Whew chile! Who knew?! Who knew that Ben and I would complete the Daniel Fast this year??? We sure didn’t! The truth is that I “want” to do a fast EVERY year. I always end up feeling bad around mid-January when people start completing their fasts because I feel like I’ve missed the “fasting train” AGAIN!
It all boils down to about three reasons that I’ve never been successful with a fast: overload, discipline and accountability. I’ve been overloaded at work and overloaded at home, so much so, that I’ve literally started a fast and then forgot I was on one. Sounds crazy, huh? It’s the truth! I’ll talk about what overload can do to your mind another day, but I know some of y’all are there and you know exactly what I mean. Discipline, or let me say the lack of discipline, is another reason that I’ve never finished a fast before now. For me, discipline and planning go hand in hand. It’s hard to be disciplined if you haven’t take the time to plan for it. I’ve spent countless hours planning everything for everyone else, but very little time planning for me. And lastly, accountability. Most of the time, I’ve made a solo decision too fast. So, when it didn’t work out, no one knew about it but me. It didn’t affect anyone but me, so it was super easy to quit.
At the end of 2020, I found myself in the same place, wanting to fast, needing to fast, but not really sure how or if it was going to work. Well, I follow this couple on Instagram, “Life Partner Gang”. They announced that they would be fasting at the beginning of the new year as a couple and they invited other couples to join them. I was like…BINGO! That’s it! Me and Ben need to do this TOGETHER. Ben had already been intermittent fasting, so he was in the right frame of mind to agree. I’m not about to preach a sermon about this, but I have to add that when the HEAD of the household is in line and takes leadership of the family, amazing things happen. Ok, back to the story.
I explained to Ben that I wanted us to do the Daniel Fast and he agreed. I promise that I read all the specifics to him, but do men listen??? LOL Another post for another day! He swears that I didn’t explain it all and he had agreed to do it before he realized how “REAL” the Daniel Fast is. Well, he complained, but he is not a quitter at all. We locked in and decided we were going to do this! And we did!
Thanks to James and Tina of “Life Partner Gang”, we did the 21-Day Daniel Fast with a group of people and most importantly, with the daily Bible devotions to go right along with it. That was the most impactful part for me. Did we get off course? Sure! We started reading the devotions together and then school started back and were all over the place with the devotions, but we got it done. We’re actually going back to re-read the ones we didn’t complete or that we missed completely. They were that good!
It’s been a time of spiritual awakening in our house and everything is better because of this process. Drawing closer to God and developing a consistent study time is priceless. We’ll never go back. That’s Ben’s tagline from this whole experience: “We’ll never go back.”
I had my weak moments and my attitudes throughout the process but I didn’t quit. I feel like God really honors our sacrifices and He has already shown us so much mercy and grace since the fast began. We’re believing Him for some pretty big things in 2021, so we have to “stay on the wall”.
Although I can’t say that I’m ready to make a total life switch, I can say tat I am committed to getting rid of some stuff we’ve been eating forever. We’ll have meat here and there, but I think we’ll be much more selective in our food choices. And although we didn’t make the kids fast with us, they definitely tried some stuff that they liked and those things will stay on the menu. Ben really wants us to make a whole lifestyle switch behind this so y’all pray for me! He ended up enjoying the fast and appreciating it more than I did, I think. So, it’s only the beginning of fasting for us. We’ll definitely do it again! And I hope some of you will join us!
That was encouragement even for the more seasoned couples. I can relate to fact that I do things alone because my counter part would fall off and bring things in the house that he shouldn’t bring in(like chocolate cookies). I need to include him when I decide to fast. I love the intermittent fasting because I can do it without thinking about it. I’m gonna keep on pushing until something happens. Continue to do things as a couple and with other couples who have the same mind-set as you guys. It helps with accountability for sure. Keep encouraging others!!
Love my first family:)!!!!!
Ben has turned me down a million times and I’ve probably turned him down a MILLION more! Something just went right this time and I’m so glad it did. It was so much easier with him ON BOARD!