294 – Fasting for Answers– Got No Answers

 

May, 1988

On Day 14 we ended the fast. I journaled our daily experience. We kept our life going normally, except I took shorter, slower walks. Our energy level roller coastered, so on day 8 we began taking one teaspoon of Barley Green in water. It took care of my leg cramps and I experienced increased stamina.

I noted on Day 11:  Very tired. Slept 9:15pm until 5:30am. No walk, prayed with Dan instead. Possibly will go on diluted juice 3x a day. Dan is. I will pray. At noon, diluted apple juice gave me strength for another busy day. We had Tim’s birthday party. I had no more weakness after the juice. My face looks thin and sort of old and haggard in the mirror. Dan almost blacked out in the afternoon. It scared him. His job at Southco is very strenuous and demanding. If he stops his fast, I will. It has been wonderful doing this together.

Dan recalls: Like a lot of fasts the fruit of that time of close communion with God was not quantifiable. It was a time to seek God without distraction. We had an extraordinarily open-line to God while we were in the fast and for some time after. We did not get a download of the blueprint of what to do next. We ended it with as many questions as we had when we began it, and we had done it in order to answer those questions. But I think it answered questions we didn’t ask. God assured us of His favor, and His partnership, and His covering. We do not go alone. Faith is substance. Jesus is alive, and making Him known is paramount. I had no qualms about ending it before the target of 21 days, no condemnation, no failure, no incomplete. We did what we did, and it was a great experience. I remember we ended it because I was looking at a piece of land with a client who wanted some plans drawn, and I had squatted down to look at something. When I stood up, I went blind for about 5 seconds, no vision. I figured I was pushing it far enough.

During those two weeks I increased my babysitting days (at Jodie’s request), Dan’s Aunt Yvonne came on Amtrak for a five day visit, I taught Sunday School, Dan began his Vacation Bible School project of building Noah’s ark, we had people over for dinner twice, I took the kids on a homeschool field trip to the science museum in Rochester–getting back in time to babysit the after-school bunch. I made friends with the local ‘notorious’ devil worshiper’s mom in the Laundromat. [The teen died last week in a tragic accident.] We had friendly fellowship and with my other Laundromat friend, Barbara, we agreed to meet next week.

Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15