FASTING PART ONE: by Lorna Abwonji

FASTING: PART 1

I would like to start of this year sharing my fasting experience. Those who know me know that I tend to fast every beginning of the year. Why, you ask? Because it is an opportunity to connect with God and seek Him for what He has planned for me in the year. I will share more on my personal journey in the next article but for now let’s understand what fasting is.

WHAT IS FASTING?

Fasting is the willing abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast or dry fasting is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period.

Abstaining from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance or be deprived of all or some kinds of food, especially for medical or experimental reasons

TYPES OF FASTS [the ones I am aware of]

Most fasts are done certain time periods, could be 3, 7,21,30,40 days.

The point being as you skip meals you take the time aside to pray.

During Lent Catholics may choose to go without meat as their fast. This would be considered a partial fast

Others pick fasts  that last 12 hours and eat one meal a day for a certain period of time.

Water Fasting refers to abstinence from all food and drink except water

An absolute fast or dry fasting is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period.

 

The Bible describes three major types of fasting:

•  Regular Fast / Partial Fast - This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods. People do this fast in various ways. Some do it 3 days,7 days, 21 days, 30 days, 40 days etc. It can consist of omitting a meal or going certain hours without eating can be 6 hours, 12 hours ,24 hours etc. It is advisable that during this fast to keep away from caffeine and sugar as they cause hunger pangs. Ensure that when you are breaking your fast take a fruit or soup to open up your stomach to receive food because as you fast it shrinks in size.

Daniel 10:2-3 says, "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink." 

• Water Fast [Juice fast]- Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a regular fast. This fast needs a lot of planning and preparation and preferably done at a place where you can focus. You can choose the length of time you want to do it. Some do it 3 days,7 days, 21 days, 30 days, 40 days etc. It is best to do this fast at a retreat center away from distractions especially if you choose to do it for a long period.

When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." [Matthew 4:2] This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty so He could have been drinking water. [Subject to debate] But note that He was in a place of solitude and He fasted before He began His public ministry. I believe it is a good way to start seeking God especially when you sense He is leading you to o specific things. Shutting out all voices and staying in solitude with Him in prayer and reading His Word.

Also for the physical aspect please note that you must research this fast and take every precaution. People have died because of not preparing well and especially ignoring the refeeding plan [I will share my 40 days water fast journey in the next article] 

• A Full Fast - These fasts are complete - no food and no drink. Usually done for 3 days because your body cannot stay longer than 3 days without water. It should also be planned and  Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: "For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Esther also called for this type of fast in [Esther 4:15-16]: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'"

 It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time. And do it preferably in a retreat center away from distractions.

 

VIEWS ABOUT FASTING? [TRUE OR FALSE AND WHY MY PERSONAL VIEW]

·         Fasting should only be done by those who are spiritually mature [been Christians for a long time] FALSE : there are basic instructions to follow but everyone’s journey is different and it gets better the more you do it.

·         For Christians fasting is only for religious reasons /obligations. TRUE and FALSE : depends on the individual. Some fast for health reason such as intermitted fasting and others fast for spiritual reasons

·         Fasting is not restricted to food. TRUE: I know people who believe fasting is strictly food others believe it can also be from other things that distract us such as TV or the internet. I tend to fast food because my body has learnt to relate it to prayer. Also, it is how the Bible teaches about spiritual fasting I believe the other types can be done for non-spiritual reasons.

·         Taking salty water when fasting helps with low blood sugar and dizzy spells. TRUE: Not a lot of salt but just enough to replace your electrolytes especially when doing the water fast. Our water isn’t rich in minerals so when I did my 40 day water fast I added salt in my water once a day.

·         Fasting and starving is the same thing FALSE: I believe the motive matters here.

·         When fasting your body uses your glycogen and fat as fuel to keep it going TRUE: I’m sure those doing intermitted fasting can attest to this even more

·         You can eat whatever you want when doing short terms partial fasts FALSE: If you eat sugar or take caffeine it will increase your hunger pangs [they tend to disappear after day 3 because your body adapts so adding sugar and caffeine prolongs it]. Also keep away from alcohol or any other form of drug.

·         You can eat whatever you want after completing a long or short term complete fast FALSE: How you break your fast is as important as how you prepare for it. You stomach shrinks when you are fasting so you must prepare to open it up slowly to receive food . If you did a water fast by starting with water-based fruit such as watermelon or grapes, for full fast water and broth and for regular fast fruit or plain yoghurt is ok. [My next article will explain more on how I broke my water fast].

·         Fasting and not praying is usually considered counterproductive TRUE and FALSE: it depends on your reason for fasting.

