Welcome to the Holy Spirit Untethered. My name is Amber Beals, and it is my job and my mission to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through me, to help demystify who he is, what his role is, and to deeply encourage you to seek a relationship with him. Alright. Let's get started. Hey, guys.
Welcome back to the Holy Spirit Untethered podcast. My name is Amber, and I am so excited that you decided to listen today. Now I know last week that I promised actually, last week and the week before, I promised that Ed was gonna be on this podcast. But alas, it wasn't his fault. It was my fault this time.
I, again, got sick. So I apologize if my voice sounds a little funny funky today. I just he just had surgery, so I didn't wanna take any chances. So we're gonna reschedule that recording, but I promise it is gonna be coming with Ed. But today, instead, I have my amazing husband with me, Eric Beals. Eric, you wanna say hi?
Hi.
Now, Eric, I know you've been on this podcast once before, so you are my first guest that is returning to the podcast. Do you remember what we talked about in the last one?
Yeah. I think we talked about I think it was, like, on our our journey and also, like, a lot of common perceptions of the Holy Spirit.
It was common. Remember correctly. Right. So it was about, like, the Holy Spirit almost being like
a
force or basically your idea of what the holy spirit was growing up in a church that wasn't really spirit filled. And now that you understand in that new perspective that you have, not just perspective, but the truth of who he is, right, and how that's changed your life. And, yeah, it was a really good episode. I believe it's it's one of the earlier ones. I think it's, like, four or five or something like that.
But if you haven't already, go ahead and check that one out. But today, we are gonna be talking about fasting.
Mhmm.
Because we recently went on a fast and how that impacts your relationship with the Holy Spirit and when to do a fast and what kind of fast and all the questions. So we're gonna be talking about that today. But before we do, let's go ahead and pray. So if you can and it's safe to do so, go ahead and close your eyes and pray with us. Alright.
Dear heavenly father, I just thank you so much for this day. I thank you for this opportunity to be able to come on this podcast. Holy spirit, I just pray that you be in our midst. You would be in this conversation. Holy Spirit, I pray you would speak through us.
I pray a blessing over every single person listening to this podcast, whether it's right when it comes out or in years down the line. Lord, I just pray a blessing, And I just pray that you would prepare our hearts to receive this message from you. And we thank you for that in Jesus' name.
Amen. Amen.
Alright. So fasting. Mhmm. Yep. So you and I have done a couple of fastings together
Mhmm.
I think in our marriage. And we've never done a, like, a food fast per se, like I have Mhmm. But we've never done one together.
Yeah. I haven't really done one. Honestly, I'm not a huge I'm not a very big eater already. I'm already kind of skinny. I I mean, I used to be, like, weigh, like, a hundred like, eighteen hundred twenty pounds. I was already kind of underweight. So I kind of always avoided doing any food fast because I'm like, I I don't have the physical capacity to do so.
Yeah. Yeah. And I I think it's important that, like, fasting has its place, and it is biblical, and the Lord wants us to do it. But if you have health issues, maybe maybe don't. Or start like with missing a meal or maybe doing like a fast front dessert. Yeah. Like, maybe certain kinds of food instead of like full on skipping a meal or skipping a couple of days and not eating.
I think it I think it can be spirit led actually, too. Whether you should fast or not. Right? Yes. I think it it shouldn't just be necessarily be something that you just do without praying about it or consulting with the Holy Spirit Yeah.
And you may definitely have to take that step out to, you know, even consider the idea first. Right? It's not gonna I don't know if it's necessarily gonna, like, come to you without you intentionally kind of going out of the way to kinda seek that, but it should definitely be spirit led in doing that.
Yeah. Absolutely. And I think that it should be on your radar. Mhmm. I mean, some people, they're just like, oh, people in the Old Testament, that's what they did. Mhmm. Or Jesus fasted, and that was before the covenant. But no.
Yeah. And that was two thousand years ago and whatnot. Right?
Right. Yeah. And it it's still it's still a thing, and I and I believe the Lord still wants us to do that. And what do you think is the purpose of fasting?
I think the purpose of fasting is to really get closer to God and to really remove one, I think to, like, remove distractions, but then also to kind of give up your your daily needs, essentially. To kind of present to the Lord that you are the only one that I need, you are are all I need in life, and you provide everything, like food and all that. And at the end of the day, the the purpose is to get more more in tune and closer to God.
Yeah. I think that's accurate for sure. And I think, you know, one of the reasons why we fast is one, because the Lord wants us to. Right? I mean, that's one of the things that I believe is on his heart for us to give up something that we need
Mhmm.
