Breaking Fast

I experienced a wonderful extended fast this Lenten season. I believe I will see the fruit of it for a long time. And I will be looking for it. I write this not to pat myself on the back, but because I so desire to boast in my God.

I have never experienced an extended fast before and I thought it was going to be really hard. But after reading about why Christian's should practice fasting, I set aside the chocolate I was eating and began that moment. It was a little difficult the first few days and I was crabby, but after day 3 I felt really amazing. It had been so long since my head was so clear, even first thing in the morning. The dizziness I often experience was really bad the first day, but has yet to return since. There is so much physical healing that can take place through a fast. The results and healing are faster in a water fast than a juice fast, but ether way it is amazing how the body heals itself when digestion gets a break.

I began with a water fast, and thought I would go three days. But as I kept going and read more about fasting, I realized that a longer fast would bring more spiritual and physical gain. So I kept going. About five days in, I was determined to go 10 days. I made it to 8 and blacked out twice that day. God was talking to me, and told me the things I had been fasting for have been released in heaven, and it would just be a matter of time before the reached earth. He told me to eat. So at the end of the day, I decided to make some apple carrot juice, because you have to be careful in breaking a water fast or you can get sick. The next day I juiced again, but because it made such a mess, I decided to just my vita mix and make smoothies. I continued on with my smoothie fast, intending to break it this week, so I could be used to eating "normal" food by Easter. I had gained so much physically and spiritually. I felt like God was alright with me breaking the fast.

One top of the spiritual gain, I have abundant energy and I just feel so healthy. I want to exercise and look forward to my daily walk and time outside with God. The greatest gain I received was a heightened awareness of the Holy Spirit. The part of the Trinity I am just getting to know. When I would go to have some quiet time, I didn't spend 5 or 10 minuets getting to a place where I could find God and feel like we were communicating like I typically do. I would just go and we would be in that place together. I would get into my car and just smile so big as Jesus Culture was playing. I would be so filled with overwhelming joy that at times I would not even be able to speak! This kind of thing has never happened to me before. It has been so cool. I cannot raise my hand high enough to praise my Savior in my car. I have been very spiritually sensitive, and it has been so astounding to me. I don't want to lose this! If my body did not need food, I would never eat again!

Now that I have broken my fast, I miss it. An extended fast was so much easier than I thought it would be. I prepared dinner for others and went out to eat with friends without eating a thing but hot water with a bit of fresh lemon juice. When I transitioned to only fruit and vegetable smoothies, it made it easier to go out with friends, because then I would have a vegan salad. I only craved eggs and dairy. I love my smoothies and will still have one a day. I would usually have a morning fruit smoothie and an evening vegetable one a lot of water while fasting, and I would not even be that hungry. The hunger pangs now that I am eating again are deeper and more annoying. Almost to the extent that I want to go back to eating a raw diet.

This fast was life changing for me in so many ways! I do expect to see God move in a whole new way now. And he spoke to me a lot and answered some big questions as I was fasting. My first extended fast was an amazing experience, and I plan on doing it again in the future.