Last January 10-14 , we just had our Annual Prayer and Fasting. The theme was ABIDE and it focused on the power and the beauty of God's Word. Day 1: The Word is a seed Day 2: The Word is light Day 3: The Word is a mirror Day 4: The Word is a hammer Day 5: The Word is a sword It had truly been delightful to abide in God's word! I've been participating annually for 10 years but personally, this prayer and fasting week was a different experience. I used to strategically plan my year with God and be engrossed by my personal goals. I 'd commit to systems and habits with the help of His Spirit. If you've been like me, there's absolutely no wrong in that. That's still partnership with Him after all as long as we align ourselves to the will of God. And that's really what prayer and fasting is for - it's hearing from God and surrendering our year to Him, not about "our food (insert whatever type of fast) sacrifice" so God can hear us or praying long enough so God can grant our "best wishes". I mentioned that this Prayer and Fasting encounter was different for me. From the onset - I strongly felt impressed not to put any on my faith goals. It surely felt weird and I caught myself a little confused if I was actually hearing from God right, or if I have been influenced by my personal disappointments especially last year. I waited on God and prayed for clarity until I got my breakthrough at Day 4 on this matter. I felt impressed to bring my focus to one thing this year: " love Him with my all". It's not that I have not been loving God for a decade by now. But how timely could that still small voice be? God knew where I'd been ( insert challenges, sickness, loss, pain, deaths and grief - we all have) and He sees me bare daily - He knew my tendency. Yet, the Word says that He remains loving, compassionate and perfect in all of His ways. God is holy, ever so worthy. "Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!" - Romans 11: 33 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love" - John 15: 9-10 And because He first loved me, He invites me to love Him with my all, heart, soul, spirit and strength! To love is to obey. That's what it means to abide in Him. How was your prayer and fasting? Background Music: Night in Venice by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Casa Bossa Nova by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/