I've made it through my very first 24 hour water fast. And I did it without killing anyone! Almost a week ago a friend referred me to Setting Captives Free. A website with online courses to help people over come addictions with biblical principles. There are courses for Sexual Impurity, Food Issues, Substance Abuse, and Gambling. As far as I can tell all the courses are free, at least the one I'm taking, The Lord's Table-Phase 1, is. Along with the daily Bible lessons they recommend, but do not insist on, a fasting regiment. The first day is a half fast where you eat what you normally do, only half of it. The second day is liquid, third normal, forth fast, fifth normal, sixth half, and seventh liquid. This repeats each week until the 60 days are accomplished. There are no "thou shalt no eat" foods. There is no punishment for "cheating".
With the course I have an online mentor who encourages me, not as much as I'd like, but we're just getting started and just getting to know each other. I'm sure as she gets to know my personality, and I know hers, we'll feel more connected.
Today I completed my fourth day-the fast- and I'm feeling great! I've tried to go without eating before in the past and have failed miserably every time because I was doing it for my glory and not for God's. Every single lesson so far has be a "duh" moment. Not a sarcastic duh, but a, "why didn't' I get this before" kind of duh. I encourage anyone that has weight issues to go check it out, take it for a test spin and see how you feel. As the next 55 days progress I'll let you know I'm doing. I stepped on the scale today, they discourage daily weigh ins, but I just wanted to know, and I've managed to take off 5 pounds already. God is wonderful and I look forward to seeing what He has in store for me!
Be well my friends, and be full of the holy spirit!
4 comments:
*Weigh* to go, Leslee! I'll let you know how my 24 hour fast goes. It's something I've never done before. The thing that I'm most worried about is not feeding my caffein addiction. I get headaches if I don't have my morning coffee, but we'll see how it goes. I read somewhere recently that people who weigh themselves everyday after they have lost weight are more likely to keep it off. It was a study someone did. I know when I stop weighing myself it's because I'm afraid of what I'll see, and that's when I get on the denial train and just eat myself silly.
I've been checking this site out but haven't decided yet whether I want to try it.
I'm on a program of my own but I'm open for new ideas. I know it's not just about losing weight; it's about breaking the addiction and finding out what God has to say about it.
I'll research it further and may give it a try. Does your mentor email you or call you? Do you do your study in the morning or evening or does it matter? Tell me more!
Jennifer I was a little worried about the caffine thing too, but you know, I really didn't want it. Maybe because my fast ran from 3 pm to 3 pm. I had a coke float right before I started my fast and went to Sonic not long after it was over.
Cindy, I don't think it really matters what time of day you do your Bible study. I just make sure I do mine within the 24 hours. My mentor emails me. I only know her as Mary. During each online lesson you answer question and then after you hit submit you get a copy of your answers and so does you mentor. Mine is usually a couple days behind me which is the annoying part, but we'll adjust to each other soon enough.
Wow...that sounds intense...I am not sure I could do it. But whatever works...let me know if you need encouragement that your online mentor isn't providing :) I may be snarky in my posts about my own weight loss program...but I do genuinley care about others' attempts :)
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