(Hopefully, prayerfully) fasting praise reports!

[IworshipHim]

Thank you. So far so good for me. I've had Jamba Juice for the past two days and although I'm more tired than usual I think my energy should pick up in the next day or so.


Meditation and prayer seems to make the struggle easier. I have litte chats with God too but am having a difficult time spiritually. Hopefully it will get more indepth as the time passes. My prayers are still with you and I appreciate your support as well.

 

[Amethyst]

IworshipHim - I'm glad you are doing well. Have prayed some more for you. Don't know what Jamba Juice is but do know that fasting can be tiring and one may need more rest than usual.

Yes, meditation and prayer sure are essential!

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Well, I have been talking to the Lord and reflecting on what what is the right way to
do this and what the results are when I seem to be doing it right.

Frank Laubach, my role model, seemed to exult in the ability to feel joy and walk
in supernatural realms with the Lord as the result of this "practicing the Presence of
God." To me it is a little scary, actually. I guess it is because to move closer to the Lord, even though it gives feeling of joy and fulfillment, is uncharted territory. It's kind of like being in a boat and not being in control of the course it takes.

Okay, one sees some beautiful land up ahead. There are those lovely, fragrant breezes wafting by, but uh, where am I heading actually? What's going to happen when I get there? To let go and let God is to take a chance on the unknown. But to try to be in control myself is to miss out on so much (besides which I'm never really in control of anything anyway)...

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, King and Ruler of the Universe and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach, the Author and Perfector of our Trust in You.

 

[Amethyst]

I have been doing somewhat better, overall, on talking to, and focusing on, the Lord. But getting closer to the Lord seems so humbling so often. Sometimes it doesn't seem like "cloud nine" time but more like hard housework time. The Word says that if He loves us He chastises us.

I figure He loves me a whoooole lot! It seems I'm so very often being shown something I did or do wrong. But at least He is faithful to show me how to do better. And on reflection, I am always glad to be getting rid of more and more embarrassing faults and foibles. But at first it's just embarrassing and uncomfortable - to see things I didn't see before about myself that are certainly not fun to look at.

To walk with the Lord indeed can be a type of partnership, I am seeing more clearly. Of course HE is the head Partner. To walk with Him day and night is really to live a life that seems kind of - maybe very - crazy. It means to walk by faith and not by sight...and the world and it's opinions seem so real, and He is so unseen. And yet somehow when I draw closer to Him, though He is not seen with my human eyes or (usually!) heard by my human ears, I feel as if I am experiencing true life and true reality. HE is real. He IS reality. And the world is just a passing dream in a way.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach that Your Son was our suffering Sevant, Who experienced You turning Your back on Him so that we could always have You to shine Your face upon us.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, things are going well. So far. I say "so far" because I know me, how I can vacilate, feel so strong one day then stumble & trip up the next. (But I'm praying about that!)

So far, so far, I am liking this talking to the Lord process enough that I want to keep it up, that is I am getting and enjoying some fruits of the process. I have tried for over 2 years, maybe 3, to get to that point. It seems, so far, that my prayers have been answered.

There is still so much to learn about how to talk to the Lord in daily life, how not to be mechanical or pretentious for example. I feel hesitant so often - sort of like my cat when we moved into a new home...kind of hiding out, kind of looking around to see if I like this new "place", and kind of finding it intriguing, but still maybe scary.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, King of the Universe, and thank You so much my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach that Your Son is our Shield from the fiery darts of the enemy, including fear, doubt, and discouragement.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, I just hate coming in here to report any failures. But I like it that, overall, I can report progress.

I have fallen down in the food department again, plus have not done my prayer closeting times faithfully, overall. That is the bad news.

I guess the other bad news would be that I was, I believe, told over 3 years ago to "fast so that you love Me so much you want to obey Me in everything," and I'm still not "there."

I have completed (one strenuous) food-wise 40 day fasts during that time, with extra prayer time, too, though I have failed to go the full 40 days so far this time.

But the good news is that I keep learning what true fasting involves. And I believe this, most importantly, because I really do feel that I am loving the Lord and others more, most definitely more than when I began trying.

I am going to get rid of some food items that have tempted me. Had been thinking that at least the "forbidden" foods were natural and healthy, and then found out, duh, that the walnuts had preservatives (BHA & TBHQ - both associated with all sorts of difficulties) in them! And preservatives and additives tire me out both mentally and physically.

I felt led to do that fast and I felt led to do it 40 days and nights. So it seems I have no choice but to start over. The Lord, will, I believe, give me success in the end, for I do not believe it is His habit to tell us to do something that we cannot get His help on.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, Creator and Ruler of all that is, seen and unseen, and thank You my Abba in Yeshua HaMashiach's Name that Yeshua is our Victor and Victory in every good undertaking.

