The Daniel Fast

The church that I attend for the past few years has encouraged the Daniel Fast for 3 weeks in January. I have never participated. I actually have never fasted before unless it was for a surgery or blood test. I didn't quite understand why we should do one ~ other than it says to in the bible. But this year I decided I would. I wanted my New Years resolutions to be guided by God and I really want to grow this year, spiritually. The first week I found out I must be WAY addicted to my caffeine! Lordy Lordy the headaches were intense on days 2 and 3. I kinda went through a lull in energy at that time as well. But I kept at it. When I started the fast I committed to spend a certain time each day with the Lord, reading his work and praying. That was going well. I must have expected a lot that first week because I was pretty disappointed. I didn't think I was necessarily hearing more from God. I did see a few evidences of his work that were direct answers to prayer, but I really must have expected more. Then I began to wonder, "Am I doing this right?", "Could I somehow be screwing this up". So I got out my papers about the fast and went over them again, even read a little bit in Daniel looking for something. I got nothing. The only thing I could figure is that I was being strict enough. So I focused a little harder.

During the latter part of that first week I did notice my energy was coming back. Good. I noticed that I was getting full quicker - even with the seemingly limited food items we can eat. I also noticed I was actually feeling hunger. Not anything that would cause me to cave ~ just a hunger to let me know it was getting close to the next meal time. But that hunger did and does prompt me to pray or to take a minute to read a bit of scripture. That's a real good thing. There are other things too ~ I have noticed I am not craving food NEAR like I usually do. I am feeling much more calm and a lot LESS stressed. Okay are you ready for the LIGHT BULB MOMENT? God had to show me rather than speak to me ~ why because I have reached a point that I don't listen very well. One of my focuses (resolutions) this year is on Health. He is showing me that I am not feeding my body as He intended and that there is a lot I am giving it thinking I "need" it and I really don't. These things cause me to be tense and increase stress. He showed me that I was feeding my body emptiness. When I feed it the right kind of food there is more satisfaction, less cravings, and ultimately less eating. I have lost 10 pounds so far. I totally did not expect this. When I go off of this Daniel fast my "normal" way of eating will be changed. It won't be the Daniel Fast but it will be more wholesome, more thoughtful.

With the ease that I am going about my day I have noticed I am nicer, less grumpy. This significantly helps my interactions with people, especially my family. Another one of my focuses this year is on relationships.

Additionally, I am not spending money on eating out. I am not missing it all. In fact my husband and I have even had a few conversations about our finances that have not ended in arguments. January is normally a hard month for us financially as we recoup from Christmas. We seem to be handling it very well and needing for nothing. Through our conversations we may even be making some progress in this area which by the way is another focus. Our finances.

So I am spending more time with God. I am praying more and praising more. When I have a concern I am really "giving" it to Him. This is all from the Fast.

He hasn't told me a darn thing - but boy has He SHOWN me a lot! As always I get excited when I know I am getting what God is trying to give me. I love knowing I am on the right track, His track.

Let me know what you think!

Lots of love,

D. J.