WOM 21 Day Fast Week 3

Extravagant Worship

We are now two days away from Good Friday when Jesus was crucified: it’s Wednesday of Holy Week, when Jesus was anointed in Bethany by Mary. All four gospels record Jesus’ s anointing by women. Mark 14.1-19: ‘Now the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread were only 2 days away…. While He was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the leper a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head… “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “She has done a beautiful thing to me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you that wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Mary discerned the time and grasped the opportunity to pour upon the Lord the best she had. She could have missed the timing but she grasped hold of the moment. She got a revelation from the Lord about His burial as she sat at His feet and heard His words. The perfume was worth an absolute fortune: around £25,000. Can you imagine wasting such an expensive perfume? She didn’t give just a little but poured all of it on Him. Over-the-top extravagant passion – and the disciples around her didn’t get it. But Jesus said, “She has done a beautiful thing to me.” At this season I feel God is seeking from us extravagant actions dedicated completely to Him, out of hearts totally consumed with love for Him alone, free from idols. God loves this: what Mary did captured His heart.

Doris Celestin-Higgins8 April 2020

WOM 21 Day Fast Week 2

Do you know what time it is?

This is a kairos time – an appointed time in the purposes of God. Just as the sons of Issachar knew the times and seasons they lived in – my question is:

“Do we know what time we are living in?”

We are half-way through our 21 day Daniel fast. Let us not give up now. Daniel mourned on behalf of his nation. He set himself apart and denied himself the comforts and luxuries he would normally have enjoyed to seek God. An angel was despatched to Daniel, saying: “Do not be afraid. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard”.

In this “pause” moment, where God has pressed the reset button on our frenetic lives, let us continue to humble ourselves and set ourselves apart. In the space that has been created for many of us, let’s not rush to fill that space with entertainment, social media, worry, anxiety...... Instead let us run to our heavenly Father – just like the prodigal son who came to his senses, and found a loving father ready to embrace him. He is beckoning us deeper: “Return to me declares the Lord, and I will return to you” (Zech 1:3). He is looking for Obed-Edom’s who will host his presence well (2 Samuel 6:11).

Doris Celestin-Higgins3 April 2020

WOM 21 Day Fast Week 1

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity... Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. (Joel 2:12-15)

Fasting is an outward expression of sorrow, and separation from ordinary enjoyments, in order to give oneself to prayer and spend time in God’s presence. As we draw near to God especially during fasting; God draws near to us and reveals the hidden things. Strongholds over our lives and the nation shall be broken. As the nations of the world and the church go through unprecedented times and that which we relied upon is shaken to the core, there is no better time to stand in the gap. There is a shifting taking place in the spiritual realm and we are being called to rise up as prayer warriors like never before. As we humbly come before the Lord, weep and mourn for the nations, our God will surely hear and heal our lands.