And so it ends.

If you read my last post, I was on a water fast...and boy, do I have stuff to tell!

My last blog left off on day 4 feeling nothing short of not-so-hot; however, I felt that if I just pressed on (like all the blogs and forums said) that those feelings would subside & I'd hit my fasting stride.

Day 5 was very similar to Day 4 only the headache was not as severe and since it was Friday, I left work at 3pm and could spend the rest of the day in my pajamas...never a bad thing :)

Day 6, however, was a world of difference!  For the first time in 5 days, I had absolutely NO HEADACHE!  Praise Jesus!!!  While I was supremely thankful for that, I noticed quickly upon waking that I seemed to have virtually no strength...to the point of having to stop 1/2 way through my shower just to catch my breath.  This was a new development and one that forced me to pace myself and move much more slowly. 

Day 7 gave way to even more weakness, but also included major stomach acid issues (or so I thought).  From everything I had read, the digestive system (including stomach acid and bile) vitually comes to a halt during a water fast once the body realizes it's not getting anything to digest.  However, there are some people whose bodies never get to this point...in fact, their bile keeps producing...and you guessed it, I'm one of those lucky ones!  Day 7 just happened to be the Super Bowl - if you're a football fan, the last thing you want to be is weak and tired when the Super Bowl is on.  The bile got so bad that it actually felt like it was burning a hole in my esophagus...even drinking a small sip of water was excruciatingly painful.  After some sobbing & conversation with God, I decided it was time to break the fast.

All of my research said I should break my fast with fresh juice & my friend had a juicer, so off to her house I went (of course, while the Super Bowl was enjoying the now-famous black-out).  She juiced, I drank...it's wonderful to have good friends to help take care of you :)

By the next morning, I was in even more pain than the day before & had no idea what to do to help the situation, so as before I consulted with the Lord and He told me one word...potato.  I researched to see if anyone had ever broken a fast with potatoes before & after 2 hours of searching, I finally found something helpful.  I found a blog from a man who had used potatoes to break his fast, but the reason why definitely caught my attention:  he said that the enzymes in freshly squeeze juice are terribly high & for some people, it's extremely hard on their digestive system after fasting.  AHA!  That was the reason the juice made me worse...but the potato made me better!  I'm so thankful that God is infinitely smarter than I am & if I listen to Him, He'll always lead me in the right direction.

After that, I decided to stop researching & stop reading blogs and forums & just pray to ask for His wisdom.  He created my body so He knows it (and what it needs) better than anyone else!  It took me 7 full days to regain all of my strength & eat a regular meal, but He sustained me through it all.  Now for the good stuff:  even though I endured several difficult things, God used this fast to bring about healing in my body and I'm sooo thankful He did!

1. chronic headaches = GONE
2. chronic sinus pressure = GONE
3. over 20 years of lower back pain on my right side = GONE
4. autoimmune hive issue of 3.5 years = GONE

PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!  I knew this fast was for a reason, but I could not have fathomed that all of those things would be completely erradicated from my body.  I'm often reminded of the story of Jesus' first miracle; most people remember the fact that He turned water into wine.  But the thing that always stands out to me is what Mary says to the disciples "Whatever He says to you, do it."  I strive to apply this directive in my life daily; no matter if I understand it or not, whatever He says to me, I should do it!  This fast was a true example of Mary's exhortation...I had absolutely no idea why I was doing it, but He said to and I followed...and now, my body is FREE from issues that could have kept me from His Kingdom business...I'M FREE!  Glory to His name!

Just remember, whatever He says to you, DO IT!  If you follow this simply formula, He'll never lead you astray!