Breaking The Fast: Wrap Up

I would be remiss to not share with you some of the "thread" our group shared throughout the entire 7 Experiment. I CANNOT imagine walking through this study without them; their hilarity, wit, encouragement, tears, and tender, teachable spirits. These women are among some of the most brave women I have EVER met.  They each intentionally made empty spaces in their pantries, stomachs  closets, basements, wallets, schedules, garbage cans, computers, televisions, and their whole entire lives, to see their Savior more clearly. It was PAINFUL, but oh so amazingly beautiful. I am not the same person I was just a few months ago; HALLELUJAH!  So much of my core has been flipped on it's head, and I am still grappling with such resonating changes in my thinking, motivations, and entire being.

Thoughts Before the Fast (Each paragraph is written by different member in our group)
As we prepare to enter our first fast I have been praying specifically that legalism will not play a role in our hearts regarding ourselves and obviously regarding others (although, I think most of us are more gracious with others than we are with ourselves). I've been praying that our hearts would seek JESUS! Nothing or no one else.

My Husband and I have decided to do the fast together, to seek the Lord individually, but also as a couple. We are praying that this fast not only brings us closer to Jesus but that it changes our perspective for His Kingdom sake-so that we can better understand how truly blessed we are, that we have more than we think we do-more that we can share with others, and that we can live more moderately than we do. We want to be more generous with what we have, and desire to be more aware of the world in which we live and the needs that truly exist in it.

I am excited and nervous but also looking forward to the growth I am praying this brings. My prayer is that this fast will change my heart towards all of my overindulgence's so that I will always be aware of how blessed I am and take less for granted.

1.Food
I am realizing about how much of my life is centered around food. Not just for survival but for pleasure. Having a bad day? Drive through Starbucks. Bored? Plan a new recipe for dinner. Meeting up with friends? More coffee. Treat for the kids? How about Mr. Goodcents....seriously, I have some issues.... I too am getting a great picture of my bratty, spoiled, selfish, self. I keep praying and praying.
Words from a worship song at church yesterday called "The Desert Song" by Hillsong, rang very true as we sang about our hunger and need and God being our provider. 
anyways, hope everyone is hanging in there, even though it is hard. I am praying for you all.

So not only are they passing out salted caramel chocolates at work this morning, I had to divulge my fast to the women who sit around me because they all looked at me cross eyed when I declined (they know I am addicted) and they all said- oh how cool so are you losing weight? Really? I couldn't help but share what it's doing to my heart and diving into how truly bratty I've realized I am when it comes to not being able to have what I want. Telling them it's opening my eyes to just how blessed we all are and revealing to me how much we take for granted. Not a peep out of anyone since....ha! I wonder if they even know what fasting is? Why we do it....what it means....? Hope everyone else is hanging in there- praying for everyone!

Good Morning! 34 hours left ladies, we can do this!!I gagged on my spinach last night, and the grocery store is totally out of eggs until this afternoon. So, now I am really feeling the foreign experience. Can't just go to the store when you need something. So 7 became 6,  I hope in these final hours we desperately seek what God has for us...

I couldn't eat breakfast this morning because even the thought of eggs made me gag! And then I felt badly because so many people would never pass up food, no matter what. Sigh. I am feeling burdened to become less wasteful with our food leftovers after this fast, I will say that much. I have realized how tremendously blessed we are to have the SELECTION of food we do, in the QUALITY, and QUANTITY we like. Amazing. All that to say, I can't wait to see you all tomorrow and celebrate and learn together!

On a side note--those of you who fasted from most foods---did you feel kind of strange eating today? I fasted from lunch and when I ate it today, it almost felt strange---like unnecessary. Interesting what just a week does! Will be praying for everyone!!

2.Clothes
Brave
Noun:
"People who are ready to face and endure danger or pain."I just wanted to let you ALL know how thankful I am for EACH of you. Choosing this study is really a true example of bravery to me. Thank you for stepping up and pursuing the heart of our Jesus!

Boy, I'm spoiled! This whole process is definitely opening my eyes to areas of excess I haven't given much attention to. Just like I stock my pantry for apocalypse, I've also stocked my toiletries and cosmetics! Praying for each of us and thankful for you! 

Hi All! I have to say I've found this week's fast much easier than food week! Although, I will be honest, I did not realize how much I depended on my clothes, makeup, etc. to make me feel better about myself....it's very sad! 

Confession: I just changed back into my pjs so I could wash my 6 clothing items. I feel like this fast is more of reflection on my laundry problems than clothing issues. Haha. This is too much like my normal life. 

3.Possessions

We have A LOT of crap!! Excess can be found in every room, every drawer, every closet, of this house.
Pretty sure no one needs 6 sets of queen sized sheets, when there is only one queen sized bed in the house.
Oh, and the t-shirts. Someone kill me. Some where out there some big, wig business man decided that there needed to be a tshirt for every event, every summer camp, every marathon, half marathon, 5k, walk around the block...TSHIRT! Good bye crap!

