DANIEL FAST: 21 DAYS IN AND DOING FINE

It’s hard to believe I’m already on day 21 of the Daniel fast.  In a way, I almost feel guilty because I haven’t suffered.  A matter of fact, I find myself enjoying it.  Is this supposed to happen?  Aren’t I supposed to be afflicting my soul, and mourning?  Instead, I am enjoying the freedom it is giving me.  Today, I saw one of the things I’d been praying for come to pass in our faith fellowship.  The past couple of years have been trying on our fellowship, and many (including myself) had succumbed to a quiet discouragement.  Illness, offense, and unrealized dreams had stretched our hope and trust to a thin strand.  My prayer had been that hope would be reborn in our fellowship. Today, I felt it was.

 

Throughout this fast, the Holy Spirit has spoken to my spirit, “I have spoke, and it will be.” Today, through the Pastor’s message, the Holy Spirit changed it up to “Speak, and it will be.”  These are the words of life that make living for Christ such a real blessing. 

This week has also seen a complete reversal of much of the turmoil from last week.  Each day has brought fresh revelation, with an even deeper understanding of the Word of God.  So much so, that even our Praise and Worship services seemed to echo our daily bible reading.  ESPECIALLY TODAY!!!!!

So, here I sit trying to relate to you how sweet this fast is, and I don’t know how.  I can tell you the physical transformation is phenomenal.  I’ve lost 13 pounds, and haven’t suffered one bit.  A matter of fact, I’ve come to look forward to the many variations of salads that Glenda prepares.  She is making this fast so easy.  I was able to put on a ‘small’ T-Shirt last night, something I haven’t been able to do in eight years.  A matter of fact, I weigh what I weighed eight years ago when I began being self-employed.   I put on a pair of jeans this morning that just a month ago, I couldn’t even pull up to my thighs. 

I haven’t missed anything except for breakfast. Oatmeal with apples and raisins is wearing thin.  Other than that, I’m doing fine.  I hadn’t realized how badly sugar had overtaken my life.  Dr. Pepper, ‘Long Johns’, and all kinds of other sweet junk had a hold on me.  Now, that I don’t eat any sugar, I find I can even smell it in food. 

 

I’ve got 29 days left, one more prayer item left for the church, and about three other personal battles I want to overcome.  I’m looking for the answers.   Just call me EXPECTANT!!!!!!!!

WEEK TWO OF MY DANIEL FAST

This makes week #2 of my Daniel fast and, I am truly amazed at what is going on inside of me more than what is happening to my body.  Don’t get me wrong, I am excited by the changes in my body, I have lost eight pounds, bringing me to what I weighed eight years ago.  The real change has been in my spirit, which is what I’d hoped for when this began. 

Revelation with understanding is coming to me at all times of the day now.  Scriptures are alive and filled with meaning.  Things that I once thought I couldn’t understand any better, are beginning to be deep wells of truth that are fresh and new. 

Another benefit is reduced anger.  It seems as if it takes more and more to irritate me.  Probably the worst time this whole week, was Wednesday. Tax day is always trying, and was even more so because I couldn't get on line to my tax site.  Still, instead of getting angry, I was able to stay at it even though I ended up going 38 hours without sleep.  Talk about a miracle from God!!!

 

As for my prayers, I know that God is already opening doors in Nicaragua that have been shut before.  I’ve been praying for a breakthrough in the ministry to the village of Guadalupe, and I believe by the grace of God, that we are going to see miraculous things done there.  Please continue to pray for Mauricio and Eva, that their efforts will be rewarded.  Theirs is a daunting task, and it is easy to become discouraged.  Many things can only be done by God, which is why I ask you just to pray for them.  God will have to do the rest. 

I've also been praying for the Mission's trip to Nicaragua.  Our team going to Nicaragua this year will be small, but they will be powerful.  I wish I was going with them, but being with my family is important to me and them this year.   I’ve been hearing the words “Sweep Clean” ever since our last visit.  It is so thrilling to see how beautiful Iglesia Bautista Jehovah Nissi is becoming.  I am praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Villa Roma and the people who make Jehovah Nissi their home.  

