I woke up this morning hearing of all the fires and destruction in Los Angeles. I spent my childhood in SoCal and remember all the areas that are burning. It breaks my heart. So many people affected and lives changed in a day. God, be with each and everyone who has lost their home, lost a family member and then the hundreds, if not thousands, of firefighters working tirelessly. May God calm the winds, bring water to this region and protect each and every soul.

So what is Fasting? It is said that when we fast, we are partnering with God. There are specific times in our life when God asks us to take physical steps to receive spiritual blessings. There is a connection between what we do physically and what the Lord releases spiritually.

I am beginning to believe that perhaps one of the most powerful physical actions as a Christian that I can do, is to show God how sincere I am about wanting change and seeing change in others! That’s a mouthful. But I will continue to seek a divine appointment with God, and fasting is my conduit to relying on him for my most basic needs. My appetite and my thirst is satisfied by the word of God.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭

Tuesday is Cafe day. Oh how I love volunteering at Bayside Cafe, hanging out with my partner Natalya and serving all the people that walk through our doors. What I missed this morning was Natalya making me the most perfect Cappuccino with a heart or leaf on top of the cup. Oh goodness, it’s hard volunteering in a Cafe and not drinking coffee! It’s only for a bit of time, and I’ll be drinking some fancy breve latte before you can say espresso!

I’m finding that my food limitations are not so difficult. I love fruits and vegetables, brown rice, nuts and seeds. So today I had an array of vegetables with my polenta, salad with avocado and rice with mushrooms and squash. The Daniel Fast is based after the foods that Daniel ate during his fast, while preparing for the Kings Court. After eating nothing but the above and drinking only water, Daniel was the choice servant for King Nebuchadnezzar of Judah. I am praying that by choosing the foods that served Daniel so well, my body will be healed. My blood pressure will decrease and my cholesterol will drop to a level that will make both me & my Doctor happy.

So Lord, I will do my part. If you can help by granting me favor, then I will serve you for many years to come. This one life on earth is such a fleeting moment, yet we can make the most out of each breath by being the best version of ourselves. That is what I plan to do for as long as the good Lord allows.

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way… Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭

Wow, we have a lot of birthdays in January! My grandson Quin turned nine and we celebrated his birth today. Ugh, Sushi, Sashimi and Ice Cream Cake. All my favorite things. But the difference was my appetite was under control and I had the best spicy edamame ever. Add a little daikon radish and some ginger, presto, that was dinner.

Honestly, I had a great talk with God this morning. I am grappling with an unnamed person who I constantly pray over. I’ve prayed for him for years without a breakthrough and I’m feeling like this may be the end of the story. But God is so good and He just knows me better than I know myself. He sent me a friend today, all the way from Tennessee, to share a story about her grandson’s dad. She also has been praying forever and a day. After years of unanswered prayers, her young grandson invites his Daddy to church. Little Roman shares with his Grandma that he watched as his father cries in church and accepts Christ as his personal savior. So I’m thinking that God wants me to keep praying, knowing that He keeps listening. And in time, my prayer will be fulfilled.

The toughest part of today was walking in front of a deli that was frying up bacon. Really? Bacon is hard to resist! The smell is literally amazing, salty and crispy and I just had to run, as fast as possible. Another attempt diverted and temptation squelched, I feel that the Lord is smiling at me. I see you my dear child and I hear your prayers. All is well with you and your soul.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬

Today is the day. There are so many reasons to fast, but the most convincing is that the Bible says so. There are three things that are reiterated in the New Testament which include: Tithe, Pray and Fast. That’s it. Pretty simple instructions for Christians. However, this is where it comes to your personal walk with the Lord. I sensed an overwhelming desire that I was suppose to fast, and that is why I’m here.

During the past couple of months, I’ve devoured books and read scripture that has brought me to this point. So what is fasting, and why should I bite? Fasting is a connection between you and God. This is where it gets tricky. Some people may think of fasting as giving up chocolate or Facebook, but that is far from a spiritual fast. After countless hours of meditation, I have come to the conclusion that God has asked me to dive in deeper. To truly spend time with Him and to place Jesus as my number one priority.

For people who know me, I’m one who typically bites off more than I can chew. I am extremely self-reliant which is not something to be proud of. In reality, I cannot do much of anything without the sweet Lord helping me. This year my goal is to truly sense the spirit and to follow his lead. To make way for his subtle direction and to depend on his ways, not mine!

