When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.    Daniel 10:2-3 (NLT)

This Sunday we begin our teaching series “Elevate“.  It is the story of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah prays and fasts when he sees the condition of Jerusalem.  I have never really taught about fasting in detail.  To be honest with you, it has not been a part of my life until 2008.  Trust me when I say that I have fasted this year.  God used two things to stir me up in this area.  The first was my dad’s illness where we thought we would lose him.  Thank God my dad is doing great today! (love ya pop)  The second was a book called “Starving Jesus” by Craig Gross and J.R. Mahon.  It tore me a new one spiritually.  Craig and J.R. both did 40 day fasts.  As I write this I have a good friend in my church who is on a 40 day fast.  My daughter Alli did a 20 day fast earlier in the year.  Michelle and the kids fasted for 20 days from meat.  So it has been a new spiritual discipline in the Cremeans’ home.  It’s not easy…part of it really, really stinks (the not eating with your family part especially), and part of it is the most peaceful season you can ever imagine.  There are what I would call psychotic moments and surreal moments.  I have failed at more one day fasts than extended fasts.

Many of you have heard of the “Daniel 21 day fast.”  That is something that I am praying about our entire church doing sometime in January.  For now though, I want to as you to consider joining me on my 21 day fast that will end on September 28th during our Elevate celebration (after church…more on this later).  I’m going to just do the water, juice (I hate juice) and broth).  You can fast at all kinds of levels.  I have a good friend that fasted from TV for 20 days.  I am going more public with this fast than in the past for several reasons.

1. Now that I put it out there I have to follow through.  Blog accountability…
2. I’m hoping some of you will pray for me and for our Elevate series.
3. I’m praying that some of you will jump on and do this fast with me (so far I have partnered on my extended fasts)

Here are a couple of things to think about if you are praying about an extended fast…

• check with your doctor…mine looked at me like I was crazy…but then again I get that a lot.
• bring your spouse and family in on your decision.  They will pay a price as well
• Guard your mind and heart.  You just can’t let yourself meditate on food.  I remember on one fast almost going into a spaghetti trance.  TV commercials can be difficult as well.
• ask a friend to fast with you (I volunteer).  Really, it deepens a relationship.
• Put your scale away.  Losing weight is awesome but it is not the point of fasting.
• Exedrin migraine:  one or two your first couple of days can help with caffeine headaches.

I’ll share some more about this over the next couple of weeks.  For any of you who wonder if I am doing this to impress you…i’m not.  Fasting has made me see just how screwed up I am, while seeing how awesome God truly is.  So don’t go there and don’t let the enemy take you there.