Pastor's Corner - Jan. 30, 2020

And at the end of 10 days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. Thus, the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink and gave them vegetables.

Some time ago, I was driving in the backroad of Wasco heading toward Delano when all of a sudden I drove into an area covered in fog. It was getting late; the fog was so dense that I had to slow down to at least 20 mph. Being in the backroads of the country, late at night and with altered vision can be somewhat dangerous. I cannot lie — maybe I hesitated a little bit. The fog slowed me down.

Fog can alter our vision to see what is in front of us, what is ahead of us and what is coming our way.

At our church, we start every year with 21 days of fasting and prayer. At Canyon Hills Wasco, children, youth and adults all give up something. Some adopt the Daniel plan, others fast from social media, TV, etc. -- whatever it is, we incline our ears to hear the voice of God.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah demonstrated their devotion to God by rejecting the King’s food (delicacies) and only consumed vegetables and water. God intervened in supernatural ways by giving them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dream (Daniel 1:17). It wasn’t their diet, but their devotion to God that made all the difference. They were seeking heavenly things!

Fasting slows us down, because life can sometimes get foggy. This is why every year we get rid of the fog in our lives, so that we can see what is in front of us. God wants us to live in the present, to bask in His goodness today — to embrace our family and catch every live moment. He also wants us to be aware of the direction in which we are heading.

The future is vital. People are stressed and fearful of what the future will bring. But if know His voice, we will follow His direction. Jesus invites us to rest in him. Although everything around us can be chaotic, we can be certain of where we are going. Finally, we need have clear vision, because “when," not “if,” the winds come and beat on our house (Matthew 7-24-27), we know that our foundation is on the rock. That even in the difficult times of 2020, we have established good grips on God. You can start fasting today! Speak to the Lord about what you are giving up and for how long, adopt a Bible plan, pray without ceasing (pray with your eyes open), as you are driving, working, etc. -- and see the great things that God has planned for you and your loved ones. Fernando Segura is pastor of Canyon Hills Church in Wasco.