21 days of prayer and fasting

Have you ever heard of such an experience from anybody like this one? Fasted for 21 days but did not even lose a single pound? I know some who even gained weight while in the process but not like this one, quite an unusual story really.

A different way of fasting

Let's make things clear first.. For you, when we say fasting.. What does it mean to you? what do you do when you do it? And more importantly, why do you do it? We have these misconceptions that fasting is solely cutting or abstaining from food and/or drinks intake, especially the ones we like but it is not.  We also have those notions that fasting is often observed when one wants to lose weight, which should not be the main purpose either. So, when was the last time you fasted? Or for those who haven't tried fasting yet, are you curious about what happens during the process? Join me here as I share with you my experiences of going through it. 

disclaimer: All is based on my personal experience as there are other better practices of course. The most important thing here is that you are doing this for the right reasons and that should be enough to cover everything else. 

And so our local church here, as part of a bigger organization, was tasked to participate in the "21 days of prayer and fasting" activity. As it was coursed to the congregation the usual way implementation happens, validation can only be done through your conscience. Though our church already got some stable "care circle" groups to do it for some and recommended a buddy-buddy system for others, you cannot really expect everyone to have those unlike the OSL program since it is a school type of teaching, checking things are easier. However, self-initiated things can be considered a double-edged sword in terms of how you see it; It may prevent a big part of the population from doing things like this but on the other side of it, it filters that number in terms of quality.

Taking notes really helps summarize points

There were guidelines given on what to pray for during those specific times you'll allot for it and to be honest, I was unsure if I will be participating from the start. We were also advised that fasting is not limited to food (since some people can do it easily) but to what is getting most of your time currently excluding work. Well, since I got my own time and I am mostly working the whole day, social media included, I scheduled my fasting from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily. From March 16 - April 5, 2019, during those times I must not work nor engage in any form of social media. Why that? Because personally, it is a sacrifice for me. I think I will be having a hard time doing it. For some, it may just be a minor thing to do, but again we have our own situations happening and the only one who can truthfully say that that thing is a sacrifice for you is yourself.

As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, I usually do not commit to things I know that I cannot do great or if I know I have a high chance of failing. I also have a hard time stopping doing things I like especially when a lot of ideas are popping into my mind - I often want to do them as soon as possible. Crazy, right?! So as I go through prayer and fasting, I was doing a great job on the first days.. Everything was on time and my limitations to myself were met. I thought I can do it perfectly until the last day halfway through but I did not. I'll list the important points down here for easier reference:

1. I did not know why I started reading from the book of Luke (where most Parables are) since I was not following any reading system at that time. I was questioning God "Why here? I have read this before and have known a lot of stories from my father since I was a child until now at church as a sermon of our pastors". But may this one serves as a testimony that God speaks to you personally when you read it personally. Plus, you'll learn small details of some stories that might not matter to others but may matter to you.

2. We usually talk to God more often.. Not Him talking to us. This is a great time of letting Him talk to us more than us talking to Him. This may sound so simple, but this I think is one of the most taken-for-granted things we are doing right now.

3. Revelation on things, whether it was from the past, present or the future is just so interesting. This justifies that His words are true and are always timely. You can get here not only explanations of the past, and reasons for the current but also tips for the future. ("The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advise." Proverbs 12:15 ESV

4. I usually judge people back in the old testament times when they even walked with Jesus but still some of them did not believe him. I mean, how could they? But it somehow goes back to me, finding myself testing God also seldom-ly at times (Now how could me?! Haha!) impulsively. He always-always finds a way (miraculously) to make sure His presence is felt. So guys, even though at times we may not feel His presence but I would like to make sure that He is real and He is here with us without a doubt.

5. There was a day that I forgot to read the reading for the day due to a lot of things getting my attention at that time. I was at a point where I already marked, the reading in the bible, I opened my notebook to write down notes and even positioned myself on starting.. But unexplainably somehow I still manage to skip it unnoticed until the day after. I cannot believe it either. Again, as a perfectionist, I easily lose my groove when my routine is destroyed like that. But you know what? The reading of that day is just the perfect message for that time. Stating that in the end, we are all equal and what matters most is the intention behind that "offering or act" not considering if it was perfect or how much it's worth. AWED.

The last parable I read during this time - "The Widow's Offering"

So to answer the first three questions above, what do prayer and fasting mean to you? What do you do when you do it? And more importantly, why do you do it? I hope this blog post gave you an idea of what it meant for me. I cannot personally answer that for you as you have to answer it for yourself.

But there is one thing I am sure that we all need to have and that is faith in our Lord Savior, Jesus Christ. That He will fulfill all His promises when the time comes and that He first loved us even though we are not worthy of it. That no amount of good deeds can save us since they are merely a product of the overflowing love He continually gives us. That He solely is enough and everything follows when we follow Him. And that He is our only way, our only truth, our only life. God bless everyone and to all of Him be all the glory.