 

[IworshipHim]

My prayers are still with you. Don't get too down on yourself. Failures help us to learn and become closer to God. He knows your limitations and won't ask you to do something you can't. In the end He will help you to accomplish His goals. Temptation is difficult, but it's supossed to be otherwise the goal is meaningless. Fasting for 40 days presents so many temptations and it's really hard to be strong. Last night, I had some soup and told myself I wouldn't eat the veggies in it but I faultered and had some. I felt terrible afterwards and asked God for guidence and strength. In the end, like you, I know I will accomplish what I set out to do.

Yvonnie

 

[Amethyst]

Yvonnie - Thanks so much for the very encouraging words, which I know are true; but it helps to hear them from another. I will certainly continue to pray for you, too, Yvonnie.

Yes, I know exactly how you feel about eating those veggies and then feeling
so badly afterwards. I'm so glad you feel determined and confident of the outcome in the end. "Though we stumble..." He will keep us from falling.
Was just thinking before I saw you post about a sermon I once heard on the
-ites in the Bible, i.e. the Canaanites, Amalakites etc. etc. The Lord told the
Israelites "little by little" they would drive them out of the Promised Land. That is how the "ites" have gone in my personal life and I guess it's true for everyone: little by little they go away, not through the overnight transformation I guess I always thought might come some day.

Well, I am doing better on talking to the Lord, at least I think so. It's hard to know since I don't have a chatometer, or anything, to measure "how much" from day to day. One thing I notice is that it doesn't go for me just as it went for my role models, Laubach and Brother Lawrence. Maybe it's because I'm not at their level either spiritually or in Practicing the Presence. But it seems one of the effects for me is being given more insights - sometimes more than I woulcd ask for! - rather than being that much more joy. (Though I do feel more fulfillment and love overall.) Frank Laubach sounds like he was living in a glory cloud pretty much. Maybe that's the future for you and me Yvonnie. Who knows but Heaven? But for now, for me, not quite yet.

Things are going so far so good.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, Creator and Ruler of all that is seen and unseen and thank You my Abba in Yeshua HaMashiach's holy Name that Yeshua is the one Who gives us the Sword of the Spirit against all of our enemies, seen and unseen.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, things are going fine in the food and prayer closet areas, but I don't currently feel any closer to the Lord. I am reminded of a Bible verse and an old song. The Bible verse is "As you sow so shall you reap." I don't think I've been sowing as much or as well in terms of staying focused on the Lord, or in terms of praise from the heart - which reaps the greatest benefits of all. It is obvious the Lord will never be satisfied with a part time, on again, off again, friendship. Which reminds me of that old song, "All of me, why not take all of me." That's what He wants. All. But He is so merciful and patient with us as we try to manipulate Him, so foolishly, foolishly, with less. I am glad I am reporting in here this way, now, with the focus the most strong on learning to "offer up the sacrifice" of praise, instead of on what I do outwardly.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, Creator and Ruler of all that is, seen and unseen, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach that Your Son is our All Consuming Fire in the midst of us, ever hungry to burn away out of us anything less than perfection, less than perfect focus on You/Him.

 

[Amethyst]

Still going on with the fast. All external parts okay. Still having to get more into the habit of praising and talking to the Lord ongoing but am not forgetting that it is the most important thing.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach that Your Son hides us, guides us and heals us under His Celestial Wings.

 

[Amethyst]

Sticking to the fast and making progress.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach for the progress and that You allowed Your only Begotten Son to be
bruised for our iniquities.

 

[Child of JC]

Father God, send your spirit to ingnite Amethyst. Meet her in her times of prayer and keep her longing for more of you. Cause her heart to rejoice at the thought of spending time with you. Continue giving her wisdom in the area of fasting, and give her strenghth to see it through. Praise you Abba Father, for you are worthy of our praise.

 

[Amethyst]

Thank you Child of JC for your kind words and prayers. That was very thoughtful of you. I have said a prayer for you and yours also.

I believe that things are going well, though certainly not perfectly. My mind is definitely more and more on the Lord instead of it's so frequent diet of junk thoughts.
I definitely do feel more love for the Lord and others, though this is not consistent by any means at this time. Sometimes I stop, self consciously, and realize, Hey, I'm really feeling more love for Him &/or others...this works! Of course then I don't feel the love much any more as I am focusing on myself. There seems to be balance, a right time and way, between stopping and praising the Lord for putting more love in my heart, and just enjoying that love. He makes it seems like it is my own love flowing, though I know it is just a gift imputed to my heart from Him. I know the answer to finding that balance as in all is found in that lil ol' prayer closet...

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, Who made the Universe with a Word, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach for "keeping on keeping on" with this so very faulty vessel, and that Yeshua is the One Who healed us with His stripes.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that I did go 8 days and found it to be a fruitful time. Also the good news is that though I did fall down in the food area, hey, at least I did so in a health food store at their deli!

But the bad news but not so terrible news is that I have to start over. This is not a serious problem, though. Sooner or later I will make it the full 40 days and nights.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai Who rules the universe and created it with a Word, and thank You my Abba for the umpteenth time in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach that Your Son is the Author and Finisher of every good task and that though we stumble He will keep us from truly falling and perfect the good work He began in us.