Or something that we're addicted to or something that we almost put as an idol in our life Yeah. To really focus in on him Mhmm. And seek his face. I mean, scripture says over and over again that he wants us to seek his face. And so really quick, I wanted to read a scripture out of Ezra, and it's chapter eight verse 23.
And it says actually, I'm gonna start in verse 20 halfway through verse 22. And it says, the hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek him, but his power and his wrath are against all those who forsake him. So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and he answered our prayer. So this is Ezra and and the people, and they're kind of in a pickle. And they know that the lord wants he wants them to seek his face.
Right? And so because of that, they are dropping everything. They're fasting, and they're seeking the Lord because they don't want the Lord to forsake them because not that he would. I mean, he has a promise to keep to his people, but he does they wanna be in right standing with the Lord. Right?
And so they decide to fast and pray, and he answered their prayer. And so that stands out to me because a lot of the times I think this last time when we went into our last fast, we were seeking the Lord for an answer because we were kind of in a fork in the road, right, in terms of a decision and what to do with our business Mhmm. Where to go, how to proceed. And we were praying about it, but we weren't really hearing much from the Lord.
Mhmm.
I mean, I wasn't. Yeah. And so we were like, okay.
No. I wasn't either. Yeah.
Yeah. And so we were like, okay. What do we need to do differently to be able to hear from the Lord? Mhmm. And so that's when we decided to do this fasting. You wanna talk about this fast?
Yeah. No. And that's kinda like the other thing on fasting actually too that we didn't just mention is if you're kind of not really hearing from the Lord, like you've been praying for Right. A while, this goes to kind of anybody out there that that's kind of listening and they're like, yeah, I've been praying, I'm not hearing anything. This might be the answer to actually hear for whatever you whatever whatever it is that that you're praying about.
And so for Amber and myself, we're on kind of a fork in the road because that as you know, Amber right now, she's about, what are you, three months due or so in June?
I'm due and June. So I'm twenty seven weeks.
Yeah. We have our our our first baby coming in June. That's super exciting. And, you know, we were trying to figure out, do we continue to stay in the business? Our business for a while, it was we'll do well, but not flourish like a lot of times that that's mentioned in the Bible.
Well, and also really quick, I don't know if everybody knows what we do, but we own a business together Mhmm. Called Different Mix. And in that business, we do video production. We do online courses and training videos. And then the other side of our business is podcast management.
So, basically, what that means is we help other people launch podcasts, and then we maintain it for them. Meaning, we provide the recording software. We'll put together the episode at the intro, the outro. We're kind of the technical savvy people behind podcasting. So that's what our business is, and we've been doing business together since 2016, starting out with wedding videography.
So we've been doing video production for a long time. And in 2017 is when we started different mix and we kinda started niching down. Yep. We've done relatively well. I mean Mhmm. I think most businesses fail in the first one or two years and we did it. Since 2017, we've had this current business.
Mhmm.
So it's been several years and we stayed afloat, barely. Let's just say that the Lord give us gave us just enough. Right?
Right. Well, that's the thing, you know, it was all him that really kept us going. But I'm actually very grateful that that's what he decided to do. Because in that context, if the Lord immediately kind of just let us flourish immediately, my mindset at the time is this is my business. Mhmm. This is what I'm doing. This is me, essentially. Right? Yeah. So there's a lot of red flags there with that.
Right? That that's not biblical work. You know, that's it's, I guess, a typical guy thing where you kind of set your identity in your work.
Yeah.
And so we knew the Lord had spoken to us before and told us that he's going to bless us and and flourish us, give us lots of abundance. We've gotten that word
Many times.
Many times from other people, in private, like, we've we've gotten that multiple times. And so we just we knew it's only a matter of time. And so, at some point, we came to a a fork in the road.
Which was just it just happened in the beginning of this year.
Yeah. I mean, just like, I don't know, three months Three months ago. Two, three months ago.
This was like February.
Yeah. And the fork in the road is is like, okay, you know, we have a new baby coming. We know babies are expensive. Yes. And we're just like, okay, you know, Lord, I you know, we need you to provide in this way to provide for us. I need to know what I need to do. I what should I what should I do? Should I continue this? And part of this too, so I've always worked in my dad's business. So again, all this right now with a lot of this is kinda laying the foundation so you have an understanding.
Context.
Of context. Yeah. So I've always worked in my dad's business for twenty something years since I
was like You were teenager.
