How do I do this?

Recently I have taken on a lot of new roles from being a father, pastor and even a coach.  The interesting thing to me is to see how much each of these have in common.  I have been able to learn from each and apply those lessons to each role.  One question always pops up when beginning something new, “How do I do this?”.  It is a question I have asked before starting each role and it is a question I get from first year wrestlers and I am sure I will get from my son soon.  It may be the question you asked before you started (or start) your fast.  It may be the question you are asking as you go deeper into this year.  Truthfully, it may be our most common question we have our entire lives.

And my answer is START!  Take your first step, try it and you will learn as you go.  It is a process.  That is something I am still learning.  As a father, pastor and a coach, my task is to provide the tools and resources it will take to equip those under my leadership.  The first thing we each need to have is something to follow so we can take that first step.  For each person it is something different that gets us to the starting line.  But once there we need instruction, rules, a path or something for us to know what our next move should be.  We also need encouragement and hope.  We may be doing fine for a while, but then stumble or make a mistake.  Big or small the first thing we want to do is beat ourselves up.  Mostly we do this because someone in the past did that when we made a mistake.

Life is a journey, enjoy it!  If you need to know where to start or if you need encouragement and hope, I can promise you one thing… Jesus is that start and He is our hope!

This is why fasting and prayer are so important.  They align us with God and his perspective.  During fasting and prayer it forces us to put our hope in Him.  It allows us to evaluate how we truly see God and hear Him.  If you make a “mistake” and “break” your fast early by accidentally drinking that Coke, God still loves you and He will not turn His back on you.  He will not think you let Him down nor will He call you a failure.  He will not beat you up emotionally, physically or spiritually.  He will encourage and help you.  He will always love you.  Like a good and perfect father, He will help you to get back up and keep going.

So, if you have found yourself in a place you don’t want to be, broken, stuck, falling, or maybe you made a mistake.  Reach out your hand to the One who is there beside you smiling and encouraging you to get back up and keep going.  You don’t have to start over, He takes you right where you are and goes with you.  He is your hope in which you can say, “How can I not do this?”.

Philippians 4:13