God and I have a pretty special thing going on. *sings in Outkast voice*, “You say it’s puppy love, we say it’s full grown”. Lol. He is at once many things; my friend, sister, partner-in-crime, my helper, father, my hope and so much more. There are so many sides to God. I once heard that the Isrealites called God this name, which I forget now, that literally translated to “The Many Breasted One”. This name was given to reflect the fact that like a mother, God loves all His children individually and shows to each one a different, personal side of Himself; often, a side or an understanding of Him that they need or can handle. So in many ways, we determine the extent of our relationship with God by the purity of our heart’s desire to chase after Him. I hope that makes sense…it made sense in my head. Lol.

Funny thing, I often recognise God’s awesomeness, His goodness, His power….or I recognise the ‘scary God’; His wrath, His role as a stern father, His jealousy over me etc. I however often forget God’s sense of humour and His intellect. Sometimes, He will orchestrate something that I can only begin to understand 3, 4 years afterwards and I’m just awed thinking “WHAT?! So THAT’s what you were doing!”

His sense of humour struck me yesterday while fasting. My church (THE EXTREMELY WONDERFUL ‘WATERBROOK FAMILY’ http://www.thewaterbrookchurch.org) is fasting for a few days. Alas, good Christian or otherise, fasting isn’t one of my favourite things to do. Before I got into fasting, I did some solid research on what the Bible says about it…I’ve never been one to take a pastor’s word for it. It pays off to search the Bible for yourself because God honestly answers with wisdom when you genuinely seek Him for yourself. But that’s a story for another day.

Anyways while fasting yestersay, I was sure I was close to seeing my Maker. I was so hungry!!! I planned to stop fasting at 4pm, but when noon arrived to fing me contemplating the taste of my colleagues if the right spices were utilised in their cooking, I moved the mark up to 3pm. I told myself, “3pm is a good enough time! Indeed, THE appropriate time to stop a fast!”. “3pm has biblical significance!” I said. Although what is significant about this hour, I do not know. I vaguely remembered that in Christian Religious studies in high school we were told Jesus was crucified at a time equivalent to 3…(am or pm though?)…or was it 9?! Well, I decided it was 3pm my Saviour died and accordingly, 3pm that my fast would break. I cannot tell you what I hoped to achieve with this symbolism.

So 3pm fixed as the hour of glory, I continued to fast. But I cannot lie, by 1pm, 3pm was looking as far as midnight. So I said, “You know what?! 2pm is enough time to break this fast! 2pm and 3pm might as well be the same, they are so close to each other on the clock!”. By 1.45, I was already mentally arranging my lunch. Now, this is not to say I wasn’t in prayerful contemplation all this time. *Ahem*. I was. But I have to be honest, sometimes, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. (This is why I don’t ever stop praying for God’s grace over my efforts).

So by 1:45, I was thankful that I had agreed to break my fast at 2pm. Ready, set….1:50pm, 1:55pm, 1:57pm…I got called into a meeting!! Oh sweet lawd, why me?!

Not only was I unable to leave the meeting…said meeting went on until 6pm. By now I was almost crazed with hunger.

God-1 Wendy-0

As I ran to my desk, to grab my lunch, I just imagined the kind of laugh God was having over this. He must have been saying “Wendy, you think you’re slick?! Don’t play with me! CONTEND TO LOSE!”

Lol

And just like that, I learnt a lesson in obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

*Obey – The Biblical word for “obey” comes from the Greek “hupakou” which means to listen attentively; by implication to heed or conform to a command or authority. This word conveys the idea of actively following a command. There is no choice in the matter, it is to be done whether one agrees with it or not. Obedience is involuntary.

*Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-obedience-20-powerful-scriptures-quotes/#ixzz2M6bk0JLD