Home. It felt good coming home from the hotel yesterday, although it is back to the same four walls I stare at all the time. Not unlike most people, right? It did feel good getting away for a couple days. I slept - a lot - and read - and slept some more. Getting home we unpacked some, then I headed to the grocery to get a few things. Came home, put them away; cut up some meat and put in freezer (it actually felt GOOD to be doing something!) and then settled down on the couch for the rest of the day. Hubby was watching the football game, but by halftime, we agreed to watch our church's online service.
Glad we did - it was a good one. The title was H3 - Holy Healthy Habits. It really was a great service, but to be honest, I think I fell asleep the last ten minutes of it. I was comfortable, warm, and snuggled on the couch. After that we watched Jentezen Franklin, whom we have not watched in months. He was talking about starting the 21 day fast. In fact, I think that is where I first heard of doing a 21 day fast the first of the year - many, many years ago. It was a good message and yes, I did stay awake for all of that one. It reinforced some things about this fast to me, and clarified some things as well. And it helped me make some decisions on what to fast. We did start the fast yesterday, and although we really hadn't clarified WHAT we were fasting from, we both agree on what we are fasting FOR. One of the items I'm 'giving up' on this fast is coffee. Yes, I decided to give up my rich, decadent, coffee. Hot coffee in the morning, iced coffee whenever. BUT, with that said, I'm drinking TEA. I could just drink hot water in the mornings, but it is nice to add flavor to it, and I don't use sugar so it is all tea. Glad I got a tea canister of tea for Christmas for I am going to be using a lot of it!
I didn't want to get up this morning. Two days of staying in bed until I wanted to get up kinda has spoiled me. So I did get up a little after 5AM and came in here and tried to doze. I've done my reading and tried to doze. I've done some prayers and tried to doze... and here I am and this will take me right up to time to get on the work computer. I may have to take a shower to get totally awake. Or not. I just don't want to become alert! I liked the slow, quiet, passive pace of the weekend. But alas, it is over and I have much to get done.
Daniel 10:2 (NIV): At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food, no meat or wine touched my lips, and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks was over.
Side note - it was on the 24th day that Daniel received an answer to his prayers. But from this is where we get the 21 day fast. I ate no choice food, no meat or wine touched my lips, and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks was over.
(NIV) No choice food. In the NLT version it says 'no rich food'. (ESV) I ate no delicacies. Other versions say it other ways.
Pastor Jentezen explained that his take was no sweets or breads (like pastries?). But the other is fairly clear - no meats. Now hubby and I fight over this one all the time. He has this hang up about getting protein. And I reminded him that on every fast we have ever done, whoever was leading it, he would run to them and say "I have to have protein, can I drink a protein shake?" and the answer is always 'yes'. I scoffed at him then, for the one-day fasts and even three-day fasts I have done I just didn't eat anything. To me it just wasn't a big deal. But with Pastor Jentezen's comment - if you need protein, pour some protein powder in a cup and drink it! it made sense.
With that explanation, I know I will be able to give up meat. Now in all honesty, because we were still flipping around on what to 'give up' on this fast, I did eat two pieces of beef jerky. And I fixed chicken noodle soup for lunch - and you know how much chicken is in a can of soup shared. But now that I am more clear on what I choose to give up for this 21 day fast - and wrote it down in case I waver on clarity - I am giving up for three weeks coffee (that could be the hardest, even though I'm drinking tea), meats, all sweets and pastries, and bread. And you know how hard it will be for me to give up bread. I've been throwing my breads in the freezer for a 'later date'. If I give up my coffee and bread, you know this is serious. I'm sure that there will be 'other foods' that I will drop by the wayside along the way - just because I am making the choice to give them up at that time.
Let's pause here for a moment. IF you choice to do a fast with me, to pray for your children, your finances, your health, whatever is on your heart - what do you feel would be the hardest to give up? Would you give it up for 21 days to pray for your child(ren) to ............. whatever you choose to put in there.
I won't say that I 'enjoy' fasting, but I do feel that I felt more in tuned to God when I did fast frequently. I may need to reflect on what changed in me that caused me to stop that. Hurt, discouragement, things the devils throws at one to get them to quit. Seems to have worked in my case. But God can heal broken hearts, even shattered and broken hearts like mine. I give Him all the pieces, and ask that He take each one and put it back together again. And if He will do it for me - and I have the faith that He can and will - He will do it for you. All you need to do is ask - and give Him all the pieces.
And with that - it's time to get on the work computer in a minute of so. I pray that all the meetings I need to schedule will be completed easily, and I will get everything done by end of day. Go God. :-) Knowing I can do this, and believing that He will answer, I pray you receive all that you need for today.
Blessings!
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