LOVED to hear your tesimony!! Thank you so much for sharing! And I think it’s awesome that the Lord has already been preparing your heart for this fast! TV is a huge “one” in lots of lives!! I am thrilled to hear how you are drawing nearer to Him!!

http://www.summitmadison.org/legalism-or-obedience/

If you make me type it again here, that would be legalistic.

I’ve thought a lot about those of you who may be fasting for the first time, and it made me think about when I first started fasting. It was so hard! I found myself thinking about food all the time…I was more irritable…I couldn’t wait for it to end…and, truth be told, it really took a good while before I truly understand what I was doing and why. That’s OK. It really, really is. The more I fasted, the more I read books about fasting, the more I sought understanding and direction from the Lord, the more I grew.

Every single one of us is on a journey. Spiritual maturity is a process – one that doesn’t happen overnight. And…it’s unique to each one of us. My journey is not going to look like yours. What is so awesome about our God is that because He knows each of us, He fashions our individual “training” to perfectly suit our needs and callings. He knows what He wants to purge from us, and He knows what He wants to pour in to each one of us. And He is faithful to do it, if we are faithful to give Him all the “room” He needs to work.

The thing is, we will never truly know and experience His faithfulness until we step out in faith. We can’t personally know that He can be trusted until we jump and allow Him to catch us. Through fasting, I have done what I thought I could never, ever do – there was no possible way for me to do what I was convinced the Lord was asking me to do. I have learned through fasting, that when I am weak, He is strong. When I can endure no longer, His grace is sufficient to see me through. When I empty myself of everything, He fills me with all of Himself. And I am satisfied in a way I cannot put in to words.

When we fast, our bodies cry out for food. Do our souls cry out for God with that same intensity? If not, why? What have we fed ourselves that has dulled our appetites for God? And what are we willing to do in order to hunger and thirst for Him above all else? Do you want God more that you want to fill your belly? Do you want God more than you want your leisure time/hobbies? Do you long for God with the same passion as you may long for…a new house, a new car, a new outfit? None of those things are bad! Food, leisure, hobbies, houses, cars, clothes, etc. They are not bad….until we elevate them to a place that is meant for God alone. That is why we fast – to awaken our God-given appetite for the Bread of Life and the Living Water of Jesus Christ. He is supremely satisfying!

Recently, I was sitting in Food Lion Parking lot. I was dying for a diet coke and some chocolate (what a combo)after a bad day at work. I was overwhelmed by the spirit as God pressed upon my heart do you seek me every day as you seek your Diet Coke and chocolate. I had to say no, not every day. Ash Wednesday was the next day so I gave them both up for 40 days. Every time I crave them I say a prayer ( I have been praying alot)..

Thanks to Jody and Cammie for their testimony. I now see fasting through new eyes. Today, I have joined my Summit family in fasting. I am fasting from food today only allowing myself liquids.

A coworker asked why I wasn’t eating lunch today. I thought this would be good witnessing moment so I shared what our church was doing today.. She promptly challenges me by saying that ” You drank coffee didn’t you. Aren’t you supposed to only drink water?”.. LOL.. It made me think of the Legalistic guy from the video on Sunday.

God will bless whatever we do in his name even if you drink coffee during your fast. With each stomach growl, I say the same prayer, Lord, I want to know You more!

Garnett, yours is a great question! Obviously, it’s nearly impossible to fast “in secret” at home, but we have found that our times of fasting have been incredible times of conversation as a family. As Jody and I have fasted from foods, our children have been able to see the Lord sustain and strengthen us…they’ve been able to pray for us…and they, too, have been encouraged to think and pray about things from which they might consider fasting, as well. With young, growing children, we normally don’t encourage a complete fast from food. They might, however, consider about fasting from maybe one meal, or perhaps desserts. Usually, though, we talk about maybe a favorite pasttime of theirs that they might considering giving up for a time, in order to spend time reading their Bibles, etc. There have been many, many nights that we’ve simply prepared a meal for the kids and sat down to have fellowship with them while they eat. Not always easy, but believe it or not, it gets easier the more you do it!

It’s also hard, as you well know, to find that time throughout the day to spend with the Lord when you would be eating (or otherwise, depending on the fast), since our children are always around! But, I have learned to trust in the fact that God knows EXACTLY what season I am in. What’s neat about a hunger fast, is that the hunger pangs will regularly remind you to turn your heart and mind to the Lord in prayer and worship, even if you can’t necessarily sit down and give Him your utter, undivided attention. Does that make sense?

And last, remember that YOUR obedience will bless everyone around you, including your children. I’ve tried to make it a “habit” now to thank Jody any time he is fasting, because we receive so many, many blessings when he is faithful to pursue and follow after the Lord. Even small steps of obedience are “huge” in God’s economy!!

I just want to say what a blessing to me it was to here both of your testimonies for fasting a couple, you both did a wonderful job of explaining how God is at the center of your marriage.
As a couple with small children, what is your experience, that you could share with our family, about stepping thru a fast together as a family.

In His grace, Garnett Lloyd