Latest / Heartbeat of The Home / 14 - Praying and Fasting to Seek the Lord - With Jersi

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14 - Praying and Fasting to Seek the Lord - With Jersi · Heartbeat of The Home

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks so much for doing this.
• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: No, thank you for having me.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's so fun.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_02: I'm so excited for the topic that we're going to cover.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_02: It's such a fun topic.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_02: I know.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_02: I when I asked you, you were like, I could talk about fasting.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_02: It's like, totally catch you off guard.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no, but I was like, oh my gosh, that's such a that wasn't even on my radar to talk about, but I think it's such a cool topic.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_02: Jersey's here with me today.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, thanks.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: Well, first I just want to say thank you for having me.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I just want to honor you, and that you just are so obedient of what the Lord is asking you to do.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: And this I've listened to I think almost all of your podcasts that who have you've had on, and each one of them, like, there's something I took out of all of them.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, oh, this is so good.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's so fun.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: So just want to honor you in that way.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm Jersey and I am a mom of three kids of Paxton.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: She is 10.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: She's my oldest.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, she has the most empathy, probably for all of us.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: She's like the most kind heart kind-hearted little girl.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: And then West.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: West is eight.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: He'll be nine on in two Sundays.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: He loves to be outside, loves to be in the woods.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: Right before I came here, I was like running around looking for him and he's like digging a hole.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, oh boy.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: And all he asked for for his birthday was a shovel, dirt, and some land.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, I can work on the shovel.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Dirt's in the backyard.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: The land I can't help you with right now.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: And then Ricky, Ricky is six.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: She is the best.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: She is fun, sassy.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: I can tell you how it is.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but so kind.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: And she knows her emotions so well better than I do.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: But that is my kids.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I work at Substance Church.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: I help with all of our said central events.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: And then I'm at our Northwest campus on Sundays, which is so fun.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Hobbies.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, what do I like to do?
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: I love to garden.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Love to garden.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: What do you like to garden?
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Flowers.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I make bouquets.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: And it's just been so fun.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: Last year was the first year that I harvested all the seeds and was able to replant them, and they came up.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, so cool.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's true.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: This is just wild.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: And then I love a good house project.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: I love doing house projects.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's kind of like when I don't like renovation or like created.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that's like a big did a lot of renovations.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Like we redid our kitchen and a lot of things, but little ones like I just last weekend I put a little bench in our uh like a cubby bench thing in our entryway because I needed more storage for the kids' stuff and put hooks and wallpaper and painted.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: And decor.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: I love redecorating things.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: I just love creating space, cozy space for people to just hang out.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: What's your favorite thing about being a mom?
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Ooh, probably just uh watching them like grow and like when they finally like get something, when they when you're like teaching and even like preaching and like getting something to stick in their um brains.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: I was talking to my son the other night and yeah, he was talking about like how you know he his anxiety, a lot of anxiety.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: And he was just like, Yeah, my heart's like this big, mom, but like I only have like a little dent in my heart now.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: He's like, Jesus is healing my heart.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: He's like, that's where like my anxiety kind of lives and where the devil is.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: But if I just know if I just pray, the dent is gonna come out.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, ah, you're getting it.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: You're getting it, really not relying on the Lord, which is so cute, but also heartbreaking, you know.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's like so sad.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, just like hearing what they're learning and watching them grow and becoming who the Lord has and what the Lord has for them in their future, and they're calling, that's what it is.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: They're calling.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to see because you can kind of see it and you can quite kind of call it out, and but you're like, what is it gonna be?
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: So that's exciting.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_02: So we uh kind of introduced it at the beginning.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_02: So why are you so passionate about fasting?
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so I I didn't start fasting until I was oh maybe 25-ish.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: But the Lord calls us to fast.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's one of the disciplines that the Lord has asked us to do, and I've seen my life transform and uh had prayers answered, and even like some things in my life just like expedited because of prayer and fasting.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: And the Lord has taught me a ton of things during prayer and fasting, and things that I was like, that's not really what I was praying and fasting for, but Lord, I see what you were doing, and thank you for redirecting me to that and things that I prayed and fast for.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: The Lord's like, Jersey, you do not want that.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: Like, that is not what you want, you know.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, no, I I I do.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna fast more and fast longer.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: And he's like, no, Jersey, that's not no, no, no, no, no.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: So I just love what the intimacy that the Lord and I have like built during our my prayer and fasting time.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, I don't know.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: I just and it's something that like we can do for each other also.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I have friends text me or I text friends and it's like, this is what's going on.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: Can you pray and fast?
