By Ricky Doc Sauceda
Fasting is required of us by the Lord. What is it that He seeks from us? We are told the Lord searches our hearts and minds. We believers accept this with faith and we are supposed to.
Romans 8:27
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Is there something more to this? Is there a reality that could be shared that would make you try harder as a child of God? Try harder to accept God’s love. Try harder to stop over-stressing yourself with anxieties, to pray harder and cry in faith – not hopelessness. What is the difference?
Joel 2:12 - Rend Your Heart
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
In the winter of 2009, I accidentally poisoned myself early one morning as I was getting ready for work. I convulsed, had multiple bowel movements and I was resolved to let the Lord do what He wanted with me. I went to bed and stayed there all day long. I was willing to die and end my new life of pain, hurt and loneliness.
I went back to work the next day and decided to “pre-bowl” my three games for the Friday night league I was in. I bowled well and had a high score of 269 and a 600 series. However, I really over exerted myself and was feeling very weak. I stepped outside and that is when it happened. Everything was white and I couldn’t see anything. I sat down on a curb with a big cold drink I bought on my way out. I talked to a friend who happened to walk outside. I told him what I was experiencing and he said I needed to go to the emergency room. I promised him I would and I kept working on my big drink. I could see normal after I cooled off and drove home.
If you have known me for a while, you are aware that I was working out every day at this time. I was doing a combination of jogging and power walking 10Ks. I would either do them on my home treadmill or at a nearby park. I was on my patio after my workout one day and it happened again. I was sitting in my chair looking at the trees and hedges. Everything became white and I was starting to get worried. The Lord spoke,” Go inside and pray, right now.”
So I went inside and began to pray and it was strong – I could feel Him. It was such a beautiful experience. When I concluded my prayers, He said,” Go and drink some water.” So I went and did just that. I felt better and everything was back to normal.
This went on as I continued to encounter daily challenges with my eventual loss of employment and relationships with my children. During this time I was offered prosperity by a group called NLE – an exclusive society of famous and wealthy people from all over the world. I turned them down and explained why. I wrote that I belonged to the Lamb of God…that I had eaten His flesh and drunk His blood.
John 6:53 - Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
In the upcoming months I began to discover what was happening to me daily with “the Light.” I knew it was the Lord without knowing specific verses. I had been reading the Old Testament and was focused on how God communicated with great men and prophets. I knew He was present in a very special way with me now.
I began to read the New Testament, the way I had with the Old Testament. I read seven chapters per day, took notes and communed with the Lord over them every day. I was also listening to sermons, praying, fellowshipping and posting my poems and stories. I then started understanding the Holy Spirit. I began to make sense of the Light. I read about Saul on the road to Damascus.
Acts 9:3-4
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul is the apostle Paul and became the strongest and most effective servant of the Lord. He describes God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in amazing ways. He gives us great insight to what he had witnessed. He wants us to know God as reality and with true faith.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Paul tells us that he was taken away by the Lord on the road to Damascus. The men traveling with him were speechless; they could hear a sound but did not see anyone. Paul says the Lord dwells in light that cannot be seen by anyone. Why do I see the Light? Let me accurately describe what I am referring to. The picture I selected for this story shows how I see the Light coming through the sky. What it doesn’t show is what I see here on the ground. The Light of the Lord hails from above and is in everything below. I mean trees, streets, buildings and our flesh.
1 Timothy 6:14-16
I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
...and
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The Light of the Lord really does penetrate through all things, including our bodies. This is how the Lord knows all things and at all times – no kidding. You live every moment in His sight. Every wink of your eye, every smile on your face and every single thing you do He sees.
What I have not shared yet is how weak I feel and the pain I endure when I see the Light. Being in prayer state, as I call it, is beautiful and it physically hurts. The reason for this is that I am a man that was born in sin and God is holy and pure Light. I am not meant to see His radiant Glory – but I do.
We all know through faith that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit exist. Like Paul, I am blessed to have been given a special gift of knowledge. Because of my faith and love of the Lord, I am sharing my story with you.
May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you – always.