A Forced Fast

This past week we caught a BAD virus, no not the computer kind, the stomach wrenching, vomiting, chills kind of virus.


My poor baby boy caught it first - I was up all night with him. We caught winks of rest between bouts and sat in the rocker most of the night.

My Pooh Bear

Then it was my turn... so thankful for my mother-in-law who took my 2 year-old for a few hours so I could rest when my baby did. By 3pm I was feeling a bit better, so I went to check on my sleeping girl who had had a great time with her Mimi. As I adjusted her fan she sat up quickly and her lunch landed on the wall and her blanket. Goodness!


We were dropping like flies! (where did that expression come from?) My girl braved through the evening and her tummy finally settled around 9pm, just in time to fall asleep... or not. She broke out in a rash that would come and go all over her body. She tossed and turned all night. And then Daddy got the tail end of it all the next day. I have never seen a grown man balled up in a bed like that before... his toes curled in pain.


Oh, and my sweet MIL (and Pops) caught it too... probably from being a blessing to us all.


All that to say this... I haven't gone without food or some sort of physical nourishment for more than a meal time in a few years. Since being pregnant and breastfeeding my sweet babies there was never a good time for a fast. In my single years, especially at Bible School, I fasted often. This time was devoted to seeking God's heart, praying for breakthrough, focusing on the Lord and limiting distractions. Seems to many that a hungry stomach, growling for food would be a HUGE distraction, but I quickly found that as I said "no" to feeding my physical body and focused on strengthening my spiritual man I didn't need food like I thought I would.


But let me tell you... being on a forced fast, while breastfeeding and sick, drained me.

If I stood to quickly my world spun and got dark. My hands shook, my head pounded, but I knew my stomach wasn't ready for food yet.

When it was time to finally eat something, I started with a bland cracker. Later on I had a piece of toast with peanut butter - for that protein my body needed. That did the trick and I began feeling strengthened!

IF OUR PHYSICAL BODIES RELY ON PHYSICAL FOOD SO MUCH, DOESN'T OUR SPIRIT MAN REQUIRE THE SAME CONSISTANT NOURISHMENT, YET FROM

SPIRITUAL FOOD?

I realized once again this week that my personal need for food is so important and I don't function well without the right amount of nourishment at the right time. MORE SO, I absolutely need to filter what I take into my spirit man and I need to drink deeply and chew on the WORD of God daily for spiritual strength and health!

Here's an invitation just for you...

If you want to be encouraged and blessed as you seek God and feast on His Word this fall, here's a Bible study for you. It's online and it's simple.

It officially began today, but you can join in anytime!

Read more about this opportunity at Good Morning Girls. And if you want to connect with our GMG group on Facebook, let me know!

I pray that whether or not you choose to join this Bible study at this time, that you choose to read the Word. Seek God and you WILL find Him. He alone satisfies. He is the Living Water and our Living Hope! (my Mom has always told me so, and now I'm finding out for myself that it's true!)

May we all grow more hungry for God... that nothing else satisfies.

God bless your week,

Let me leave you with this song... it draws my heart to hunger after God like no other song.