Thank you for joining me today as I share my heart. It is my prayer that your heart will be strengthened today!
1 CHRONICLES 22:19 "Now determine in your mind and HEART to seek the Lord your God."
FROM MY HEART TO YOURS:
Today is day 12 of the 21-day DANIEL FAST that our family has been doing along with many others from our church. I went to the doctor yesterday and really noticed what eating fruits and vegetables can do for a girl when I stepped onto the scale. Yippee...I lost weight!
Even though losing weight is not the reason for doing this fast, it is definetly a side bonus! As I thought about what I had lost, I was reminded that the hunger that I feel throughout the day has NOT been lost. I still have hunger pains, and I still have cravings and temptations. This week, God has reminded me that there is a DANGER OF BEING HUNGRY, and I need to be watchful as the tempter tempts me and wants me to lose something greater than food cravings.
MATTHEW 4:2-4 "After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
The evil one, the tempter, had a goal to destroy God and anything He loved. Satan saw a perfect opportunity to attack Jesus. He saw Jesus was isolated, there were no friends to warn Him and there were no supplies or food to keep Him strong. For forty days and nights, Jesus fasted. He faced the vulnerabilities of exposure and hunger. The accuser nagged and harassed, but waited until the right time - THE FORTY FIRST DAY - to use his most deceptive tricks.
The tempter sneered. "Ah, you must be starving. If you really are the Son of God, you could make these desert stones into bread. Why don't you?"
Jesus sensed the sham. "God has said, 'Man cannot exist only on bread.' My food is God's truths." Jesus trusted in the goodness of His Father and in the timing of His provision.
Chocolate cravings are one thing, but there are hungers that take such a hold that they leave you exposed. The tempter waited to tempt Jesus at the END of His fast, that is what the enemy does...he looks for opportunities of our greatest vulnerability.
So, when you have reached the limits of your hunger, and find yourself drifting into the arms of compromise, remember Jesus in His wilderness. God had us in mind when He sent Him to face intense conditions and temptations.
There is a DANGER OF BEING HUNGRY, but I am thankful that God has provided us a way of escape.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 " You can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, He will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it."
That is a piece of my heart today......Laurie
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Hi Laurie, this was a great post today. I have been considering doing this fast at some point to go along with a specific prayer that needs direction. Is there anything other than eating only fruits and vegetables and drinking only water or 100% fruit juice for 21 days? Is there more to it that I have missed?
ReplyDeleteCheri,
ReplyDeleteThat is right..fruits and vegetables, no sugar, no preservatives. Brown rice, potatoes and whole wheat pasta is what we have been eating alot of. 100% fruit juice and water is the only thing you can drink. A couple of good sites you could check out are: http://danielfast.wordpress.com/ and
http://www.wmfirstassembly.blogspot.com/
We have done this fast as a family and have had more family devotions together. The thing to remember is you are denying your body, so every time you feel a hunger pain, that is a sign to pray. I hope you try it, God will really speak to your spirit as you do.
Thanks for your comments.
God bless, Laurie
Thank you for the info. I have fasted before but only for 1 day. All I had was water. It does bring you closer to the Lord. I found my self praying alot more than usual.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of this fast before.
I think your awesome! Your words really make me think!
I thought about you and the miracle you experienced with the birth of Jeremy this morning when I read this scripture.
ReplyDeleteDeuteronomy 10:21
He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
Praise God for the many, many great and awesome wonders we have seen with our own eyes!
Take care! Praying for you right now,
Laura
This was very good Laurie, is there more information at that blogspot?
ReplyDeleteI would like to share this with the Bible study I teach. I think a lot of us could do this, and still take their meds.
I liked "A Piece of my Hear...it was very good. thanks
Mary
Laura,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for sharing that scripture with me, it really blessed me today as I was thinking about the great miracle of my Jeremy. God is awesome and is always right on time! God bless.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteIf you go to my blogring on the right hand side and click on the DANIEL FAST (FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD) it will take you to the blog page that our church is doing, it has alot of info about the FAST and also it has some other links that tell about the FAST and even recipes. It is fine for the ladies who take medicine to do, the neat thing is that they can fast one meal or two or whatever God lays on their heart. I believe God will reward those that seek Him while they refrain from bodily desires. Good Luck!
We love you and look forward to our visit to Green Bay this summer.. love, Laurie