Don't Wait

We are a vanishing mist.

Month: May 2020

Continue Steadfastly in Prayer

May 28, 2020 /

What do you do when you receive bad news?  Do you call a friend?  Do you get angry?  Do you try to fix the problem yourself?  Or do you immediately talk to God?

God has been gently nudging me lately and reminding me that I need to pray more.  Not just quick little prayers throughout the day, though those are important, too.  Rather, He’s been reminding me to really get down on my knees and commune with Him.  Let’s think about this:  how do we stay connected to our spouse or significant other?  We share our innermost thoughts and feelings and the particulars of our day.  Shouldn’t this be even more so the case with our Savior?  It is vital that we take time out of our busy day to talk to Him.  Nothing in life should be more important or pressing than this.  And when life knocks us off our feet, we should immediately hit our knees before talking to anyone else or looking for a solution within ourselves.

Jesus Himself even prayed while on the earth.  He was God in flesh, yet He still talked to the Father regularly.  Luke 5:16 (NIV) says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”  Notice that He prayed OFTEN.  He didn’t just occasionally pray.  This was His way of life.  If we strive to be more like Christ, then we must emulate this discipline that He lived out.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all mention Jesus going to a mountain alone to pray.  So, not only did Jesus pray regularly, He would go off on His own to pray in solitude, no doubt to drown out the distractions in life.  We must set this time aside during our day.  It was a regular part of his day, and it should be for us, too.

I was recently challenged by the first several chapters in Nehemiah.  At the beginning of the first chapter, Nehemiah received the news that the wall of Jerusalem was destroyed and its gates were burned.  He was devastated by this report.  It’s what he did next that really got my attention.  Instead of feeling sorry for himself or getting bitter and angry, Nehemiah said, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”  He went straight to God before doing anything else.  How often do we neglect doing this?  If you’re like me, it’s pretty common that I try to figure things out on my own first before going to God.

The results of Nehemiah’s prayers speak to God’s faithfulness and show us the benefits of a healthy prayer life.  After praying, fasting, repenting, and mourning, Nehemiah (who was the king’s cupbearer) went to the king to ask for permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.  Not only was he given permission to go, but he was given letters for the governors of the areas he would pass through with permission to travel.  He was also given a letter to the keeper of the king’s forest which gave him permission to use timber in order to rebuild the walls.  But, that wasn’t all.  Once the construction began, Nehemiah began to meet opposition.  There were groups in Judah (which Jerusalem was a part of) who were opposed to the project, so they schemed to come together to fight against Jerusalem.  Nehemiah, yet again, did not cave to the bad news.  Instead, he once again went straight to God.  “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as protection against them day and night,” (Nehemiah 4:9).  With half of his men building the wall and the other half guarding, Nehemiah was successful.  As the wall was completed, Nehemiah said, “And when all of our enemies heard it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”  Our ultimate goal in life should be to let God’s glory be seen.  Nehemiah’s prayers and faith allowed just that to happen.

So, what do we do when we receive bad news?  We should go straight to Jesus in prayer.  That’s what He wants!  He longs to commune with us.  He desires an intimate relationship with us.  My husband and I have been getting better at living this out.  There are many times that I’ll bring an issue up to him and he’ll say, “Let’s pray.”  Just recently we were discussing an issue that one of our children was facing.  After a few minutes of talking about a solution, I said, “Let’s pray.”  And that’s exactly what we did.  The issue is still there, but we have peace knowing that God will work even this for our child’s good.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:12

When we find out that our child is facing a huge mountain, we don’t have to fear.  It’s easy as a parent to jump straight in and nervously try to fix things for them.  But, that is the wrong tactic.  I’m not saying we say a quick prayer and then ignore the problem with a flippant, “Oh, God will handle it.”  Instead, we should immediately get on our knees and ask for wisdom.  Don’t try to handle things on your own.  Don’t lay awake night after night in fear and worry.  It’s hard to believe that anyone else could know our children better than we do, but God does.  He knows what’s best for each and every individual child that we have.  

