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?