Several weeks ago, I sat down with our Lead Pastor to share what you will read in the next few lines.

For several years now, I have had strong desire to participate in an extended fast.  A 40-day fast without food to be exact.  I have completed several two and three-day fasts over the years, and even three separate five-day fasts.  Forty days, however, has seemed like a monumental undertaking!

So why now?

My heart, mind, and spirit have been awaiting this very time, to somehow wait for the right time, to feel ready in some way.  I feel that time is now.

I sat with our pastor to fully understand and conclude that what I was proposing would be biblical in every way.  He assured me it would.

Why am I doing this?

While fasting is not a commandment given in God's Word, it is something that was common practice throughout scripture.  This is something I want to incorporate in my life as a follower of Christ, and as a minister.

There is a level of self-denial that needs to be experienced in my own personal life and to the benefit of my spiritual walk.  It's during this time of denial that I will expect to become dependent upon God in a greater way.  I will be incorporating extended times of prayer and devotion in God's Word during these next few weeks as well.

I want to share this experience with my church family as I go along.  Not to impress or show off in some way.  Jesus rebuked those who carried themselves to be noticed for their great spiritual feats.  I could care less about being noticed for not eating for a few weeks.  Food, in eating and preparing, is a love of mine as those close to me know, and cooking great meals for family and friends would be my preference if being noticed is what I truly desired.  I am a great cook!

I assure you, I have done a great deal of research on what to expect spiritually, mentally, and physically.  I will be submitting myself to my spiritual leadership for guidance and observation during this time.

Join me in some way with your own type of fast during the next 40 days.  Pray with me.  Let's seek out God's Word.  Let's lift up those in our communities who are lost and hurting during this time.  Let us yearn to be face to face with God.

Please follow our church, The StoreHouse, on Facebook or Twitter for weekly updates and guidelines to our 40-day fasting experience.