Wrap it up people

Day 3 Food 7 Fast

This sucks...just saying. There has never been a time in me ENTIRE life where I had to sit and watch a table full of people enjoy Oreos and milk. I keep asking myself why I had to pick the most bland 7 foods, they have no taste. Thanks to my friends Salt and Pepper we are able to get through this. One thing I did realize, I drink way too much caffeine. I was a walking migraine by the end of the first day. So for the sake of my sanity and not to mention my hubby and kiddos, I am allowing myself 1 cup of coffee. Epic failure I know....but something had to be done to keep myself from locking the kids in their rooms to play while I sat in a dark, quiet room.

This is the first time I have EVER fasted. Honestly, I just thought the people who did that kind of stuff were just weird and out of touch with the real world. Fasting just has never been part of my spiritual story.  I didn't understand that fasting was to help me in my relationship with Christ. Most of all, I feared judgement from those people that closest and most dear to me. I grew up in a church home, but that doesn't mean all those around me were true raw Christians. Looking back now, there is very few people out of hundreds that I could honestly say without a doubt that I believe are true followers of Christ. That leaves a lot of 'Atheist Christians' that watch and judge me as I fast.

Perfection

Picture the old temple in scripture (Numbers and Exodus): the presence of God dwelt in the ark of the covenant behind a large curtain. Only the high priest could enter once a year and offer a sacrifice for atonement for the nation's sins. But they couldn't just sprinkle a little blood and be on their merry way. No, God specifically gave over 100 directives on exactly how it needs to be done. "Present a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma; one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect." God even spoke of the high priest garments hem, "Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them....Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die" (Exodus 28:33,35). DIE....yes...if he didn't do exactly how it needed to be done for the Almighty I Am.....it's was as simple as, you die.

"God is holy. So very holy. We have no concept how holy and perfect He is. That God could even be close to sinful mankind is astonishing, which is why it was so complicated to bring worship that wouldn't offend His perfection" (Hatmaker).

Because Jesus died on the cross his Holy Spirit now lives within us. Our bodies are now the temple. God desires Christians to be good stewards of our resources. Does that mean our body is sacred content? "Do we treat out bodies like vessels of the very presence of the great I AM? Is there a remnant of the respect and reverence for these bodies, and the plants and animals consecrated for our sustenance?" (Hatmaker) Have you ever heard you are what you eat. We eat and fill our earthly temples with pathogens, poisons, synthetic hormones, and chemicals.

This has shown me that I have this ridiculous attachment to something as simple as food. I am ashamed of myself when I feel like being disobedient just because it's one bite. The satisfaction of being able to run to Starbucks for a cup of $5 coffee, while that same thought is unable to enter the mind of the poor and homeless is disheartening. I didn't think the food fast was going to be a big deal, but it has opened my eyes to a selfish want and desire that I didn't even knew existed.

This week is hard. I am hungry...period. The hope is that the abstinence from food maybe the launching pad for Jesus; "More of him and less of me and my junk."