40 Days of Consecration

Every summer, my church hosts the Desperation Conference. This year, my youth group _TAG is committing to 40 Days of Consecration prior to the first conference. These forty days will be made up of us voluntarily fasting something we value in order to 1) grow in intimacy with God and 2) prepare our hearts for a move of God.

I think it is interesting that while God is stirring in me this dissatisfaction with my comfortable Christian routine, my youth pastor is introducing this challenge to be people who fast. A couple days ago I sat down to write out some ideas on what to fast. As per my continuing frustration, I found myself going the "easy" route. Here's my first list:

I will be fasting: Excess.
1) TV = max of 1hr/wk
2) Movies = max of 1/wk
3) Facebook = max of 10min/day
4) Snacks = only healthy snacks
5) Music = no secular

Looking back at it, two words come to mind: TOO EASY. Sure, it's a little bit of a stretch, but definitely manageable. However at the time, I justified it by telling myself that I might have times where people were going to a movie and I wanted to be able to go. Or that I need to be able to get onto Facebook to check info/RSVPs regarding my graduation party in a couple weeks. When it comes right down to it, I was counting the cost and saying God wasn't worth that much sacrifice.

At _TAG last night, Perkins (our youth pastor) said something that struck me as being exactly what I'm being convicted of in my own life. Here's an excerpt from my notes,

"We're in a rhythm of life. We get used to what's going on around us. Fasting breaks that rhythm. This isn't a project, it should be something we choose because God is at work in us."

This immediately got me thinking. Isn't my methodical, easy-going rhythm what's frustrating me right now? Then why am I still trying to take the simple road, a road that requires little-to-no effort from me? Then Perkins challenged us with something more, reading us 2 Samuel 24:14-25. The story is about King David, who is distressed by a plague that the Lord has brought on Israel because of his sin. Seventy thousand of his people have died, and David is told to build altar to God on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. We'll pick up in verse 19 (bold is added).

"So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad.
When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming
toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with
his face to the ground. Araunah said, 'Why has my lord the king
come to his servant?' 'To buy your threshing floor,' David
answered, 'so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague
on the people may be stopped. 'Araunah said to David, 'Let
my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up.
Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing
sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives
all this to the king.' Araunah also said to him, 'May the LORD
your God accept you.' But the king replied to Araunah,
'No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD
my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.' So David bought
the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver
for them. David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed
burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered
prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped."

After reading this passage, I decided that I want a heart like David's. I don't want to take advantage of the easy solution when it costs me nothing! The very nature of a sacrifice to God is that you have to sacrifice something. So today I went into my GodTime asking God for the courage and conviction to fast something that will HURT.

I am currently reading in Jonah, and as I began reading my chapter for the day, I came across a passage that I had previously underlined. It says,

"Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the Lord."
~ Jonah 2:8-9

This will be my prayer over the next forty days as I let go of the worthless idols in my life. I refuse to be one of those who "forfeits the grace that could be theirs." I will be someone who sacrifices with joy. What I vow I will make good.

So here is my new and improved fasting list.

During the period of May 14, 2010 - June 23, 2010, I will fast:
1) All TV
2) All movies
3) All Facebook
4) All Twitter
5) All secular music
6) All unhealthy snacks
7) All candy
8) All soda

This will cost me. But I'm expectant of a move of God both in me, in _TAG, and consequently, the nation and world. Who knows what He'll do?