What a BUSY day. I had to move my desk at work to a different building. And set everything up again. On top of that, there was lots of work. And meetings.
Overall, today was not a great day of progress... feels like one step forward, two steps back... but I'm still getting down and praying. Not as long as I should. Not as fervently... but I have to do it regardless. I have to make this a positive habit, regardless of if I feel I have failed or whether I feel victorious.
On another note, I've been contemplating something:
At the end of the fast, should I announce that I have completed it?
Your initial answer may well be "no", because it's supposed to be a secret. I could understand that it's something between God and I, but the Bible seems to indicate that it shouldn't be talked about WHILE you're going through it, to gain sympathy... you don't often gain sympathy "after the fact".
The question you might ask is, "Why? Why should I? What is the benefit of doing so?" That's simple enough... to inspire others to do so. I will almost guarantee you that there are precious few Christians that are willing or that think they are able to do something like this. There are probably less than 1 in 200 that even have considered it a possibility, much less done so. A 40-day fast is usually chalked up as something only for spiritual superhumans like Elijah, Moses, and Jesus (the only three in the Bible we have record of doing so). Even then, I've heard many ministers people speak of these as supernatural fasts, that they wouldn't be possible. Granted, since I'm not in the wilderness praying, I'm working and drumming, picking up my kids and shopping for groceries, I'm expending more energy and I'll need my system to not be completely shocked and destroyed... so I have had a few bowls of soup and occasional drinks of milk and juice. I've still lost 40+ pounds.
When Paul spoke in 2 Corinthians 11 & 12, he "boasted" of his accomplishments: being whipped 5 times (39 lashes each time), stoned, twice beaten with rods, shipwrecked three times... he also mentions starving when he didn't have food, and fasting when he did. He didn't write this to receive glory of those that read it, he wrote that so that they would aspire to be greater for God. It was all for God's glory. I believe it was the same for Daniel and his fasts, they are for God to get the glory from. But it was only told about after the fast.
So... what should I do? I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. I would like Sister M***** to be encouraged in God, I would like the youth to be inspired, I would like the church to be challenged, and most of all, I want God to be edified.
I'll continue to ponder it...
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