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: I need it, blah, blah, blah, this time or whatever.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_00: And so it's like we're praying and fasting until the thing happens, you know.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_00: And then it builds the other person's faith to seeing the miracles that happen when you invite more people into your disciplines of brain and fasting, they can see the miracles happen too, which is super cool.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's not just for me, you know, it's like showing them what the Lord is doing that I love.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I love that perspective too of inviting friends into it and like doing it for other people.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_02: Cause I think a lot of times it's kind of like fasting for yourself, which isn't bad.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_02: That's like obviously not bad.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_02: But I think, yeah, you don't really think about like, oh, let me pray and fast for you.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_02: Like, or they share like a big they have something big coming up in their life.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_02: It's like, oh yeah, we can do it for each other.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: Well, there has been times too where I have not like had like capacity in any kind of way where I am able to pray and fast.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: So like having other people pray and fast for me is just kind of like the body, what the body of Christ does, right?
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Like, and I know there's plenty of times where I've fasted and prayed for people where I and not that I'm like, hey, I'm praying and fasting for you, but like in my own time, I'm praying and fasting for them because I know they don't have the bandwidth to even think of what you know, if especially if there's like a huge life event that happened or like uh their kids in the hospital or something, it's like, well, I'm over here praying and fasting for you, and they don't need to know that, you know, but it's just it's like we can do it together or for each other.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_02: That's so beautiful.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_02: I think even just you're saying when they don't have the capacity, or like if you don't have the capacity, but asking that of a friend, yeah, that's so cool.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_00: I know like my daughter uh Ricky, she was uh hospitalized last summer for Guambray, and it was I don't know if you know what Guillombray is, but like it starts in your legs and then it goes in your arms and then it can go to your heart and um you can stop breathing kind of, but we caught it really early.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: But I had friends praying because I was in the hospital.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_00: We were in the ICU for seven days because she had to be ha be on treatments and I couldn't fast or pray.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: I couldn't, I didn't even uh truthfully that's probably bad, but I wasn't even thinking about fasting.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: But I had friends that were yeah praying and fasting for me.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: So I was like, thank you, Jesus, for the people that thought of it and prayed and fast for my little girl, you know.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: So what actually is fasting then?
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so fasting is it's like starving your flesh to feed your spirit.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: Well, okay, so in the truest form, uh true sense, it's a process of abstaining from something for the purpose of worship, prayer, and self-discipline.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: Like I was saying before, it's like starving your flesh to feed your spirit.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: It's so like you're not just you're not just fasting and going to binge out on Netflix, or you're gonna go in and feed your spirit with like the word and worship and prayer and you know, all the things.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_00: So really it's and there's many types of different fasts that you can do.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: It's not just strictly a food fast, you know, you can fast social media, you can fast TV and uh you can fast shopping.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: Like if you're you need a financial goal and you're like, oh, I'm gonna, you know, fast.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: So basically starving your flat, your flesh, your your fleshly needs or wants, I should say, to feed your spirit and give have the Lord give you direction on what you're where you're going or what you need to get to the those goals, even.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: So then what type of fasts can you do?
