Devotion

During my time in Africa, sure I most definitely loved the luxurious life of being surrounded by my other M friends.  After having not been in America over three months, there wasn’t much more that my soul needed than to worship our so ever faithful, loving Father in English!  Being able to pr@ise Him through songs, that I actually understood the meaning and words of, sitting beside some of my dearest brothers and sisters in Him…it was sheer blissfulness.  To be honest, although I love going to chRch here in the City, it is very exhausting – as I sit surrounded by many people that I can barely communicate with, singing songs that I constantly am having to ask the understanding of, and doing my own personal “quiet time” in the midst of a serm0n being pre@ched – simply because I have no idea what the pastor is saying, besides a word or two in every sentence….Too say the least, in Africa, my cup was running over with this time of fellowship!  Each song blessed my heart and hit home.  Each time P@stor Ken spoke, it was as if the Father was saying - “Hey, this is for you.”  There also was nothing better than being able to have all of us jpeople piled up sharing the highs and lows of life together.   I don’t have the words to convey the rejuvenation that this provided me…The Father new the timing of this trip would be perfect and much needed.

But, besides these beautiful moments that the Father used to bless and encourage me with, there was something else that was laid upon my heart by the Father.  Something that perhaps is very thought provoking, and perhaps one that may not make sense in the beginning….So I am going to do my best to convey what has been laid upon my heart so dearly these past few weeks.

By no means within writing this am I trying to say I agree with the Mus faith and beliefs…However, as a C, as a follower of Chr1st, I do think that Mus’ have some very strong, devout ways of which I think we as C’s can learn from. 

Yes, I think that we C’s can learn from Mus’.  Just as Mus’ can learn from us.  Hear me out on this….

To begin with, let’s think about the Mus rituals found within the R@madan season.  For one month, Mus’ fast.  All devout Mus’ who have reached the age of puberty, except for very specific and designated reasons, are called to participate in this ritual; as it is one of the five Isl@mic p1llars of fa1th.  During this month of fasting, no food is to be had, no liquids are to be drank, no other pleasures are to be taken in from the time of sun up, to sun down, each day; if an event occurs in which causes one to break the fast for that day, the day must be made up or a different act is to be performed.  

As we sit in our comfy homes as C’s, wearing our shorts and t-shirts during this month, we can’t help but ask why or how is this possible?!  Why do Mus’ do this?  How do they manage to go all day, some living in the dead heat of an African/Middle East summer, and not have anything to eat, much less drink?  Are they crazy?!

Crazy…dangerous…perhaps both…But, devoted?  YES.  Written within the Isl@mic book is this – “‘O’ you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may achieve Taqwaa (righteousness, Dad-fearing).”  Their prophet also once stated, “Whoever observes the fast during the month of R@madan, (while) believing in All@h and seeking his rewards, will have his past sins forgiven.”

As you can see, fasting during the month of R@madan is looked at as an action in which draws one closer to All@h – an act that is performed out of obedience of the heart, to seek his pleasure and righteousness.  It is during these fasting days in which Mus’ are called to pr@y and draw closer to him. 

As a C….I know that my sins have already been forgiven by the death and resurrection of JC.  I know that upon accepting Him into my heart, that my sins were wiped away.  Leaving there to be nothing that I can ever do now to be accepted or rejected by the Father.  As a sinner, s@ved by His Grace, I will continue to mess up daily (that is just natural human tendencies for us all) but, there is no amount of fasting that I can do to seek his pleasure and righteousness…Through Chr1st I am given this freely; to have forever and always.

But, as a child of Dad, I believe that we are commanded to fast as well.  Yet, this command is one in which I feel we have lost and left behind; mainly for the inconveniences of it.  Fasting is in the Word – as seen in both OT (Moses) and NT (Chr1st).  Although it is not a tool in which we should use to erase our sins; fasting, as told in the Word, is to be utilized as a time in which C’s humble themselves before the Father, diving deep into the Word and pr@yer.  This time should allow for one’s true heart to be revealed, transformed, and grow richer and richer in relationship with the Father.

