(Hopefully, prayerfully) fasting praise reports!

[jeffnevins]

Thanks.

Fast over. That was- fast.

I talked to some friends at prayer training today, and one mentioned a person who skips one or two random meals a week without planning in advance.

That sounds like a possible plan-

 

[Amethyst]

Jeff - Good for you.

 

[Amethyst]

Another d & n of fasting completed.

Blessed be thou O Adonai, King of the Universe, and all praise and honor and glory be to You Abba, in the Name of Your only begotten Son the Lord Yeshua that Yeshua is our Fire in the midst of us, who confounds and frightens our enemies, but lights our path before us.

 

[Amethyst]

I have had two incidences, since beginning this fast, of seeing a flashing light in front of my eyes. I see on the net that this can be associated with low blood sugar and/or diabetis (which runs in my family.) Am rethinking on how to do this fast. Will have to see my doctor for a blood sugar test, maybe the eye doctor. In the meantime my hopes of doing a 40 d & n fast are on hold. Who knows I may not be able to do one until summer break, when school is out. In the summer there is less stress, and lots of sunshine to keep me from getting URIs.

I may go on a 3 week Daniel fast later this week, or next. If so, I will be back! But as I say I am thinking it all over, and of course praying about it.

Thanks very much, very much for those who have been kind and supportive.
I'm not giving up. Just reflecting and waiting a bit.

 

[The Smiling One]

Try giving up something else that you like...maybe television or alcohol or whatever will be a sacrifice to give up. Chocolate would be hard!!!!!

 

[Amethyst]

Smiling ONe - Chocolate isn't a major temptation, don't watch t.v. But thanks for the ideas. I will just have to get help through prayer on this.

 

[Amethyst]

Okay. It is sort of definitely embarrassing to keep trying and failing (in "public"). But that's okay. I've failed several times before - then, by the grace of the Lord, finished, on a fast I had planned.

This time I am starting over but I am not going to be so strict about the food. (Don't want any more "flashing lights.") Am just going to do a "Daniel fast", i.e. no meats, no treats, nothing with sugar/sucrose added, no fried foods, no junk foods, no condiments or spices or added salt, no wine (also no grapes, like in the Nazarine vows), and mostly veggies with some fruits and natural shredded wheat, & nonfat milk products, and lots of supplements, also vinegar & olive oil. Also, no heavily scented lotions (Daniel gave those up) or cologne or perfume.

In the area of food, there will be a few days of moderate, vegetarian, social exceptions for the holidays, but none for 40 days and nights prior to the first week in February - which will give me one full period of 40 d & n fasting.

On the Sabbath, the plan is to conform myself to Isaiah 58.

I am going to fit in some hourly prayer closet times here and there up until Dec. 25. After that I plan to do them daily for 40 d & n. I am also striving to keep talking to the Lord, with lots of praise and prayers ongoing around the clock, somewhat like Frank Laubach & Brother Lawrence, but with some personal, and Messianic, twists. That kind of focusing on the Lord is the most essential part, the part that truly makes me feel closer to Him, more in what I call "the Love Bubble" where I feel Christ, our Messiah, is imputing His love to me to love our Heavenly Father, and He Himself, and others with - and making it feel just like it is me, myself, doing the loving. To live in that state, for life, that is the true goal of the fast, and that is what I have felt called to fast for. I know one can live in that state and that nothing on earth has anything to compare to it. "Thou wilt show me the path of life. In Thy Presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more."

It seems so elusive some times, that state of truly being. But some have done it, have lived that kind of life, and so can I. (And so can you, my friend who has accepted our Savior in his/her heart! ) It is the life our Heavenly Father wants for all of us I know, the life Yeshua paid for with His Blood.

 

[Amethyst]

One day down and a bunch more to go. It helps having this "accountability group." I was tempted to "cheat" today, but remembered I had to report in here.

Blessed be thou O Adonai, Creator and Ruler of All that is, seen and unseen, and thank You my Abba in Yeshua's Name that He, our King of kings and Lord of lords, rules over and defeats not just the human and visible kings and lords of this world, but also is all powerful to defeat for us all the little "kings" and "lords" we set up for ourselves in our own hearts.

 

[The Smiling One]

Hey, I'm here to cheer you on!!! It's good that you are taking time to talk to the Lord. If you don't talk to God, fasting is useless! You know? Why bother fasting and trying to get closer, but not try to develop a relationship with Him?

Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up to You the name of Amethyst. Lord, I ask that You strengthen and guide her. Please help her to block the distractions when she is talking with You. Keep her healthy, Lord. Please show Yourself through her and gain glory by her efforts. Let her family and friends see You in her and be filled with a yearning to know about salvation. Or if they are saved, to want to be closer to You too.

Lord, I also want to pray for our President and our nation. I ask that You guide and strengthen President Bush. I ask that You grant him wisdom in abundance. I ask that you turn the hearts of the American people toward You. I ask that You help us to return to Your path.

I ask these things in Your holy Name, Lord Jesus, Amen!

 

[Amethyst]

Smiling One - Hey, how d'ya know I didn't vote for Kerry? (Barf! Yuck! Ack! Ptooey!)

Seriously, I thank you very much for your prayers and your support!
They definitely help!

