Are we There Yet?

A week has not even gone by and boy does it seem like I have been doing this fast for much longer than six days. One of my children commented on the way home from a friend’s football game that it seemed like this fast was going on forever. He began to recite the first meal he was going to have however, his sisters quickly shut him down. For some reason listing all of the “choice” food that is being forfeited during this fast is not something that a fellow faster wants to hear…go figure.

In Romans 12:1 it states, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.” Two words stand out to me in this familiar verse—sacrifice and reasonable. Our 21 day Daniel fast is our way of being a living sacrifice. Yes, it has only been six day; yes, you get tired more easily; yes, you get hungry; yes, you are getting tired of fruit and nuts; yes, I can hardly keep my eyes open from lack of energy…all of these things pale however as we step back and remember that we are “sacrificing” because we care enough to do what ever it takes.

Reasonable…all of this great sacrifice that we are putting ourselves through, the immense hardship and trouble, only reaches the level of reasonable? Does the Lord not understand how difficult this is at times? Does He not understand the adversity I’m putting myself through to do a 21 day fast? All this personal sacrifice and the only word of encouragement that I get is reasonable!? Now that seems like a let down…if you look with the eyes of your flesh. Reasonable says to me that this is well within your ability, well within the norm of what God calls us to do. If He feels this is reasonable then I need to quit my complaining, pick up my little cross and start walking.

I pray that the Lord will give you His strength and continued resolve as you march on in this fast. Look for and expect God to do great things. Know that I am praying for you all.

PD