I don’t regularly talk about fasting with the people in my life. I think I don’t talk about it b/c many people see it as “foreign” and “out dated” which means I then have to "convince" someone of the benefits.
I haven’t even talked about fasting much with my own husband, but he knows that there are days when I don’t “join him for dinner” – which he usually just rolls with anyway! I’ve been fasting off and on since I was 21 years old (which, by the way, wasn’t yesterday!).
When I returned from Africa in October, I came back with more questions than answers – which, at times, has been very frustrating. During my quiet times with Him, I felt called to do a longer fast than “normal”. In the past, I have done all kinds of fasts – one day, 2 – 3 days, 7 days, no food, only liquids, only eating at dinner time, etc. Basically, God has impressed upon my heart what kind of fast I am to do…
After MUCH prayer and an exceptional amount of reading, I began a Daniel fast on January 1, 2009. Let me say that when I woke up on January 1st to the smell of coffee brewing downstairs - courtesy of my husband, I tried to talk myself into the fact that maybe, JUSSTTTT maybe, I’d misinterpreted God’s call over the past SEVERAL Months!… Maybe he only meant 1 or 2 days – NOT 21! No. Such. Luck.!
For the 1st 3 days of my fast, I only drank water – no food. Let me tell you that on Day 2, I thought that my head was going to explode! I have NEVER and I mean, N.E.V.E.R. had a headache like I did on Jan. 2nd, 2009! For the next 17 days, I ate only fruits and veggies and drank LOTS o’ water. On day 21, I again, didn’t eat – only had water to end my experience.
During a fast, you are basically sacrificing the “pleasantries” of life to be in constant communion with God – and rarely do you talk about it with others while its going on. This fast was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done regarding my faith walk…
The only reason I’m sharing this is because several amazing things happened to me during that time….
First, John and I had a lot of conversation around fasting. And actually on Jan 2nd (the day of the worst headache known to man) John joined me in fasting for 7 days! I can’t tell you what that has done for our marriage and our faith!! I'm so proud that he felt led to do a fast WITH me! I've said it before and I'll say it again - JB is one of the BEST decisions I've ever made in my life!
Secondly, my heart was really hard and ugly regarding certain situations and persons in my life. Without going into great detail, my heart has changed -- Freedom and Peace have prevailed!!! Trust me people, that is something that ONLY GOD can get credit for~!!!! My heart was like a stone statue that had been spray painted w/ graffiti – and not the cool, artsy graffiti either – it was U.G.L.Y. You. Aint. Got. No. Alibi. UGLYYYYY GRAFFITI!
And Thirdly, I’ve had a bum knee for about 10 months. Been to several Dr’s, taken more anti-inflammatories than I care to admit, and just flat out stopped exercising b/c it hurt so badly (and that’s saying something considering my degree is in Fitness and Exercise Science)! On Day 3 and 4 of my fast, I began to pray for healing. My knee has hurt to the TOUCH for several months but on day 5 there was absolutely NO pain. None! Today, on Jan. 27th, I have absolutely nooooo pain in my knee. I am healed!
I’m trusting God for big things this year… and by giving Him our first days of 2009, I know that He is going to honor us!
Don’t keep God in a little box friends! He’s soooo much bigger than you can EVEN imagine!
What big things are you asking God for this year???
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