WILL, I’m so proud of your attempt to please the Lord. Your decision to go on a fast so you will know the Lord’s will for your life is a very important step in your seeking God to know Him better. Consider this word from David: “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy on me, and answer me. When you said, Seek my face; my heart said to you, Your face, LORD, will I seek. Do not hide not your face from me; do not put your servant away in anger: you have been my help; do not leave me, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me.” (Psalms 27:7-10).
David knew that when all others, even his father and mother, forsook him he could trust in God’s love for him because he had a very intimate relationship with the Lord. David was inspired by this intimacy with God when he said: “You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalms 16:11)
- The path of life
- Orach (o’-rakh); a well-trodden road. “…since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders… let us run with determination the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
- In your presence
- Paniym (paw-neem’); the face (as the part that turns face-to-face.) “…the LORD longs (a persistent and strong desire) to be gracious to you; He rises (Jesus stood when Stephen was being stoned, the Lord stood by Samuel when He spoke to him) to show you compassion…” (Isaiah 30:18) Very strong evidence of a desire for intimacy!
- Fullness of joy
- We may experience a temporary “imitation” joy from drugs, alcohol or other “lusts” of the flesh that eventually destroy us. Our fullness of real joy can only come from the Lord. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
- at your right hand
- “…if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalms 139:9-10) “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.” (Song of Solomon 2:6)
- Pleasures for evermore
- In the parable of the sower sowing the word, Jesus said: “…that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life…” (Luke 8:14) Why are they choked? Because we were not created to live on the pleasures of this world.
- “This know…in the last days perilous times shall come…men shall be lovers of…pleasures more than lovers of God…” (II Timothy 3:1-5). Our Abba Father does not want us to love anything more than we love Him. Oh how we must be lovers of God! “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30) Loving God with our all is what will bring us great pleasure…
Bless you Will, I’ll be praying for you along your journey…
-Bill Stockham