In the Daniel fast, prayer time is easier, the word is clearer, and the presence of God dearer.

Okay, just a little word about the physical changes:  I am eight pounds lighter, my energy is better, my mind is clearer, and I am more alert. 

I won’t lie to you, I miss my daily caramel latte.  I would also like a marshmallow crème long john, and I do miss meat.  What has surprised me is that soda pop no longer appeals to me.  I’ve never liked drinking just water.  Now, I enjoy it.

 

As I said last week, another benefit is that my taste buds are alive once more. 

It’s going good.  I have to think a little bit before I buy foods, but overall, it’s something I think I can do for another 36 days.     

DOING THE DANIEL FAST THING

I want to drop a line or two about what is happening in my life of late. I haven’t written a blog for a long time because I’ve become extremely busy, and without internet access at home, it is very difficult to upload what I write. I’m going to try to update my status every week as I work my way through the Daniel fast. This makes my first Daniel fast. My daughter came to visit two weeks ago and was talking about how the Church they attend had done one. She didn’t even say more than one sentence, but it went deep into me. I’ve dismissed Daniel fasts in the past as being wimpy, and meaningless. Now here I was being convicted about it. So, I went out bought a book about it, prayed about it, and listened for what the Holy Spirit wanted me to do. A week passed by, and I did a one week partial fast, (something I’ve done numerous times.) It was good, but as I was praying, I kept hearing that internal unction to do more. MORE? I still hadn’t become convinced that a Daniel fast could be more effective than a normal fast. Then, the night before Passover (Good Friday) the Holy Spirit put the hammer down.
Okay, a Daniel fast it will be.
 HOW LONG GOD?
When is Pentecost?
 Dang, I googled it.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
FIFTY DAYS!!!!!!! (This is typical of my internal dialogues with the Holy Spirit, He prods, I grouse, He asks, I do. You’d think I’d learn to simply do and then grouse.)
Okay, fifty days it is.
I began Monday. So, after one week, what has it been like? Wonderful!!!!!! Instead of telling you what I can’t eat, what I miss, and how I’m suffering for the cause of Christ, let me tell you what is really happening. (Everybody likes sympathy.)
I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time.
I don’t fall asleep right after eating.
My body feels comfortable on me. (I am a spirit being in an earthsuit.)
I’ve lost 6 pounds as of this morning. I’ve already gone down one notch on my belt.
My taste buds are alive once more. (I’m amazed at how salt and sugar have clouded my sense of taste.)
My liver isn’t hurting me as it has in the past.
My prayers seem more effective, and my bible reading time is more introspective.
 So why am I doing this? I mean nobody fasts for no reason at all, right? Well actually the Holy Spirit is the main reason I’m doing this. He wouldn’t let me alone about it. I’d fasted during the Passion week, so that I could identify with Christ, and that felt good. Now I’m fasting because of the Holy Spirit, and I feel good. So, here are a few things on my fasting prayer list. About five of our church members are going to Nicaragua this summer, and I won’t be with them. They are the core of my prayer time. I have a couple of things I’d like to see done in our church fellowship, so I’ve been praying for that. I’ve also been in a little bit of a bad place spiritually for about five months, and I want to see that issue resolved. (It’s something only the Holy Spirit can do.) My wife, Glenda asked me a poignant question during this week. “What will you do after the fast?” I don’t know. I like where I’m at right now. Let’s talk about it at the end of the fast. For the moment, I don’t have an answer for her, maybe add a little bit of meat and cheese to my salads, treat myself to Mexican food once a week, and go back to drinking coffee again. (I love a good latte`) Soda pop will be gone, and deep fried foods are history. I’m still trying to find a good way to put back the protein in my diet. I don’t like most legumes, so I’m praying for a good answer. My worst time came this morning when I went to buy donuts for the Men’s Bible study group. The maple long john with marshmallow cream was screaming at me. Nah! For right now, I’m feeling good, and I’m glad the Holy Spirit talked me into it. NUFF SAID.