I did not have any personal experience with fasting before the race. I knew that fasting is a Biblical principal of denying yourself something for a period of time to focus on prayer instead. Most commonly food is fasted and whenever you are hungry it is a reminder to pray and seek the Lord. In Honduras our squad was asked to fast lunch one day so we could go to the dump and give the food away that we would have eaten to the people who lived at the dump. In El Salvador we were asked to fast a meal to pray for the church service we were leading. I have recently been thinking more about fasting and the principals behind it and why the Bible finds it important for Christians to fast.
Last month I decided to fast from eating sweets and drinking soda. I came to a realization that I was allowing myself to eat and drink whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I was spiraling out of control quickly and almost without realizing it. I would work really hard during the day and then go to the store later and think “I deserve this” I can eat a candy bar or drink a coke because I worked hard and I earned it! There are many other reasons why I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted but I fully realized what I was doing last month and was really convicted so I decided to fast sweets and soda until my Birthday on July, 22nd. I am currently half way through my fast and God is showing me how I can depend on Him to meet my needs instead of fulfilling my desires on my own by eating things I like.
My team mate Savannah invited myself and others to join her in fasting all day on Sunday to pray for fundraising as our final deadline is approaching at the end of this month. I have never fasted a full day before but I immediately agreed that I wanted to join her in praying for God’s provision for myself and my squad. Fasting was a really cool way to be intentional about interceding for provision to meet my final deadline.
Fasting is another way that this month’s theme of humility is being put into practice. I am denying myself to pray for fundraising and to learn more about depending on God for all my needs.
I am fully putting my faith in the Lord to meet all my needs both physically and financially.
