Day of Prayer and Fasting

As many of you know already I've been taking the ongoing discipline of every other month going on a all day prayer and fasting retreat. This past Wednesday, I took that prayer and fasting retreat. The retreat lasts from 7-3pm. at the Ignatius House in Atlanta. About 15 men from around the area, from different churches gather together for a time of prayer and meeting with the Lord. We gather for some time together to share our lives with each other, but most of the time is alone, using the facilities and beautiful property of the Ignatius House.

During my time I began to read and meditate on Isaiah 40:12-31. I really slowed down and let God's Word wash over me and soak in. As I did this, I got to verse 28-31, a very familiar passage. But I didn't let this familiar passage just fly by me unnoticed. Rather I took the time and meditated on this passage and because I did, God spoke through His Word in a very powerful way. Here is the passage:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

God does not grow weary, yet I am too often weary and tired. Why? Because I am operating out of pride, which manifests itself in self-sufficiency. It says, "I can do it all!" "I don't need anyone, or anything". I repented of that pride and knew that I had been economizing my relationship with Him. I was having "drive-by" devotionals. I've been letting my busyness overtake me. I have become weary and tired.

In the verse is a "BUT". But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. To hope in the Lord is to abide in Him. It is to cling to him out of dependence. Strength will only come to me when I am clinging to the vine (John 15). As I cling to Him, he can work in and through me by the work of His Holy Spirit.

Then later in my time I came across this prayer from A.W. Tozer which I prayed over and over, and which I want to make an ongoing prayer. It is a prayer of surrender. Here it is:

“O God, be thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth's treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee.

Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, `Hosanna in the highest’.”

Needless to say, it was a time of refreshment and renewal. Every time I leave there, I am always glad that I made the investment.

By the way, here are some pictures of the beautiful trails near the Chattahoochee River that are on the retreat site: