This evening at church we’ll take communion and break our fast. Three weeks. I really didn’t know if I could make it, but God gave me unprecedented strength. As one who has never been able to stick with any type of diet, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to resist all the foods I love so much, but there were no slips, no moments of “I just can’t take this anymore, I need it!” God truly never let me be tempted beyond what I could bear – perhaps that’s one reason he has me at a workplace where everyone is fasting 
I realized a couple more things along the way:
- It’s a lot harder to overeat on meals you don’t like very much. One of the reasons that I love to cook is because I like to make foods exactly the way I (and my family) like them. But with the fast there were just some meals that were as good as they were going to get – and that wasn’t so tasty.
- I need to snack from the fridge more. That might be one of the most valuable food lessons I learned – snacking on fruits and vegetables.
- I was able to appreciate the natural tastes of foods more – a banana with raspberries tasted like an explosion of flavor.
- And it’s okay to be a little hungry. I realized during the fast that I am scared to be hungry. There’s really no good reason why – I was a very well-fed child. I do have to watch out to make sure my blood sugar doesn’t dip too low or I get shaky and headachy, but nothing catastrophic. So I might try to let myself be a little hungry a little more often.
Grocery shopping this afternoon was a delight! I almost kissed the milk jug and bag of coffee. Tonight we’ll be celebrating on a pizza feast.
This has been a great season of spiritual discipline. I entered into the fast mostly out of obedience and as a different way of sacrificing for God. I’ve been reminded through this time that God should be my first resort, not my last. And that I should hunger for him more than any piece of chocolate. And that He’s infinitely stronger than a cup of Starbucks coffee!
Congratulations! Has anyone from church talked about keeping any of the healthy changes you all temporarily made? Just curious.
Congrats! Hope that pizza was the most fabulous thing you ever put in your mouth. =)
Thanks, ladies! yes, Robin the pizza was incredible but the coffee on Sunday was heavenly
And Katherine, our pastor and his wife have always been advocates of a healthy, active lifestyle, so they’ve been excited to hear how many people in the church have enjoyed trying new foods during the fast. I’ve talked to people who are going to stick with soy milk, eat more vegetables, cook more meatless meals, etc. And for plenty of families, the experience of sitting around the table together with home-cooked food was revolutionary!
[...] I mentioned something about snacking. He, a lovingly faithful reader of this blog, referenced my recent post and said, “I thought you were going to snack from the fridge.” Without missing a beat, [...]
My husband is on staff at Northway Church (Buddy Cremeans’ church in New York). Buddy was challenged by Ed and he participated in the Daniel fast. My husband and I just decided to do it as well (at first I thought he was just telling me he was going to do it…then I realized he was suggesting I do it too!) I also have never fasted and I am currently on day one…lunch yesterday was my last meal and I’m sipping my herbal tea right now (Yesterday I had the biggest strongest cup of Starbucks coffee I could find)! Anyways, your husband raved about your creative recipes through this fast. Do you have any suggestions or recipes to share with someone just starting out? Thanks!
Lori,
Just recieved your blog from your husband. I am reading through his book right now. Congrats on finishing your fast, I too am almost finished a fast and I can tell you that the fruit of it will be seen over the next several months. It’s an amazing and wonderful thing. Supernatural.
Have a great weekend.