Maybe you've heard this song on the radio - the one by Christian recording artist Natalie Grant:  "So you wanna change the world.  What are you waiting for?" (Awaken CD).  I believe we have all had a moment like that, one in which we actually felt we could make a difference in the world.  Our heart is stirred to do something noble and right and we risk it all to bring some good to the world; at least until reality (and weariness) sets in and the task becomes too insurmountable for one person to handle.

 

We can get caught in the trap of believing to truly affect change we have to have a certain amount of influence or notoriety; succumbing to the idea that without power, popularity, or resources backing us up we can't accomplish anything of lasting value or significance.

 

Have we become so blinded by the value system of the world that we don't think we measure up?  What is truly holding us back?  What are we waiting for?  Are we waiting for the perfect set of circumstances?  Are we hoping that someone else will take the lead?  What about opening our eyes to the One Who can effectively lead us?  True change - lasting change - begins, first and foremost, in the heart!

 

The Scriptures tell us, "..the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong..." (Ecclesiastes 9:11b).  The race before us is won by the humble, the faithful and the persistent servant who waits upon the Lord (reference Hebrews 12:1-13).  Waiting, however, is not a natural response when we have a destination in front of us we want to get to.

 

Webster's dictionary defines the word "wait":  "1 to remain until something expected happens; 2 to be ready; 3 to remain undone."  Waiting, contrary to what many of us have been taught, is not a passive activity; it is actively preparing for what is to come.  Isaiah expressed this reality when the Lord placed a call on his life, "...Woe is me!  For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:  for my eyes have seen the King of the LORD of hosts"  (Isaiah 6:5).  We should be actively, and expectantly, waiting on the Lord so that when we do encounter Him (as Isaiah experienced) we too will say without hesitation, "Here am I; send me!" (v.8).

 

Many of us, however, never expect to experience such an encounter with the living God; and, yet, it is His desire to reveal Himself personally, and intimately, to each one of His children.  We have the ability to encounter God on a daily basis, but many of us will never take the time to wait on the Lord to receive the grace and love He desires to pour out upon us.

 

Fasting opens the door to a personal encounter with God. It slows us down to be still before the Lord and provides the platform for the Lord to reveal Himself to us and shower His love upon us for our obedience.  Many of us will miss this vital and necessary opportunity with God because of our misconceptions and fears of the discipline of "fasting". 

 

(Isaiah 30:18)

 

The use of the word "wait" in Isaiah 40:31 is the Hebrew word "qavah", meaning to "bind together."  In essence, it is a twisting and binding of our hearts to the Lords.  This requires constant attention and effort.  Just as a branch is grafted into a vine, the deeper we dig the more attached to our Lord we will become.  As a result, we will gain greater nourishment and strength and we will bear more fruit.  Our job is not to produce fruit - we are called to simply "remain"; to "wait"; to allow ourselves to be bound to Christ and experience His love naturally flowing through us (reference John 15:4-8).

 

What does "waiting" have to do with changing the world?  To truly affect change (lasting change that will make a difference in future generations) we must first look inward.  Revival and restoration will happen when we, as believers, stop pointing the finger of blame at a lost and fallen world, and instead, take responsibility for being the bearers of Light and Truth they so desperately need.

 

The world has not changed much, it is as spiritually deficient and morally corrupt as it has been since the beginning of creation.  Even then, God found only a few that were faithful and in His judgment sent a flood to wipe out mankind and rained burning sulfur on a wicked city to destroy it.  Thousands of years later we are still missing the urgency and necessity of our commission to be salt and light in the the world; wondering if He will again need to respond in judgment.  Will He find any who are faithful?  Who is willing to wait upon the Lord and stand in the gap (reference Ezekiel 22:30)?

 

Instead of waiting on God we are wandering in this world.  We could be effectively working in His strength, but we are resting in our own.  Isaiah tells us that those who wait upon the Lord will "renew their strength".  It is in the simplicity of spending time with the Lord that we find refreshment and revival.  When we go to Him in prayer and open up His Word, allowing Him to reveal Himself through the Scriptures, we receive greater clarity for our day, better direction for our lives, and overwhelming peace and strength for our journey.  Jesus modeled this for us when He walked this earth and left us His Word so we would not forget (reference John 13:15, 20:31; 1 Corinthians 10:11, 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21).

 

This word "renew" is not just about exchanging power - it is about a complete change. Just as one would change their clothes - we need to exchange our soiled, sin-stained garment for a beautiful bridal garment of white.  We should be displaying outwardly the new creation we have become inwardly.  When we answer the Lord's call to enter the Bridal Chamber we allow Him the opportunity to prepare us by purifying us through the "washing with the water through the Word" and exchange our worldly wardrobe for the holy garment of His beauty and strength (reference Isaiah 5:21; Ephesians 5:26).  

 

If we would only accept His invitation to "be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7) we would find that it is "in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength" (Isaiah 30:15).  How often do we struggle when we need only to be still?!

 

(2 Chronicles 16:9)  

 

When we are still before the Lord we exchange our weakness (our inability to do anything apart from Him) for His power.  We are reminded of our little lamb from last week -  purposely broken and wounded and carried by the Shepherd.   Effectively developing the strength we so desperately need - the strength that comes only from resting in the power of our mighty Savior; and willingly submitting to follow Him wherever He leads, whenever He calls.

 

So what are we waiting for?  Will we respond to His call?  Will we walk through this door of opportunity and elect to sit before the Lord and experience, first-hand, the refreshment He desires to give us so we will be prepared to stand firm in these last days as we await His return; diligently and faithfully being about our Heavenly Father's business?

 

(Revelation 3:8)

 

By answering this call to fast we are simply stepping over the threshold of faith to make Him our utmost priority, agreeing to wait upon the Lord by feasting upon His Word (realizing that in our weakness we will find our strength in Him), and allowing Him the opportunity to change our hearts and purify our lives that we might impact and change this nation for the glory of God.

 

That's change we can all take part in!  What are we waiting for?!

 

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For some of you this will be your last email.  Next week we will begin preparations to journey through the Proclaim Liberty fast beginning on Monday, September 1st.  If you have enjoyed these emails and would like to continue receiving them on a weekly basis please register online at www.trumpetandtorch.org.  There is no cost to register!

 

We would love for all of you to join with the thousands of believers who will be joining us in the Temple to feast upon the Word of God during these next 40 days.   If you choose not to journey with us, I would like to make a simple request - one, that you would pray for all of us; and two, that you would be willing to surrender one day to the Lord during this time frame - just one!  Join us in the Temple and enjoy the Day One devotional - enjoy these three meals with the Lord - He will bless you for devoting this day to Him:  "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere"  (Psalm 84:10a).

 

For those of you who will be joining us on September 1st please be sure you are registered online by accessing the Proclaim Liberty button (found in the upper right hand corner of the Trumpet and Torch homepage - if you have registered with us before you do not need to register again).  Read through the details of this fast and login to the private Temple side of the sight.  Choose your journey (if you have never feasted with us before be sure to select EAT at the Table of the King) and begin preparing this week by reading the Introduction and the Dear Friend/Saint letters, located on the menu bar, and filling out your Fasting Commitment (also on the menu bar).  Begin to pray for all those who are will be faithfully submitting this time to the Lord.

 

I wish I could express to you the importance of submitting this time to the Lord.  Our Lord desires so much to just spend this time with each of us, longing to enjoy our company so He can reveal Himself more fully.  Dear friend, fasting is not about the food, if that is what is keeping you from coming to His table then let that fear be your sacrifice and be willing to submit your time to Him.  He will honor your offering of time and bless you for your willingness to just come to Him with all your questions and concerns. 

 

The spiritual meals you will feast upon in the Temple are meant to guide you through the Word of God - we cannot fast apart from the Word of God and prayer - you will find yourself failing as soon as you start if you attempt it any other way.  Don't miss a meal - you will be overwhelmed by what He reveals to you, personally, by just committing a few moments at each meal to spend time with Him.

 

(Isaiah 55:11-12, 13b)

 

God bless you for your faithfulness!  I look forward to walking this journey with you!

 

Blessings,

Trumpet and Torch Ministries

 

my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7)

1. Click on the Invitation Seal on the Home Page of the Trumpet and Torch website

at www.trumpetandtorch.org

2. Accept the invitation to Dine with the Lord for one day or all 40 days.

3. Fill out the registration form to get your login information to access the private Temple side of the site.

4. Login into the Temple and select from two 40 Day journeys:

EAT at the Table of the King (if this is your first time feasting with us)

WELLSPRING (if you have already completed EAT).

5. Read the INTRODUCTION and DEAR FRIEND/SAINT letters on the top menu bar.

6. Fill out the Online Fasting Commitment (on the top menu bar).

7. On September 1st - click on WEEK ONE (located to the right of the Temple) - read the Week One introduction (it will show up in the center of your screen).

8.  Click on the DAY ONE devotions (under the Week One button) - your meals will show up in the center of the screen.  Enjoy your meal and click to record a journal entry.  (You can see a full page view of your devotional or journal entries by clicking on the corresponding icon on the top menu bar).

9. Come back each day to receive your meal portion - do not EAT all your meals in one sitting and don't skip a meal.  Allow the Lord to take you deeper in His Word if He so leads.

10. Click on FAQs and FAMILY TIME for answers to your questions and printable placemat fun pages for your children to enjoy.

11. You can download and print out a free copy of both devotional journeys (if you prefer to have a hard copy) by simply clicking on the Proclaim Liberty button and then clicking on the EAT or WELLSPRING pdf buttons located to the right of the door.

 

(Revelation 3:20)