Fasting and prayer

"I really am curious about how your fast went. I would love to hear of all the spiritual breakthroughs you experienced as a result of your fast.

A word of caution when taking advice of non-followers or people who have not attempted to do what you're trying to do. Ask followers first about whether this is possible.

I say this because I too felt by God to do a 7 day water fast. I don't think I had ever done a water fast before. When I used to be a Buddhist, I think I fasted every full moon for a couple of years. Then I was born again, I was introduced to fasting, but for a different spiritual realm. I've probably done 4 or 5 three day juice fasts, a couple 7 day juice fasts, and one 10 day fast on the Master cleanse. Anyway, one of my believing friends inadvertently discouraged me by saying he wasn't sure it was possible. I pointed out when King David fasted for his son with Bathsheeba to live, and he fasted for 7 days, but it didn't specify what kind of fast. I think however, with the exception of Daniel and his Hebrew brothers' fast, it was probably always a water fast back in the ancient days. Again, I am not sure, so don't take my word for it. (Plus they probably didn't have the access to newfangled juicers like we have today! ha ha.)

Okay, to get to my point, I felt called to go to Justice House of Prayer's Call conference in Boston for 3 nights in a row. And to speak directly to my fears, Pastor Lou Engle said, "I fasted for 40 days on water!" And as soon as I heard that, I knew it was God's call on my life for the next 7 days to drink only water. Actually, I was thinking to only water fast for 5 days total, bc I had already drank 100% grape juice and 100% apple juice on the first two days out of fear and not trusting in the Lord. So, I started on Thursday night, and I was planning on breaking my fast Thursday night, but after hearing that it was possible for FORTY days, I thought, I can do five more! Upon further internet research, one person recommended only fruits and juices 2 or 3 days leading UP to the fast. WOW! That made total sense to me! And that confirmed that I was going to try to take the plunge and take on 2 more days of water fasting and finish what I started! YEAH!

So now I feel strengthened. To finish what God asked me to do, 7 days of water fasting. 2 days of juice fasting before and after, which will give me an 11 day fast, the longest I've ever done. When I first started, God told me, "This is going to be the most powerful fast you have EVER done." Whew. How is that for confirmation. I thought that it was strange that a 7 day fast would be my most powerful. I have heard of TREMENDOUS breakthroughs when people fast for 40 days!!!! I've heard of cancer being healed, gray hair growing in completely black, miraculous stories of salvation. So, I completely believe. One of these days, I am praying for God to lead me into a 40 days. I want to experience what Jesus experienced.

On a side note, I wasn't PURPOSELY trying to lose weight, but I had thought I had gotten a little out of shape since I stopped running and swimming so much. I was 3 lbs over my desired boundary a couple of weeks ago, but by the time I started I was at my ideal weight. When I got on the scale this morning, I was STUNNED to see that I was NINE pounds lighter! Again, I want to specify that I wasn't trying to lose weight, but it certainly was nice to see that I was one pound lower than my high school weight! Of course in high school I was running track every day was solid beautiful muscle. I really want to recommend this to people who seem to have food addictions, but it's a very delicate subject.

Wow. You got me rambling! But I pray that your walk with Jesus is still strong. If you get this message in time, please pray for me. Healing of eczema, a weak back and neck, fits of temper/impatience, healing in my family (immediate and extended), ringing in my ears, athlete's foot and on a spiritual level-that I would hear God more clearly, obey him more readily, spend more time reading the Bible and that he would BLESS and anoint my ministry!!!!!!!!!!"

And that is the end of my letter. I want to encourage ALL of you to get out there and fast. There is TREMENDOUS personal, spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and intellectual breakthrough when you complete a fast, for any length of time. Obviously, 40 days is the optimal amount of time, but any length is a start. I believe as believers we are called to fast and pray REGULARLY to break off demonic influence over the lives of us and others. For example in:

The Healing of a Boy With a Demon (Matthew 17)

14) When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
15) “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
16) I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17) “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18) Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

19) Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20) He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Believe! We have the power to fast, and to heal, to rebuke devils and cast them out!!! It's not only the biblical times but NOW we are called forth to do God's will!

May God be with you.

p.s. One more thing, I had a divine appointment tonight. I was on the train coming home when I noticed the woman next to me getting really stressed out and bothered by all the noise the other passengers were making. She seemed upset so I tried to empathize with her. She started hitting her arm, so I thought, maybe I should pray for her pain. But she looked like she was getting off at the next stop, so I told God, if she gets off now, I won't pray, but if she stays on, I will pray with her. So, she got up and I said, God bless you. She said God bless you too, almost surprised. So I kept reading my bible, which I NEVER bring on the train to read, and she jumps BACK on the train to ask me where she can find a Catholic church. So she rides with me all the way to my stop and I ask her if I can pray again with her. She says no, that in her French Catholic church, it is very strict and there are a lot of rules and you can only pray at a CERTAIN HOUR! IT was so surreal and different from what I'm used to. So we talked about all the usual Catholic/Protestant differences, like how they believe the Virgin Mary is the queen of heaven. Oh boy. You can imagine. But we exchanged information and I told her I would pray pray pray for her. I also said I would try to find the best church for her. She is looking for some kind of work (bartending, etc), and I told her I would try my best to find her something. But she definitely wants to find a church that is more similar to the one she attended in France (she is part Indian (bindi)) too! Anyway, I thought it was SO cool that God would put someone into my life that way. I am praying for her to be born again and renounce any false ideology she might have. I tried to emphasize in a really loving way that Jesus died to be our way to Father God, and that Mary didn't die for us to be the intercessor to Jesus or God the Father. Hopefully something I said planted a seed and through our friendship her life will be completely changed! Please keep us in your prayers!!!!

What is strength?

"Strength is not the absence of vulnerability. Strength is knowing what your weaknesses are and working with them." - How can I get through to you (closing the intamacy gap between men and women) by Terrence Real.

this book is absolutely amazing in helping me to understand the psychology of men and patriarchal psychology.

Christians are Cheer Leaders!

Lights have a very cheering influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.

Gracious Spirit dwell with me;
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would thy life in mine reveal,
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.

From R.C. Spurgeon

When I meet negative for nasty Christians, I find that I'm usally speechless. There are times when I wanna say, "Excuse me, I believe I'll be revoking your Christian card." You meet some Christians and you actually want to discourage them from preaching the Gospel! Sometimes we just have to chuck all the theology and ideology and just work on being nice. Like the Mormons. Lol