Saturday, February 5, 2011

My Daniel Fast Recap

At 12 am this morning I completed my 21 day Daniel Fast *30 second praise break*. For this fast I asked God to endow me with more self-control. For those of you who aren't familiar with it I will explain what it entails. On the fast, which started on the 16th of January, I was not supposed to consume any sweets, carbonized liquid, fried foods, white bread, caffeine, white sugar, junk food, shellfish, or pork. I looked at that list and was confused at what I was supposed to eat instead. Looking back, it really wasn't very hard to find alternate food selections. The first week only consisted of not eating the foods previously listed, the second week however limited our eating to only two meals a day, and the third week limited our eating to only one meal a day (Hay Dios Mio!).
Fasting Tip: Go into with a couple of friends so that you can have accountability partners.
The first week was interesting to say the least. I love sweets so that is where my struggle came in. We were instructed to read through the entire book of Acts, and I have to say that I fell in love with the book. I turned off my TV and limited my time on facebook, twitter, etc. The extra time spent in The Word and talking to God in the first week set the foundation for the rest of the fast. Adding my own personal touches on the fast I decided that I would spend limited time around my friends so that I could be focused.
Fasting Tip: Start slow and gradually work up to a more advanced fast. If you're just starting out and set the bar too high, you will only be disappointed. 
Week two came before I knew it and I definitely felt the absence of  the third meal. My self-control was tested and then some! We were allowed to eat snacks but for the most part I tried to stick to just the two meals. In this week we were instructed to read through the books of Ephesians and Galatians. These books were the perfect substitute for TV and the internet Once, again I found myself loving these books. The 13 Letters are AMAZING! Paul is my Hero (umm after Jesus, David, Solomon, Jacob/Isreal, and Bathsheba).
Fasting Tip: It's okay to look at how others fast for a reference ONLY. You have to do what is right for you. 
Week three rolled around and I felt that I was prepared to drop my meals down to one. I decided that I would eat at 4:30 every day because it would keep me full for the rest of the night. In this week the substitute for TV, the internet, and two meals were the books Philippians and Colossians. Philippians (2:2-11 to be specific) is my absolute favorite book of the Bible so I was all too happy to read it in its entirety. If my self-control was not tested anywhere else it was during this week. I stayed buried in The Word and in constant conversation with God so I would not always be thinking about food (if you didn't know, I LOVE FOOD so your girl was going through!)
 Fasting Tip: Give it your all!  Even if you're giving up TV or facebook instead of food, be dedicated.
My main fear during the fast was that I would not be able to control my hunger and cheat. I am proud to say that I did not cheat once during this fast. I realized that I am stronger than I thought I was. "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord" -- 2 Corinthians 10:17. Shout out to my Heavenly Father for making this journey worthwhile. That's all for now...
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2 comments:

  1. I'm so proud of you! It has been heavy on my heart that I need to fast. I don't know what I need to fast from or even why I need to fast. I just know I need to fast. This is the third time a friend of mine has begun/ended a fast and it just keeps popping up all around me. I haven't started praying on this yet but today I will. Can you give me some guidance through this as you suggested using friends as a reference? I would really appreciate it. Oh, and I LOVE your blog! Let's keep each other in prayer girl. Many blessings to you and yours!

    <3

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  2. Thanks Ness! Fasting was the best thing that happened to me! Seriously! Honestly, I didn't know what I was fasting for initially either, but it was quickly revealed to me. I would be more than happy to offer you tips through your fast. Having an accountability partner throughout the fasting process helped me to complete it. Are you thinking of doing the Daniel Fast? Feel free to call, text, or email about anything. I offer my prayers, encouragement, and support to you. I love your blog too Sis! I'm so glad we reconnected. *muah*

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