Daniel did it for a life time. What did he eat? Why was it so healthy? How hard is it to do?
These are some of the questions we had before we embarked on a 21 day fast last year. First there are the list of things you cannot eat or drink. Tops on the list was coffee, tea and sugar. Yikes. It goes on – no dairy, no meat, no bread, no grains except corn and rice, no alcoholic beverages, NO FUN! But then there was the list we could eat. All fruits and vegetables and as many of them as you want. No limit! That put the e in fast and made it feast.
Because corn tortillas were on the ‘yes list’, refried beans on a corn tortilla with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, avocado, peppers and cucumbers became a wonderful treat. Steamed mixed vegetables over brown rice was another. Hot water with lemon became an early morning drink that saved our body’s demand for coffee a little. After the first week it was better and by the third week it was enjoyable.
The benefits were worth the first week ‘s stress of no caffeine and no sugar. (We became very aware how addicted we were to those two things. )
1. One of the best benefits was the feeling that we really were in control of what our physical bodies demanded. And that those demands became less and less as time went on. We even considered giving up coffee altogether after the fast. This became not only a physical benefit but a mental benefit.
2. Another physical benefit was how our bodies reacted to this wonderful good food diet. There was a sense of, well being, that was a surprise. Our bodies seemed to function better with more energy. Our palates were clear, food tasted better, fruit tasted so sweet and satisfied our sweet tooth as never before.
3. Weight loss came easily and without notice. The determination to fast for spiritual reasons so profoundly overshadowed the sense of being deprived, that weight loss became a side benefit.
4. The spiritual benefits included a clear mind to hear and listen to God’s voice. Thankfulness was more real and personal for every thing. Small things became more important. Our obedience to the diet transferred to, and birthed an obedience to God and His Word. Prayer was more intense and felt more like a two sided than one sided conversation. Most of the spiritual benefits did not go away after the fast. It inaugurated a determination to change some things in our lives. Months later the changes keep coming and it is easier to address and adapt to these changes. Change is difficult and the subject of future blogs.