Today also happens to be my incredible husband’s birthday. We have invited our immediate family to celebrate all things George. I have been in the kitchen for the past two days making an array of dishes from Italy. Manicotti, Lasagna, Polenta, Garlic Bread and Italian Squash. This will be my first temptation that comes with fasting. So, with Gods help and sheer determination, I will be happy to serve my family all of George’s favorite foods, without hesitations, or licking a spoon!

After all, there will be plenty of time to celebrate, but right now, my biggest goal is getting through Day One. And I did. So 39 more days of walking with the Lord, hearing his voice and relying on his strength. Honestly, this is a lifelong commitment to walk with God, but fasting is an added challenge. Here’s to fasting and tasting the fruits of his grace, love and mercy. And along the way to have an abundance of joy in my heart!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭

I have been praying for this day for a very long time. God willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll be starting my 40 Days of Fasting Sunday, January 5th. It’s been a priority of mine and prompted by much thought and prayer. So without further ado, tomorrow changes everything!

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭

I’ve been reading several books on fasting during the past month. “The Daniel Fast” written by Kristen Feola was of particular interest to me. She outlines who, what and why we fast along with a step by step preparation of how to approach a fast, both spiritually and physically. I like this as I am a planner and could use some divine intervention to get this ball rolling.

So what is my primary motivation for fasting? For me, I always desire to grow more intimate with the Lord. In my life right now, I need to depend and rely on Him more than ever. Just taking care of myself is a full time job but add to that, my 88 year old father Jerry. This has brought a new element to my caregiver status. I truly believe that God has gifted me with this ability. I have cared for my Mother throughout retirement, along with my dear friend Pam, who passed two years ago, from Muscular Dystrophy. So needless to say, this is not my first rodeo. But it is a full time dance, one that has many moving parts including my husband, who does not know that he too, is gifted in this department.

Secondly, my heart health is not cooperating. My Doc is ready to put me on Statins! I’m just not ready for that and feel the Lord has a better plan for my future. The Daniel Fast is a heart-healthy way of eating, including vegetables and fruit, grains, nuts and seeds as the mainstay. Fasting is definitely His idea, and I’m ready to jump in!

Thirdly, my daughter Cherisa has been extremely stressed out with an ongoing court battle regarding her son, who is my youngest grandson, Quintin. When the Lord first put this fast on my heart, He kept emphasizing 40 days. Wow God, that’s a lot of fasting. I’ve never even committed to one full day of fasting, let alone forty! But when I did the math and counted the days, the 40th day landed on my daughter’s Court Date, February 14th. I believe this was a heavenly sign and I need to be obedient to what God is saying. Wonderful blessings are surely to overflow with my faithfulness, and the Lord’s promises. Knowing He has the wheel, I have nothing to lose, but maybe a few pounds, lower cholesterol levels and a healthier heart.

Just to be clear, one of the most significant aspects of fasting is to be in the Word of God daily. When you begin this process, it is best to carve out time and have a specific goal in mind for reading. Whether you pick a Book in the Bible to read and meditate on, or follow a devotional and dive into the corresponding scriptures, this is truly the essence of fasting. A great starting place is the Book of Daniel as the Daniel Fast is what most Christians follow. Whatever you choose, know that each day you are in the word, is food for your heart and soul. Wholeheartedly, the Lord will fill you tenfold with His nourishment, as you walk through this holy communion, and dedicate your time to Jesus.

So that’s my starting point. If you desire to join me in this Spiritual Fast, the start date is January 5th, 2025. Yes, I know that is my husband George’s birthday. Many churches, along with hundreds of thousands of believers start each New Year with Fasting. The traditional kickstart is the first Sunday of the New Year, and that-so happens to fall on my loving husband’s birthday. No, he has no intentions of fasting, as He is already a Saint and has a major addiction to caffeine. But this girl has much room for improvement, many sins to repent, and desires the Lord so desperately, that I couldn’t imagine not fasting.

Below you will find the words that God spoke over His chosen people while they fasted, but with all the wrong intentions. The desire to fast must be inline with God’s ways and glorifying His character. Fasting has been recorded in the Bible from the beginning of time. Moses fasted for 40 days before he received the Ten Commandments. Jehoshaphat declared a fasting period for all of Judah when he heard word that their enemies were planning an attack. Ezra fasted and prayed for a safe journey when the Israelites made their nine-hundred mile trek to Jerusalem. Queen Esther, Nehemiah and Anna all fasted and prayed in scripture. And most of us are well aware that Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights before He embarked in his ministry. Fasting is not commanded in the Bible, however it is an opportunity to receive all of God’s best in our lives!

True Biblical Fasting: “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭1‬-‭14‬ ‭