 

[visionary]

There is mischief afoot. There is an attempt to ration supplement acess.

Tell your U.S. senators and congressmen to support U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's H.R. 1146, the American Sovereignty Restoration Act.

http://www.mercola.com/2004/oct/13/...s_minerals2.htm

 

[Amethyst]

Hi Visionary - Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, when I tried to click onto your website address I got a "not found" message. Help?!

 

[Amethyst]

Re the fast. After I stumbled again, I had to reflect on something I felt I was shown in
December, but did not want to believe: My 40 d & n fasting will not be completed until in the spring. Hmmmm.... Well, if that is true in the meantime I can at least do some partial fasting, for even that has some benefits. So, for now, anyway, I will just have a "Wait and see" attitude and see what happens re the spring.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, a most remarkable "coincidence" occured. Over a month ago I had felt the Lord showing me that the day I would begin a successful fast would be on Feb. 18. I had it all typed out and studied over and was (and am) quite ready. On that same day my very beloved sister called to tell me about some highly serious health concerns, that seem to indicate the same problem that caused my mother, and her two sisters, to die. My sister will go to the doctor on Monday, but in the meantime I have another tremendous interest in, and "reason" for, fasting.

All on the fast is to bring me closer to the Lord, and "the prayers of a righteous man avail much." I want so much for my sister to live! But I know the Lord is Sovereign.
Whatever He decides in that regard, at least I feel confident that He wants her to turn more fully to Him, to get all right with Him, and have His comfort and strength and help; therefore I trust He will answer those prayers on her behalf whether she is to live or not. And, of course, I will be needing (and feel Him already giving) His strength and comfort and help to me also.

I have learned some things about grieving. There can actually be a kind of joy in it, for as we grow closer to the Lord (as He draws us closer), needing Him so much, we feel more of His Presence, from Whom all joy flows. Also, the death of a loved one can make us so realistic. We saw how not powerful and "in control" we are. We see that death is a part of life. Everyone who lives will die! This seems so obvious, and yet it never seemed real to me in the past, on a deep, heart level. And in the face of the tenuousness of life, and my own puniness, I turn again to the only One I can ever really count on, the only One Who can truly fulfill - and He is there, not punishing, but refining, refining, refining, and comforting and teaching and leading the way in the grieving, being with me in it.

We serve an awesome Lord Who loves us so much!

Just as an aside, another crucial thing happened to me this week. I suspect I would have never been able to finish this fast without it. I have been studying some doctrines from the early Church, which has of course caused me to study the Bible more, and to also study some Greek and Hebrew (as much as an amature can.) I do not want to get into doctrine in specifics, for anything one says along those lines on chatboards always leads to arguments, or at least debates, and that is not what this string is for. (However, the Bible verses which I have decided to place at the end of each
day's note, have been used to support that doctrine.)

I just want to say though, because it applies to any success I have in fasting,
that I feel as if I have a much greater understanding of our Heavenly Fathers' "tender mercies" for all His chidlren and this helps me to love HIM more - what the fast is to be all about: "to love me so much that You want to obey me in everything." I feel as if a weight has gone off of me and in it's place (though I need Him in order to consciously maintain the right "position" in the Lord, and the right mental focus on Him - and to fast toward those ends that they may stay and grow if that makes any sense) there is more joy, more love for the Lord and others, definitely. Going away more and more is an embarrassing amount of self righteousness that I didn't fully admit that I had. What a relief! What a tremendous help!

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Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, Creator and Ruler of all that is, seen and unseen, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach that He is our Good Shepherd along the paths of righteousness in this life, and into Heaven.

Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the LORD'S plan that is accomplished."

 

[Amethyst]

Blessed be Thou O' El Shaddai, Creator and Ruler of all that is seen and unseen, Who made the Universe at Your Word; and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach for another day of fasting and that Yeshua is the Goodness and Mercy Who follows us all the days of our lives.

Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all. He has compassion on all that He has made.

 

[Amethyst]

Blessed be Thou O' El Shaddai, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach for another good day of fasting and that Yeshua is the One Who gives His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways.

Psalm 145:14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

 

[Amethyst]

Another fine day of fasting. I think I have finally found the right formula for the spiritual exercises due to some powerful experiences. As for the food, as so many times in the past, I now have a URI. I will be experimenting. I am sensitive to mold and am going to try pre rinse the veggies with a light bleach solution and wash them better in general. Also, I am going to try drinking more of the veggie juice, in case the problem is related to nutritional deficiency. I am having plenty of skim milk
and nonfat yogurt, to which I am adding raw brown rice flour (with grapefruit pectin to prevent the constipation that yogurt so often causes) and with some garlic oil it's more or less palatable. (Hey, this is a fast. ;-) If I don't feel better then I will add some raw whole veggies, not just use the juice.

Blessed be Thou O El Shaddai, Creator and Ruler of all that is, seen and unseen, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach that Yeshua is the One Who causes His angels to lift us up lest we dash a foot against a stone (literally and figuratively, I believe.)

John 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.