Quiet Moments

The first two days of the fast were pretty slow for me. I hardly had to go out at all, the tasks I had to get done at home were minimal, and I was able to spend more time meditating on the word than I have been days 3 and 4. Today I'm teaching violin lessons all day, and tonight I have a dear friend driving up to spend her MLK weekend with us, so preparing the house (for example, trying to get all the dog hair off the carpet) took up a good bit of the morning. But I am really treasuring my breaks so much more than usual. Being calm and quiet and simply feeling the presence of God, speaking a few words to Him in-between activities, and remembering to rest in His peace have become easier as I have become hungrier. My body craves food. These cravings remind me of my weakness and need. And my automatic reaction is to run to God in all the in-between times and ask Him to sustain me. So I guess fasting is helping me re-order my priorities! Maybe this is what Paul meant when he said "pray without ceasing." That we should be in a constant state of submission to and reliance on God. Thinking of Him should be our first impulse, and He should be the first source of nourishment we draw from. Today I'm praying that God will help me keep this attitude of submission far beyond this period of fasting, and by His grace I would continue to draw on His living water first, and value it above all other types of nourishment.