Paul, thank you for your feedback and kind words. I'm glad God used the fasting content to bless you and provide the information you needed!

Amen, Avis!! o/

P.S. Esther, I appreciate your wording -- "for letting God use you to publish this." Thank you for phrasing it that way. You correctly recognize that GOD produced this, not me.

You are so right. Nothing on this site, nothing God has ever done through me in ministry, is because of me or a result of my effort. It is all -- ALL -- Jesus. All God's infusing -- infusing His life, His insight, His enabling, His truth, etc. through the life of Christ. It is all a gift of His grace, not a result of any merit or accomplishment on my part.

As a side note, this is why Shades of Grace is called Shades of Grace, not "Natalie Nichols Ministries." I came through my devastating years of illness because of God's grace. I received spiritual growth in that dark season by His grace. Experienced Jesus in that season unlike any other... as a result of His grace. God infused me with Jesus' strength, endurance, eternal perspective, truth, peace, patience -- and even joy -- in those years of suffering. I experienced countless shades of God's grace in those years. So at the end of that season, when God led me to found a ministry, how could it ever be titled by MY name??? I had done nothing! God had done it all by His grace.

So you nailed it. This little article is like the rest of the ministry -- a work of God, by His grace. :)) o/

Thank you, Esther. It's encouraging to hear how God is using the content on the site. He led me to put this article series together about 3 years ago during a 21-day fast -- during our annual Pursuit 21 in January. It was -- and remains -- very convicting for me also. May the Holy Spirit continue to search your heart, speak to you, convict and guide you as you pray through the scriptures in this article series. May He lead you "along the path of everlasting life"!

Thank you, Alinane! I will be praying for you as you seek God in this season of fasting and prayer! And yes, I join you in claiming God's promises -- He will sustain you. He will finish the work He began in you!

He has given you so much grace to fast for 31 days, and He'll certainly enable you to make it the last 9. May our Father make these last 9 days glorious in His presence! May you feel Him near, and feel passion for His presence and His word. May you taste, see and feel that the Lord is good!

Alinane, thank you for this scripture from The Message. I always love reading scripture from The Message because it makes passages fresh to me. It helps me see the truths in new, fresh light. And this was no exception.

I haven't been able to write new content this year because we are still battling COVID in my family. (My father got COVID in December while in the hospital. They did not diagnose it, but discharged him with COVID. My mother and I both got covid from him. Mom and Dad were both battling for their lives in the hospital with covid over Christmas. Dad fought valiantly but passed away January 20. Mom almost died also. She made it, but was discharged from the hospital very sick. I've been taking care of her post-covid issues for 4 months now. It was 24/7 care for quite a long time. She is finally stronger, but still has significant signs of covid in her lungs. Long haul covid is no joke.)

I thought last year was rough. I could never have imagined how tough this year would be. Countless other people are in similar situations, and worse. Due to covid, they've not only lost loved ones but have also lost businesses, jobs and income.

We all needed this reminder from Isaiah 55:8-11. I love this wording: "For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think." Thank you!

Thank you for your question, Susan! The answer to your question is "yes and no."

"Yes" — There are multiple scriptures throughout the Bible conveying the truth that God is in control of and filters every circumstance that enters our lives. The verses in this extensive series, including the story of Job, are examples. The truth that God has ultimate authority and control over all the details of our lives is stated and demonstrated repeatedly throughout the Bible.

"No" — there is not a scripture with this exact wording. Saying that God filters the circumstances of our lives with his "fingers" is using an analogy — it's a way of explaining God's authority and control over the circumstances of our lives in a way that we can visualize and understand. It is a way of condensing the truth of God's sovereign rule down to one phrase, and in a way we can relate to and picture as human beings with finite understanding of an infinitely wise, powerful, and loving God.

God is the supreme ruler of the universe. He has ultimate control over every detail. No one outranks or overrules Him, not Satan or demonic powers—not even temporarily. No one has more control over the events of this world and over our lives than God.

Not only does God control the universe, He rules with infinite wisdom and love. He has the power to determine which difficulties enter our lives, and out of His wisdom and love, He allows only the ones that will work for our good and His glory.

No trial reaches us without God’s appointment and specific permission. In addition, God limits what reaches us. (See Job, and how God limited what Satan could do to Job.) God only allows what will accomplish His good plan.

As stated in the next article in this series, “[God] doesn’t say, ‘Into each life a little rain must fall,’ then aim a hose in earth’s general direction and see who gets the wettest. He doesn’t reach for a key, wind up nature with its sunny days and hurricanes, then sit back and watch the show. He doesn’t let Satan prowl about totally unrestricted. He doesn’t believe in a hands-off policy of governing. He’s not our planet’s absent landlord. Rather, he screens the trials that come to each of us—allowing only those that accomplish his good plan, because he takes no joy in human agony.”

I encourage you to read this entire series, and the articles from a previous series (listed under “Related Articles” at the end of each post). I believe you will find the scriptures and Biblical truths helpful.

Also, consider reading the last post in this series — "Biblical Evidence: Scriptures About God’s Sovereign Rule" https://www.shadesofgrace.org/2018/09/24/scriptur...

God numbers even the hairs on our head. No detail of our lives is too small for His knowledge and involvement. Psalm 37:23 says that God busies Himself with our every step (AMPC); He delights in the details of our lives (NLT). God’s providence governs every single detail of our lives.

One way of stating this is to say, "God holds our lives in the palm of His hand. Nothing is allowed to touch us unless it is filtered through His fingers of love."

I hope this is helpful.

I'm glad to hear this, Alinane! God is so faithful to speak a word right when we need it! I join you in praising Him for His faithfulness! Thank you for taking the time to let me know God used this article in your life -- it's encouraging! God bless you!

Alinane, thanks again for letting me know the video link was broken. I just replaced it with a new embed. In case something happens with this video link, I also included links to the sermon on audio as well. I hope you are able to watch or listen to it!

What an excellent suggestion for a song, Alinane! I had not thought of that. Thank you for letting me know the video is not working. I will replace it with a working embed.