I pray for Bush, too, and the leaders of the world in general, virtually every day. I found the national election results to be encouraging, even quite surprising! I will be praying for you, also, Smiling One, and for whatever prayers you may be offering up privately to the Lord for your family or whomever.

Another day of fasting completed.

Blessed be Thou O' Adonai, King of the Universe, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Your Only Begotten Son Yeshua, our Savior from the world, the flesh and the devil, our Savior from every sin.

 

[Amethyst]

Feeling low blood-sugarish again today so am allowing myself whole wheat crackers occasionally with this fast.

Other than that a good day.

Blessed be Thou O' Adonai King of the Universe, and thank You my Abba, in the Name of Your only Begotten Son the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach, Who is our Way, even when "there is no way."

 

[Amethyst]

Another day of fasting completed.

Blessed be Thou O'Adonai, King of the Universe, and thank You my Abba, in the Name of Your only Begotten Son the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach, for helping me to fast today, and that Yeshua is our Truth about what to do in every situation.

 

[Amethyst]

Okay, the fast is moving along.

Blessed be Thou O' Adonai, King of the Universe, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Your Only Begotten Son the Lord Yeshua HaMaschiach, our Savior, for keeping me on this fast and that Yeshua is our Truth about how to procede and follow up on everything.

 

[The Smiling One]

Good job, girl!!! How are you doing? How's the family? Are you getting plenty of time to be with Dad? (God)

Did you know that God, the Father, wants to be exactly that to us? A Father, a Dad. The Lord Jesus died for us in order to reconcile us to the Father! Cool! Huh?

 

[Amethyst]

Thanks Smiling One for the encouragement.

Yes, that is cool, and I have been talking to "Dad". It makes me feel peaceful and steady.

But I don't think I'm Practicing the Presence nearly well enough. Definitely not.

I know it is possible to feel Him with me at a much deeper level, not only from reading things like Frank Laubach's letters, but from some few and fleeting experiences of my own. Oh, well. That is what this fast is all about. I don't expect success over night. But thanks for asking. (How are things going with you and yours, and with "Dad"/Abba, if I may ask? What helps you get closer to Him? )

Blessed be You, O' Adonai, King of the Universe, and all praise and honor and glory be to You, my Abba, in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach, for another successful day of fasting and that Yeshua is our Life, not just our Eternal Life but Life to us here on earth: the Life within that we need to make a success in any good thing.

 

[Amethyst]

Another day of satisfactory fasting ending. The wheat crackers came in handy when the blood sugar dipped and I felt shaky. Now feel fine.

Blessed be You O' Adonai, King of the Universe, and all praise and honor and glory be to You my Abba, in the Name of You only Begotten Son Yeshua HaMaschiach, for another day of help with fasting and that through His Blood and His Resurrection Your Son becomes our resurrection from dead sinful lives into holy and eternal lives.

 

[Amethyst]

Here's a plug for Old London garlic melba round crackers. Five or so of those a day and no low blood sugar problems seen, so far, also no serious hunger. (I will increase the amount if I need to.)

Things are going well on the fast.

Blessed be You O'Adonai, King of the Universe, and all praise and honor and glory be to You my Abba, in the Name of Your only Begotten Son the Lord Yeshua HaMaschiach, for another day of strength to fast, and that Your Son opens the eyes and the ears of our understanding to any concerns we have, as we turn to You for help.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, there is some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I fell off the fasting "wagon" yesterday, particularly but certainly not exclusively in food. The good news is that I actually feel quite encouraged to continue on with this fast! The reason is that I have been off and on feeling such joy and love today that it is kind of hard to explain. There is no doubt in my mind that the previous fasting is the reason.

I don't know if anyone else has ever noticed what I call the "delayed effect." It is like getting a surprisingly beautiful rose and/or something gratifying to feed our souls at an unexpected time from seed we had sown earlier, seed we weren't even sure would ever sprout. As the Word says, If we reap to the Spirit, we sow from the Spirit and love and joy are our greatest harvests of course. But we have to "be patient".

It does not really worry me that I am not yet experiencing continuity in this fast. This is a learning process. Already I have thought of some things to refine and change. I know the "real" 40 d & n fast will not begin until after December 25, when holiday eating with others is no longer a social issue and I can continue (again, hopefully and prayerfully!) on uninterupted.

In the meantime I give thanks for what I have been learning, so much thanks! We can live life at a much deeper and more fulfilling level, we can live in the realm of the supernatural in ways that sadly most people never even dream of. And it can seem perfectly natural, though it is supernatural, through the grace of our Heavenly Father.

Blessed me Thou O Adonai, King of the Universe, and thank You my Abba in the Name of Your only Begotten Son the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach that though we stumble Your Son keeps us from falling, and keeps cleansing us from our sins through His Blood to be made into new and glorious creatures in Him. Amen.

 

[The Smiling One]

You can do this through Christ which strengtheneth you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sick with a cold and humbly ask for prayer from any and all who read this. I will stay home tomorrow-Sunday- so I don't spread my germy germs all over the church! I hate missing church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Amethyst]

Happy Birthday Smiling One. Yes, I will certainly pray for you to get all better. Hope you are taking some fresh (pasturizing and processing kills the enzymes) oranges grapefruits or their juices.