·         If people know you are fasting you have failed in your fast: FALSE: This is a popular opinion when fasting for spiritual purposes. I choose to inform those I will interact with in advance that I will do a fast so that there is no awkwardness when offered food during the fast. If you focus on your reason for the fast it shouldn’t be a problem, God gives you grace and knew all these things would come up even before you began your fast. So, remember to pray way before you start fasting, because the preparation is just as important as the fast.

WHY DO WE FAST? [Biblical examples with my comments on each one]

 Source :HERE

1. To prepare for ministry. Jesus spent forty days and nights in the wilderness fasting and praying before He began God’s work on this earth. He needed time alone to prepare for what His Father had called Him to do (Matthew 4:1-17; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-14).

I learnt to fast and seek God for how and where to serve in church because sometimes you can encounter a challenge and automatically think that you are not meant to be in that ministry which is not always the case. Sometimes it is other times its not, but seeking God is the only way to know. The answer may not be immediate but it will come.

2. To seek God’s wisdom. Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted for the elders of the churches before committing them to the Lord for His service (Acts 14:23).

This is the same concept as the first point but the issue may be not necessarily related to ministry or serving in church. It could be business or even interaction with people or a difficult situation. It could also just be a time to seeks God’s favor even if everything is ok.

3. To show grief. Nehemiah mourned, fasted, and prayed when he learned Jerusalem’s walls had been broken down, leaving the Israelites vulnerable and disgraced (Nehemiah 1:1-4).

Most of the time I would fast and stand in the gap for many injustices or painful situations I witness.

4. To seek deliverance or protection. Ezra declared a corporate fast and prayed for a safe journey for the Israelites as they made the journey to Jerusalem from Babylon (Ezra 8:21-23).

I have done this for my family,  friends and also our country

5. To repent. After Jonah pronounced judgment against the city of Nineveh, the king covered himself with sackcloth and sat in the dust and ordered the people to fast and pray. Jonah 3:10 says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.”

I always start my fasts with repentance even if I consider the issue a small sin I bring it before God. I focus mainly on myself for this because we are each responsible for our personal sin however if God leads me to stand in the gap for someone I do.

6. To gain victory. After losing forty thousand men in battle in two days, the Israelites cried out to God for help. Judges 20:26 says all the people went up to Bethel and “sat weeping before the Lord.”  “fasted that day until evening.” The next day the Lord gave them victory over the Benjamites.

I have learnt that how you perceive victory matters here. I have had situations where  God completely delivered me from something and others where He changed my attitude towards something. Sometimes its immediately after the fast other times it is not.

7. To worship God. Luke 2 tells the story of prophetess Anna. Verse 37 says, “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Anna was devoted to God, and fasting was one expression of her love for Him.

My fasts are usually primarily to just connect with God. I used to be so worked up about planning every day of the fast that it ended up being more like a task. When I learnt to surrender it, the Lord revealed so much to me each day and without fail. There was no day I sat idle. Not to say that you cannot plan but that experience taught me to always expect God to speak to me [even when not fasting]

PURPOSE/ BENEFITS OF FASTING [from my research, various sources]

·         Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras.

·         Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the “first love” for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.

·         Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God.

·         Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.

·         Fasting will encourage the Holy Spirit to quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you.

·         Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.

·         Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life and make you a channel of revival to others.

NEXT ARTICLE WILL BE ABOUT MY FASTING JOURNEY 

Click here   PART 2

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.

 Inbox me on my Instagram @lorna_abwonji or email loab2002@yahoo.com

PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN

There is no better way to start a year than with prayer and I thought I would post this to begin the 2019 blog posts even after being M.I.A since 2016. 

I'm now back and hopefully post more and more posts and hoping you stay blessed

YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INTIATIVE [YALI]

YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INTIATIVE [YALI]

Today I would like to talk alittle about a program I am part of this year called the YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INTIATIVE otherwise known as YALI

Here is the link to the website YALI SITE

This program was started by the current US President Barak Obama to invest in the next generation of African leaders in areas of Business and Entrepreneurship, Public Management and Civic leadership.

Those selected into the program are known as Mandela Washington Fellows [MWF], named after one of the greatest African leaders Nelson Mandela.

The program consists of going to the US for 6 weeks in different institutions across America to be equipped in what they are already doing under the tracks they applied in.

The application process is very vigorous and highly competitive.

There are also regional courses that offer courses and also online courses one can still do.

I encourage people to check the website for more details.

I will personally write my experience from the perspective of culture in the next couple of weeks. It will depend on my schedule and availability of my time to work on the blog while there.

I hope you will learn from my experiences and see the US in an African perspective.

There will be more information as we go along

To be continued soon……………..

SIBLING ADVENTURES

SIBLING ADVENTURES

I come from a big family, and I LOVE IT! I actually have no idea how people without siblings even function.

As a first born you would think I hated having a sibling come after me but from my childhood I have always had a sibling around. My cousin was my sibling before my sister came along so I have always had someone else in my life to share life with.

