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What Christian book(s) are you currently reading? If you are not reading a specific publication, what's the next book you plan to read and why? Someone may be reading the exact same book! Share your experiences and recommendations here and let's get this party started!
I am currently reading "Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer" by John Piper. You can download this book free$$. I just started reading it and it already revolutionized my thinking. I look forward to sharing more with you once I dive more into the book. The book was recommended by Pastor Merle Shank (Grace Covenant Church) as they are active and studying this topic.
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I've only read the Preface of the book and I've already been rocked!
DeleteHonestly, the Lord hasn't been my deepest hunger, even in fasting, I still find myself desiring other things. I don't want to quote the whole book but, on pg. 14, Piper says, "...the only weapon that will triumph is a deeper hunger for God. The weakness of our hunger for God is not because he is unsavory, but because we keep ourselves stuffed with "other things." Perhaps, then, the denial of our stomach's appetite for food might express, or even increase, our soul's appetite for God."
All in one paragraph, I was convicted and encouraged! #crazy
After I read that passage, I went to DuRag where Marcus taught on fasting #awesome. He emphasized the importance of coupling prayer with fasting and used the analogy of a runner using a parachute for resistance training. Once you cut the parachute (fasting), you are able to run without restrictions (prayer). If you just cut the chute and don't run...#pointless.
In my case, I thought about prayer as an expression of my hunger for God. Fasting would be cutting away anything that would distract me, from being in communion with Him, or temporarily fill that hunger.
Anywho, I think in both instances, the Lord was just showing me the position of my heart, which is in key in any spiritual discipline. I just thought it was cool that I got the same message all in one day. #Jesusroks.com
Ashleigh. That parachute analogy is powerful! I thought of Hebrews 12:1 when I read it."Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us". Would you agree that not fasting could hinder and entangle you?hmm...Now this book that we are referring to talks about fasting as a result of being "homesick"(2cor 5:8),rather than a procedure for mourning. Being so hungry for God that you don't eat(lol)...therefore when you do eat you are always celebrating God and doing it with others...
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