I don't want to reveal a lot about what I am doing for this fast. Lets just say that I am personally participating in it at some level:) The important things are that I have learned so much in the past few days...
My past fasting experiences have been brief and difficult. So, my expectations are always low. When I got the email concerning this 40 day fast, I automatically set my sights really low. Habit, I guess. It was during my visit to Atlanta IHOP that I really felt a stronger call into wholeheartedness during this fast. The Holy Spirit impressed me to have an attitude of setting my sights high, going for it, and if I fail(which I have and probably will again) to set my sights, again and go for it, again. So, thats my approach, now, which is pretty different from before.
This is what I learned... 1. I have very little self control when it comes to food. I know...not a huge revelation, nevertheless, startling. I was reminded that temperance or self-control is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. Maybe fasting is a key way for the Spirit to release this fruit in our lives. 2. I have gone after this so little, that when it is crisis time (such as our spiritual leaders call a 40 day fast), I will be limited in how I can participate. 3. I really need to make this discipline a weekly practice so that in the future I can enter in more abandondly as calls come forth. 4. There are changes in my diet that I need to make (like do the Daniel fast--always), and it is a matter of deciding wholeheartedly. These changes will make fasting a little less difficult. (Those headaches can be so awful. Anything I can do to decrease those...I need to do.) 5. This discipline might be more mental and emotional than physical...just a small example...I went grocery shopping and to Sams Club (where they have samples all over the place:) while doing a water fast. I was so excited to leave those places having said no to all of the try mes! However, as I started feeling frustrated about something a few hours later, and just snapped and ate.
So, these are wonderful things of which to be aware. This is something for which I feel a new zeal.
I had trouble expressing this coherently, so hopefully you didn't get too lost:)
Mandy, It is great that you are delving into fasting as a part of your spiritual walk. Fasting is one of the those untapped powers, we never really use. I did a 7 day fast and it was really eye opening. I only had liquids..some broth and milk a few times. The first couple of days were hard and after that I began to be able to focus more on God and not the food. I did get a couple of headaches but just popped a couple of ibprofen and that really helped. It is amazing how much I run to food instead of God in a crisis. I will pray for your success and for God's power over you! Blessings to you!
I am the worst faster of all fasterdom. I am also known to make up words for my own purposes. Anyway, I like food, not in the same way most people do, but in a way that keeps me from passing out. So, when it comes to fasting I tend to take a more non traditional approach like a benedictine fast, Daniel fast, etc.. One would think that fasting in that way would be easy, but no, I have problems with even that! I have narrowed it down to one thing. This applies to me only. It is that I have an obedience problem, plain and simple. But the cool thing about it all is that God is pleased when I make my feeble attempt at fasting, because at that moment I am wanting to do it for Him. In my weakness I fail(or fall over) and ask for forgiveness. As a matter of fact I am having to start over again, and we are not even into a full week. I wil also pray for you this next forty days. Be blssed my friend. Be blessed..
Cindy--thanks for your encouragement and tips on fasting! I'm convinced that I need to press in for grace to fast in the small beginnings.
Chuck--it is so encouraging knowing that God is pleased with our weak attempts even when we fail. It gives me freedom for wholeheartedness even in my weakness, knowing that I will fail, but have the grace to begin, again. It also helps to have encouragement and support from the body. I will pray for you, as well. 40 days is a long time! BTW--what exactly is the benedictine fast? This is the first time I've heard of that.
Ps 27:4 One thing I have desired from the LORD, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to pray in His temple.(MKJV)
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Mandy, It is great that you are delving into fasting as a part of your spiritual walk. Fasting is one of the those untapped powers, we never really use. I did a 7 day fast and it was really eye opening. I only had liquids..some broth and milk a few times. The first couple of days were hard and after that I began to be able to focus more on God and not the food. I did get a couple of headaches but just popped a couple of ibprofen and that really helped. It is amazing how much I run to food instead of God in a crisis. I will pray for your success and for God's power over you! Blessings to you!
Love,
Cindy