Over the years I have seen how our relationship has siblings has grown and changed as well. I remember how we would fight and argue when we were younger over the silliest things. Now it makes no sense but at that time it was a huge deal. And there was no one who was allowed to ever bully one of my siblings or for sure you would get it. I recall my little brother always using my name in defense when other neighborhood kids were being mean to him, yes, I had quite the reputation

Then there is the aspect of your siblings copying everything you do. It was great when it was a good thing, but when it was bad, the oldest always got all the blame. Sometimes even all the punishment. It was a tricky balance but still great fun.

Most of the time when people talk about their siblings they refer to the past when they were kids, for me I want to dwell a little more on the present.

We are at the age where we are in transition season as siblings. When life looks like we are about to go off on our own and our interactions with one another will eventually become less and less.

 It has already began in some ways, over the years. Especially when all the careers started and one starts to get interest in other things.

You still share a lot in common but you also gain other new things. This also means friends. When you are kids it easy to keep the same friends. You tend to keep a united front and demand the whole family is included in gaming activities. When you grow up you become more individualistic. Things take a new turning. You may share a lot of what you did growing up but you also develop other interests.

What I love about having siblings is that they are never afraid to just tell me if I go too far from being who I am or never be afraid to tell me I am playing it too safe.

We have grown up challenging each other and also appreciating one another’s individual strengths. It’s true there are families that a sibling doing better than another is a problem but in my family that is not a problem. We know we are different. We were never raised to compete with one another rather to help one another. We lift each other up and encourage each other. We do not give up on each other. We are one another’s best friends.

It’s been amazing watching my siblings grow into such great independent adults. For a long time I was very concerned about their well being especially in my absence. Being the first born sometimes you feel it is your responsibility to be the best example your siblings will ever see. It is true for me because I was told that severally by my parents. It can be a huge burden but I am relieved that they are all doing well. It is hard to always be the responsible one that sometimes you can lose your relationship with your siblings because of being too authoritative. There are many moments that it happened and I had to really slow things down and remember I was just their sister not their mum. 

Either way my siblings are great go getters. They all have a lot to be proud off and still have a lot more to accomplish. You would be amazed how automatically we are there for one another in times of joy and of crisis as well. It isn’t even something you need to ask twice. I love that I know they always have my back and will look out for me even as I would them.

Over the years we have adopted honorary siblings which I guess is because of the closeness we already have with one another. We literally talk daily and update each other on major news in our lives and we also support one another’s careers.

I can’t wait for the next season of our lives. It will be amazing and I know we will remain just as close but in a different perspective all together.

WAITING FOR LOVE

WAITING FOR LOVE

I recently realized that I wait a lot and I am not sure if that is a good thing but I do. The thing I wait most on is love. I have started to wonder if it is me who is not recognizing it or am not paying attention.

Either way I read this article that made me realize I am not the only one waiting.

Don’t get me wrong. I think we all wait for love. Maybe in different ways but we do.

Not just romantic love but it depends on how you view love.

I realize that a lot of the time it is easier for me to accept my faults when pointed out to me and not compliments. I have grown up in an environment where what you do is just a stepping stone to better things so you are never really allowed to celebrate an achievement for very long because more is expected of you.

That is not a bad thing but it make you live life always in transition and never in the moment.

Anyways let me address romantic love for this article. I realized one thing about my interaction with men. I am always waiting for them to step up.

I am not sure if I am having unrealistic expectations or its basically that we are wired differently but I get so disappointed that I am starting to think it is normal for them not to.

I wonder what it is most of the time. If fear of failure and rejection really that bad that one would not want to take the step.

Isn’t love about risk just as much as it is about gain?

We all take risks for things we love and people we love. Sometimes we are not even sure we will get the love back. I do believe women take a higher risk in love because even when they do not get it back they are at least glad they gave it a shot. Men are taking less and less risk and are more content living in an less than ideal situation or life then complain later that there are no good women out there.

The truth is good women so to speak are there in plenty. They are made. They come out when they feel secure. And they are waiting for the guy who would risk love for them. Women crave security and when a woman is secure she can conquer the world and would do anything for her man.

I may be wrong but for me that is how I am wired. I would not put myself in a position of being with someone who will only take a risk or make a move when it suits them. I am also taking a risk. Relationships are hard enough as it is that putting myself in a position with someone who is always second guessing themselves is not very helpful.

It goes for me as well. I would not keep a guy second guessing their position with me because I am not sure of what I want, it wouldn’t be fair.

My post today is all over the place. I guess I just wanted to let this out there, so hope it makes some kind of sense.

My point is I will wait for the right kind of love where there is some sacrifice and work involved from both parties. This is too much of a big deal to leave it to chance or give in to pressures of life.

It will not be perfect because it is only God Who has that kind of love but it should be sacrificial.

