Before the message on Sunday, I had been replaying a song over and over again. I simply couldn’t stop listening, because I felt that it conveyed the urgency of Jesus coming back.
In the song, the artist contrasts what it’s like when you are not prepared for Jesus’ second coming, and when you are, in his words “over-prepared.”
Here are some of the lyrics by Hulvey’s “He Will Return”:
Are you crying through the phone?
Realizing that this feeling that you feel ain't from a song?
The Holy Spirit sent me here to tell you, "Come back home"
Two friends in a field of flowers, one that's left, the other gone
This song captures what Pastor Jason shared on Sunday, and the urgency to come back home and be with the Lord before His second coming. To repent and turn, to give your life to Him, to live like He is coming back. To fast and deny ourselves in preparation. Oh how this convicted me.
One line in particular from the song is what tugged at my heart the most. He is talking about being the one that is not prepared for Jesus to return and he says,
“I told myself, ‘I'm ready for You’
(I’m) Weeping 'cause I didn't fast.”
Fasting has always been a really tough area for me. I understand the concept of it, and I know that the Lord calls us to deny ourselves to come into His presence, but I hesitate. As someone who has dealt with so many health issues and also disordered thoughts about eating, it’s hard to imagine the idea of “fasting” as holy. I see people fast and mix it with losing weight, and it’s hard to reconcile that in my mind because of my history. I also see people do fasting with great integrity and regularly “fast” before the Lord. We even have that time set aside at the beginning of every month to corporately fast as a church.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that God gave me that song and gave me this message at the same time. I believe there is a drawing of the Holy Spirit to fast, and now I am wondering…what does that even look like?
This call to fast is all throughout scripture, and it is not something we can ignore. I wonder, dear friend, how God might be calling you to deny yourself to take one step closer to Him. When we frame it that way, it is not so hard to give up the pleasures of this world. Because being near to Him is truly the greatest reward.
There are so many things we could choose to set aside. It doesn’t have to necessarily involve food, but I pray that you would take the time to consider what God might gently be asking you to give up in order to hear from Him. What is standing in the way of intimacy with your Creator? Only you and the Lord know that, but if you ask Him, I believe He will lay it on your heart and show you what needs to be done.
As for me, I think one major thing that stands in the way of my relationship with Him is my phone. I know that I let it distract me from my time with Him, and the constant notifications make silence impossible. I think it’s time I take a step toward Him in obedience, don’t you?
In the song, the artist contrasts what it’s like when you are not prepared for Jesus’ second coming, and when you are, in his words “over-prepared.”
Here are some of the lyrics by Hulvey’s “He Will Return”:
Are you crying through the phone?
Realizing that this feeling that you feel ain't from a song?
The Holy Spirit sent me here to tell you, "Come back home"
Two friends in a field of flowers, one that's left, the other gone
This song captures what Pastor Jason shared on Sunday, and the urgency to come back home and be with the Lord before His second coming. To repent and turn, to give your life to Him, to live like He is coming back. To fast and deny ourselves in preparation. Oh how this convicted me.
One line in particular from the song is what tugged at my heart the most. He is talking about being the one that is not prepared for Jesus to return and he says,
“I told myself, ‘I'm ready for You’
(I’m) Weeping 'cause I didn't fast.”
Fasting has always been a really tough area for me. I understand the concept of it, and I know that the Lord calls us to deny ourselves to come into His presence, but I hesitate. As someone who has dealt with so many health issues and also disordered thoughts about eating, it’s hard to imagine the idea of “fasting” as holy. I see people fast and mix it with losing weight, and it’s hard to reconcile that in my mind because of my history. I also see people do fasting with great integrity and regularly “fast” before the Lord. We even have that time set aside at the beginning of every month to corporately fast as a church.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that God gave me that song and gave me this message at the same time. I believe there is a drawing of the Holy Spirit to fast, and now I am wondering…what does that even look like?
This call to fast is all throughout scripture, and it is not something we can ignore. I wonder, dear friend, how God might be calling you to deny yourself to take one step closer to Him. When we frame it that way, it is not so hard to give up the pleasures of this world. Because being near to Him is truly the greatest reward.
There are so many things we could choose to set aside. It doesn’t have to necessarily involve food, but I pray that you would take the time to consider what God might gently be asking you to give up in order to hear from Him. What is standing in the way of intimacy with your Creator? Only you and the Lord know that, but if you ask Him, I believe He will lay it on your heart and show you what needs to be done.
As for me, I think one major thing that stands in the way of my relationship with Him is my phone. I know that I let it distract me from my time with Him, and the constant notifications make silence impossible. I think it’s time I take a step toward Him in obedience, don’t you?
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.