When we find out we’ve lost a job, we shouldn’t become bitter and angry and question God.  We saw from Nehemiah’s example that it’s ok to cry and mourn.  But, along with that we should pray immediately as we are joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.  Let’s give God a chance to let His glory be seen and known.  Our lives should forever be a reflection of His.

When you receive bad news from your doctor about that medical test that you just had run, God saw it coming.  When you are shocked to find out your spouse is unhappy and wants out of the marriage, God is not surprised by the news.  When you get the call that a family member has been in a bad accident, God sees and is grieving with you.  In Psalm 139:16, we are told that every single day that God ordained for us was written in His book before one of them even came to be.  Shouldn’t we WANT to talk to Him since he knows every intimate detail as well as the solution to our problems?  There is no human on earth that has the answers that He has.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Notice that each of these three verses mention thankfulness.  How often do we thank God and simply praise Him for who He is and what He’s done?  It’s so easy to only go to God and ask, ask, ask, or complain, complain, complain.  How selfish we are!  He’s reminded me lately that not only do I need to go to Him immediately in prayer as each new circumstance in life arises, but I also need to simply recognize who He is and praise Him!  Our prayers should open with praises and prayers of thanksgiving instead of looking at God as a genie.  He desires intimate conversation and praise.  

As life throws you curveballs or as it weighs you down, Don’t Wait to go to God in prayer. If you do this, you will experience peace, hope, and joy instead of fear, worry, bitterness, and hopelessness.  As I’ve begun practicing this lately, I’ve seen firsthand the effects of this type of living.  My nervousness dissipates, my confidence in Him grows, and I see Him work.  He is near to all who call Him (Psalm 145:18) and wants to be near to you.  Open your day with prayer and call on Him immediately instead of spinning your wheels trying to solve problems on your own.  He is waiting for you.  So, whatever you do, Don’t Wait!

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A Prayer of Thanks on My Son’s 21st Birthday

May 19, 2020 /

21 years ago today you gave me one of the greatest gifts you could have possibly given me – I had my first child and became a mom.  As you know, my journey into motherhood was not an easy one.  Even though I knew you, I had yet to realize that my worth was in you.  Instead, it was wrapped up in the need to be perfect.  I was more worried about controlling every detail of my existence and how my life looked rather than letting you be in charge.  So, I stayed on edge making sure everything was perfect.  I strived to be the model mom and spent crazy amounts of time making sure everything was flawless for Solomon. He was bathed nightly and slathered in baby lotion (I had to make sure he smelled good).  His clothes were washed in Dreft and Downy, matched perfectly, and could have absolutely no stains.  He had to be seen as a “good baby,” so I did all I could to make him happy.  I felt proud when people asked if he ever cried since he was always so content, and my self-worth was boosted when people were impressed with how well he listened as he got older.  Being my first, I was pretty hard on him because I had this vision of how I wanted him to behave (typical of a first-time parent, I know).  My perfectionism bled into every area of mothering.  I put up a facade so that I appeared to have it all together, but I was falling apart on the inside. 

I looked put together on the outside, but was falling apart on the inside.

A few months into motherhood, I began to crash.  I began to have off the wall, irrational fears and panic attacks consumed me. I had chronic pain in my side from constantly staying so uptight and I seriously thought I was dying of cancer.  I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and could barely function.  My body began to react to the incredible amount of stress I had placed on myself.  Yet, true to your word, you used every bit of the ashes of my life and worked it for my good.  At the time, you felt a million miles away.  My prayers and cries for help felt like they left my lips and went absolutely nowhere. But, even in spite of myself and my flaws, you gave me a son that has turned into an amazing young man.  You took my perfectionism, unrealistic expectations, and all-consuming fears and turned them into something beautiful.  How is it that such an amazing human can come from a fragile shell of a woman even with my sinfulness and weaknesses?  He isn’t perfect, but I’m amazed by him when I think back over the last 21 years. Lord, I pray that our story shared through this prayer will help other parents see that your hand is on our children, even in our humanness and with our frailties.  

