The Sweetest of Fasts

Hello, brothers and sisters,

As many of you know, I have been on a fast for the past 40 days... a sugar fast.  I called it the "Sweetest of Fasts" because I wanted this time to be different from other fasts I had done in the past.  This time, I removed things from my life that were 1) keeping me from drawing close to Jesus and 2) unhealthy for my temple (my body). That thing was sugar.  As I shared in my previous post 40 days ago, sugar has been my kryptonite, my go-to, the dopamine fix that got me through various emotions (e.g., anxiety, pain, sadness, anger, boredom, etc.).  I would use sugar to numb those emotions, even if temporarily, instead of going to Jesus in prayer.

Forty days ago, I wasn't sure what "sharing" each day consisted of, but I said I would take you along the journey.  Well, the Holy Spirit had a different plan.  As I started my fast, I heard, "Be still," which indicated that I was not supposed to spend time sharing each step of the way but instead "being" in each step with Jesus.  The Holy Spirit impressed upon me that there was plenty of time after my fast to share what I discovered in my testimony.

So, here we are -- Day 41, re-entry day.  Today, I didn't need to jump back in and consume baked goods, fruit, sweets, oatmeal, or alcohol.  Nor did I feel the need to jump on the scale to see how "successful" I was, as I would have done before.  The fast was not for that purpose.  I will cross that bridge when I get to it. If I want to enjoy something, I will, as it no longer has the grip on me it once did.

The first week (or two) of the fast was hard. I had withdrawal symptoms and constantly thought about what I was missing out on.  However, as I moved past the second week, I dug in. I sat looking out the windows and at our beautiful property, praying, opening my Bible, playing a podcast, reading an inspirational article, or having a great discussion with The Viking. At times when I usually would have turned to sugar in the past, I now turned to Jesus instead.  My desire for sugar-laced foods turned into a desire to get my "dopamine" fix from time with Jesus instead.  As time passed, so did my cravings. As I shared, I didn't turn to a "like for like" sugar-free alternative because that didn't make sense. I wanted to turn to Jesus entirely.  I also discovered what I forgot I knew about nutritious foods. During the fast, I rediscovered protein, fat, and dairy options that gave my body nutrients it was missing (e.g., pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and Brazil nuts, to name a few).  

I didn't need mid-day naps and was up at 5:30ish every day. I also had an increased taste for the Word, an ignited fire to share the Good News, and an increased passion for moving our ministry forward.  During this time, The Viking and I took the recommendations we received last year and created a downloadable 40-Day "Journey with Jesus: A Lenten Reflection" | audio file & study guide.  This project has been a labor of love that has been three years in the making. Through the busyness of life and distracting events, the Lord has been continuously bringing us back to this series and using it to teach us.  This time away from sugar and other distractions was no different; the Holy Spirit's nudges to make that program available to our ministry were strong.  And... we obeyed and did it!  We hope what the Lord impressed upon us to share in the recordings and the written study guide speaks to you.

As we enter a season of Lent this week, I have decided to spend more time with Him, dive into His Word, and genuinely feast on each Word even more.  I will let His love for me penetrate my heart and soul even deeper than before as I fill up and allow it to flow over onto those I come into contact with. I want everyone to discover what I know... that He loves them, just as they are.

I welcome any questions you have and will continue to share "ah ha" moments as they occur.  We would love to hear your testimony and discoveries with too!  

We will always be honored to pray for you or your loved ones.  If you need prayer, please get in touch with us at prayer@tvtlm.org or post on our prayer wall on our site.

I love you!

Kristine Ingraham

The Lioness