15. Yeah. But I have never felt led to pursue it. I've always had a sense on, like, like, a calling on kind of what I should be doing. I and it always never sat right with me to pursue in my dad's business.
There's aspects where it terrified me doing it because he does lots of testimony work and such too. And I always assisted. I always kinda worked in as as an assist helping him on in his work and what whatever he needs to do. And so it's been like that for twenty years or so. And so when this kind of fork was coming, I don't even remember where we kinda got the idea too fast.
I think maybe it came up from some other other thing and we're like, you know what? We haven't done that. We should we should do it fast.
I think it came about because you kept coming to me and you kept bringing that up
Yeah.
Of like, should I just work for my dad's business? And I'm like, to me, I was just kinda like, no. Like, let's just, you know, put our heads down and and work in the business that we've built over the couple years, you know. Like, the lord's promised us abundance. Like, let's just keep focusing on that. That was my perspective. Right. So I was like, okay. Well, this has been bothering you for years. Mhmm.
Because you've mentioned this to me several times where you're like, you had that nagging feeling of like, well, it makes logical sense for me to pursue this business because one, it's lucrative. Two, my dad's already built it up and he could train me Mhmm. But it doesn't sit right with me. Mhmm. And so you've had that kind of tug the last few years.
And so I think it was a consensus of like, okay, let's just answer this question or have the Lord answer this question right now because we've only got a few more months before Aviva comes.
Mhmm.
And like, if you're gonna do it, then I want you to do it full force, know, type thing. And so that's why we're like, okay, let's fast.
Right. And this was one thing that I I kinda never really got a a very clear answer on from the Lord. It was always consistently like a it sits right, it sits or whatever it might be. But what I didn't know was I for me, anyways, I didn't know the exact reason why. So for years, it never sat right to pursue my dad's business, but it absolutely sat right to pursue video production and podcasting and and all that.
So I was like, okay, love. I was gonna pursue that. So we decided, let's do a fast, but let's not do I I didn't wanna do a a food fast. That didn't sit right with me. And one thing that's all that's kinda bothered me and I'm sure a lot of you know, bothers a lot of people too is, you know, social media can be very addicting. Social media and
Just your phone in general.
And yeah. Phone in general, like, whatever it might be. So for me, the or the fast was a digital fast. And that
And it made sense for me as well since I'm pregnant. I can't like, my doctor doesn't want me to fast at least as of right now because or at least from food because I'm pregnant.
Right. Right.
So that's that's another reason why we we chose because we're doing this together as one, and we chose to do a digital fast,
which Mhmm.
Like you said, no social media, no Netflix, no movies, no net like
Right. No media.
No media.
I I think we had one we had one exception, which was to, like, you know, do Messenger X stuff or something like that.
Yeah. Messenger X, which I've mentioned before, is the John Bevere x ministries app. Free. It's amazing. So we were like, okay. If we're gonna consume any kind of media, it's gonna be one of those classes. It's gonna be something that is edifying and something that teaches us something.
Right. Right. Not entertainment based. It was informational based and and growth based, not not entertainment or, you know, black hole based like a, you know, scrolling Facebook or something like that. Right? Yeah. And that was kind of hard to start, you know. You don't realize how addicted you kinda get to your phone until you like put it away and completely like ban it and but
Oh, it's so hard.
Yeah. Oh, yeah. It it is hard.
I found myself looking at old photos cause I was like, I just need to look at something.
Sure. Yeah. Yeah. That was what set right to do that kind of fast. Yeah. And for me, right when I kind of started that, it also started going through the the John Bevere book, Awe of God.
Mhmm.
And I think I was, I don't know, only on like the first first couple couple chapters of it. So I kinda started those things around the same time.
Yeah.
And like day one of the fast, after about twenty four hours or so, the Lord spoke to me and said, okay. Now you should pursue your dad's business.
How long before you heard from the Lord?
About twenty four hours.
Oh, twenty four hours. Okay.
Yeah. About about like one day after. So after I've I'd committed we we committed to doing this for a week. And that threw me through a loop. That really kinda threw me off initially because I was like, wait a minute. Now I need to pursue my dad's business? I've only been working in it for twenty years. What do you mean I do that now? And at first, it didn't quite make any sense. And it was kinda confusing to me, and I didn't quite understand, like, what what was the purpose.
And I realized in the middle of the fast that the reason I had to pursue media production and our current business was I had to find my identity in the Lord. Mhmm. That's what it boiled down to. And it wasn't until I did that fast that that clued in that my identity needs to be set in the Lord. Like, I am a child of God. I am a child of Christ. I'm a a follower of him. And then whatever he sets me to work wise or hobby wise, whatever it is, it's all needs to point back to him.