Lets start loving more. It is a verb, meaning action is involved. Start living

Check out this amazing article I read as well especially for the ladies a new perspective on waiting what-if-your-boaz-is-waiting-on-you

LIFE REFLECTION QUESTIONS

LIFE REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Once in a while I like to analyze my life and see where it is heading and if I am achieving what I want or what I need to.

Life can get you into such a rut sometimes so you can feel kind of stuck. And then you don’t know what to do and then it’s time to reflect and see what you can do. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

 Someone shared with me a bunch of very great questions that I thought I would share this week,

Feel free to reflect on them this week and share widely

1.    What am I good at?

2.    What am I so-so at?

3.    What am I bad at?

4.    What makes me tired?

5.    What the most important things in my life?

1.    Who are the most important people in my life?

2.    How much sleep do I need?

3.    What stresses me out?

4.    What relaxes me?

5.    What’s my definition of success?

1.    What type of worker am I?

2.    How do I want others to see me?

3.    What makes me sad?

4.    What makes me happy?

5.    What makes me angry?

1.    What type of a person do I want to be?

2.    What type of friend do I want to be?

3.    What do I think about myself?

4.    What things do I value in life?

5.    What makes me afraid?

Answer the questions with the first thing that pops in your head, don’t over think it.

Everyone interprets them differently so do not over analyze.

Write it down, review after one month

Have you made any changes? Do you need to change anything?

It’s easy to complain about stuff in general but the truth is you have a lot more choice than you may think.

It is easy to try and avoid the bad stuff in life but the truth is that is when you actually grow. Check on what is making you grow as an individual even if it is not the best thing. But one should always work on self-improving  

Questions Source https://medium.com/life-learning/these-20-questions-will-improve-your-self-awareness-bd531696541f#.w3dt7vm42

LESSONS FROM MUM

LESSONS FROM MUM

Dear Mum

I want you to know that you are an amazing lady. As a woman it is more obvious now than when I was a little girl. I always thought your life’s ambition was to make my life hard. I was wrong. It was to make me a strong woman just as you are and even more. So many things I see when I look back and didn’t make sense now make so much sense.

How often I have misunderstood you and what you were trying to do and how often I resented your correction and thought you had a backward way of thinking. That you were trying to prevent me from having the fun you had when you were my age. 

When you told me to help out with the chores and I just felt that since we had a house help that was her purpose there and it was unfair for me to do something she was being paid to do. Little did I know you were preparing me in the skills of being a home maker and actually learn to look after myself. When you gave her the time off, you were giving her time to be with her own family and with her children who always miss her and barely saw her and all I thought about is how inconvenienced I was that I now had to take on her job. I didn’t realize I took it for granted that you were always around when I needed you and her kids were actually growing up without their mum so she could give them the best life she could afford to.

When you were at work how glad I was that I had freedom to do whatever it is I wanted without restrictions and was mad when you were on leave because it meant you would always be home spending time with us. How naïve I was and took your presence for granted. How naïve I was not to realize that you could have used your leave days to go off on a holiday but you chose to spend more quality time with me.

When you insisted on buying us more fruits and vegetables and eating a well home cooked meal than eating out and eating candy and fast food for the sake of our health. How I’d complain about how other parents bought their kids all that fast food and we ate it rarely. I didn’t notice the fact that we seldom got sick because of good nutrition that developed into the healthy eating habits I have now. I took for granted that in the process I learnt to cook well balanced food and the value of eating a home cooked meal with family, not to mention the money you get to save by budgeting for groceries.

When you insisted that there were restrictions on watching television and made us read so many books during the holidays. I felt so short changed when I would meet my classmates and they would discuss all the shows they were allowed to watch and how unfair I felt that I was just stuck reading books and studying. Little did I know the discipline I developed on prioritizing what was important and the value of studying and hard work.

When you would tactfully mention that you disapproved of some of my friends and how I would be so offended feeling you barely knew them. The truth is you could see that they were not being genuine or they were a negative influence on me and you were just looking out for me. Now some of those friends are not even in my life and I know why but at that time the most important relationships were that of friends and suddenly now it is family, and the friends who become close enough to be family.

There are so many lessons and there is no way I can mention them all now. My favorite one of all is that you learnt to trust God and I saw you grow in trusting Him daily. When there was no money for fees you knew He would come through, when the groceries ran out you knew He would provide, when we got sick you knew He would heal us, when we doubted our abilities you knew He would make us great. There was no time you showed us that God would not come through for us, even if you sometimes battled with doubt. However the faith you had, even as small as a mustard seed was enough to keep us going through those difficult time. Reflecting back I can see how your faith grew with every answered prayer and how it made you become a better mother. You became more and more the woman God wanted you to be and grew in love and patience. I would be truly blessed to be half the woman you are but knowing you expect me to be even more than that. I know I will because I had such a wonderful teacher.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY