Advent Daniel Fast - Day 15

Thank you, fellow fasters, for your amazing, thoughtful and spirit-filled reflections to the question I posted Friday. Your responses were wonderful meditations for us as we moved through an undoubtedly busy weekend, where your resolve toward the fast may have been tested!

We have such a variety in our fast group this year - several first timers all the way to several who are making their fourth fast journey. No matter how many times you have done the fast, each one will be different. Each time we fast, we are different people with different stressors and needs. God works differently during each experience. 

This is my fourth time and it's completely different from the ones before. My first fast was such a spiritual high - I felt connected to God each and every day in deep ways. The second time, I was more relaxed through the process and was able to see God moving beyond me and through the group. The third time, honestly, I was going through the motions. Nothing seemed to connect or click, until the fast ended. I faced a challenge at the end of the fast that I believe the previous three weeks had prepared me for emotionally and spiritually. This time, I have a great sense of joy as we fast together. I'm excited to see how and where the Spirit has been at work and have not seen the deprivations as a burden but as a shared challenge. I don't feel alone in this fast. 

As we enter this final week, I invite you to increase your time spent in prayer and reading scripture, even if it's just by five minutes a day. God is blessing us in our journey, and for that we can be thankful!