I am grateful that even though I hit such an insanely low point in my life at the beginning of my motherhood journey, you blessed me with a husband who stuck with me.  He has been so much fun to parent with and he is a joy to make decisions with as we parent our children. Thank you that we balance each other out perfectly and that when I’m fearful, he can teach them to be brave and that when he is too brave (like allowing them to try crazy stunts), I can reign him in.  There is no one I’d rather have as the father of my children.

Earl holding it all together while I was falling apart

I am thankful that even though I can be lazy at times, you gave us a son that is an insanely diligent worker.  You wired him to work hard from the time he was tiny.  Bear with me as I take a walk down Memory Lane.  At the age of 18 months, his favorite activity was vacuuming.  He would ask for the “dat-tu,” so we eventually bought him a toy one of his own.  When we sold our first house and cleaned it for the final time, he vacuumed more of the house than I did (he was only almost 2).  When we arrived at our new home a few hours later with the moving truck full of our furniture, he carried just as many items as the men did into our house.  It was that day that I realized how driven he was.  From the age of 4, he would push the lawnmower with his dad and help cut the lawn.  Earl would give him sunglasses to protect his eyes and put Solomon in front of him.  He would hold onto the lowest bar while his dad would patiently push mow the yard as Solomon helped for the duration of the time.  When he was around the age of 8, we had a face cord and a half of wood delivered in preparation for the coming winter.  He told me that afternoon that he was going to go out and start stacking it and in no time he had stacked every piece.  By the age of 10, he was completely cutting the yard on his own and loved every minute of it.  Around the same age, he started dabbling in making videos, and over the course of the next few years, I watched as he grew a YouTube channel from the ground up.  He worked for hours a day figuring out what kind of content people enjoy, how to edit the videos, the best time of day to upload them, how to make money, and so on.  By the age of 15, he had a very successful channel with 33,000 subscribers and was bringing in money monthly.  When he told me at 16 that he was ready to let YouTube go and get a real job, my heart sank.  Was he prepared for that?  He had been homeschooled his entire life.  Had I done all I could to prepare him to hold down a job?  And then you gently reminded me that preparing him was not MY job.  It was yours.  Sure enough, he landed the first job he applied for.  On the day I drove him to his interview, I was more nervous than he was.  His response to me was, “Mom, why are you nervous?  If this job is God’s will for my life, they’ll hire me.  If not, there’s something better for me.”  He was hired on the spot.  During the 4.5 years he worked there, I was told countless times by many different managers that he was one of the hardest workers they had.  I pray that the work ethic you’ve blessed him with will always support him and his future wife and children and that whatever he does he will do it with all of his heart as though he’s working for you and not man (Colossians 3:23).

  • Mowing the lawn at a year
  • Mowing the lawn at 10
  • Toy vacuum

Thank you that even though I do not always set a Christlike example, you have made yourself real to him.  When he accepted you at the age of 8, I could tell that he truly understood the decision he was making.  We had stopped at church that day and decided to sneak quickly into the back of a room where a youth rally was ending.  The plan of salvation was laid out and we didn’t realize how intently he was listening.  When the teens were asked who had invited Christ into their life, we were shocked when Solomon raised his hand.  When he looked up at me with tears streaming down his face, I knew he fully understood who you are and the gift you had given him.  As the years went on and his childhood years turned to teenage years, he began to struggle with his faith.  We encouraged him to ask all of the questions he needed to and do all the research necessary.  He can’t make it to heaven on our coattails, so he had to know why he believed what he believed.  Without this crucial step in his faith journey, he would be eaten up by the world.  We had to trust that you would once again show yourself to him.  On Christmas evening when he was sixteen, he was literally within minutes of completely renouncing his faith because there were so many things he just could not understand about you.  True to who you are,  you came down and met him in our basement and made yourself known to him in a way that none of our family could ever deny.  When we seek you, we find you (Luke 11:9). Thank you that he has never looked back.

