Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Beginning of the Fast of the Apostles
Luke 6:12-19
v13 - When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles
 
The idea of fasting and praying is one that is rooted in submission and complete surrender to God and His will. In the passage for today, we see Jesus pray prior to choosing his twelve apostles. The passage specifically states that Jesus spent the nightpraying to God. As we think about our everyday lives and the major decisions we make, are we truly spending the nightpraying to God? Or are we just looking to God to affirm the choice we want to make? As we think about the disciples that Jesus chose, each one of them was picked for a specific, God ordained reason. Even Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, was chosen as a result of Jesus fasting and praying. Just as when Jesus went off to pray prior to Judas betraying him, He could have easily chosen the easier option, but He chose the path that God had set for Him. This act of true surrender is a model which we should strive to follow. Though we lead busy lives and often try to fit God and praying into our free times, what would it look like to make fasting and praying a more regular part of our lives? Imagine how much more freeing it would be to take our burdens, decisions, worries, and everything else that weighs on us to the One whose yoke is easy and burden is light. We should make a concerted effort to change our mindset of thinking we can do everything ourselves to bringing everything to God in prayer.
  PRAYER
Lord, give us the patience and the strength of character and faith to wholly submit and surrender to You and Your will for our lives. Help us to put off our own selfish desires and understand that Your ways are higher than our ways. Give us the opportunities to set time aside to meditate in your Word and pray to You. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Every fast is a time of re-examination and renewal.
Alex Mathew, Long Island MarThoma Church - Merrick, NY
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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