A couple of weeks ago, I heard something and was stirred. The idea was simple and the “call” seemed obvious, but I just knew that I had to obey. It was time to lay down my flesh and fast. You see, I didn’t care or know if my intentions lined up with the holiest of reasons, but what I did know is this. I heard a story of two guys name Rob and JR who responded to a call to fast. Their motives weren’t 100% pure. Their understanding of what God was going to do was limited in scope. But I couldn’t get away from the story of their experience. It goes a little something like this:

God called Rob & JR on a 40 day fast of water and juice only. They knew that God would bless them, but what they really experienced was something that would change their lives and families forever. At the end of the 40 days, they mourned the ending of their fast. Yes they wanted to eat, but they were sad and upset because they were leaving such a peaceful and restful experience. It was hard leaving something they had come to know so initmately. During their fast they watched their family be challenged by God himself; they watched their study of the Bible take on necessity; they watched their families being influenced by the actions so much that conversations about faith were daily; they asked their friends ask questions about Jesus they never thought they would ask; they watched God heal JR’s relationship with his father; they watched their client base in the business grow; they watched as the Holy Spirit gave them words and power they never had; they watched their wives grow in their faith; they watched their kids grow in their faith. Fasting is now a part of their lives. In 2005 Rob fasted a total of 105 days and JR did 80. Bottom line, fasting created the vehicle to which they gave their life completely to God. Fasting reassured them of the power and grace in their life. They don’t ignore Him anymore. they follow Him. (Excerpted from the audio of “The Unignorable Calling” - By Craig Gross)

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)

My faith was/is stirred and I could no longer doubt the power of the fast. I had to do it. If I could walk away from a seven day fast and get a glimpse of what these guys experienced, I just knew that my life would be changed forever. From February 24 through March 1, I fasted.

During my fast, something happened. My focus changed from seeking His hand to longing to know His face. I no longer care about the things of this world, I just want to know Him more. I suddenly knew that if I only knew Him…what He cared about…what He wanted from me…what matters to Him, then the thoughts and plans that I have would be clearly directed by His steps. It simply didn’t matter any more. I just wanted Him. I saw my worship change…I couldn’t simply sing the songs, I felt the words of what I sang so deeply that I weeped when I sang them…often times having to stop singing altogether because I felt it so deeply; I saw my intimacy deepen; I saw my understanding increase; I saw my peace settle the wars inside me; I saw Him in everything. My revelations of Him and His words are more frequent. I’m alive on the inside and I don’t care what’s happening around me. But the most significant was a fundamental shift in my understanding of trust (more on that later).

I told Kristy that if this is what God could do after seven days, I’ve got to know what 40 days feels like. I have to. I absolutely have to. I will fast for 40 days…soon.

Now that I have this experience, it seems only reasonable to challege others to the same. Feeling dry? detached? Rejected? Hurt? Wandering? Worried? Scared and afraid? Pride? Rebellious? Doubtful? Unbelieving? Hopeless? —then fast. Why not? What could your life be like if you experienced just a slice of what Rob and JR did? What would happen if I, you, gave your life completely to God? If we didn’t ignore Him anymore? If we simply followed Him?

I don’t know either, but I saw we find out.