21 days - Fasting & PrayerEsimerkki

What if I fall

How are you doing after your first few days of fasting? Did you get through them okay? Do a quick retrospective. If you are fasting as a group, ask each other how it is going. Maybe you are totally motivated after the first few days, the first low-performance period is over, and you are full of energy.

The first time I fasted, I almost did not make it the first few days. But I knew deep inside that fasting is also training. And I do not do a marathon without a bit of training the year before.

Think about where you are doing well, at which point is it training making your spiritual muscles stronger?

Where might you need to adjust something because the physical symptoms are too strong?

Go with Jesus to the points that are tough for you and let him show you perspectives and solutions.

I have done well on some fasts, and on others, I've really failed; for example, snacked on a potato chip and then gorged myself on a whole bag of chips (which is also super unhealthy).

I have experienced how guilty I've felt when I didn't stick it out with fasting. It literally dragged me down but then I always read through what our God is like:

Read Psalm 103:8.

This is always helping me to be gracious with myself.

Think about how children learn to walk. They take a step, fall down, get back up, take a few steps, fall down again. And often their parents stand in front of them with their arms open, rejoicing over each successful step. 

God is a good father. A loving dad who rejoices in your successes and stands in front of you with open arms when you fail, cheering you on to get back up and keep walking.

By the way, I also have dreams every now and then when I'm fasting that I don't make it and I do eat, or break my candy fast and then I'm very relieved when I wake up and realize it was just a dream.

Prayer and Get Free 

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for being a loving Father who rejoices in my successes and to whom I can always come, even when I have failed. I bring you my failure,  ______ (get specific) to the cross and get your promise from Psalm 103:8 that you are merciful and gracious, also to me. Amen