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like I said, there's plenty of fasts.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: Biblical biblical fasts are no food, strictly water, you know.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_02: However, it's not easy, yeah, and it can take time to get to that.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I my first fast, I did, I think I did a social media fast, maybe.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: I don't, I don't remember.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: But then I was like, okay, and that I think I was I I just had West, so I was nursing him, I was postpartum, what all the things.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_02: Which I think is good to talk about too of you can fast like while pregnant.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_02: Totally.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_02: And it doesn't, yes, but there it's not gonna have to be food related.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_02: Or yeah, if it is food related, it could be like no sweets, yes, or like skipping your morning coffee, totally, or uh your favorite snack or like desserts.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's something where it's like you like it's a little painful to get so good.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, like it is altered, totally, especially when you're pregnant or nursing or any kind of medical compromise.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, consult your doctor before you're not eating for 20 blind days, okay.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um however, the Lord has called us to hard things.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: So if I think you can push yourself to, yeah.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: I'll just stay go there.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: But I like I said, I started with a social media fast, but then I there was one year that I felt I was I felt like the Lord was telling me to fast coffee.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: And this was where I was at a point where I would drink a pot of coffee every morning.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: And it just like really, I don't think it affected me really.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: And I wasn't um, I didn't notice how much I was drinking, but I was like, this is kind of a lot of coffee that I'm drinking.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so I felt like the Lord was like, give up coffee.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: And that's like another thing I want to address too is like seek the Lord on what he wants you to fast.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: Like just don't be like, I think I'm gonna do social media this time.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, no, ask the Lord what is like a distraction or what is like something that he wants you to fast.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: And so that it was coffee.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: And I kid you not, I the first day, first two days, I was on the couch all day, like sleeping, like sick, headache, all the things, and everyone's like, oh, I think you're coming down with something.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, why are we like minimizing the fact that I'm just addicted to coffee and you guys are like being so kind and no, you're just I think you're sick.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: It's like no.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_00: I was I was fully addicted to coffee.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: But then I got my, you know, after the 21-day fast, I got a Keurig and I limit myself two cups in the morning now.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: So there was purpose and a good outcome for that.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_00: And then I would I remember I did my first 24 hour fast and I thought I was gonna die.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: I literally was like, this is so hard.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: But I did like food?
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, food, yes, sorry, food, food fast.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: It was 24 hours.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, I there's no way, there's no way I'm gonna last.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: I lasted, I survived.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: But then I went to a three-day liquid only fast, and then I went to a five-day liquid only fast, and then a seven, and then a 10.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: And then this January, past January, I did a 21-day liquid only fast.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: And when I say liquid only, I do coffee, electrolytes, water, and um, I had a ta I had tonic water because it gave me that little sugar, little energy.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_00: But and then once in a while I'd have like a diet coke if I had like a long day at work, if it was you know a 12-hour day.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: But everyone's like, Well, don't you do smoothies or protein shakes?
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, that is liquid.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, bone broth.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: I did bone broth too.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: I don't like a protein shake, I don't like smoothies.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_00: So I just never did them.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: But in a lot of things, that's good.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: That makes sense that you did bone, you added in bone broth.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, bone broth added a little.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: And they have those instant bone broths now that are like not the best, but there's they work, they do they're they work on the go.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: And so, and whenever I do like a 21-day liquid only, or I've only done one of those, but like some kind of liquid-only fast, I'm out, I'm take I'm taking away social media, I'm taking away TV, any kind of distraction that will suck me back into like not a good state, I I just eliminate for those days.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: So it's almost like a a full reset almost to that extent.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_02: Which that's a really cool perspective too, because I feel like I could see myself if I did a 21-day liquid only fast to like quote unquote get through the day, just like let me just watch a show.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_02: Sure.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_02: Or like, let me scroll because like I'm so hungry.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_02: Like just something to distract yourself.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_02: Which, like, but that is kind of the whole point of fasting, is like when you're hungry and kind of the quote unquote starving yourself to like draw closer to God, and so to eliminate any distractions for that not to happen, where you would just binge.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_02: That's really cool.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: So I just get in the word or listen a lot of worship music.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes I would just sit and listen and be like, Lord, what do you have?
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_02: But not, you know, I don't always do it perfect, but so how have you invited your kids into fasting?
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so this is like the first, I feel like, year that they've actually participated, but they've always maybe maybe two years ago, actually, because we said no TV in January at all, and that was during the fast.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: And that was brutal.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: Uh mid like winter, like dead of winter, no TV.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't even think about that.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_02: So thankfully we're going to sets at 4 p.m.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_02: Oh gosh, yes.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: Thankfully, we had a Y membership at the time.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: So we would we did a lot of swimming, but and then we would do Friday night uh family movie nights.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: So that was our one rule breaker.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_00: This uh January, my oldest got baptized, so she decided to fast before.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_00: And she fasted sweets, which she's like my sweets girl, loves anything, chocolate, you know.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: And I remember the first night, she I'm sure she was tired from school and all the things and just lost it.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: And she's like, I don't want to fast anymore.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, you can do it.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: She's like, I don't want to.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, just one day at a time, you know, just pumping her up and she's like, This is some not what I want to do.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, you don't have to, but we can do it together, you know.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_00: But also, I don't truthfully, I don't even know what she was praying and fasting for.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: I think it was so simple as like, I want to do good on a test, or I want to do good in school.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: And she kind of struggles with anxiety too.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like helping her, like, hey, you can ask the Lord to heal that part of your anxiety too, of like the work, the homework, the stress of all of it.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but she would also be like, Mom, like it's so-and-so's birthday.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: Can I have the cake?
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I'm like, totally, you're you're 10.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_00: You can have the cake and this the occasional.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: And that's also, I love um what our pastors do too, because they make a calendar.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: They have a ton of um birthdays in January.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_00: So they will like, okay, we'll do this fast through this time, and then we'll have cake for our daughter's birthday, or we'll go out to dinner for our daughter's birthday, and then we'll continue our fast and then stop here for our other daughters or son, whatever's birthday it is.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_00: And then, you know, and they travel too.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like they they really are intentional about picking when they fast and stuff.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: For me, I'm just like an all or nothing girl.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm like, if we're fasting, we're fasting, um, which is a downside because you know, then I'm a little harder on the kids.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: And um, and then Ricky, she fasted for the first time this year too, and she loves beef sticks.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: Like it's, you know, just her thing.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_00: She loves beef sticks.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: We'll have them for snack and come home from school and have them.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it's just beef sticks for dinner and whatever, whatever.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_00: I buy at least the, you know, the healthy kind.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: She fasted beef sticks.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, I don't even care what you're fasting for.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: The fact that you're giving these up and then so intentional about like something you love, you're giving up to fast and hear from the Lord and pray.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, oh, that's so special and so sweet.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: I don't remember how the fast ended for her.
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think she made it through the 21 days, but it was it was so fun and cute.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_00: And during the fast, the kids will always know when I'm fasting because I'm there's worship music on at all times.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, my Bible's out on the kitchen table and just like my notebook, and and I always buy these um body armor uh electrolytes, and they'll see them and they'll be like, mom's fasting again, and just inviting them into that and just and even like telling them what you're praying and fasting for.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_00: There was one time I have a little story of fasting and praying back at my old house.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_00: It was smaller, and at that point I was like, I don't want to move, I want to be in this house forever.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_00: I want to raise my kids in this house.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: It's the first house, our first house.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_00: And but I need a bigger kitchen.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, the kitchen's small.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_00: And so um got a contractor.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: He came and looked, he's like, okay, we can push it out.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_00: He sent me next day, sent me the email of the contract, and um I just had one question.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, Are you demoing or am I?
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_00: Or are you getting rid of this stuff or am I?
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I just that was the one question.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_00: And he ghosted me.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, this is weird.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, for some reason, I just didn't have like peace to like reach out to him, or I wasn't like, hey, why aren't you getting back to me or anything?
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: It was just like I just felt like the Lord was like, leave it.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: And so I was like, now what?
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_00: And the Lord is like fast and pray.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, fast nothing, fast and pray.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_00: And so here we go.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: Fast and prayed.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_00: Nothing really happened.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_00: And then I think it was like three days after I finished the fast, my kid's dad came up and he was like, I think I want to sell the house.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, that was never in the plans, never in the literally nothing.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_00: He was like, We're gonna stay here forever.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_00: And I was so like stuck on staying, and we were excited, you know, this is gonna be our forever home.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_00: And then I was like, okay.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like excited about it.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, great, let's let's do it.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_00: And then came into a season of praying and fasting again of like, what do we want for a house, right?
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_00: And so inviting the kids into that, they were pretty young.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: That was like six years ago, so they were pretty young at that time, but they could they saw my list of the things I wanted, and and I got everything, almost everything in the house.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_00: Even down, like I I even like on my list, which is so silly.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: I had like doors, you know, the doors to the bedrooms.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_00: They're my at my old house, we're just flat.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, I don't I want like grooves in my doors, like a little, you know, something that is a little bit more, I don't even know how to explain it.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, unique, you know, some character, some character to my doors.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_00: That and that they they have them and a front porch.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_00: You don't get like uh front porches these days, and people call like their little stoop thing a porch.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, no, mine's like an actual wraparound white railing porch, and I was just like, Lord, thank you.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_00: I also prayed that I could have chickens, I wanted chickens, and in Elk River, you have to have 2.5 acres to have 12 chickens.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_00: I have about an acre.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_00: I just want four chickens.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm like, why can't you know, there can't be a little negotiation?
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_00: No.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: But then I was just sitting there the other day and I'm like, Lord, if I would have had chickens, I don't think I would have done it.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_00: Like you knew that I couldn't handle it.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_00: So you were like, Jersey, that's cute that you want those.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: That's like that's awesome.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_00: But you're not gonna be able to handle it.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: Like, and to be completely honest, I'm terrified of birds.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I am so scared of like anything that flies just like actually makes me like it's so weird.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: It makes me gag the sound of them.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just like it just so it would have been in your backyard daily.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_02: Totally, yeah.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm like, I want the fresh eggs, you know.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: We eat so many eggs a day.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_00: We have to go through like 10.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm like, I'll make the kids go through deal with it.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: Like, that's what we said about the dog, you know.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: I feed the dog, but they help.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm just like, thank you, Lord, for like not answering that prayer how I wanted to answer, because you know me so much better than I know myself.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_00: I think I it's a great idea to have chickens.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and so the kids would like saw the list, and you you know, even now, like in the my journal, I can point it out to them and be like, kids, look, you know, like look at the Lord provided for us and gave.
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_00: And not because I was so obedient and you know, was so legalistic about my praying and fasting.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_00: It's just like I spent time and sought the Lord and seeked him and like was had I have this like intimate relationship with him.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's all like he wants, you know.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: And so I think he bl you know blesses those who seek him.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I felt that.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I think that's something good to mention too of praying and fasting.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: Isn't you're not gonna get something out of it every time.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_02: You're not going, it's not a guarantee like, okay, well, I'm praying fasting to find a house.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_02: So the day that my fast ends, God's going to someone's gonna call me and bring it home.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_02: Right, right.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_02: Um, or like everything you're going to for sure get the answers, even that you want, or even answers at all.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_02: But I think kind of like you said, it's the discipline and willing to surrender that and to like go through it and willing to seek him and just like surrendering that to him is just yeah, it kind of also like I have another story about praying fasting.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_00: I everything was like normal in my life.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_00: I had nothing that I was like, oh, I need this, or Lord, I'm looking for this, or I need answers for this.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_00: And but I had a friend that was trying to get pregnant, and so I was like, okay, I'll pray and fast for you know them.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_00: And um, I was uh maybe midway through our fast.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_00: And I was just like so angry.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, Lord, why haven't you blessed this couple with a child yet?
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_00: Like they have done enough, like they serve you, they're great people, they're kind, they're fun, you know, and they they they so desperately want a baby.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_00: And you like, why haven't you haven't why haven't you blessed them yet or given them life?
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_00: And he was like, Jersey, I see things you don't see.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, like it was like so audible that like I knew it was from the Lord.
• 23:21
  SPEAKER_00: It was like not like a thought I would come up with, you know.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_00: And I was just like, oh great, what are they doing that I don't know?
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_00: Are they like like bad people?
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_00: Are they like, you know, secret addiction somewhere, you know, like just not that he won't bless that, like yeah, but I'm just like, what what what what do you mean you don't see or you see things I don't see?
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_00: What are they doing?
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_00: And then come the end of the fast.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't hear anything else from the Lord, and but still was like praying for them and hoping for them.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_00: And two days after the fast, she came up to me and she was told me she was pregnant, but she was 14 weeks pregnant, so she was already pregnant before, but that was that was in a season where I didn't feel like I was hearing from the Lord.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_00: But the fact that like I specifically heard, I see things you don't see, he knew she was pregnant, he saw that she was pregnant, but it gave me confirmation that Jersey, no, you can hear from the Lord, you do listen and he will talk to you.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_00: Just have to ask the right questions, I think, and be willing to be okay with the answers that you're getting, if that makes sense.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_02: No, that's true.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_02: I think that is a good perspective of being okay with the answers because, like, again, you're praying and fasting for specific things, but he sees things we don't see, and he has like a bigger, better plan than we do.