Thank you that even though I can be very selfish and inward-focused, you have given him a heart for people.  When he sees a homeless person out on the street, he always passes them a few bucks.  He develops relationships with these people and knows the details of their lives, though most (including myself, ashamedly) will walk right past them.  He checks on them when he sees them and always shares the truth about you.  He keeps a few bibles in his glove compartment and passes your word on when given the chance.  And he somehow does all of this with grace and in a way that isn’t pushy.  He simply develops a relationship and loves the way you do.  Last year he was waiting for some scary test results to come in.  His grandfather (my father) died at the age of 37 from melanoma, so when a suspicious mole was found on Solomon’s foot, it was a bit worrisome for all of us.  After a day of fear, he came to me and said, “Mom, I’m not going to live in fear.  Instead, I’m going to reach out to other people and focus on them instead of myself.”  He then invited our elderly neighbor over for dinner and cooked the entire meal himself.  How could someone so young have so much wisdom?  The answer is you.  

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of him. Instead of living in fear of the future, he was serving our elderly neighbor by making a spaghetti dinner.

Even though I have not always been the greatest example of a guide as his mom, thank you that Solomon is a natural-born leader.  Raising a leader is not always easy.  They typically have strong opinions and extreme determination.  Allowing a child who is a leader to develop these skills while also teaching them to respect authority can be tricky at times. Yet you were always faithful in giving us wisdom as we fostered leadership skills.  Thank you for every creative idea you’ve planted in his mind, for every shelf he built, every instrument he made, and every plan he carried through.  He came to me sometime around his 11th birthday with an idea that he wanted to carry out.  Memorial Day was about a week away and he wanted to organize a neighborhood Memorial Day celebration.  His plan was to have as many neighbors as possible to display an American flag as a way to show their thanks to those who gave their lives for our freedom. As his idea came together, he gave me his supply list.  He then drafted a flier for the neighbors and made a sign for our front yard.  All I could think while his siblings and I walked with him as he went door-to-door passing out fliers and asking neighbors to join his cause was, “Thank you, Lord, for this kid who wants to honor fallen Americans, even at only 11 years of age.”

  • Our front yard

Although I fail miserably at always showing kindness and love, thank you that he has still become an amazing big brother.  He wasn’t super crazy about the idea of having a younger sibling initially.  “I don’t want to be a big brother!  I want to stay Solomon!” he told us when we asked if he wanted a “Big Brother” t-shirt.  We realized that he was afraid his identity would change, so we offered to have an “I Love My Baby Sister” shirt made instead.  He agreed that it was a good idea.  He quickly grew into his role and has adored each and every sibling.  He has always been a protector and has loved spending time with his 2 sisters and brother.  As he’s grown older, his influence in their lives has grown also.  His walks with them to 7-11 for a Slurpee have turned into drives to Tim Horton’s for a soda and walks around Canalside.  He is also intentional about spending time with each one individually.  Movies, concerts, shows, and road trips make each sister and brother feel special and valued.  “I want to spend time with each one because I know one day I will be on my own,” he has told me.  The memories he has made with each one are pretty amazing.  This is all you, Lord.  Thank you for the relationship he has with each sibling.

“I do not want to be a big brother. I want to stay Solomon.”
  • Telling his sister he was proud of her dancing
  • Playing with his brother in the rain because that’s one of his favorite childhood memories
  • A road trip with his sister
  • Road trip with his sister
  • Walking out a dance recital
  • Digging the biggest hole possible with his brother
  • Walking out of another dance recital
  • This is our table every evening – sharing videos they’ve found for each other throughout the day.
  • At the movies with his brother
  • Another movie with his brother
  • Taking his sister to a show
  • Off to see AJR in concert
  • Excited that his sister got her learner’s permit
  • Checking out said learner’s permit
  • Comforting his sad little brother
  • Sibling walk to 7-11 for a Slurpee
  • Ride to Tim Horton’s for a soda
  • Off to see Imagine Dragons

Though I make foolish decisions at times, thank you that Solomon is wise.  When he was first born, I began praying that he would have wisdom.  I prayed that the Holy Spirit would help him to grasp spiritual things that most others can’t. I told Solomon a few years ago that I’m not even sure where that prayer came from.  His response was, “Mom, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray.  So, that must have been the prayer for me that He wanted you to pray.”  See what I mean?  Such wisdom that comes from you.

