I want to thank all of you who posted comments that you would be joining in the fast for Cindy. I am 100% confident that your comments, being read by others, moved on their hearts. There is something about someone saying, “Although I have never fasted before, sign me up, I’m going to do it” that makes others say, “Well, if they’re going to do it, maybe I should too?!” Call it peer pressure or the power of persuasion, it works! And so many of you, my sweet bloggy friends did it!! You decided to ‘take the plunge’ and fast – and for that (through tears) I say “Yippee Jesus!”
Now I would challenge you to make it a regular discipline. We have fasted for all kinds of needs (houses to sell, rebellious kids hearts to change, healing, financial provisions, people to come to know Christ, our church, friends, or just to grow closer to the Lord).
Dw and I started our day yesterday on our knees praying together. The Lord had directed me to some scripture in the night and so I read that with him too. We so desperately want to see Cindy healed.
Friends, fasting is a time of drawing close. It is a time of focus. It is a time we are submitting to the Lordship of Christ and asking Him to move mountains, but regardless we acknowledge that He is God. When I have fasted I have seen God do amazing things. I have also had times where it has not happened like I begged/prayed/wanted. We do not give up!
When I/we fast we are saying, “Please Lord, from our vantage point, please move this way. But ultimately, you are our loving Father and you hold all things in your hands.”
Yesterday’s fast was one of the most difficult I, personally, have ever done. On a physical level the babies have diarrhea. It showed up yesterday. I know you know what I’m talking about, but diapers and diarrhea don’t really go in the same sentence. Or maybe we just have cheap-o diapers. But I spent my day washing bumper pads, sheets, more sheets, quilts, changing clothes, and cleaning it off floors.
On a spiritual level the enemy brought up something I used to wrestle with when I was just a young girl. He comes to torment, no doubt. By evening I was weary from doing battle all day. I fell asleep on the couch by 7 and only woke up enough to go to our bed. It was weird. I usually only fall asleep like that when I am sick.
For others of you your day yesterday was awesome – a spiritual high. I am so thrilled for you! My point is that whether you have a spiritually intense day fasting or a day of euphoria, persevere! Each fast you do will be different and whether difficult or easy – – fasting will change your life! God will work in your heart. He will reveal himself. He will speak and yes, He will move.
PS I am going to work on the post about “the box” that we received and what special treasure was inside!! Be back later!! xo
Thanks Linn for sharing your day yesterday.
I struggled myself yesterday it was a really hard day and I was so discouraged but I kept saying I will praise the Lord no matter the storm. In the end the Lord showed me things that I am still trying to decipher and pick through :). Thanks for giving us an opportunity to do something for a sister in Christ.
In Jesus,
Lori
What an absolutely amazing experience. I have never fasted before. I managed to fast until the afternoon and then my sugar level changed and I felt really bad…so with a little food I continued throughout the day.
I experienced things I never experienced before, but writing in a comment box would take too long.
I have been reading The Helper by Catharine Marshall…it has changed the way I view the Holy Spirit…and using this book along with the bible, it made my Fast even more special, exciting, exhilerating.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of this time. We will continue to pray for healing for DW, Cindy and Autumn. God be praised.
I just want to say….I never thought I would fast. Never saw the true power of it. Have read about it a lot in scripture…..but now I understand! Thank you for the challenge, for the invite, for opening my eyes to more that God has for us/me. I love blog friends who challenge me! Thank God! Continuing to pray…and will continue to fast more regularly!
Yesterday was spiritually intense, and I only fasted breakfast, but an amazing day none the less.
Now to him who is able to do…
i was honored to fast and pray for cindy, and for stellan, and for abby. it turned into a busy day!
i found that i was more focused on God's sovereignty and His will than my desires. i felt very small and humbled by the activity.
thanks for drumming up the support for cindy. even though i'm finished fasting, i'm not done praying!
Hi. Fasting was harder than I thought. My first fast… I read up on it, but still felt so disconnected. First thing in the morning I got some major setback news on my adoption and it just through my mood for the day. 🙁 I did pray, it seemed so hard to focus. I did pray for Cindy. I ended up just fasting breakfast and lunch….