• 24:39
  SPEAKER_02: And if we like submit to that and like truly seek him and find him, it's kind of I'm like forgetting the verse, but it's kind of like you know, that like ask and you'll receive, but the beginning of that verse, like seek me and find me, right?
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_02: And it's like ask and will receive like the desires of our hearts, but I should look at the verse, but it's like, but if we are seeking him, he will give us the desires of our hearts, but the desires of our hearts will be his will.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_02: Totally.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_02: And so it's kind of like a cycle of like, okay, but it's like what we want, but it's if we're really in tune with God, then it's like we want his plan, right?
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_02: And so whatever happens is his plan.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: And you gotta be okay.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_00: And I was just cool, I just thought it was cool that like I was in such like a season where I was like, I'm not hearing from the Lord, and that that little something, like it was not about that couple, yeah, right.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_00: It was about me like hearing from the Lord again and being like, no, Jersey, you do hear from him.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_02: And he was just so kind, yeah, to like he like answered what you were praying and fasting for before you even before you even started.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_00: It's just like you think you're you're you're praying and fasting for something.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_00: It's like something totally different of like what you need.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: And it's not always what you want, or you're like, oh Lord, how are we gonna do this?
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: You know, but he always shows up and he always I don't know, he's always there.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: Well, how often do you fast?
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_00: Well, for sure, when I'm needing to make a big decision, or when I feel like the Lord, well, the other night, this was maybe I don't know, a month ago, I I could not sleep.
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_00: And all I was just like praying and praying for other people, and the Lord's like surrender and fast, and I'm like, again.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, again.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_00: And so I'm like, okay.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_00: So anytime I hear the Lord ask me to um do that, anytime our uh pastors ask us to fast and like a church wide fast, like doing it together again, it's fun.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_00: So you you want to be participating in that.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_00: And then when I'm making a big decision, or when I feel like my kids are struggling with something, and I'm like, I don't know how to help or fix what you're going through.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, let's seek the Lord together and fast.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_00: And oh, and there was a time I was leading freedom at our Northwest campus or West Side at the time, and we would meet on Wednesdays and I'd fast every Wednesday just for the people of like being a being being able to experience freedom and just uh an open heart, you know.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_00: So back then it was once a week.
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_00: I would say probably at least once every two months.
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think there is different fast, right?
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: Like there's that really hard, long fast that you are doing, but then there's like these like our tailgate Sunday.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_00: I I think one of our uh leaders was like, I just sense that we need to be pra praying and fasting that people like come and um experience the joy and let's be praying for the new people.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_00: And so it was like a three-day three-day quick fast, you know.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_00: And so yeah, it just all depends when and what's going on and that kind of thing.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_00: I also don't think there has to be somebody dying or something like a major life-altering decision for you to fast and pray.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_00: It could be as simple as I have this decision at work I need to make, and I it could be this one or it could be this one.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, I need I need your help deciding, you know.
• 28:09
  SPEAKER_00: And so, or like what school your kid needs to go.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_00: That is a pretty pretty big one.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_00: But like it, yeah, it can you you can fast and pray for simple asks or prayers that you just are like wanting the Lord's guidance on too.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think sometimes everyone's like, I don't have a diagnosis, I'm not moving, yeah.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: My marriage isn't falling apart, or my kid isn't away from God, or you know, it's it can be just like you're like literally it it could be like Lord, I need your guidance how to get my child to sleep, you know, and especially the new moms, like that time is hard trying to figure out a schedule.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and praying and fasting, it's just like Lord, give me the wisdom on what to do with this child, right?
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_00: Every kid is different, not every kid is gonna have the same kind of bed routine or whatever.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_00: So I think you can pray and fast for I don't want to say small things, but small things.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, yeah, that's such a good idea.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I was even like, okay, what other things of like sleep?
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_02: If food is really difficult, if you're or if they're not taking a bottle and you're like, I have to go back to work and I'm getting really nervous that they're refusing a bottle, like pray and fast about that.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_02: What does God want to remain?
• 29:16
  SPEAKER_02: It's not even and the Lord cares.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh you know, he cares about those little things.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I have some friends that are just like, the Lord doesn't care about that.
• 29:23
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, He sure does.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_02: If he gave you grooves on your doors and you're he cares how your kid is eating, like for sure cares about the little tiny things, and like he wants and that's the thing too, that I think it's so cool that like he wants to reveal himself to you, and like he wants to meet you where you're at.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_02: And not saying that he's not going to unless you pray and fast, because that's not true either.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_02: I think he's going to meet you where you're at.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_02: And I feel like, even like you said, even he knows when you don't have the capacity and when you're feel buried in it, and so maybe he will prompt someone to do it for you, or if you pray about maybe he will just like reveal himself to you in that.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_02: But looking at it in that sense, even just as a discipline, right?
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_02: I'm struggling with this, I'm willing to surrender this and like give up this coffee or whatever, so that you can like reveal to me, I'm like, I need help in this decision, or like what bottle should I use?
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_02: Or like, why aren't they?
• 30:16
  SPEAKER_00: And maybe he'll he'll reveal like it on a commercial or something.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, or like a friend's like, Oh my gosh, I just try to new bottle amazing.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_02: It might be on clearance at Target, and you're like, Hey, it's on sale, might as well try it.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_02: Quote unquote little things because they're not little, nope.
• 30:30
  SPEAKER_02: They are really especially at the time.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_02: Do you ever feel like you get any judgment for fasting?
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_00: So, I mean, I do fast quite a bit, and I do I do feel like I remember one time it was I was in a season of just yeah, desperately hearing from the Lord for a decision for our family, and uh, that's when I decided to do the 21-day fast.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_00: And this is where you have to you you have to really remind yourself about the enemy because he can come in and just eat away at your your thoughts and just put thoughts into your um head, and um, you have to protect your heart too.
• 31:04
  SPEAKER_00: And so very I'm very careful for what who to not to who I listen to, but for what the words that come out of people's mouths when I'm fasting, even protecting like drawing your heart, yeah, yeah.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_00: Protecting who I hang out with in that time, or oh, especially like if I'm fasting.
• 31:23
  SPEAKER_00: Like today, I I knew I was doing this podcast and I was uh talking with a friend, and I was like, hey, we cannot talk about this topic today.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_00: Not fasting, a different talk topic that we were talking about in yesterday.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, I don't want to talk any more about it, um, because I am doing a podcast on fasting, and I can see it like going down the wrong path, and the enemy will use it and he will mess with my brain and my thoughts.
• 31:50
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, we will continue this conversation tomorrow after I'm done talking about fasting and praying.
• 31:55
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 31:56
  SPEAKER_00: And but being aware of that kind of stuff is is big.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_00: Ignore that comment and let's continue in seeking the Lord.
• 32:03
  SPEAKER_00: Like, don't put any weight or thought into that comment where it could really mess with you during that time of praying and fasting when you're already so depleted.
• 32:13
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I was like, are you kind of vulnerable?
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_02: Totally.
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_02: You totally are.
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_02: I know I am.
• 32:17
  SPEAKER_00: I'm hungry, I'm you know, tired, I'm probably lonely, you know, because fasting it can be lonely sometimes, you know, because um there is a Bible verse that so in Matthew 6 it says, but when you fast for some time, you should wash your face, make your hair look nice.
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_00: Then other people will not know that you are doing a special thing.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_00: But God, your father, will know you do not see him, but he sees what you do secretly in return.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_00: He will give you good things.
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_00: So, what I and how I interpret it that verse is like no one should really know that you're fasting.
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_00: You should not be crabby, you should not be walking around being like, oh, I'm fasting, or like, oh, I can't do that because I'm fasting, or just like it should not be broadcast.
• 33:01
  SPEAKER_00: I remember I was so excited because this is so maybe like a little proud moment and probably not in a good way, but I remember on day 17 of my 21-day fast, a coworker had no idea that I did not eat.
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_00: And the only reason that she found out is because I looked like hell.
• 33:18
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, my face was so pale, like I was like, I looked ill.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_00: And I work with my sister too, and she's like, Jersey, you do not look good.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, I know, but you know, we can do it.
