I’m fat now. Because of my current physical state, I accepted a friend’s invitation to a competition called The Biggest Loser. I’ve been planning to lose weight soon anyways and figured the $1000 prize money would be good motivation to eat clean and work out. 2 weeks leading up to the start of The Biggest Loser (TBL), I had dreams that I was completely faithful to my workouts and diet.
It has been a month now and I just now started my diet and haven’t even started my workout plan yet. The first 3-4 weeks were tough because Faith and I had many visitors from out of town come and visit. In order to be good hosts, we acted as foodie guides (I should be a travel & foodie blogger/photographer instead). Korean BBQ. Pizza. Korean Friend Chicken. Tacos. Wings. Banh Mi. Pho. It was 3-4 weeks of non-stop gluttony. After the fourth night of Korean BBQ, I told myself that I couldn’t live like this.
My Resolve to Fast
I was desperate to lose weight and also knew that I needed to work on my spiritual life. My father-in-law has led his church in numerous Daniel Fasts. Although I was never against it, I never participated in fasting. I never thought it was necessary and more than anything, I lacked a theology of fasting.
My body was filled with fat and my spiritual life was lacking spiritual food & nutrients. The Daniel Fast, if done correctly, could be what I needed to help me both physically and spiritually. The plan was to abstain from fatty foods, meat, carbs, and sugars. For my soul, the plan was to read all 4 of the Gospels withing the 21 days. I knew the fast wasn’t easy, but I was ready to change my lifestyle.
Matthew 9: Why Christians Fast
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
In Jesus’s mind, the disciples were to fast once Jesus had died and been resurrected. But as Jesus was still amongst them, there was no need to fast. What does this mean?
Therefore, fasting is longing for the not-yet of the Kingdom. So while Jesus was on Earth, they didn’t fast because the Bridegroom was present. But once He leaves, His disciple’s heart ached for Jesus and His presence. Fasting, therefore, is about longing for Jesus and putting our stomach where our heart is to give added intensity to our ache or longing.
So as we fast, we’re saying, “We want to see people healed, we want to see marriages redeemed, we want to see sinners made new, and we ache and long for this to happen.” When we fast, we’re asking Jesus and the Kingdom to come.
Arabia Mountain
On Saturday, I woke up at 6am to go on a short hike at Arabia Mountain. It was a short hike about 30 minutes east of Atlanta. It was a chilly morning with clouds overhead.
I packed my hiking bag with a banana, an apple, my bible, and my camera. I set out to to reach the top of the peak where I could rest on my ENO Hammock, read God’s word, and pray. Below are the photos from my short hike. I plan on doing this more often. I think its good for my health and spiritual life. Stay tuned for more in the blog!