Mhmm.
And after I realized that and I started setting my identity in him and not in work or anything, suddenly it it like clicked like a light bulb
Mhmm.
That I needed to go into my dad's business. And that was the Holy Spirit telling me, now you can go go to go do this. Now that you've set your identity in me, now you should pursue this, and I'm gonna send you into different areas.
Mhmm.
And that was that wouldn't have happened without fasting. That was a huge I mean, this was a huge fork in the road for us, essentially. Like, what do we do? Mhmm. Mean, that that is a big big big life change, essentially.
Totally.
And, you know, if we didn't fast, maybe we would have picked the right road or maybe not. I don't know. Yeah. Right? Probably not. Probably would have picked the wrong road if we did if we didn't do a fast.
Yeah. How long did the fast last? It was about a week.
We did a week. Mhmm. Mhmm.
Yeah. One week. And not only did we take away things that didn't serve us anymore, like social media, Netflix, all the things, we also replaced those things with prayer. Yep. So you and I would pray every night together
Mhmm.
About the same thing. Mhmm. Just, Lord, we're seeking your face, like, we're bringing this problem to you, this decision to you. And one thing that I really wanna stress is if you are seeking and fasting because you need an answer for something, you have to be in a place where you're not biased.
Mhmm. Yes.
You can't be like, I hope the Lord tells me to do this. Like, you can't be like, Lord, I really want you to bless the business I have. I don't wanna pursue my death. But, like, it has to be whatever your will is, whatever you say, great. Like, I am not tied to either or.
So kind of piggyback on what you just said there. Think of it this way. If your identity is set in him, you don't really care what you do anymore. Right? What work wise.
I mean, we're kind of focused and this kinda focused around work, but it could be hobby, it could be, you know, what church you're going to, it could be whatever. Right? If you are setting your identity in any anything other than the Lord, now you have a very strong bias. Mhmm. Because the Lord might still will still tell you, you shouldn't do that, you should do this.
But if you're setting your identity in that thing, now you're gonna go like, that's my identity. Know, I I can't that must be my own thought. You're gonna ignore that. Or he won't answer. Or he won't answer. Right. And so if you're not getting an answer, it could be that you're setting your identity in something that that you really shouldn't be. And it's an easy, easy, easy thing to do.
Yeah. Or you're putting your desire over his.
Yep.
Right? So and it's it's it's an easy thing to do, like you said, in terms of, like, really desiring a certain thing. Because in the beginning of that fast, like, to be honest, I was just kinda like, before we started the fast and you and I were talking about going into this fast, I was like, okay. I I don't want you go towards your desk. Like, that was kinda like that's always been kinda my attitude because I'm like, no.
We work together. We've always worked together. Like, that's how it is. Just deal with it, Eric. Like, know, same thing.
So when you were, like, seriously, like, struggling with it And to be honest, like, you have been operating in our business not from a place of joy. Like, I've seen you go through these past few years just kinda like trudging through life. Yeah. And you do go through cycles sometimes of, like, being depressed or, you know, just not operating from that place of joy, which the Lord wants us to operate from. Right?
Like, we're supposed to be, like, the Lord he is our strength. He is our joy. Like, we're supposed to be operating from that place. And Mhmm. I never really saw that from you. Mhmm. And it always concerned me because I was just kinda like, no matter what I said, you know, me, I'm I'm I'm a fixer, a people pleaser. I try to, like, say the right word. Didn't matter what I said, like, you were gonna feel the way you were gonna feel, that was it. And so it was just kinda like, okay.
And I prayed about it a lot. And so right before we started this fast and we were talking about doing it, I was like, okay. I have to be in a non biased place because I was very biased. And I was like, okay, Lord. Strip that away from me. Mhmm. I what what is it that I truly want? Okay. I wanna be obedient, and I want to be in alignment with your will, Lord. So whatever that looks like, it doesn't matter.
And it was it was hard to get to that place, at least for me, because we had spent all this time and energy building this business, making it so that we could scale it, and, like, so much blood, sweat, and tears went into this. Right? And we have people under us in this business. And so I'm just kinda like, okay, Lord. It doesn't matter. Like, it does matter, but it doesn't matter if I'm not in alignment.
Mhmm.
And, yes, I have people under me, but they're not my responsibility, they're yours.
Mhmm.