Thank you that even though I have not always been faithful to you, he still runs hard after you.  I am grateful that he recognizes his need for you.  That he studies and knows your Word.  That he prays through each decision that he has to make and that he trusts you even when things are uncertain.  I pray that following after you would always be his number one desire because that is all that matters in this world.  His social status, career path, type of car he drives, and size of house he lives in means nothing.  All that matters is his relationship with you.

I will forever be thankful for all of the people who have poured into Solomon’s life to help shape him into the man he is becoming.  Brian and Amy Parker spent hours upon hours teaching him about you from approximately the ages of 6 to 13.  They sacrificed their time for a group of boys to impart their spiritual wisdom into their lives.  I know that they played a HUGE role in the spiritual foundation that was laid when Solomon was a child.  Thank you for Andy Toukatley who was Solomon’s middle school small group leader.  He showed him that even young, cool people should follow you and that being a believer can be fun.  Thank you for Orin Helfrich who was his small group leader in high school and to this day continues to meet with the guys in the group on occasion.  Thank you for Corey Coogan who has been a great example to Solomon in the last 2-3 years.  He has given him opportunities to lead and has taught him how to be a great leader.  He has given Solomon freedom to learn even if mistakes are made.  I will forever be grateful for these friends who have loved my boy.

And now, Jesus, as he is getting older and the dynamic of our relationship is changing, please Don’t Wait to give me wisdom.  Show me when to speak and when to just pray for him as he navigates his life.  I pray that our relationship will always be close, but that it will be easy to step aside when he meets his future wife.  I’ve witnessed too many mothers and daughters-in-law who struggle because mom is overbearing.  Guide my words.  Guide my actions.  And bring that special girl into his life when the time is right.  Thank you for blessing his faithfulness with his new job.  We know that it is a gift from you.  As he prepares to move out in a few months, keep him safe.  I pray that he always knows that our house is his house and the door is always open.

Walk In a Manner Worthy of Your Calling

May 14, 2020 /

Last summer, I was having breakfast with a friend and she said something that really caught my attention.  She said something along the lines of, “As believers, shouldn’t everyone we come into contact with notice that there is something different about us?  Shouldn’t they see something in us that they want, too?”  Her question really got my attention because there is such truth to it.

We are called to be like Jesus.  Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us that we are to be imitators of God and walk in love as Christ loved us.  Let’s think about Jesus’ life here on earth.  Once His ministry began and people began to realize that the long-awaited Messiah had indeed come, they began to seek Him out.  They wanted just a glimpse, just a touch of His robe.  Jesus spent His time on earth walking in love among the dregs of the earth with grace and mercy.  At times, he had masses of people following Him for days at a time. There was just something about Him that attracted people.  There was something different. Something magnetizing. Something that people wanted to learn more about. His love drew people in.

This has made me question myself. Do I walk in a way that attracts people? Do they see something in me that they desire? Of course, this has nothing to do with me. It is CHRIST that I long for them to see. 1 John 2:6 says,”Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”  So, what should that look like?

If we want to walk as Christ did, we must love one another.  John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  I feel like in this age of social media, this is where we SERIOUSLY FAIL!!!  If we are arguing with each other, posting condescending articles, and spewing hate, no one will want any part of Jesus.  We are the ones that give Him a bad name.  About 15 years ago, I heard a quote by Gandhi that grabbed my attention.  He said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”  Let that sink in for a minute.  There is much truth to that statement.  We have to do better!

Paul urges us to in Ephesians 4:1-2:  “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  

Let’s break this down a bit.  As we go about our day to day lives, whether that be at work, in our neighborhoods, or on social media, we are called to strive to walk in humility.  Christ demonstrated this for us in the most unbelievable way.  He is the Creator of the universe and Savior of the world, yet He wasn’t born to a rich King who lived in a palace.  He didn’t live a life filled with riches and wealth.  Instead, He came down to earth, was born in a stable, lived among the people, hung out with the outcasts and sinners, and was a servant.   He couldn’t have been more humble.  

