There was no visible evidence of any turmoil in my life. It was not apparent to the naked eye that my mind was in the “process of elimination” mode at the rate of 39 colors per minute. No, to the beautifully manicured sales associate in front of me I looked like the picture of a perfect Saturday morning. Those were her words. Exactly. “Wow, you look like you’re having the perfect Saturday morning,” she sighed as she walked in my direction. There I was, standing as I usually do on one hip, holding my designer handbag in one hand and a very large cup of Starbucks coffee in the other. Oh, and wearing my worn running shoes and matching sweaty running gear. Yes, to this beautiful and young cosmetic specialist I was having the perfect Saturday morning. Obviously, she was no mind reader, because to me I was clearly a vision of distress calculating colors and application methods in my mind.
She continued on by saying the best way to start a Saturday was with a great run followed by a cup of Starbucks. I paused for a moment. Maybe she was right. The morning raced through my mind; quick cereal for three sleepy-eyed munchkins, a quick kiss and wave to my wonderful and loving husband, a grueling run in very brisk weather (read: cold for this Arizona native), followed by a long wait at my neighborhood Starbucks for a simple but very necessary and very large cup of coffee. All of that was out of the way before 10 a.m. so that I could be standing right here: the most crucial place in my week. The one errand that I had to ensure took place and here I was: the eye shadow aisle of Sephora. The music was so subtle but appropriate in the background, (think Dave Matthews). The sales girl was so perfect and beautiful I couldn’t help but think my problem was about to be solved. Maybe she WAS a mind reader, and this WAS the perfect Saturday morning! “Yes” I replied, “it HAS been a perfect Saturday morning”.
I could see the end of my turmoil in sight. The answer to my ever-present dilemma was standing right in front of me. Now I would finally know … Urban Decay or Smashbox? Glamour-glitter or matte finish? What kind of eye shadow should I wear that won’t fade? By the middle of any given day my eye shadow was non-existent. I was so desperate for help. Her answer was almost without a thought, almost too simple. Primer. Excuse me? “Primer,” she said again. “All you need is a primer, and any of these mineral shadows will last all day. Guaranteed.” Wow!! Primer. Guaranteed.
I was so thrilled to finally have uncovered the answer to my problem. I purchased my newly found guaranteed answer and went straight home. On the drive home I played it over and over in my mind. How could primer be new? I have been wearing make-up since I was thirteen years old for heaven’s sake. I know the trends, the cosmetic lines, all of the rituals of beauty by heart. Had I somehow forgotten about primer in the midst of my full life? With three children, a husband, a house, a part-time job, a life-group, family-group, holidays, girlfriends, school commitments … life-commitments. When did I forget about primer?
That afternoon as I applied my guaranteed answer, my new stick of primer, the Lord spoke to my heart: “Fast.” I stopped for a moment and looked in the mirror to hear Him speak to me so gently and clearly again as He said, “Fasting is your primer.” I continued on with the beauty process but not without that gnawing feeling that I was about to start walking this out with Him.
About 2 weeks later I was totally convinced that primer was the answer to my eye-shadow dilemma, and fasting was exactly what the Lord had said. So I began the fast that my Father called me to.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:5-7
I was reminded daily of my call to fast as I applied my eye shadow primer. Every eye shadow I applied lasted all day. Every brush and technique I used seemed brilliant on my freshly primed eyelids. The Holy Spirit would speak to me and say that every scripture I read that day had not faded. Every gift I walked in had shown the Lord’s brilliance. Fasting. It was my primer for life. It was what made His presence stay with me and not fade away. It was what increased my patience and expanded my grace for others. It allowed me to hear clearly and love loudly.
My first “primer” fast lasted 21 days, and each day brought with it another way for me to experience how it was applied to my life. Not unlike my eye-shadow primer, it had gotten lost in my bag of life. I had known about it. I had seen it work amazing miracles in my life, but I had somehow misplaced it in the midst of 3 children, a husband, a house, a part-time job, a life group, family commitments . . .
I love that Saturday morning. My prayer life and every part of me was refreshed and changed with the answer to a question that had plagued me for so long … how do I make it last? Fasting, it is the primer for my life. Wow. Guaranteed.
Marsia, this is absolutely awesome! And so very true. As soon as I read
” FAST ” I got it! Don’t you just love how the Lord works! Thank you for sharing. I truly enjoyed it! Blessings to you and your sweet family.
Dear Marsia,
Your writing is vivid and engaging but your revelation is powerful. Love that you girls are so in love with Jesus and finding a place to express the deepest things of your walk. I need primer! I need the revelation, too!
Love,
Jan
Wow! This is great! What a perfect analogy.
Marsia,
This was awesome! I loved it. Thank you for sharing your heart!
Love you sweet friend!!
I love this! Fasting is the perfect primer! The Lord gave me this scripture on my fast day last week, too! You are an awesome writer, friend!
I don’t know anything about makeup, but I do know that my beautiful wife hears from God and makes me extremely proud in her giftings.
Marsia, LOVE the analogy!! I, like you, got busy with 3 kids, ministry, a husband, church activities, school volunteering, extra curricular kids stuff, etc. I lost my ‘primer’. I was reawoken to my primer after Rebecca introduced me to the book Fasting by Jentezen Franklin. Life changing! You are truly so much more sensitive to God and people after applying that primer! Thank you for sharing! :}
Marsia, I love you already and haven’t even met you =)
Your raw love for His heart shines through.
Thanks for “compartiendo” your heart.
=)
ym
Wow, I totally LOVED that! Thanks for sharing, you made my day!
You go girl! What a great analogy. I could hear your voice and see your enthusiastic gestures as you tell this story. You communicated His heart beautifully. I love that He will use ANYTHING to teach us lessons if we will just be aware that He is always speaking to us. Great Job!
Your writing style pulled me in on the first paragraph and you held my attention through to the very last word. You definitely have a gift for great story-telling, and I love the way God wove the practical application of fasting out of the daily, practical application of a make-up. Who but God could make that transition? Fasting=Primer. I love how God reveals His truth in such out of the ordinary ways. Thank you for sharing this truth in such a fun and practical way!
Marsia,
Thanks for sharing this God moment slice from your life… it is so you and so God…beautiful. I love His goodness in showing you this truth in an unexpected way and your intensity to live out what He speaks to you.
I couldn’t even blink as I was reading this. I didn’t want to miss a moment. I knew you were heading somewhere, because we were on a journey together. I followed you to your profound conclusion. WOW. Can I just stay there for a moment? Wow, life primer. Got you bookmarked. Cannot wait to read your next entry!
(P.S. Love your signatures on the post.)
Thank you…this was exactly what I need today
What a beautiful illustration. I love how God speaks through so many avenues. He is so creative!
God knows that primer is girl language!! I love it & I get it!! Only God speaks woman & man! I shall ask Him the next time my husband speaks fishing and I’m thinking what in the lipstick are you talking about?!!!;)
Marsia!!!! This was awesome. It was fun AND brilliant. Fasting is powerful. Thanks for this post.