Happy New Year! Let's fast

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January 7, 2018
Happy New Year !  Another year over and a new one begun in the words of John Lennon.  I can't believe its been three years since I picked up and left California and moved to the islands with my husband and three boys. 
I don't know if its the recent holidays or its just been awhile but lately I've been missing my family on mainland home.   Honestly, I've been struggling lately, feeling a little overwhelmed after the move and the holidays.  I find myself anxious about expenses and bills.   Then I heard the message this morning in church:  

 'Our souls thrive and is at home when we encounter and connect with God'.    Our souls thrive and at HOME....  So although I do miss my earthly home where I grew up, miss my brother, sister, and my  parents and I so crave authentic Mexican food, Even though I miss all those things,  maybe I just need to encounter and connect with God.   So before I go spending my money on a plane ticket, I've decided to participate in this 21 day fast with my church. 
Now I've done fasts before, but this time I'm going  do it with gusto,  wholeheartedly and head on.   That's right, I'm going to be those crazy Jesus people and do the Daniel fast.    When  I've fasted in the past, I usually give up just one thing such as social media or sweets.  I usually do well with this in the beginning but sometimes find myself going through the motions  often giving up, then getting frustrated at myself and lose all sense of purpose of the fast in the first place.     My goal to do this as it should be for any fast is to grow closer to God.   I enter this a little apprehensively as I've vowed to never give up food for a fast again because I inevitably fail.    So why am I setting myself up for failure again?  I'm already hungry and I haven't even started yet!  But let's face it, those other times I was just playing it safe.   This time, I'm going to totally surrender and see what happens.  I just know I need to do something different for  my spiritual health.   I do have a hunger.  I have a craving and its not just for good Mexican food.  I crave that connection.  I crave more of Jesus!
So what is the Daniel Fast exactly?  I have some knowledge of it since  some of my patients have come to me before for consulting before they began their fast.  Yet I had to remind myself since I was the one doing the fasting and so I did a little research.    Its a fast based on the Bible verse in the book of Daniel, At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” Daniel 10:2-3 
Its essentially just  fruits and vegetables and water.  I've read some websites on the subject.  There ares some variations, partial fasts, etc.   Some are very strict with no carbs whatsoever, others say grains like oatmeal and wheat bread is ok.  So this is my plan:  to do a partial fast, from sunrise to sunset, leaving me able to have a regular dinner with my family since I do most of the cooking.   That leaves most of the day for just water, fruits and vegetables, grains.   But no meats, sweets, dairy or processed foods.  And no coffee. Lord help me!   And of course spending time in prayer.  My hope is that as I decrease these fleshly desires in myself, the Lord may increase.  
Stay tuned....

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