And so I just wanna make sure that I'm in a place where I'm serving you and I'm in alignment with your will. Mhmm. Because, obviously, Eric's right. We haven't been blessed in this area yet, and yet you keep promising it. And so maybe we're just not in the right place.
Mhmm.
Maybe we need to we're holding on to something that was for a season that we're no longer supposed to be in anymore.
Mhmm. Yep.
And so finally getting to that place and then being like, okay, Lord. Doesn't matter how much time or energy I put into this. All that matters is that I'm in alignment with you.
Right.
That we both are one in alignment with him. Right. And so once we I made that decision, like, in my heart, and then we pursued it. When you got that word of, like, okay, I'm gonna, like, I think I'm supposed to pursue my dad's business. I was like, okay. And so I prayed because I wanted to get a word or a confirmation or whatever, you know, because we're we're one. Right? And so I wanted to hear that confirmation. And the Lord spoke to me and he said, let him lead. And I was like, okay.
Yes, sir. Mhmm. So I was just kinda like and that has been my prayer for a while is that you would lead. Mhmm. That you because you are, you know, the head of the house. You're supposed to lead. And I think now that you're in alignment with God's will and you're not putting your identity in the business or your work or what you do Mhmm. You can lead properly. Mhmm. You because you're letting the Lord lead.
Right.
And so the Lord just told me, he's like, I got him. Let him lead.
Mhmm.
You can trust whatever he says. And I said, okay. And it's been such a blessing since then.
And that takes a sip of sip of faith as well too.
Oh, totally.
Right? Especially, you know, it it can be hard if you're not used to doing that in your in in our case, it's a a husband wife relationship. But if if the Lord asks you to kinda release some of that that control roles Mhmm. Role that maybe maybe you have, it can be a hard thing to very hard thing to do.
Oh, yeah. I am a natural leader. Like, every position I take, whatever, I am I just lead. I just always assume that position and it's natural for me.
Mhmm.
But in a marriage, you're supposed to lead. Mhmm. And I think there is a certain amount of relief now that you are leading because it was like something that I was carrying that I was never meant to carry. Mhmm. That's that's that's your job.
Mhmm.
And ever since then, there has been been this like, okay. Yeah. He's got it. Mhmm. Like, it's fine. Like, I don't have to worry about it, you know, type thing. And so I just wanna encourage other women out there that are maybe strong leaders that it's your husband that's supposed to lead. Mhmm. And that can be scary, especially if your husband is maybe more passive or more not as, like, extroverted. Whatever the thing is, it's okay. Like, the Lord is going to pick up the pieces where they fall.
Mhmm.
And sometimes you have to let them fail, and that's okay. Mhmm. Because ultimately, it's the Lord that's got you, not your husband.
Mhmm.
And you have to have enough faith in the Lord that he's gonna take care of you. Right? And I'm not saying that you're failing, but I'm I'm just saying, like, I just wanna encourage people out there that maybe are afraid of that. They they worry about those things because they always have to step in Mhmm. To make sure things get done or bills get paid or whatever it is, you know.
Right. So And one of the things I wanted to add too, you mentioned about the joy aspect too.
Yes. Mhmm.
That's a really key aspect of this. So the last time before now, I remember having a very strong sense of joy was actually during our honeymoon in Italy. Yes. Mhmm. And I remember waking up and just being so excited in The day. In for the day in Italy. Before that and for years after that, you know, getting up always kinda had this, like, dragging feet kind of mentality. Like, oh, another day. Gotta get up and, you know, get a move on and do the do the Lord's work or whatever. Right?
It was it always kinda had this dragging feeling. After we did the fast, and honestly, even during the fast, in in our case, because we weren't didn't have like movies and social media and stuff too, it was like, know, it'd be like 09:00 and sitting there twiddling your thumbs and it's like, what would we do? We're like, well, I guess we just go to bed or something. Yeah. You know?
And and and we could play games or something like that. But like, oftentimes, we went to bed early. Yeah. And even during during that, I noted I started getting up earlier. Mhmm.
And I started having this excitement to get up. And that hasn't gone away. I I like like, I used to be kinda more of like a late person, like getting up later very consistently. Yeah. And late meeting like, you know, ten or something like that, which is late for which is insanely late for a lot of people, you know, for most most people.
Wake up late.
Yeah. Right. And but after I started doing this, I kind of had more of a spark and an energy to to get up at like seven, and honestly, lately, the last several days, I've been waking up at like 02:30, three, like a little bit too early, honestly. Yeah. Yeah.
