My day seemed destined to be challenged from the moment I awoke.

Physically, I felt fine.  My hunger seems to have subsided quite a bit, although my senses are fully aware of just how much food plays a part in our lives.  I smell it, I see it on the counter, I read posts about it, I hear about the last great meal.

I took some time during my day to try and understand what it really means to be hungry.  Even though I am not feeling it at this moment, I know I am, and my body tells me I need nourishment.  I can't imagine a child or any person being forced to live this way.  Living in a place where they fight for scraps or hunt for rodents.  It's literally survival.

And what do we do in our country of abundance?  We complain because the potatoes were over-salted.  We grimace at frozen lasagna or dry turkey.  I feel ashamed for my lack of gratitude.

Today was a ride!  I felt tossed around from top to bottom.  I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible headache, fell back asleep and woke up feeling great, continuing with a great morning and afternoon.

And then the evening came.

I struggled most of the evening.  Physically, not feeling hungry, but I am definitely feeling lethargic.  I tried my hardest not to "appear to be fasting" at church last night, but I was dragging.  It took a great deal of mental energy just to remain focused on getting work done.

I ended my late day for quite sometime in prayer.  The reality of what I have decided to do seemed to set in.  I was feeling it, and I was praying "God walk beside me over the next few weeks."  This is something I want to bring to Him, and for Him.

Father, help me through this time.  Walk beside me.  Let my focus be on you.

I've made it through the first day of my 40-day fast.  I can't help but wonder if it's okay to start counting down days or not?  If it is, then I've got 39 days to go!

Day one was a good day.  It was a low-key day.  Didn't go in to the office.  The kids laid around watching movies.  I spent some time working from home.  Not too much stress.

Physically I feel good.  Not too hungry.  My stomach did growl a couple of times as my wife prepared dinner for the kids, but nothing too serious.  No headaches or other physical complaints.

I spent a good amount of time in the Word this afternoon.  It was refreshing to read with a renewed purpose in my heart!  Something I feel convicted about and immediately plan to continue.

It was appropriate that our church reading tonight from Matthew 1-7 took me to the 40-day fast Jesus himself went through.  I became somewhat burdened as I realized the spiritual battle that was happening with him during this time.  In the same breath, great peace came to me with the words of Jesus in the same passage, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

I've always thought of that as Jesus saying, "I don't need food, I've got God."  Today it leapt out at me that the point really is, yes, we do need food.  We can't survive too terribly long without it.  So, what then is greater than our physical dependence upon food?  Our spiritual dependence upon God!

If we don't have food to eat, we die.  If we die without God, we live in eternity without God.

And so, then, every word that comes from the mouth of God is far more important than any morsel of bread that could go into mine.

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.

Give thanks to God in all things, even in the midst of your difficulty.

I spent some time walking a few days ago.  I was refreshed by the crisp air and the sound of nature all around me.  But a devastating truth lie everywhere I look.  Death.


We have experienced a severe drought over the last few months.  It has taken its toll on the landscape everywhere.  The grass is brown and dry as hay.  Flowers are withered. The crops are suffering and look poor.  It's a desert land where a typical green lush is usually present.

The heatwave has finally lifted.  Knowing so, I awoke extra early to take advantage of the cool morning air that was to come.

Even in the midst of the drought.  Even in the midst of this dry parched land.  Even in the midst of a dying landscape, I could see the beauty of God.

 A wildflower standing tall and reaching for the heavens.  A weed surviving despite the dead grass all around.  Trees shouting praises as their leaves rustled in the wind.  And birds singing their morning song.

There is hope.  The hope that someday the rain will return, and it will.  With it will come new life and a restoration to the full beauty that God intended.

May our lives reflect that of God's full creation.  May we stand tall, fight, praise his name, and sing no matter what, even in the midst of this drought your are experiencing in your life.

Your circumstance may seem devastating or difficult, but there is hope.  There is hope in Him.  And your hope is knowing His refreshing rain will once again pour over your life.

May you be renewed, refreshed, and restored to reflect the greatness He has brought you to be.

Give thanks to God... in all things!