Daniel Fast Day 1 :: Food

by - January 08, 2012



I have food issues.

I brought them home from the hospital with my third child. Eating became a cheap past-time for this grown woman who had been brought to her knees by the responsibility demanded of a newborn plus a one-year-old plus a three-year-old. My schedule, my priorities, my activities, my preferences, and my sense of control had acquiesced to three little creatures that were consumers, not producers, on a different food chain. I became the producer by default, and consumed food to compensate.

Eating became the balm and my consolation.

Now my kids are sixteen, thirteen, and twelve; and I am thirty pounds heavier and "tired-er." My food issues have expanded their territory by three dress sizes, and I am no longer in need of balm or consolation.

What does this have to do with the Daniel Fast at CWO Church that starts today? It has to do with confession, a common first stage in prayer and fasting. It also has to do with accountability for me and, hopefully, encouragement for you. I have a hunch I'm not the only American who brought home a little extra balm and consolation one unsuspecting day, and has done battle with over-eating and/or emotional eating off and on ever since.

The first time we fasted in the fashion of Daniel as a church body, I was breastfeeding, so I participated creatively by fasting an hour of sleep each morning for quiet, uninterrupted bible study and prayer.

Even though we've done corporate Daniel fasting many times as a church body, I've never done it perfectly, without cheating; and this time, I'm not even striving for perfection. In fact, I'm doing a pseudo-Daniel Fast--not because I'm pregnant or breast-feeding this time, but because God is prompting me to take on this monster issue in my life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Winning this battle is going to take longer than 21 days, and will involve more than fruits and veggies. It's going to take total dependence, surrender, spiritual warfare, and gaining back some control I ceded to my rug-rats over a decade ago.

It's time to kick the habit.

I've never had to do that before: quit. Not smoking, gambling, biting my nails or sucking my thumb. I've never had to break a bad habit until now.

It's not going to be easy. I have food issues and a gargantuan fear of failure. But I also have the Holy Spirit to empower me and a desire to please God, a gargantuan one.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31


This post is shared in community with Michelle and Laura.

 





You May Also Like

12 comments

  1. "With God..." I was surprised to see this today. My daughter has asked me to do the Daniel Fast with her. I think it might be a good way to kick off my 2012 word: Healthy. Daniel sure saw amazing results. I'll look forward to reading of your journey.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great, Pamela, I'd love to have you along. I'm looking forward to this journey and dreading it all at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, how the Spirit loves us. We don't surrender to empty energy or some cosmic Creator. We surrender into arms -- the most loving, strengthening arms. May God bless this embrace.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good morning, Pamela, I will be praying for you through this. I have yet to do the fast but recently read the book, and I am praying over creating my own modified version (due to allergies). I share your struggles and I know the Holy Spirit will empower you as you pray through this. Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Matthew, how patient and loving is our God. His open arms are a wonder.

    Lori, I will be modifying the fast as well, not for dietary reasons, but because of what the Lord is doing in my spirit right now. More on that to come in days ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am struggling in this area too, Dawn. I've been trying to make little changes, but your words are speaking to me today. Perhaps something more is required. Thank you for speaking the hard stuff. And now, let's see what happens.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much for your authenticity; I look forward to reading along with you on this journey! You have encouraged me!

    Matthew, wow your comment ... wow ... would you mind if I quote you? I want to encourage a friend (not about food) and that quote is exactly what I think she needs to hear!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a wonderful and authentic post. I did an elimination diet last fall to figure out if I have a food allergy. It amazed me how spiritual the experience became when I realized how much I depend on food. I learned I'm allergic to dairy, yes, but I learned so much more really. Still a process--but a helpful one. Blessings on your journey.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I will write your name down on my current Bible Study so I can remember to pray about this for you! I need motivation in this area too. Maybe I just need obedience (this I say after I have just grabbed a sugar filled/caffienated coke in my hand to guzzle down! UGH!) You are right it is a habit ...and God does not want anything to control us but His Holy Spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You can do this, Dawn -- the power of the Holy Spirit is working in you, guiding you, leading you, holding your hand.

    I admit, I have never heard of the Daniel Fast until I came here today. I am intrigued.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I came here through your 2nd day post and wanted to come back to see what this was all about. As a recovering food addict, I hear your heart and I pray for strength for you, but even more so, for a heart that remains open. When I started my own journey, the food issue quickly became a heart issue -- there were many old hurts that I was trying to feed.

    Grace and peace to you -- you are an overcomer!

    ReplyDelete
  12. How awesome is this to find in my inbox today? My husband and I also did the Daniel Fast(our first time) with our church in Jan 2012. I decided to do it again, starting today. I blogged my way through it in January, but have other things in my writing circle right now...reading your notes from each day will be PERFECT! Thank you and thank GOD! -cyn-

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.