Silence helped me to meditate
Rhulani was a troubled young man who gave way to temptation and chose the most common path open to young people. At the age of 11, he and friends experimented with drugs and he became an addict for six years. He was disobedient and rebellious towards his parents.
“I could not bear the pain of being sober and I made sure I was high every day. My mother and I could never have a decent conversation. We argued all the time,” said Rhulani. His mother did not give up hope and continued to pray for him. She later invited him to the UCKG. “After a few months in the church, my life changed and I was set free from my addiction. I gave my life to God and became a member of the Youth Power Group,” said Rhulani. His life improved even more last year when he took part in the Fast of Daniel.
“I took it as an opportunity to build my relationship with God and I became intimate with the Holy Spirit. I also stopped all entertainment such as listening to music, watching television and social networking. The first few days of the fast became a challenge because of the silence around me, but I stuck to my commitment,” he said. Rhulani told Universal News that he spent more time reading his Bible and each time he read passages, it felt like he was having a personal conversation with God. “I read pages over again and meditated on the word of God,” said Rhulani. He said that his life was not the same. “I struggled to wake up and pray at night, however, after the fast, I was able to pray for an hour,” said Rhulani.
By: Roncha Mendel
I spent less time on social chats
Gugulethu is a 24-year-old woman who has chosen a positive path for her life. In 2005, she joined her aunt, a UCKG member, and attended various services. “In the church, I prayed for my father who drinks alcohol,” she said. She took part in many chains of prayers to grow spiritually. “When the second Fast of Daniel was introduced, I spoke to God and asked Him to fi ll me with His spirit,” she said. During the Fast of Daniel, Gugulethu gave all she could to receive what she longed for.
“I spent less time on things that consumed my fellowship time with God such as watching television, cellphone chats and social networks. I also spent most of my time in the church attending all the services,” she said. The Fast of Daniel strengthened her faith and taught her to be more patient in life. “Even though my father has not stopped drinking, I know God will work in his life. I know He will answer me in His own time,” she said.
By: Nikiwe Titus
I attended church services
When the UCKG introduced the 21-day Fast of Daniel in April last year, Audrey became excited. She knew that her spiritual life was not going to remain the same. For the past three years she has heard about the Holy Spirit and wanted to be filled with Him, but she was not sure that she was a suitable candidate. “In the past my mind was constantly filled with bad thoughts which caused me to be a jealous and very judgmental person. When the 21 days’ fast started, I committed myself because I wanted to have an encounter with God. I stayed away from all secular information, came to the church, read the Bible and meditated on the Word of God. As I fi lled my thoughts with Him, I stopped being a jealous and judgmental person,” said Audrey.
On the fifth day of the fast she received an assurance of the presence of God when she was baptised with the Holy Spirit. For the first time in her life she did not let her emotions cloud her judgment or control her actions. “Receiving the Holy Spirit was a great blessing for I have the presence of God dwelling inside of me. Though I received the Holy Spirit in the early days of the fast, God already answered my heart’s greatest desire as I was seeking His Spirit. I was happy on the fi nal day of the fast when the presence of God was poured out in the church. My life changed and I received the power of the Holy Spirit in my life,” said Audrey.
By: nomsa Masengemu