I'm going to keep this post short, for the 2 whole people who read this blog. I'm going to take a break from my 30 attributes/names of God posts. I'm going to continue posting them weekly soon, because huzzah! School is starting in two weeks. Who would have thought I'd miss that rinky dinky old east Texas town. Lo and behold, it has dug a little crevice into my heart.
Today, I am starting day one of a twenty one day fast. A few days ago, the fast was made known to me when someone mentioned their own struggle while on this particular fast. I will be limited to things that come from a seed (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), and water.
"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables* to eat and water to drink." (Daniel 1:8-12)
*the original translation uses pulse, instead of vegetables. Pulse, being edible seeds and things grown from them.
I'm also going to cut out all meat and dairy products, all sugar/sweeteners and chemical additives, processed white flour/leavened bread.
"At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; nor did I anoint myself at all until the three weeks were over." (Daniel 10:2-3)
Yeah, that's right. No sugar or sweeteners of any kind. No hamburgers. No tasty, tasty chocolate milk. I'm pretty sure that food will begin speaking to me after the first week. And not the good kind of biblical, wise knowledge that I need. Oi vey.
In a perfect world, I would easily deny myself all of the things that separate me from the heavenly father. Alas, as the world is so full of sin, I too am vulnerable to the attacks of temptation.As difficult as it's going to be, there is a purpose to denying myself these worldly pleasures. I am attempting to bring myself closer to the Almighty creator, and seek out His purposes for me.
If you're reading this, I encourage you to join me on this fast. Who knows, it may surprise you what you're capable of when you depend wholly on the Lord. Let yourself be embraced by the perfect Father.
Dear heavenly father,
I thank you for having mercy on me. I thank you for showing me compassion. I thank you for giving me the strength to put the spirit above the flesh, and to live wholly in You. Be with me as I make this difficult journey into unknown territories. As my body is put to the test, I ask that you bless me with Your presence and the strength to carry on. You are a great, perfect God and I cannot thank you enough for the mercy and grace you bestow upon me, and those who ask of it. Let me be consumed from the inside out in the Spirit, and let not me be consumed by the things in which I consume. In your precious son's name I pray,
Amen.
Here's a joke I've been sharing a lot lately, because well...I really like it!
What did one toilet say to the other?
Are you okay, I'm a worried about you. You look a bit flushed.
Bahahahahaha. Man, that's probably one of my favorites.
Peace and blessings!
No comments:
Post a Comment