stuff!

I am an idea person. A strategic planner by nature, and I feel energized when I am working on projects that are highly results-oriented. My brain operates more in a male mode than a female mode when it comes to processing. I want the bottom line and not every detail that led up to it. The majority of women are the opposite. But, having so many things I want to do or see happen has also led me to be too diverse at times, which can be counterproductive. You end up not focusing enough on a specific area that you don't produce anything of real substance. God has shown me in the past, when I focused on specifics and followed through, He brought success to whatever He had led me to do.

Many of you have written to encourage me during my fast and to say you will be fasting with me during these weeks in some way, and I am very grateful for that. You are in my prayers each day. God is looking for available, willing faith, dear Family. There are moments when the enemy will place a thought in my head that this fast is in vain, not worth it, just too hard or that I will fail and God will be disappointed with me. I come back to him with God's Word, just as Christ modeled for us on His 40 Day fast in the desert and tell him that "the prayers of a righteous man availeth much". He's a liar. If not me, who will fast for my family? Who will stand in the enemy's way or bring down his strategies in my life and the lives of my family and friends?

Who will stand for you and yours? You can stand in the gap for yourself and others and see God's blessings happen. God is able to conquer Satan without me. The cross and resurrection took care of that. He has already won the war and we know the outcome , but He allows us to wage the battles for the present so that we are changed in the process. There is that "working out of our faith" principle. that has been so important in my spiritual growth.

May His love and peace be with you today. Whatever you are facing, turn to Him and follow.

Treasuring You in Him,
Karen
The Treasured Life Coach