Summary: <br> Fair warning now, you probably won’t like what I’m throwing down today. This may make you so uncomfortable that you need a passport to get back in your comfort zone. May the brave continue listening (or reading).<br> Have you ever done a fast? Fasting is the intentional abstinence from something that is available to me, but a distraction from God. A sacrifice of one thing for devotion to a much more important thing.<br> This is your personal invitation to join me for a 3 day fast … but it’s not what you think! You still get to eat. Ahhhh, doesn’t sound so bad now does it?<br> Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”<br> Do you ever feel like you are at battle within your own self? You make a commitment that would improve your life and then it’s a full fledged war between what you know you should do and what you want to do. 61% of us admit to a current addiction to our cell phones. We know our lives would be better if we would put the phone down and fully engage, yet we don’t. We spend the majority of our days scrolling and checking, distracted and scattered.<br> Is this you? Have your blessings become a burden? Have you allowed your flesh and your spirit to be in conflict over the 5 inch screen you hold in your hand? Scripture tells us because of this conflict, you are NOT to do whatever you want. When is the last time you practiced real self-control over your need to be plugged in and connected? When is the last time you successfully denied the flesh and fed your spirit?<br> Scripture encourages us to fast. Yes, the intentional abstinence from something that is available to you, but a distraction from God. What is available to you 24/7 is connection. Connection to the entire world is always available to you now. Connection to limitless information and resources is always available to you now. However, connection to your almighty creator is always available to you as well. How often are you choosing connection to the world and all it’s information over connection with your creator? Oh dang.<br> We have chosen a connection that leaves us feeling overwhelmed and empty and the reason being we’ve failed to connect to the ONE who can sustain us. We’re googling the answers when we have a direct connection to our God who not only knows it all, but created it all and controls it all. Oh my gosh, how foolish have we been? When is the last time you prayed about a solution before you went to the internet? When is the last time you chatted with God about your decision before asking your 974 Facebook friends for advice?<br> I’m forever grateful for connections through technology. That’s how I get to be part of your day. But dang if my life isn’t noisy as a result of my LED screen and free apps. My family HATES my phone. And you know what’s funny, I hate their phones too. We’re all disappointed over each others connection to the world instead of our connection to one another. We all sacrifice priceless moments together for cheap interactions with the masses. Why? Because we’re doing whatever we want. And what does our scripture today tell us, “you are NOT to do whatever you want.”<br> Get it together woman. You don’t have to be a slave any longer.<br> We’re wasting our lives and ruining our relationships by doing whatever we want. We’re missing days we will never, ever get back because we’re so totally connected, yet truly disconnected from what’s most important. If I’m hitting home with you today, I’m inviting you to join me for a 3 day fast … from your phone or computer.<br> Oh snap, did you just feel the resistance and turmoil inside right then? 3 days. Yes, 3 days. Unplugged.<br>