And but I I've I just have this overall excitement to get up. And I didn't really have that before. And and honestly, I didn't really realize I kinda had that. Mhmm. Like, when you're in something for a long long long time, you don't really kind of realize where you're at until you place yourself in another, like, position, and then you realize, oh, wait.
This is what it should be like. Mhmm. And for me, that that moment was when we were in Italy, and I was, like, super excited. And I was, like I remember thinking years, I was, man, why can't I feel like that way every day? Mhmm.
I remember asking myself that multiple times. Like, why can't I feel like that every single day? And I know lots of people that way and I'm and I was envious of them. And it for me, it boiled down to just to not fully setting my identity in the Lord. I mean, maybe I would agree to that and be like, yeah, I do, or whatever. Now I do.
Yeah.
Now my identity's in the I've
seen it in you. I've seen the the change and the fact that you're, like, excited to, like, get your certifications and to do math. Like, who gets excited to do math? You do. Because you're finally in alignment. Right? Like, the lord's finally giving me that joy of, like, pursuing this business. And, like, your eyes light up when you talk to me about math. My my eyes kinda gloss over because I'm just like, okay. He just needs to talk about this because he's excited about it.
And it's it's fun to see you be joyful, to be operating in that place finally, you know, that you're not just trudging through life and you're actually pursuing the things that the Lord has for you. And Yep. That makes me very happy.
Yeah. Yeah. So it makes a world a world of difference. That's for sure. Oh my gosh. It's it's completely night and day. It all kind of really obviously started with him, but then it was kind of it manifested itself through the past.
Right. And so to tie all this back into the holy spirit, because like you said in the beginning, this fasting needs to be spirit led. Meaning, fasting should be on your radar, first of all, because he's never gonna lead you there if it's not on your radar. So you need to be aware of it, especially if you're going through a season of you're trying to figure out something. Maybe you're not hearing from the holy spirit.
You've tried everything. So maybe you need to try something you've never tried before. Try fasting and fast from whatever feels right, like, whether it's full on fasting where you fast for a couple of days, maybe it's, you know, fasting from sweets, whatever it is, or or social media fast. I would recommend everybody do a social media fast just because you don't realize
At least once.
At least once. Yeah. Because you don't realize how much your phone, this little computer that sits in your pocket every day, how much it dictates your life, and how much time you spend with it because you you need that distraction. You need that dopamine hit. You need whatever it is, you know.
And a lot of people that when the Bible talks about, you know, don't worship idols, the phone is definitely in that category. If it was if Bible was written today, that's what they'd be writing. Like, be considered, you know, don't worship the lambs and cats, they say don't worship your phone.
Yeah.
Right?
Absolutely. Because, like, on the phone, it's not just the phone. It's seeing other people, seeing influencers. You you get into this playground of, like, envy and jealousy and all these things where you wouldn't have if you weren't on there all the time, like, comparing yourself to other people or, you know, desiring certain things, whatever. Like, it's just it's a dangerous place.
It's a good place. I feel like the Lord can use it and the Lord has used it, but you have to be careful to make it sure that it's not that idol, that it's not that thing that you turn to all the time Mhmm. And that you depend on and that you're just seeking a hit, you know, a dopamine hit from. What as I was saying, tying all this into the holy spirit because fasting does bring you closer to the Holy Spirit. Because, basically, what you're doing is you're getting rid of distractions, and you are putting him first in your life, and you're seeking him.
And when you do that, the Lord always answers. Holy Spirit always answers. He will meet you wherever you're at. And especially if you're pursuing him, of course, he's gonna pursue you back. He's a jealous God. Right? I mean, scriptures say that. Like, he's constantly just waiting for your attention. Like, that's what he wants is your heart.
Mhmm.
And so when you fast and you get rid of certain things and you make room for him to get to know him more and to pursue him and his character and his will and all the things Mhmm. Then your relationship with him is only gonna get stronger. It's not gonna get weaker.
Mhmm.
And it that's so powerful. So I I just wanna encourage everybody. If you've never done a digital fast, social media fast, whatever it is for you, maybe it's video game. Like, I don't know. Whatever it is for you that you struggle with or something that you hold in high esteem and you do a lot, maybe every day, try giving it up for a week Mhmm. And replace it with prayer.
And if you can't give it up for a week, then that could should be a red flag to definitely give it up for a week.
Maybe start with a day, you know, work your way up to a week. But I assure you, you can make it a week. So fasting is super powerful, especially when it comes to your relationship with the holy spirit, seeking his face, and learning how to hear his voice. Because when you get out get rid of those distractions, you allow yourself to really know him and his voice and how he speaks to you because he speaks to everyone differently. Right?
