In May, I went to visit my sister in Georgia for her 25th wedding anniversary and my nephew's graduation from high school. While I was there, my nephew's girlfriend was doing something called "the Daniel Fast." I had not heard of it, but I knew she was doing it to seek God in her life regarding future decisions. I also found out that my nephew and niece had done it in January, along with a huge group of Christians to seek God in the New Year.
I really didn't think too much about it as I'm awful at any type of diets or eating clean ideas. I just really love Diet Coke, cookies, and doughnuts, as well as fruits and veggies. I've never been one that gorges on food, but enjoys things in moderation. While I have fasted for a day here and there, and fully believe that it is an amazing spiritual discipline, I've not done anything long term. During this time in our lives, with all that was in the balances, I really felt like God was calling me to seek Him with all my heart. I didn't want to miss a thing that He was saying and I wanted to know for sure that this was of Him!
I began checking it out online at daniel-fast.com and felt like God was leading me to do it. I mentioned it to Scott and he too liked the idea, but wasn't too sure about giving up coffee. He had been considering some "eating clean" diets already, but thought a fast was an even better idea. We found out it was a 3 week partial fast that was based on two of the fasts Daniel did during his lifetime. We also found out that there was a devotional that would be sent to our email each day to encourage us in the Word. After Scott looked into it, he said that he knew God was leading him to do it as well, and yes, without coffee! I remember him saying that this particular week wouldn't be a good one to start it because we were taking out a special speaker at church for lunch that Sunday and the following Sunday was Father's Day (a day that usually involves P.F. Chang's). But as we looked at what was taking place in our lives, we knew that this was the best time and there may never be a "good time."
The fast involved drinking only water, eating fruits, veggies, nuts, brown rice and brown rice pasta, no dairy or bread, and basically eating only things grown from the ground. It was a pretty huge task for us. But we had a purpose for it all - not to just get healthy (which was a great side benefit), but to seek God with all that was within us about the girl that might soon become a part of our family!
We began on Sunday, June 12th. On Saturday night, a really cool thing happened as we explained what we were doing to our kids. They said that they too wanted to do it (for part of the time at least)! We were only telling them so they would knew why we were eating differently, and so they would understand why dinners would be a little different than normal. We had been praying so hard, and I think they realized how serious things were becoming. I told them they could do it if they wanted to but not to feel bad if they only did it a day or so. Ashley had great heart, but didn't fully understand it and by Sunday snack at church, she had already eaten something she thought might be ok but wasn't. The boys understood it better and had great self-control. Alec made it two and a half days until he had some boys over for a day of playing Risk and basketball and wanted to eat lunch with them. Austin made it through Wednesday evening other than two small slips when he forgot, but then started to get dizzy at times. At that point, I told him he needed to get some more protein in his body and go back to eating normal. It was just really neat to watch their faith grow along with ours and blessed my heart so much!
It was a great time to do this fast as fruit and veggies were at their best at the stands and in the stores! Watermelon and corn were some of our favorite foods anyhow, so that made things a little easier. We began with headaches off and on - me for the first two days and Scott for about four days. By the time we went to our disclosure meeting on Thursday, his headache was finally subsiding. We found we spent a lot less money as we ate almost entirely at home and if we did go out, we always got water and a couple of side items to eat. There were some great side benefits for sure!
From the first day, we felt God closer than ever and could hear Him more clearly. It seemed as though He was happy to come alongside us and teach us and love on us. We knew that He would be leading us and guiding us. Scripture came alive and He kept showing up! And doing it together was the best! We grew closer together and I could fix meals for my husband that encouraged him! We also began loosing weight and waking up early each morning on our own with a renewed energy . . . not one that would allow us to exert our bodies physically as we had very few carbs, but one that made us feel alive and new.
We continued the fast for the next three weeks and finished on Saturday, July 2nd with Janice in our home for a visit. The crazy thing was I don't remember even wanting the "yummy" foods I normally crave. I also remember many days when I was verily hungry all day and had to make myself eat little bits to keep me going and because I knew I "should." It was a time filled with more prayer than normal, and greater times in our personal quiet times as we read the Word.
It was such a great experience for both of us! As we ended, I realized how funny it was that this would be my first "pregnancy" where I lost weight rather than gaining :)!
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