The other great quote needs a little back story. The Bible teaching came from the book of Daniel. The Babylonian army had scattered the Hebrews and carried some off into exile to Babylon. They were given food from the king's table- comfort food, rich delicacies. So to illustrate, Pastor Tim brought out a shopping cart full of comfort food: baby-back-rib-flavored potato chips, marshmallow fluff, cake, cookies, whipped cream. Then he went back to the verse: "Food from the king's table, and wine! Well, we don't have wine, but oh- look at that, we do have the king of beers right here!" He pulled from the shopping cart a 6-pack of Budweiser. "I'm just gonna leave that on the table and let all the Baptists go crazy!"
Yes, beer in church on a Sunday morning. Totally made my day. Except my day was Monday, as I stated.
The message was actually more fitting for me on Monday than it would have been had I watched it Sunday. I believe God shut off my internet so I would hear the message at the correct time for me. Why did a day make a difference? Well, Monday morning, I woke up, and learned something about an acquaintance that really got under my skin. Not that this person irritated me, but that what I learned just acted as one of those little bee stings that sometimes grabs me and makes me think about my life.
And of course, when I'm thinking about my life, inevitably, I wonder what my future is like and am I ever going to be settled in the relationship department. I have come to a startling realization. I am not the type of girl that the type of guy I'm attracted to, would be attracted to. I am not Mrs. Right. I might be Mrs. Right, for someone. But that someone is not the type of person who would be Mr. Right for me. And that's a problem, because something has to change to correct that. Is it easier for me to change my personality, or my attractions?
So that is what was running through my mind as I watched this sermon. And what I got from the sermon was that we fast because our physical bodies and our spiritual lives are deeply connected. Sacrificing physical desires jumpstarts a spiritual hunger. Historically, those who fast experience a powerful move of God in their lives. Esther fasted with her people in desperation and ended up stopping a holocaust. Daniel fasted with three buddies. Daniel received the gift of prophecy and a miraculous angelic rescue from hungry lions. His three buddies walked with Jesus while a tyrant was attempting to martyr them- and survived. Jesus fasted before starting the most influential ministry the earth will ever see.
So I began to wonder, "Should I fast something, as a way to push through, as a way to realign my relationship with God and realign my desires and attractions with the Mrs. Right God wants me to be?" And if so, what would I fast? I need fats and proteins and carbs because I'm still 4 pounds short of my woefully small weight goal. So I can't do the same fast the church is doing (a Daniel fast- 21 days of nothing but fruits, vegetables, and water). I can't fast caffeine or tea because I haven't been indulging in them much anyway. Its not a sacrifice if you already don't consume it. I haven't even been eating much chocolate lately.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized: I only eat or drink when my body needs it, I rarely self-indulge. I am already tithing my time to God in many ways, and have slacked off on the tv watching. And further, I have felt closer to God in the past month and a half than I can remember being in a long time. So it would appear that I have no need for a fast- I am already doing so without even knowing it. If that is the case, why do I still feel that my priorities are so out of line that they will prevent me from finding a good match?
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