I don’t believe that fasting is just food and water. Not to take power away from that base- fasting in any format can be very powerful. For me, not eating is a daily occurrence. By the end of the day I’m wasted and it’s because I’m lacking from not eating. A food and water fast isn’t necessarily challenging for me. It’s a daily happening. What could be more powerful? What if it was something you have up that made you STRUGGLE that day? Sometimes, God wants to see how serious we are. -How about sacrificing that drink you love? Caffeine -Maybe the scrolling of SM- could you delete the apps? -Sacrificing your favorite daily occurrence: working out, your walks, suntanning, driving, your recreation Would you be willing to GIVE IT UP. Putting it on the alter to God to show your sacrifice and dedication? Even just for a day to witness the power that may be given by The Father in return? Again, food and water fasting is sufficient. It could be an extreme fast for most people. How much more powerful could fasting be if you modified your item on the alter to God to be something that was truly an absolute sacrifice? Something personal. “God, I’m ready for change.” “ I surrender.”

We often chalk up a situation that didn’t work out as “failure.” Is it though? I don’t have this perfected, but I can talk through experience. I have hit brick walls in my life. What seemed to be immovable objects in my way. Something that FORCED me to alter my course. Dead end job, no paycheck, edge of bankruptcy, loss of loved ones (who are still living), hardships. I failed. I should’ve worked harder, been more savy, paid more attention, been more disciplined, learned to say no, walk from toxic relationships, seen it coming. Right? Blame is mine? Through all of it, I chalked these moments as if I had truly failed. Myself, my family, friends, circumstances. I had it all wrong. God showed me a different vantage point. God has never failed me. I’ve always been perfectly placed. Perfectly guided. Perfectly “turned” in my path. God doesn’t make mistakes. There are no coincidences. We learn from The Savior’s example of who God is- through Him. Christ did it perfectly- He was never in the wrong place. He was never there at the wrong time. He was never there under the wrong circumstance. If Christ is our example, we can understand that the same way He lived without ANY coincidences- so can we. Failure doesn’t exist. That truly means- all things good and bad are purposeful. God doesn’t love us through meaningless suffering. An eternal perspective of live gives us this guidance in the times where it feels the darkest. It was never failure- and it never will be if we firmly believe that God is the author to our story. No matter our choices or circumstances. Trust the path. We get pushed from our concrete path into the weeds more often than not. It isn’t usually until after we are done with the treacherous trail looking back on it that we realize- the treacherous path we never would’ve taken on our own, is actually the direction we needed to go all along.

today I was thinking about the oil the 5 virgins who were prepared for the Bridegroom. the story obviously insinuates that the oil couldn’t be shared among them- they needed to bring their own oil. looking into the oil, it was most likely olive oil that was used for their lamps. they had to bring their own olive oil. in our life’s, we have the agency to collect our own olive oil throughout life. however, the thing about olive oil is the extraction process. the oil that we receive throughout our life comes ultimately from tremendous pressure at the olive press’ that we endure and experience. this oil comes equates to our testimony, our grit, our desire to endure. our Father in Heaven desires our growth, and knows the pressures we can handle. the limits we believe we have are a construct- we can handle an incredible amount MORE pressure than what we give ourselves. we constantly cut ourselves short. the hope would be that all of us experience the pressure of the olive press. to be able to fill our lamps with oil we have personally extracted. oil that only comes through adversity and trial of your own testimony. I hope this translates the way it hit me today. sometimes it’s hard to describe what the spirit conveyed hours later, I need to be better about documenting it in the moment. these words aren’t mine, but pressure is a privilege.

I have a document I’ve made with a list of my favorite talks I’ve heard over the years. This one is always in the top 5. I think this is such a fun and meaningful talk from George Durant, and one that everyone can benefit from listening to. I’ve sent this to family, friends, missionaries, really anyone I can get to hit play. Watch or listen to it and share what you thought! Did you enjoy it? What did you like from it? What’s a golden nugget of information you can share! Watch it here or use this link to listen to it! https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/george-durrant/number-one-christian/?highlight=Number+one+Christian