I had several friends, about 6 or 7, fast for Cindy as well, who did not post on your blog.
Again, I just want to say "Thank you, Linny" for organizing this fast and giving guidance and direction for those who have never done it before. It was such a blessing to read the comments and see how many '1st timers' were joining us!…how how happy I know that made our Lord!! 🙂 It was a bit more of a difficult and unusual fast for me yesterday, too. But I held fast to Him and perservered… though there were moments where I felt like throwing in the towel, I didn't let the enemy get to me, and leaned on God for strength to carry me through on behalf of Cindy and the needs of others He placed on my heart to pray for. Some of whose needs I wrote down from your comment list about Cindy's fast. It's an honor to be able to lift up others in prayer, as this world is SO full of need…and needs that can only be filled by our Lord. But thanks again for organizing this and being a "teacher" for so many…I know you will have rewards in heaven for this leadership!! <><
Blessings and Hugs,
~Tanya
Acorns & Cherry Blossoms
I have to tell you something that happened yesterday. First of all I woke up exhausted and I am a morning person. I could not wake up until 8:30 and I am up at 6 every morning. Chris even called later to see if I was OK.
Anyway I was frustrated because I missed my quiet God time. I found some quiet time later and I was going to do what you said about pray about looking up scripture that would fit the day. I first wanted to do my regular daily reading and do you know the scripture was about healing. Isn't that awesome?
Well I guess we were troubled by the same bad spirit…When I was trying to concentrate and pray last evening, it was one thing after another, Pinched my finger, cut this finger, someone hit me, then in the middle of the night a very LOUD thundercrack, got my heart pounding…then about 1:30 AM Faith started crying and she threw up and did every hour or more till 10AM this morning. Wonder how this compares to everyone else's fast day.
BTW DH joined for the last part of the day. :^)
I feel so awful. I promised to fast on Monday and was so looking forward to it and seeing what God did in your friends life.
However, when that day came…I was attacked (spiritual warfare) from all sides, that I concentrated more on fighting the battles and puting out fires, then I did on the fasting.
I am so sorry, but please know that I am praying for your friend and will attempt to fast again.
God Bless!
Ck
I'm sorry you had a rough day. You were the one who got this ball rolling and satan doesn't like that kind of thing. I guess you could count it a privilege to tork him off enough that he feels the need to make you sweat a little! I didn't have much quiet time but I did send up an extra prayer everytime I had a hunger pang! Can't wait to see what the Lord does now and down the road! Sheri
In fasting, yesterday I grew weary and tired. Just when all I was thinking about was trying not to eat, I began to think of Cindy and her trials and pray for her healing and the healing of others who are so desperately ill. A song came on the radio – "I Will Rise" -and my hunger pains went away. It was a joy to have others as the center of my thoughts and prayers! Thank you for the opportunity to join you in fasting and praying. I pray that your two littles ones recover quickly and no other household members catch whatever it was that they had.
It was a struggle here too. It started on Sun. (the enemy knew Monday was fast day) and didn't end until the evening last night. However I firmly believe there was a breakthrough in many areas. Can't wait to hear what God has done!!
I sent you an e-mail. Hugs and love
Add one more comment on our fast day, last evening, my daughter still recovering from whatever she has and Cindy still on my mind, we had a thunderstorm and a heavy rain followed by sun through the drops…and we had our rainbow, one just for us in our back yard, you see our house is surrounded by trees and we normally have to run out the driveway to look for our rainbows, but last evening God put it in our yard! Rainbows hold a special meaning for our family…the summer that Faith was born in China, we had many rainbows here in US and most of them were in June and July, when she would have been an tiny baby.
i haven't had internet access, so am just coming back to thank you for organizing this movement. i read up on the fasting, prayed about it and loved doing it. i, too, was so.very.tired. my sweet little girls played so nicely while a took a (eye-half-open) rest on the couch in the afternoon. i am truly honored to have fasted for cindy and stellan and i look forward to continuing to grow in this spiritual discipline.