What the Word doesn’t tell us is how long too fast for or when to fast…So as C’s, through my experience of fasting (which I will say has been little), I have seemingly seen fasting to be more a group effort – praying specifically for a certain event, need, or concern.  I can honestly say that I never truly understood fasting until this year – that is sad for me to admit; having been a C since at eight.

…And to follow that up, when we as C’s fast, we tend to only fast for a few hours, a day, or at the most – perhaps we will fast through lunch, for one week…..Nothing compared to the extremeness that one sees in R@madan.  And I know for me personally, after just a few hours, I have often found myself complaining and whining – often times becoming “hangry.” This is a little term that I learned from an African friend, during R@madan, who was trying to state that he was hungry, in English.  What a true, real word this misspoken word is – I know when I am hungry, I too become angry.  I couldn’t imagine how “hangry” I would be if fasting for a month….especially have no water to even drink in the summer heat of a place such as Senegal.

But, isn’t that the point?!  For the Mus’ the point is to draw closer to All@h.  But, as C’s, isn’t the point to place your body, mind, and spirit into a pr@ying realm in which you are so engulfed by the Sp1rit that you truly need nothing else, relying on nothing else, seeking nothing else….

And the only way for us to do that is to truly remove those things in which we tend to seek and go to first; before we can lay humbly at the feet of the Father in pr@yer.  Shouldn’t He be the first thing that we go to?  And shouldn’t every pr@yer that we pr@y be diligent, meaningful, heartfelt, intentional, and constant.

As C's we need to have a spirit of pr@yer.  We should be so in tune with the Father that our every though reflects Him.  I do not believe in the Mus' "forced" pr@yer, but there is something to be learned by their devotion to daily pr@yer...

Mus’ are called to pr@yer five times a day; each lasting between fifteen to twenty minutes.  Most devout Mus’ pr@y at least these five times during the day, due to the fact that they feel this is their duty  – according to Isl@mic laws.  These prayers are neither free nor voluntary; it is a time in which Mus’ are called to recite their book, proclaiming their surrender to All@h.  Pr@yers are viewed as a way of erasing bad deeds, and replacing them with good deeds.

As a C, I know that there is no amount of pr@yers that I can say that can turn my bad deeds into good ones.  All I have to do is ask for forgiveness and it is through His Grace that I am s@ved and made acceptable to stand before the Father’s throne one day.  No amount of good deeds or bad deeds will allow me to stand before Him and enter those gates one day – only forgiveness through His Son.

All throughout the Word I see the call, the imperativeness of pr@yer….But, there is no one standing over me telling me when, how, or what to pr@y.  Pr@yer, in the C realm, is a time in which one humbles themselves before the Father – diving into conversation with Him.  Expressing one's sins.  Seeking forgiveness, advice, help, discernment, and healing for various scenarios and people.  A time to sit and listen to the Father for direction.  But, how many times a day, how much time a day, do we truly sit in doing this with the Father?!  I can honestly tell you that I fail in this aspect of my walk.  I most definitely do not spend seventy-five minutes a day (plus) with the Father in conversation.  It is a good day if I spend fifteen minutes of solid pr@yer with Him a day – and I don’t mean surface talk, I mean deep intentional talk. 

So during this R@madan season what is the main take away lesson that we can see and learn from Mus’?!....DEVOTION.

Again, please know that I do not believe in the Isl@mic faith and culture.  I have not moved across the ocean and been brainwashed by anyone but my He@venly Father.  But, at the same time, I do think that Mus’ do display certain characteristics in which we C’s can learn from; and, if utilized could grow us in our walk with the Father.

What would happen if every C across the globe spent a day fasting at the same time?  And instead of whining, what if we spent this time reading the Word and we sent up deep, intentional pr@yers to our Heavenly Father.  We know that scripture not only calls us to fast and seek the Father in pr@yer alone; but, it also tells us that there is power in numbers.  Can you imagine if all the C’s across the globe pr@yed the same pr@yer, at the same time?  For a day…For a week…For a month?! 

I can’t help but look at these characteristics and be motivated to grow in my walk with the Father.  Motivated to follow the command to fast.  Motivated to spend more time in pr@yer and conversation with Him. 

This is just some food for thought, and something that has truly been laid upon my heart lately.  I see this as a challenge that is presented to me, through these traditions/beliefs.