Wasted Days and Wasted Nights...

...okay, not really WASTED, per se. Time spent searching out God in my life is NEVER wasted time. Still, that is how I felt last night as this "Daniel Fast" thing came to an end.

An end, you ask? Yes. An end. No, the 21 days are yet to be complete, but this particular part of the journey is over, and a new one has begun.

"It is often called a "Daniel Fast". Yes, it's Biblical..." My own words, here. And they are not ENTIRELY accurate. I said Daniel FASTED 21 days...well, it doesn't say that. Exactly. As a matter of FACT, in the King James Version, "fasting" is only mentioned twice in the entire book. And only once concerning Daniel himself. Oh, he deprived himself of choice food, meat and wine; and then it was while he was in MOURNING.

Chief and I struggled all week. Not because the enemy was lurking around every corner; but, because we just were not certain that this is what God was asking us to do. We just couldn't get that nagging feeling to go away. Not about actually FASTING, but HOW we were fasting. So, we sought out counsel...and we got it. Thank you Cheerios and Photomom. Please understand, they did not change our minds, or tell us that what we were doing was bogus. On the contrary...they were entirely supportive in our decision from the beginning. That conversation only confirmed what Chief and I were thinking, INDIVIDUALLY, all week long.

So...you want to know what happened at 4:45 this morning? I woke up singing and praying! And not singing a song you would think...like praise or worship...but the chorus to "We Will Stand". An old song by Russ Taff. More on that in a minute...

Fasting is not about worrying over what food I should eat or not eat. The Online Dictionary shows this as one definition of the word "fast": to abstain from all food. And this: an abstinence from food, or a limiting of one's food, esp. when voluntary and as a religious observance; fasting.

God revealed to us both, that the purpose of fasting is to draw closer to God. To be in His presence. The focus is on GOD. Not on food. And, unfortunately, our focus was on what we were allowed to eat, and what we were NOT allowed to eat. Our devotion and prayer time were hindered because we just could not move away from those thoughts. No matter how hard I tried, I was continually thinking "I cannot serve Chief this food, what can I make him for dinner that's legal?" Hmmm...legal. Not a good word to have as a part of my vocabulary during a time of fasting. There is nothing legalistic about fasting. It's about obdience.

And I so want to live an obedient life before my Savior!

How do you not focus on food during a fast? Photomom said it best...eliminate it completely. Then you can ONLY focus on God.

So...we ARE fasting. And PRAYING. Seems like we forgot about the praying part during all this worrying and wondering! We will fast our afternoon meal and pray TOGETHER. (Chief is working nights right now.) For Chief, it's about where God wants him to go concerning the Church in which God has entrusted him. For me...I want to support my man! Seriously...that really is why. I want to be an encouragement to Chief and to stand with him as he stands before the Father.

And the song? Well, I kind of just stated that...here are the words to that chorus:

"You're my brother, you're my sister,
So take me by the hand;
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us,
When we're walking side by side;
As long as there is love,
We Will Stand!"

Amen?

A Journey of a Thousand Miles...

...begins with a single step.

So, I'm taking my first step. Chief and I are embarking on a 21-day fruit and vegetable fast together. We begin today. No meat...no dairy...no sugar...no coffee...just water, fruits and vegetables and ONE grain of choice.

It is often called a "Daniel Fast". Yes, it's Biblical, and yes that is the reason we are doing it. Because we feel God has something for us. And we need to fast and pray.

I have been reading A LOT about fasting. The purpose, the struggle, the sacrifice, the beauty. The idea that when you withhold some of life's little pleasures, you will somehow discover the meaning of life.

That sounds very sarcastic. I really do not mean to be, it's just that we don't do this kind of thing anymore. And I think that's sad. That we do not embrace ALL of what God has intended for us because some of what He has intended may be a bit uncomfortable. Like fasting. As Christians, we have turned fasting into some iconic gesture that only the most pious can attempt to attain. Christians just do not fast any more. I read...somewhere...that the church doesn't fast because we are a consumer-driven society and fasting is just not...well...NOT. Why would you want to FAST? Give up meat? COFFEE? Milk? Food???? We have decided that fasting can now be materialistic. We can fast the television. The computer. Electricity.

I just do not think this is what God had in mind. I do not believe that when Jesus said "when you fast and pray..." He meant..."when you stop watching T.V. for two hours, please spend some of that time with me, okay?"

Daniel fasted 21 days until the Angel came to give him the answer to his prayer. "I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." He was in mourning over his beloved Jerusalem. God had given Daniel a dream. Daniel fasted and God gave him vision.

The purpose?

I want vision. I want to know my Savior. His vision for ME. For my husband. For my family. For my church. I want to be immersed in His presence. Know His will for ME. What am I supposed to be doing? Where am I supposed to going? I know this relationship shouldn't be so...SURFACE. To be closer to the One who loves me unconditionally...who waits for me hour after hour for a glimpse of me to share my life with Him for just one moment. I want to know HIM. To understand my FATHER. To know the HOLY SPIRIT living within me.

The struggle?

Ummm...NOT EATING! Just kidding. Sort of. I guess struggle and sacrifice could go together. Because it IS a struggle to sacrifice that which you LOVE...like food. The early church lived a fasting lifestyle. They fasted as often as they could, because they knew they should. Because to be like Jesus means that you try to live as He did. To touch as He touched. To see as He sees. To be "Jesus with skin on". And Jesus fasted. And prayed. So much more, then, should we fast and pray.

The beauty?

Ahhh...this would be the best part, of course. As I deny my flesh...I feed my spirit. And my spirit needs to be in tune with the Holy Spirit. The Holy peace...joy...understanding...compassion. I want it all. And I want it for Chief. We are fasting as individuals, individually, for a corporate purpose. Chief will be challenging the church to fast and pray for 21 days on June 7. We want to fast and pray for 21 days NOW so the vision for our church is clear. So Chief and Cheerios can be the best Pastors to an awesome congregation of people. So our church will grow...not just in number, but in spiritual maturity. So, when it's over, they can say...it's time for meat. Not physical meat...but SPIRITUAL meat. No more milk...it's time to grow up. To go out and touch their community for the cause of Christ!

So...this IS a journey of a thousand miles. Because you cannot ask what you are not willing to do. And I am ready to take that first step. Will you do me the honor of walking along with me? At least to pray with me and encourage me?

Hosea 12:6 "But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always."

Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

And Zephaniah 3:17. You can look that up yourself. :~)