I had a couple of friends ask about a statement I made in yesterday's blog.  I want to clarify what I wrote by saying this today.  Yes, I am fully expecting an encounter with God.  Maybe not in the "Third Kind" sense.  More so in a deep spiritual sense.

Day six was 85% a pleasant experience.  My body is close to fully accepting the fast.  There are some unpleasant things I wish would go away.  For one, there is a persistent bad taste in my mouth and my breath is foul.  I just brush multiple times a day and use mouthwash even more.  I hope that helps, but beware those who come close!

The battle today seems to be switching from a physical one, to a mental one.  While my hunger has subsided, turning at every corner and seeing people put food into their mouths was very difficult today. My body requires food to survive, and my brain keeps telling me to shove something down!  I have to firmly remind myself of where I am and what I am doing.  At one point I turned to my wife and said, "I don't want to do this anymore."

This is affecting my relationships as well.  Not in a bad way, but in a realistic way.  My friends realize I am fasting, and so they want to avoid conversations of food and any fellowships that involve food.  I am so grateful for the respect, and I have the best friends a man could ever ask for, but I suddenly felt in a very lonely place today.  This is part of the journey.  And again, this is my opportunity to draw near to the Father.  He is truly becoming my strength in all this.

Late into the evening I came to realize how important it is to bring my flesh and mind under control.  Once I can get past this phase, I believe the deep spiritual things I am expecting will begin.  While I am already experiencing a depth in my walk that I never have before, the excitement of what lies ahead keeps my anticipation high!

I have found a lot of support throughout this past week.  I greatly appreciate the prayers of my friends and family.  It is carrying me through each day.