Synopsis

Although it's not easy to summarize my entire fast, I'm going to try. I'm writing this because I think it will be helpful for me and the readers to understand how I see the 40 day fast. It was an awesome time - sometimes really exciting, sometimes very trying. Here is a brief synopsis.

My 40 day fast was an awesome experience. I'd definitely do it again. It wasn't like I thought it would be.

Before the fast, I had mental images of me looking grossly thin, with black circles around my eyes, laying around the house, moaning and starving. These imaginary pictures were very far from the truth.

I had tons of energy. As I've said in parts of my journals, I slept for 7-8 hours every night and kept my usual schedule. I worked on the web, as a substitute teacher and guitar instructor. I was very able to complete all my tasks.

My social life wasn't impaired either. Although I ate mints for my bad breath, I didn't scare off any of my friends. I actually had lots of support! Many people on the web and from my church were interested in how I was doing. They also prayed for me, joked with me and were very loving. Praise the Lord!

At the grocery store, I didn't worry about accidentally buying ice cream or pizza. I simply got my fruit juice, broth cubes, water and left. It was a very easy situation for me.

I really enjoyed my time alone with God. My trip to the Grand Canyon was a great learning experience, too. I'm thankful for my faith in Him. I didn't doubt God to the point where I wanted Him to appear, tell me future events, cater to unholy wants, etc. I simply enjoyed His presence and His wisdom as He met me where I was and took me where He wanted me to be.

I wrote many things as I traveled and prayed. I wrote some new music, too. Actually, I've written three or four songs since my fast has ended! I had been in a brief song-writing rut where I was just playing my old songs and not writing. This rut has ended. Praise the Lord.

One of the biggest things I learned was to pray, immediately. Too often I found myself trying to live with my back pain or deal with a situation until it brought me to my knees. When I'd pray immediately, I would notice awesome results. Part of this reliance on God through prayer came from knowing I had to pray for strength when I was tired. As soon as I prayed for energy, I would get it. This begged the question, "Why wait until I was nearly asleep or sinning before praying?"

The last paragraph showed how God met my specific needs. I'm sure many people could benefit from praying immediately, but one of the bigger lessons is that God meets His people's needs through fasting. Everyone has similar and unique needs. One of the most spectacular things about God is that He meets different needs and heals in different ways at the same moment in time. He could be teaching me the need for prayer, while teaching someone in China the need to give. He's an awesome God.

You won't know the benefits of fasting until you've done it. It's definitely not one of those things you can do vicariously. I think we are prone to living vicariously - we watch tons of movies, read books, dream, play games, etc. If you want to experience the personal benefits of obedience and fasting, try it!

In closing, I fasted today (one week after my 40 day fast). It was a good fast. I'm learning that I still need to experience God's presence and voice. There is so much to learn! If I were able to fast every day, I still wouldn't know all of God's mysteries.

I pray you take a step of faith and start a fast. Be wise and start slowly. I did many smaller fasts before I embarked on the 40 day fast. I started fasting about 4 years ago and started with a meal or two. Now, I've done countless one day fasts. Before the 40 day fast, I had completed fasts of a week, over a week and three weeks. Don't think I'm bragging, I'm simply making you aware of the need to build your "spiritual fasting muscles."

Fasting isn't easy. Nothing in life is easy, though. Is anything worthwhile given to you without hard work? Salvation is the only thing I can think of.

If you have any questions about fasting, please email me. I will respond soon and answer your question as best I can. Peace be with you and God bless!