When Fasting Leads to Fullness

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.

  I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, 

nor did I anoint myself at all, 

till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

                                  Daniel 10:2, 3

Because I don't want Easter to sneak up on me.

Because I want to be fully present.

Because I want to feel the weight of the cross,

the weight of my sin,

and to pick up my own cross,

deny myself,

and follow hard after Him.

That my eyes would be firmly fixed upon the cross.

Denying myself is what this fast is really all about.

Taking the foods I love and crave and can't seem to do without

and putting them in their proper place

will help me focus on the events of the week.

No meat, no dairy, no solid fats,

no sugars or any sweeteners of any kind.

That's sure to be the hardest.

I'm seeking to be a Daniel,

to not eat from the king's table.

To make myself available for prayer three times a day to read Scripture

and press into His story,

 yes, 

this must be the focus of my week.

I sit in church on Sunday morning and I realize the cries of , "Hosanna, hosanna!"

are the cries of, "save us, save us!"

It is not a cry of praise as I once believed.

And I think I could be one of them,

crying out to be saved

instead of crying out my praise.

Why is it always easier to complain?

The story climaxes this week

 and I want to be full of praise for the One

who took it all, who gave it all,

and conquered the grave

forever.

Blessings,

{K}