Holy Week Fast -day 5

Well, I see the finishline. I have a little over 48 hours to go.  Yesterday was pretty easy. I had a large job and my mind was on getting it right an done and had no time to think of food. Even with my coworker eating a giant cheeseburger next to me, I didn't feel hungry or tempted to rip it out of his hands and devour it.

Last night was a different story. Wow. I went to bed and crashed for about three hours. Then my eyes involuntarily opened and my nights sleep was over at 1:30am. At 5am I tried to sleep an dozed until my alarm sounded at 6.

Today I feel like I'm running the gauntlet. I'm sluggish and hungry, but I see the finish line ahead. Good Friday is two days away and I am proud of myself for even attempting much less finishing. 

One should not boast a fast, the Bible says. So when someone asks me why I'm not eating I try to change the subject. My coworker however kept aaking an I told him. His response was "I'd die if I didn't eat for a week. You're not gonna die on me are you?"  It was a chance to share the Bible with him. I told him about religious fasting and why I'm doing it. It was a great dialogue.

"Father, I'm in awe of you.  I ask that you continue to strengthen me. The finishline is close. Give me the stamina to finish strong for your glory."

Holy Week Fast -day 3

I have been water fasting since sundown Friday. Last night was a little tough. I was hungry when I went to bed. All I dreamt of was eating large slices of cheese pizza and huge hot fudge sundaes. We had thunderstorms and when I'd wake my hunger pains would come back. Strange dreaming of pizza and ice cream.

Today has been much better. The hungerpains are lessening. I'm reading Gods word and praying anytime I start to feel hungry.  I've read many inspiring words from pastors across the country who had an amazing weekend at their churches seeing lives changed.

"Father, thank you for today. Our days are numbered, help me to use mine for the glory of you."

Holy Week Fast

I know there are many out there who fast for health or to detoxify. I admire you all. I undertook a 21 day Daniel fast in Jan 2010 to give my firsts to my Creator.

That time was a spiritual awakening for me. I grew closer to my God and my family. I saw direction in my walk with Christ that I sought for so many times before and felt I fell short of.

This week is holy week.  Jesus entered the city to people chanting "he's our king" then was murdered with the same people chanting "crucify him".  He knew his whole life that this was going to happen. He knew they would arrest him, shackle him, torture him, and finnaly nail his hands and feet to a cross until he died.

His torture consisted of them stripping off his clothes, whipping him with a cat-o-nine tails that ripped his flesh off, they forced a crown of thorns on his head, they made him carry his own cross to his place of death, they humiliated him, and they nailed his arms and feet to the cross so he would suffocate and die a slow death.

He knew this would happen from the day he was born. He came down from heaven to be sacrificed for our sins. He left heaven, his rightful place in where all praised his holy name in one continuous chorus to come to earth to die for you and me. What a gracious God he is.

I say all this because I'm fasting again. I couldn't find anywhere in the Gospels where Jesus fasted that last week before he died but I'm sure eating was the last thing he thought of. I'm water fasting as my way to honor my God for dying on a cross to cleanse me of my sins. He cleansed you too.

"Father, thank you for dying on the cross so that I may live. You give me hope. In your darkest hour you took time to help the theif hanging next to you. Give me the stamina to make it to the finish line and rejoice with you on Easter Sunday. Amen"