The Road Least Taken…


Fast
January 19, 2008, 1:46 am
Filed under: Community, Faith, Family, Love, Prayer, Ramblings, Random Thoughts, Reflection | Tags: catholic, christian, Faith, fasting, God, Lord, Prayer, religion

My wife and I decided to do our fasting today.  As you might probably know, there are different kinds of fasting… of course the most common of them all and the first that comes to mind is the practice of either (1) not eating meat; or (2) abstaining from food altogether.

Jesus FastingBut what if the individual who is to fast doesn’t really eat meat?  Or probably is a vegetarian…?  Then that particular mode of fasting would be all for naught.  Fasting is a form of “self-death” and that death to self would be impossible to achieve for someone who engages in a manner of fasting that is ALREADY his/her way of life.

So, there are other ways to fast… television fast, water fast, sleep fast, and more… I’m sure you could think of other ways to sacrifice.

As for me and my wife, we decided not to eat from morning till late in the evening.  Just one single day… and that’s saying a lot about my wife since she’s one to start shaking and turning pale just a few hours past her regular mealtime.

Of course, our fasting day is laced with regular, interspersed prayer times… intimate times… private times with the Lord.  Surprisingly, my wife was able to endure 1 whole hour of prayer without her noticing it!  Praise God for that!  She was surprised herself… I am happy for her.

Months ago, I never thought I’d see her become this deep in her faith… but true enough, in God’s time, everything is made unto good.

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Fasting and Feasting
December 9, 2007, 8:19 pm
Filed under: Faith, Joy, Prayer, Ramblings, Random Thoughts, Reflection, Victory, worship | Tags: catholic, christian, fasting, God, Holy Spirit, intimate, Jesus, Lord, Love, message, praise, Prayer, Psalm, response, worship

The other day I went on a whole day fast… no food or water whatsoever.  I started my fast at around 7:00AM and ended it exactly at 12:00 Midnight.  During this day, I started out with intimate prayer which lasted around 30 minutes… just me and my Lord and a small candle lit right beside me providing me with just enough visibility to maneuver inside the prayer room.

After prayer, I went about  my chores and commitments for the day.  Though hectic, I never faltered to pray… constantly recharging my spirit and replenishing my strength through prayer and meditation… regularly feeding my spirit with words from the Bible.

The Lord spoke to me all throughout the day… I was so filled with the Holy Spirit and I could feel the Lord guiding me the entire day.  What a wonderful feeling it is to know and feel God around you, within you, loving you, touching you…

I went into deep prayer again just before I took my first my meal after fasting.  I also had friends who asked me to pray for them and their immediate concerns, so I did.  I lifted everything to the Lord… I thanked Him for all the blessings and for making me feel His presence every second.

The next day, I went straight into prayer as soon as I awoke.  I asked for the Lord’s guidance and constant anointing.  I asked for a message and opened my Bible.  As soon as I opened my book, my eyes led me to Psalms 91:9-16, which reads:

You have the LORD for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.

No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.

For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.

With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.

Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.

All who call upon me I will answer;I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor.

With length of days I will satisfy them and show them my saving power.

- Psalms 91:9-16

This has been the Lord’s message to me as soon as I got up the morning after my fast.  Praise God!

I have now made a decision to fast regularly.  To commit 2 days every week to fasting and sacrifice.  Because through fasting… I am actually feasting on the Lord’s words and though my stomach is empty, my spirit is filled.

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