Paul also encourages us to walk “with gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” This is not an easy task!  If you notice, all 3 of these  (gentleness, patience, and love) are Fruits of the Spirit.  A good way to tell if you exemplify these qualities is to insert your name with each fruit.  Kendra shows love.  Kendra is joyful.  Kendra is peaceful.  Kendra is patient.  Kendra is kind.  Kendra shows goodness.  Kendra is faithful.  Kendra is gentle.  Kendra exercises self-control.  Talk about humbling!!!  Oh, how I often miss the mark!  We all do.  But, as we grow in our relationship with Christ and prayerfully become more like Him, these should become more and more evident in our lives.  I pray that these attributes will point others to Christ as they recognize their need for Him.

This brings me to the same conclusion that I will always come to.  In order to become more like Christ and for others to see that He is all that will satisfy them, it is essential to be in His Word every single day.  I know I sound like a broken record, but this is the most crucial piece of advice I can give.  We must KNOW His word.  We must study it.  We must meditate on it.  We must memorize it.  That means every single day, even when we’re tired and worn out from a late-night with our newborn or sick child. Or when life’s troubles are pressing in on us.  And especially when the entire world is shut down due to a pandemic.  It’s an absolute must and is a prerequisite for learning to walk as He did.  We have what the world needs.  They just need to see it.

Our lives are flipped upside down right now.  People are fearful and we are more divided than ever. Let’s pray that the lost will see Jesus in us.  Pray that they see that we have something that they desperately need.  Let’s reach out to our neighbors with gentleness and patience.  Let’s be imitators of God and love the way Jesus loves us.  Let’s show humility as we put others before ourselves and reach out to those whom many won’t.  And whatever you do, Don’t Wait!!!

Honoring God With Clean Eating

May 6, 2020 /

Until just a few months ago, my diet was pretty sad.  I was a sugar addict and ate my fair share of processed foods, mainly just out of convenience.  I’m a busy mom and it’s much easier to throw a frozen pizza in the oven than to cut up and saute fresh veggies in order to start a healthy dinner.  Pathetic, I know.  Because of my eating habits, I just didn’t feel well.  I was sluggish, a bit on the depressed side, had bad headaches at least 3-4 days a week, and often had back pain.  My clothes were getting tight and I knew my eating was getting out of control.  I live in an area of the country that is cold 9 months out of the year, so there are long stretches of the year where I can’t get outside for much exercise.  I’ve also gotten into this terrible habit of eating comfort foods full of carbs and sugar, so I put on 10 pounds every single winter.  I don’t eat a lot, I just don’t eat the right things.  By Spring, I feel horrible, yet I continue to let the cycle continue.  God began convicting me that He has more for me.  

You see, our bodies and this life are a gift.  God has given them to us, so we should show our thankfulness by the way we treat them.  When we are given a gift, we typically take care of it in order to show the giver that we are appreciative.  We don’t misuse the gift or destroy it.  Why should our bodies be any different?

In February of this year, our pastor began talking about doing “The Daniel Fast” as a church because we would soon be in the season of Lent.  If you are unfamiliar with Lent, this is the 6 1/2 week period leading up to Easter Sunday.  It’s a time of reflection and remembrance for Christians as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us through His crucifixion and resurrection.  Many people “fast” or give up various things in order to better focus on the season. The small sacrifice of giving up certain types of food or an activity (such as tv or social media, for example) serve as reminders to pray as the cravings hit.  The Daniel Fast is based on Daniel 1:8, 12, 13, 15 which says,

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way… ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.”

The modern-day Daniel Fast lasts 21 days and is the cleanest form of eating you can find:  fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, sprouts, etc. can be consumed.  On the other hand, meat, poultry, fish, white rice, bread, caffeine, preservatives, additives, white flour, sugar, etc. are to be avoided.  I knew that I was supposed to participate as soon as I heard our pastor announce the fast, but I absolutely DID NOT want to.  I casually mentioned it to my husband hoping he would blow the idea off which would make it easier for me to ignore what I knew I was supposed to do.  But, the opposite happened.  As soon as I mentioned it, he said, “I’ll do it.”  SIGH.  

