11.09.22 | The Teachings of Jesus
Today, we will be utilizing our time of fasting and prayer to dive deeper into our BREAD reading from John 7:16-19.
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law.”
Utilizing the movements of FAST, spend time with Jesus, focusing on his teachings. While practicing the third step, Speak, ask Jesus to bring to mind a fresh perspective or a reminder of a teaching that he desires to highlight for you.
Spend as much time as you need reflecting on any of his teachings that may come up for you, continuing the conversation as the Spirit leads you. If you are having trouble focusing on a specific passage, begin by meditating on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
Here are the four movements of FAST:
- Focus: Find a quiet place to settle your mind and open yourself to the Holy Spirit’s presence.
- Adoration: Spend time honoring and exalting God, tell him what you appreciate about him. Contemplate on who he is and what he has done. You might even be able to get a sense of his presence with you.
- Speak: Commune with God, taking moments to both speak to him about what’s on your heart and to pause and listen for his voice. Use journals to write down what you hear him say. Ask simple follow up questions like, “is there anything else you’d like me to know about [fill in the topic]” to really get to the heart of what Jesus wants to communicate to you and what you want to say to him or plead for while you fast.
- Transform: Commit to taking active steps to change or address what the Lord revealed during your time of fasting.