Yeah. And so for you I mean, when he told you to pursue your dad's business, what how did he speak to you in that?
He spoke to me in this way. It was actually you know, I didn't hear word, like, audible words or anything like that. I have a very, like, introspective, like, look on things. Like, I kind of position myself and I kind of picture myself doing things and doing work in my head, like, what does this look like in two years or whatever? I kinda picture myself in those positions.
And I also look at it from what kinda really feels right. And the reason that we kind of, like, struggled in this way was because it and I kind of struggled was it was like, you know, oh, you know, my dad's business, you know, makes doing that makes sense. But it just doesn't it doesn't sit right with me at all. Like, it just feels wrong. Like, I shouldn't be doing this.
Yeah. And and I've always listened to that gut feeling. Whenever I get a gut feeling that's like, shouldn't be doing this, I listen to that because I I I've always learned later that that there's something something happens. I'm like, oh, that was why I did that. So I've I've I've gotten in tune with that internal deep feeling when the Holy Spirit
I would call that discernment. Yeah.
The discernment. Yeah. And one thing I had noticed was as soon as this this switch happened, I would think about the production business, and then I think about my dad's business, and the feelings switched completely. They did a total one eighty, where all of a sudden I was like, wait. Wait a minute.
My business doesn't sit right with me anymore, but my dad's business does. Mhmm. That was a very, like, shocking switch. And I had to, like, sit on it for a bit because it was such a kind of a surprise and a shock to me. You know, I was like, wait, really?
I had to really, like, think on it. Yeah. I didn't wanna like, you know, jump the gun on anything and really like, you know, do something incorrect because because in my head I'm thinking, well, twenty years it's not this has never happened and now suddenly it is. Right. So for me, that's kinda how that was the the the biggest signal.
And in my case, I've had that signal for years. So that's that that was kinda what it was for me. I mean, it might he might speak to you differently, just kinda depends. It might be something scripture, it might be through a person. Who knows what it might be? But that was what
would whatever. Yeah.
Mhmm. Yeah.
Yeah. So I I just thought this message would be really powerful for people who are listening that maybe need an answer to something or they're not hearing from the Lord and they need to try something different. And it's biblical. The Lord wants us to do it. The Lord wants us obviously, the Lord cares about our our heart posture and whether we're pursuing him or not. And so when you choose to fast, you're intentionally seeking him.
Yeah.
And I think that's super powerful. And I I believe that it brings the Holy Spirit joy when you do that. Mhmm. Because you're putting him first, which is what we should be doing anyway every day.
Right.
But life happens. He understands that, but he's always going to course correct in some way. Mhmm. And he's our helper. Right? So he's here to help us and reveal things to us and speak to us and make sure that we are in alignment with the will of the father because he knows the will of the father because he is the father. So
By the way, you telling me when you had prayed because you're because you weren't really sure, and then the spirit told you, just let him lead, that actually was also confirmation from me Yes. Too. Mhmm. That was a secondary confirmation that I'm on the right track.
Yeah.
You You know, because there is a certain level of doubt sometimes where you're like, okay, wait, is this right? This is a big decision.
Right. Yeah.
Right? And so so and the Lord knows that. And so usually on these big decisions, you're you're probably gonna gonna hear from him in in more than just one area if you need it. Mhmm. Right? I mean, you're well versed in this, you may not. But in this is I have some experience that it was still a big decision. So you telling me that, that gave me extra confirmation. That built up my confidence more.
Yeah. And that's not the confirmation I was looking for.
And that's a key part of it too. Right? It might be tempting like, well, I don't want this. I'm not gonna tell him that. Well, now you're that's a sin right there.
Well, no, I mean
No. I meant I meant if you didn't tell me that. If you didn't give me that. Right?
But of course, I was. Right. You know, we're already in alignment with that.
I'm not
gonna hide that from you, especially if I know it's God's will.
I can't
do that.
That's Mhmm.
That's silly. But when I when I say it wasn't the confirmation that I was looking for, it wasn't like, yes, have Eric pursue his dad's business. Sure. No. It was just let Eric lead.
Mhmm.
And those weren't the words that I was looking for. But when I got them, I was like, okay. That is a confirmation.
Right.
It's a different kind of confirmation, but it's confirmation. Right?
Right.