I began doing some quick research because I had no clue what I was doing.  I found some Daniel Fast approved recipes and we headed to the grocery store.  I was surprised to find that healthy eating really doesn’t cost as much as I thought it did (the expense of healthy eating was a common excuse that I often used in order to avoid it).  The next day, the fast began and, I admit, I did not go into it with a great attitude.  The first week was HARD.  Cooking was time-consuming, I craved carbs and sugar, and wondered if it was all worth it.  We had family in from out of town at the end of the first week and they requested some of their favorite foods that can be found in our area of the country.  Their requests are also some of my favorites, so saying no to big, fresh donuts, pizza, and the most delicious ice cream sundaes I’ve ever had was difficult.  But, I persevered with a little bit better (but not much better) attitude.

By the end of the 2nd week, I started realizing a few things.  First of all, the amount of time it took to cook  was really not that bad.  I had to get creative with when to squeeze it in, but I was doing it.  Also, I was surprised at how much better I was feeling.  My body was getting rid of the crap I had put into it for years and my energy was increasing.  My weight was decreasing and my clothes were fitting better.  One of the most exciting realizations that I had was that I hadn’t had a headache in 2 weeks!  I knew that I was doing exactly what God had called me to do. 

The conversation I had with my husband on the 21st day (which was March 21) was shocking compared to where I had been when the fast began.  Instead of being excited that we’d soon be able to once again eat whatever we wanted, we were both a little sad that it was ending.  We were feeling the best we had felt in years and absolutely did not want to go back to where we were 3 weeks prior.  So, after a little tweaking, I am happy to report that we are still eating clean for the most part.  We have occasional “cheat days”  but overall, we are on track.  I’ve also added a little dairy simply because I like cheese and enjoy a periodic glass of milk.  We have continued to eliminate meat, white flour, white sugar, bread, fried foods, preservatives and additives, white rice, margarine, etc.  We are both down 10 pounds and are feeling great.  

Here are a few things I’ve learned from clean eating:

  1.  When God tells us that we need to exercise self-control, that includes our food choices.  Being controlled by sugar cravings is not pleasing to Him.
  2. I have much more energy when good things are going into my body.  The natural foods that God gave us fuel my body much better than manufactured and processed foods.
  3. Eating clean allows my body to stay at my natural body weight.  I was amazed by how quickly I dropped 10 pounds simply because I was able to rid my body of the terrible foods I had been eating.
  4. Cutting sugar from my diet has eliminated headaches.  There have been a few times on cheat days that I’ve eaten some sugar and within an hour or so my head is pounding.
  5.  God gave us life so that we can serve Him.  If I treat my body well, I will have the energy and focus to follow him well.
  6. I LOVE avocado!  I had always turned my nose up to this fruit, but it’s become one of my favorites.  It’s chocked full of nutrients and is easy to add to a variety of dishes.  I even enjoy slicing it in half and eating it with a spoon.  
  7. My rice steamer can be used for more than just rice, and I don’t know why I never realized this! Our favorite meal has become brown rice and beans.  I simply put brown rice, water, diced onions, green peppers, and celery, a can of red beans drained and rinsed, a can of Rotel, a tablespoon and a half of cumin, and a tablespoon of oregano in my steamer, turn it on, and within 25 minutes it’s all set to go.  Add some avocado and you have a filling, delicious, healthy meal.

My goal is to next get our children on board.  We’re not quite there yet.  As a matter of fact, as my husband and I were eating our black bean soup for dinner last night, one of our older teenage kids said, “I feel like you guys eat the same thing every night, just a slightly different color brown.”  I think it’ll take a bit of convincing to get her to join us.

I am only 9 ½ weeks into this, and I must rely on God in order to continue.  I still have sugar cravings at times, and I know that if I don’t stay on guard, I’ll be right back to where I was.  I’m praying that He will give me the strength to continue moving forward. Apart from Him, I can do NOTHING.  I hope this post inspires you to eat healthily.  We only get one life to live and we need to make the most of it.  Take the time to take care of yourself and serve God even with your diet.  And whatever you do, Don’t Wait!

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