Day Two: Ninth End Of Summer Fast & Detox

Obedience Over Acceptance: Choosing God Above All Else

Wow, we are two days in! This morning, I woke up, went to church, and spent the afternoon reading the Word and praying. But instead of only bringing the “big” things to God, I found myself talking to Him about everything. Just like you would with a close friend, I poured it all out, and it was so freeing.

I want you to know: you don’t have to come to God with everything perfectly together, or with long, elaborate prayers. He is your Father and your friend. He simply wants to hear from you. The message today at church was so good, it reminded me that I need to stay in my Bible consistently, not just during a fast, but beyond it.

Yesterday, we spent time reflecting, checking our hearts and getting honest about where we are. I pray you really took that to heart. Because in order to step into your future self and everything God has planned, you have to first identify where you are right now.

Today, we’re shifting focus: Where are you going, and what has God called you to do?

Yesterday, I reminded you of God’s order: Be → Do → Have. You can’t do the things God has assigned to you until you become who He already called you to be.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” That means God already knows your beginning and your end. There’s a version of you that He designed, and the more you step into that identity, the more you unlock the fullness of His plan.

I was watching an interview with Pastor Brenda Palmer (I’m also reading her book The Journey of Yes), and one of the main points that struck me was about obedience. Obedience is simply doing what God told you to do, whether it’s about your bigger purpose in life or something small and practical in your everyday. Maybe God tells you to pay for the coffee of the person behind you. Obeying that nudge is still obedience.

Jeremiah 7:23 says,

“But I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” That verse reminds us that obedience is the key to life. Disobedience, on the other hand, always costs something. Even when it feels “small,” it matters, because God sees the bigger picture that we cannot.

Ask yourself this: What are the last five things God told you to do? Were they big, life-changing commands? Were they small nudges? Did you act on them immediately, or did you delay, waiting for confirmation from others? If you struggle to remember the last time you heard from God, I challenge you to ask Him to open your ears. As Job 33:14-15 reminds us: “For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.” God is always speaking. But the only way to recognize His voice is to spend consistent time with Him in prayer and in the Word.

There’s a few reasons why we don’t obey God: Disagreement: Sometimes what God tells us goes against what we want. Comfort: A “good” season can actually keep us stuck if God is calling us to move. Fear: The unknown feels unstable, so we hesitate. Pride/Ego: We want control. Acceptance: Wanting others’ approval more than God’s. As Pastor Brenda said, “Obedience doesn’t need an audience. It doesn’t even need agreement.” One of my own struggles has been craving acceptance from loved ones. Sometimes, if God told me to do something and they didn’t agree, I hesitated. But the truth is, God’s approval is the only one that matters. Today my prayer is: “Lord, break the hold of acceptance from others in my life. Remind me that I only need to please You.”

For those of you focused on the detox, today is about making space. You wrote down goals yesterday, now it’s time to clear the clutter that could hold you back. Look at your physical environment: closets, cars, emails, even your phone contacts. Look at your digital environment: what you watch, what you listen to, who you follow. Look inward: thoughts, beliefs, or habits that no longer serve who God is calling you to be. Ask yourself: Does the person I want to become spend time here, think these thoughts, or keep these relationships? If the answer is no, it’s time to release them. Clearing out space; physically, emotionally, and spiritually, makes room for the blessings God wants to pour out.

We have 24 hours left in this fast. That’s more than enough time for God to move. Remember, He doesn’t operate on earthly time. He can do in 24 hours what would take us nine months.

So today, reflect on obedience. Identify the last things God told you to do, and commit to moving forward with boldness. And if you’re detoxing, begin clearing space, both in your surroundings and in your spirit , for what’s ahead.

Tomorrow we’ll close this fast together. I truly believe transformation is waiting if you allow God to do what only He can.