4.Media

No one posted during media week because we were all fasting from the computer ;)!

5.Stress

I set alarms on my phone and am so glad I did, because otherwise I would be forgetting some of the pauses. I am really enjoying this fast, even the midnight alarm, which I had thought would be really hard. God has been faithful to bring to mind different groups that are suffering to pray for, even in the wee hours 

I'm so glad you're heart is encouraged! I'm failing miserably! I cant remember to save my life and can't have my alarm/phone on me here at work! Ack! Haha at least He knows my heart! 

6.Waste

There was radio silence during the waste fast; we were busy painting ourselves green and researching compost piles and what the heck we could recycle. Everyone was just letting things settle into their hearts and garbage cans.

7. Spending

 It has been FARRRRR more difficult than I imagined. For instance, between Friday and Sunday I had like 5 random things I needed buy at places that weren't on my list. Copies for church because the projector died? Kinkos, not on my original list. ( I had to make an exception in the name of church for this)  Tires need to be rotated on the car? Shore Tire, not on the original 7. Ran out of olive oil? Unfortunately, The Tasteful Olive not on my list. A box of summer clothes to mail to my brother? Yep, post office not on my list. A new lamp for the living room because the other one busted into a million pieces? Savers, not on my list. UGH! So, I am seeing how quickly Jen got to that 67 vendors in one month. I am so used to buying what I need, when I need it, from where I need it from. Definitely a wake up call

My week has been good, but it is hard to stick with your minimal list. I thought the same thing, about how quickly she got to 67 places--we're so use to having things at our fingertips! This is such a good wake up call.

Definitely running into the same, hmmm this wasn't on my original list scenarios and much more mindful too of how MUCH $ I'm spending....so often adding over my debit card and then not even heating or registering a total until later!! Grocery shopping tomorrow and I think that max spending challenge I set will be a challenge for sure! 

Can't tell you how many times I've had the urge to break this particular fast with justifications like, "well, our GRASS seed NEEDS a new sprinkler, or that swimming suit may not be on CLEARANCE next week,"...sheesh. This is a good one

I have a confession....I went into a store (Aldi) shopped for groceries and happily left, after paying my 19 dollar bill and was driving home and realized that ALDI wasn't on my approved list. YIKES!!! It kind of scares me that I didn't even think about it...I mean seriously:( I really did have the best of intentions, but my brain let me down. Anyways, thought you all should know. Just goes to prove how much I take for granted...Sorry!!!
Love to you all!!!

 I definitely failed the spending test. Two weeks in a row. : ) But I did appreciate how much more aware I was this week and do think I cut down on extra expenses.

3 years ago my hubby & I decided to quit using cc's entirely. So, I have to say that spending isn't really an issue for us. We only buy what we can afford to pay for entirely so it has limited us tremendously...in an amazing way tho!

Wrap Up

I need change in my life. I am selfish from the core. I need more of Jesus and waaaaay less of me! I need to care more for others than myself. I feel like all of this fasting will be in vain if I don't actually start making changes to live more generously and more like how Christ calls me to. I love This quote from Jen Which sums up my point -"we don't think our way into a new kind of life; we LIVE our way into a new kind of thinking." Love it. I've found myself doing lots of thinking about how to make change and not nearly as much action on those thoughts. I love this study, I love all of YOU!, and most of all, I love our sweet Jesus, who loves me thru all of my failings. 

I was gripped with fear before we started. However, despite that initial freak out, the Lord has used this study to absolutely transform my heart and my thinking and in great ways! It takes work and it takes commitment, but the key to any of our success is resting in that place of grace. Our prayer for ourselves and each other was to not make this something legalistic, but instead a means in which He opened our eyes, hearts, and spaces for His kingdom! Jen helps walk you through that, and each week every one of our fasts looked different than any other members. allow each other that opportunity to pray, wrestle through the decision of what specifics you'll fast from, and then simply encourage each other.  I'd honestly do it all over again....

In conclusion, I wept as I listened to this song that seemed to convey everything I could not have penned better.

The problem’s not a gun, not a color, not a hundred dollar bill

We think the struggle can be won with simple thoughts like 'come together be good willed'
The gap between the rich and poor is spreading out all the more or so they say
We ignore the claims

O my soul, faint not, no, faint not

O my soul, keep up, up
In love

It’s not that we don’t know or we’re not shown the proof of poverty
It’s not that we don’t have the tools to go to break this yoke of slavery
We quit because it’s not an easy fix and then forget that they are even there
We forget to care

O my soul, faint not, no, faint not

O my soul, keep up, up
In love

Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, let me pardon
Where there is darkness, let the Light come, come

O my soul, faint not, no, faint not

O my soul, keep up, up
In love

O my soul, faint not, no, faint not

O my soul, keep up, up
In love

Faint not
Faint not