And so a lot of the times, we can't put god in a box when he speaks to us. We can't be like, okay. I'm looking for this. Like, it's either this or this, and he gives you an alternate answer, then you can't be surprised. It's god. Okay. He will make a way where there is no way. Right? Right. So a lot of the times, his answer will be unexpected, but you have to expect the unexpected from the lord because that's just how he operates.
Right? And he his ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And you know what? I'm glad. I'm glad he doesn't think the way I do. I think the world would look way different if he did. So is there anything else that we didn't touch on that you wanted to cover?
No. I think that was that really kinda covered it pretty well. So just to kind of, you know, I guess, kinda wrap the topic up a little bit. But just the important thing though is to have an open mind. That's really important. Mhmm. Because if you don't have an open mind, like, if you just set on I think sometimes people use God as kind of like a crutch, where it's like, oh, I want this thing. Oh, I don't care what God wants. No. This is what I want.
I'm gonna pray about it to him. It's like, that's not that's not how it works. No. You have to you have to you know, you can ask for those things. And if it's in God's will, that's a big if, then it'll come to fruition. But if it's not, then you have to be prepared to accept that. Mhmm. You have to be prepared to okay. Wait. Maybe the this is the answer I'm getting.
Definitely not the answer I'm expecting. You have to be prepared for that and be prepared to also embrace that. And that's why it's so important. Setting your identity in him makes that a heck of a lot easier. That's for sure.
Totally. Yeah. For sure. And again, that goes back to being unbiased about whatever it is that you're praying about because you just have to be open, like you said, to whatever the Lord's will is. And it's okay if you're if it comes from left field or it feels like it comes from left field. It's not. It's it's in God's plan. It's in his will. It's he's known it from the beginning. You're just now hearing about it. Right?
Right.
So but, I mean, I think that's part of faith. I mean, the Lord wants us to put our faith in him and trust him, not just have faith, but trust because that those are the steps. You step out in faith through trust to pursue the things he has for you. Right?
Mhmm.
Ever since we made that decision and decided to be in alignment and pursue the things he wants us to pursue, our lives have looked way different.
Mhmm.
We've been super blessed because of it in ways that I didn't expect. Again, expect the unexpected. Like, we have been super blessed. And I know it's just the beginning of this. Now that we're finally it feels like we're not going against the current anymore. That's what it feels like. It feels like we're finally going with the flow.
That's true. Yeah. It definitely feels like that. Yeah. That's a good description.
Because the Lord's hands in it. Mhmm. Because he's directing us. He's he's
And not not in the flow of the of the world, by the way, too. Not that flow.
No. It it's the Lord's river that we're flowing in that he's directing and and we're not fighting it anymore. Mhmm. And it's a good feeling. And I I feel like we've gotten a a few pushbacks, like all this sickness that I've gotten. But you know what? Overall, I am Well, that's not to
say there's not trials. Right.
Right? That's true.
That doesn't mean you're not gonna have trial. If anything, you might you probably have more trials. Yeah. Right? Because then the enemy sees that and they go, oh, we need hold up. We need to kind of set our focus on this person. Mhmm. Right? Because they're getting closer to God. Right?
So if anything, you probably have more trials. But the difference though is you're way more equipped to handle those trials Right. And to deal with them in a in a biblical way. And you honestly, you're more okay with them. Like, they happen, you just kinda brush it off. It's like, okay, not a big deal. Mhmm. Right? That's what I've kinda noticed. There used to be things that would really frustrate me, and I I'm I'm a lot more calm now than I used to be.
Mhmm. And, you know, part of it is like, know this is kinda gonna have I know I'm gonna have trials and such, so you just prepare for that. Right? Yeah. But it's all a good thing.
Yeah. It's all good. It's kinda like being in a video game. You know you're going in the right direction if you keep encountering bad guys Yeah. And obstacles, like, then you know you're going in the right direction.
Yep. Yep. Yep.
I hope this message blesses you guys. And, Eric, thank you so much for being on here, saying yes, coming on here, and speaking again. It's great to have you back on. And you guys, I I hope this message again blesses you. I hope that it helps you understand fasting a little bit more and how to pursue the holy spirit maybe in a way that you've never done before.
And if you can share this episode or share this podcast, if this podcast has ever helped you, share it with a friend, and that's how we grow this podcast is by sharing it and getting it out there. And it's in many, many countries, which is very humbling to know, and it's exciting also to know that the Lord is using this. And that's why I'm doing this because the Lord told me to. So so yeah. Alright. Thank you, guys. I hope you guys have a great week, and I'll see you next week.
See you.