Today is certainly going much more smoothly than last week in regards to my fasting. A week ago Wednesday was a difficult fast...
It began by exposing my self-centeredness. As i was dishing up my breakfast -the final meal before my 24-hr fast- I found myself thinking, "I should load it on, really make a BIG breakfast so I can get through the day." Almost as quickly as the thought arrived, I realized how I was trying to manipulate my fast. Here I am one my second day of fasting and I am trying to figure out how to make it easier... Before my fast even began my selfishness and manipulating was exposed. It does not feel good being exposed. thankfully God was gentle with me.
The day progressed and sometime mid-afternoon I began to feel my head pound. It wasn't a migraine or anything that bad but it was there constantly. For a while every pound seemed to shout, "A little food would take care of this Bill. Go ahead, you don't feel well. Surely that would be ok?"
I did drink extra water and fruit juice to make sure I was hydrated. It didn't stop until I went to sleep... I never did figure out what caused my headache, maybe it was just a touch by God reminding me I was sacrificing something?
I did find myself wondering at times how people do it who are undernourished or who do not have access to enough clean drinking water? Certainly they experience headaches and other maladies, and they are not going to each 3 square meals the next day!
Keep teaching me, Lord.
