October 25th, 2023
Wednesday, October 25th
Rend Your Heart
By: Pastor Melissa
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. (Joel 2:12-13)
What feeds your appetite? Is it money, power, control? Is it something literal, sex, sweets, food, exercise, drugs, or alcohol? Or what about applause and accolades, always desiring to be in the spotlight or the best. There is something (or let’s be honest probably more than one) that feeds our desires. When we get it, it’s a dopamine hit and yet when the sensation or feeling goes away, we are back to square one looking for something or someone to fill the void. The vicious cycle of our fallen and broken state.
Israel has now come face to face with her sins. The prophet Joel exposing the truth.
When what is filling your appetite instead of Jesus is exposed, what are you doing with it?
“Rend your hearts and not your garments”. Tearing one’s clothes in the ANE often meant they were confronted with their sin. Here Joel says to tear our hearts open and expose it. Return to Yahweh. He is a good, good, Father who will relent.
Why does Yahweh tell the people to fast and return?
Fasting gives believers the opportunity to deny themselves the substances that literally sustain human life, food and drink. When we deny ourselves what allows our bodies to continue, we become dependent on something more, something greater. We become dependent on the One who brings life, gives life, and sustains it. For He is both Living Water and the Bread of Life. He is our dopamine!
God of the universe has stepped into our reality, was offered all that world could give Him, and denied it. Instead, Jesus walked a sinless life, whose will was always the Father’s. He picked up a cross made for the sinners and took it on for us, for you. Then He rose! His resurrection conquered it all. And He left His Spirit to empower and equip us to do the same.
Rend Your Heart
By: Pastor Melissa
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. (Joel 2:12-13)
What feeds your appetite? Is it money, power, control? Is it something literal, sex, sweets, food, exercise, drugs, or alcohol? Or what about applause and accolades, always desiring to be in the spotlight or the best. There is something (or let’s be honest probably more than one) that feeds our desires. When we get it, it’s a dopamine hit and yet when the sensation or feeling goes away, we are back to square one looking for something or someone to fill the void. The vicious cycle of our fallen and broken state.
Israel has now come face to face with her sins. The prophet Joel exposing the truth.
When what is filling your appetite instead of Jesus is exposed, what are you doing with it?
“Rend your hearts and not your garments”. Tearing one’s clothes in the ANE often meant they were confronted with their sin. Here Joel says to tear our hearts open and expose it. Return to Yahweh. He is a good, good, Father who will relent.
Why does Yahweh tell the people to fast and return?
Fasting gives believers the opportunity to deny themselves the substances that literally sustain human life, food and drink. When we deny ourselves what allows our bodies to continue, we become dependent on something more, something greater. We become dependent on the One who brings life, gives life, and sustains it. For He is both Living Water and the Bread of Life. He is our dopamine!
God of the universe has stepped into our reality, was offered all that world could give Him, and denied it. Instead, Jesus walked a sinless life, whose will was always the Father’s. He picked up a cross made for the sinners and took it on for us, for you. Then He rose! His resurrection conquered it all. And He left His Spirit to empower and equip us to do the same.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Paralysis of AnalysisA Daily CommitmentChild Like FaithThe Battle of the MindGPSSTOP. THINK. ACT. REVIEW.Let. It. Go.Choosing the Path of MercyQuick to Listen, Slow to SpeakPeacemakersBe Careful What You Wish ForRunYour Old Self Vs. The NewOn Not Loving the WorldLove One AnotherTreasure ChestsWho Sets the Bar?Be the You God Made You to BeTread a PathSo Much Better
February
Trust and ObeyA Pivotal MomentOh to Be the Mama of JesusA Fresh StartVictory or DefeatThe Edge of the CliffAuthorityHis Personal TouchForged by FaithSabbath - Setting You FreeHave You Prayed About It?Don't Build Your House on Sandy LandThe Centurion's FaithDon't Be OffendedWe All Need ItLighthouseIt's a Family ThingWhere the Ministry isHolding on by a Thread - and That's EnoughTraveling Essentials
2024
January
New Year, Fresh StartA Good Plan for the New YearCall on MeHope Has a NameHolidays in Rear ViewHolinessHow to Have our Mind TransformedNew Year, New YouA Pattern of RenewalVictory in JesusFear Knot? Fear Not.Seek the LORDBetterWhere to Place your TrustRadical GraceGenerosity God's WayThe Poor and NeedyThe Open Hand ConceptA Need that Burdens your HeartHow's Your Heart?Who Are You?Testing in the Wilderness
February
CallingDon't HideWhere You AreJust the Two of UsInvesting in the Kingdom of GodThe Golden RuleAgainst the GrainUnexplainable JoyThe Power of God's WordFollow MeThe God of the ImpossibleOut on a LimbWe All Face ItTrue JusticeGatherGood SoilDon't Put God in a BoxBe BraveCulture CheckFeed His Sheep. Love His People.Jesus Revealed
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments