#40at30

I haven't blogged since last January...wow!

Yesterday I embarked on a journey that will be completed only by the Grace and Power of God. A 40-day, water-only consecration. I always thought about what the outcome of a fast of this type would be, but never desired to actually submit myself to one. However, when the Holy Spirit prompts, I take heed. So begins this journey. I will write each day for anyone who is listening (reading), and as a reminder to myself of how gruesomely awesome this journey was. I'm hashtagging it - #40at30

Day 1 - January 6th, 2013

I began writing last night and realized that I didn't have much to say. Because I decided today to blog my experience I am adding this post a day late. Here goes:

I've never done this before. Never fully surrendered every part of me to The Lord (including my appetite), but I know it's necessary. God has been faithful to me. I haven't always been faithful to Him, yet He still takes care of me. God makes sure that I have more than enough. My wife prayed over me tonight. That pretty much melted me. She took time to pray with, for and over me. I have a special woman. She is a TRUE gift from The Lord.

Today I'm on Joshua 3:7 - And The Lord said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you."

I hear this from The Lord today in my own ears. I know that this journey won't be easy, but because God has spoken this to me I can push on. Push harder. Push further. Push until He tells me to rest.

Day 2 - January 7th, 2013

Today was a good day. I'm pretty excited about what's to come over the next few weeks! Today I talked to Greg for a little while about his 40-day fast. It was so encouraging and he spoke so much insight into my life and this journey. Greg is great guy and (I can already tell) a greater friend. I am grateful to be connected to him, and look forward to getting closer as we work together and walk alongside each other. His talk really caused me to look at this fast differently. Thankful for that. It felt good to have Pastor Jaime text me and ask how I was earlier as well. Not sure where I'd be without that man.

This morning started with a slight headache which I am attributing to caffeine deficiency. I drink entirely too much coffee (if there is even such a thing), and I felt my body telling me that it was confused without the coffee today. The smell of coffee was a challenge today. I wanted it so bad. Yikes! My appetite for food hasn't been huge, but I think my jaw and mouth muscles just desire to chew. I ate a couple of mints tonight because I was going to the hospital to see Rob and Britt's new daughter, Maya. My breath was horrible today, or so I felt. My mouth tasted gross. My stomach is making weird sounds and I'm feeling hungrier than I've felt in a long while. It's a good feeling because I know that this fast is full of purpose and promise. I can deal with the discomfort.

Joshua 3:1 - The Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.

This is a theme mentioned many times in Scripture...rising up early. I feel that this is something that I should take heed of now. I don't mind mornings, in fact, I'm more of a morning person and if I sleep in (or even nap) I feel as though I've missed my entire day. For some reason I've been absolutely lusting over sleep even to the point that I plan out the nights I want to sleep for 10 hours or more. It's kind of absurd. I don't mind getting up early and going into work so why mind giving God the time prior to that? Surely doesn't make sense, but definitely how I've been acting. So, tomorrow I am going to try and get up an hour earlier than I presently do and spend some quiet time with The Lord and pray. There's something about the "lodged there before they crossed over." that I haven't gotten clarity on, but I'll be praying about it tonight. 

I usually create a list of all of the things and people I'm praying for during the fast, but haven't done so yet this time around. I'll work on that tomorrow. I will also start logging weight loss at every week mark (7th day), and posting a pic of myself just so I can have an archive of how my physical man changed as I am writing of the transformation of my spiritual man.