The 3 F's have always been our motto.
F-family
F-friends
F-fans
We refer to our 3 F's a lot because they are our lives. (you all are). :)
But I decided to change up the 3F's a little bit for my 3 part blog series on whats been happening with life lately. So this is our new temporary 3F's
F-fasting
F-family
F-faith
So, today we talk about fasting. Today we are going to talk about the 11 weeks I spent fasting & why. And we will also talk about how good that cupcake tasted on week 12!!!!
What is biblical fasting? Biblical fasting goes all the way back to the Old Testament. I grew up knowing & learning about fasting & have done a short fast on several occasions. But this fast was very different. In the summer of this year I was feeling lots of anxiety with life in general. I was battling as a new mom with an ever growing & changing child, being back home in the states for the summer & wondering where we would spend the next months for basketball season.
I thought I had taken it to God in prayer. I thought that I had given my anxiety to Him. And while I DID, I also held a little doubt & control. I had asked God to make things less stressful, relieve my anxiety about my husbands contract, & to allow me to not stress so much as a mama. But that little OCD woman in me was winning. Things weren't happening when I wanted them or in the way I thought was correct. I had to do something, I had to allow myself to release it all to God 100%. I needed structure, discipline, & focus.
Ezra 8:21-23
Exodus 34:28
Matther 6:17-18
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Fasting helps us draw closer to the Holy Spirit, personalizes our prayer time & humbles us.
2 Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
So, with all that in mind, fasting was the perfect solution. I cannot even express to you the breakthroughs I experienced in the almost 3 months I spent fasting. The Lord revealed to me so much about our marriage, parenting, myself, finances, & priorities. (more to come in parts 2 & 3 on this).
What kind of fast? I made up the term "earthly fast" to describe what kind of fast I did. This was basically anything that came from the ground or could grow in the ground. Below was my guideline. (again, I just made this up. I wanted proper nutrients, I had to function & still be a wife & mom.)
Water
Black coffee
Green tea
Quinoa
Fruit
Vegetables
No meats
No bread
No sugars
No sodas
No dairy
In all actually this probably is a good diet to stick to anyways. But it was deprivation for me. I love all things that were on the "NO" list & is a big reason I had to give them up.
For how long? The main stressor for me was my husbands contract. I worried about our next location, if we turned down offers we shouldn't have, should we just stay behind while my husband goes, & so many other questions that swirled in my head on a daily basis. They were silly & not needed but I worried about them. So the solution was fasting until the issue was clear. Which meant that I would fast until my husband signed his contract for the season.
What I learned? I learned that after 11 weeks, a Crave cupcake is truly the best invention ever. (I am pretty sure I always thought it was anyways). I learned that devoting specific time to God everyday is critical, & not just when I am fasting. I set aside 2 specific times that I got on my knees & prayed to Him. If i was out & about I went to the car & prayed there, or in the bathroom. I asked specifically & daily for God to release my selfish flesh, rely & trust in Him, have faith that His will is perfect, & give me a testimony for my test. I learned that as we draw near to Christ, the devil will appear in many forms & greater than ever! As we turn away from sin, hurt, pain, anger & instead lean on faith, His spirit, trust, love, & devotion, the devil will do all he can to deny us that breakthrough. There were many obstacles, many times I wanted to say "Well I have been doing good, I deserve a cookie or 2", or one of those amazing Starbucks Peppermint Mochas. But I also remembered that where my flesh is weak, His word is strong & that's what I continued to turn to. I learned that when my desires are pure, my heart is completely open, & my ego is humbled, God will break chains & show up & show out!!!
I missed a lot of birthday cakes, a lot of celebratory food & some really great meals for restaurant month in Houston. ( google it, its fab!) But it was totally & completely what I needed & what God revealed made my heart stronger, my marriage greater, my parenting calmer, & my life more pure.
I'm looking forward to sharing about my other 2 F's in the New Year!
Merry Christmas from my family to yours
-Morgan
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