Fasting from Apathy (Day 4)
Read
Pastor Craig Groeschel* of Life Church offers a second step in fasting from apathy: focus on SOMETHING. There are so many ways to respond to the needs of others – through your church, through agencies like North Fulton Community Charities, through national and international charities. Just as the needs are great, the options to respond are great. Groeschel encourages focusing your efforts for greater impact, saying “Many things will catch your attention, but only a few things will capture your heart.”
When people ask me (Pastor Terri) how they can discern God’s will for their lives, I often ask what upsets them, what they get most passionate about, or what need stirs them deeply. If God has placed that particular need in your heart, then God has also likely given you the skills, gifts and resources to meet that need.
Reflect
Presbyterian Pastor and scholar Frederick Buechner wrote: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” To fast from apathy, pay attention to your places of deep gladness. How has God equipped you to respond to the world’s deep hunger? And where can you find others who are passionate about that same ministry need?
Study
Philippians 1:6
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Pray
Let us pray:
Lord God, you are the one who will complete any good work we seek to begin – guiding our efforts and blessing our results. Open our eyes to see the places of the world’s deep hunger which align most clearly with our deep gladness, resources, and passion. We pray in the one who sent out his disciples two by two, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
(The third step will be shared on Monday.)
*Used by permission from Life Church.
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Tags: apathy, devotions, Lent