• 33:30
  SPEAKER_00: And she's like, and my coworker's like, you're you haven't eaten for 20 or for 17 days.
• 33:34
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, yes.
• 33:35
  SPEAKER_00: And she's like, how did I not know?
• 33:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, yes, that's that's what it's about, because it's not to boost me or to boost my ego or to like look at me.
• 33:45
  SPEAKER_00: I'm fasting, you know, like it should be between me and the Lord.
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_00: And um, our pastor actually, he has a great blog if you guys, if anyone needs more resources, more resources on fasting praying.
• 33:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it talks about how to fast and what to do and blah, blah, blah, all the things.
• 34:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but he says fasting should not affect your day-to-day life.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_00: Like you should walk into work, and yes, you're gonna be tired, yes, you're gonna be hungry, yes, you're gonna be maybe a little cranky, but it should not like cause you to not be able to do your job.
• 34:16
  SPEAKER_00: You might do your job 80% instead of 100%, but like nobody, again, nobody should really know you're fasting and praying.
• 34:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um when I was doing my 21-day liquid only fast, my son was like, Mom, are you gonna eat so you're so you're not crabby with your coworkers?
• 34:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, No, but am I crabby towards you?
• 34:36
  SPEAKER_00: He's like, just a little bit.
• 34:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, forgive me, forgive me.
• 34:39
  SPEAKER_00: But I thought that was always such a good reminder of like it should not affect your like you're going too hard right away.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_00: It's kind of like bringing back to like start small, you know, it should not it should be hard, but it you you need to continue to do your daily life, especially if you're a mom, you still need to attend to your kids, you still need to feed them, they still need to like is there gonna be an extra show of bluey?
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 35:07
  SPEAKER_00: I'll give that to you, you know.
• 35:08
  SPEAKER_00: But they're not gonna get the they shouldn't be getting the iPad all day, you know?
• 35:13
  SPEAKER_00: Like it should be a normal day.
• 35:15
  SPEAKER_00: What is a reason not to fast?
• 35:18
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, I think there could be multiple reasons not to fast.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_00: I think one could be like the season of life you're in.
• 35:27
  SPEAKER_00: So I feel like I did my 21-day fast, liquid only.
• 35:31
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like that is the bar now.
• 35:34
  SPEAKER_00: Like that is what I have to do.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_00: And the Lord quickly corrected me and he was like, No, no, no, I didn't ask you to fast, do a liquid only fast.
• 35:43
  SPEAKER_00: I just asked you to fast and pray.
• 35:45
  SPEAKER_00: Like you didn't ask me what you should fast, you know.
• 35:47
  SPEAKER_00: So I, you know, I was like, well, in my brain, in my mind, that's I did that.
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_00: So that's what we're gonna do.
• 35:52
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna do a liquid only fast for even, I think it was, it wasn't even the full 21 days, but it was like maybe three to five days.
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_00: I I couldn't do it.
• 36:00
  SPEAKER_00: But it was like the season of life I'm in right now, I can't do that.
• 36:05
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I I tried, and the Lord was like, no, no, he shut that down real quick.
• 36:11
  SPEAKER_00: And I I actually felt like a failure.
• 36:14
  SPEAKER_00: And then I had a friend remind me of like everything I was going through, and like she was like, Did the Lord ask you to do that?
• 36:20
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, I felt like the Lord asked me to pray and fast, but maybe not liquid only, you know.
• 36:27
  SPEAKER_00: So I think season of life definitely has should or should not fast.
• 36:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um, another reason you shouldn't fast if it you're only doing it for yourself, like your ego of like, look at me, or because peer pressure.
• 36:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I again, you have to seek the Lord and what he wants you to do.
• 36:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think that's probably the most important thing is is the Lord calling you to do it?
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_00: I think he calls us to pray and fast more than we probably pray and fast.
• 36:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 36:54
  SPEAKER_00: Because he wants that time with us.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_00: He wants to draw near to us, he wants us to come closer to him.
• 36:59
  SPEAKER_00: But if you're just doing it to be like, look at me, I don't think you'll honor that.
• 37:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I think again, once you see the miracles happening in your life, and once you are like, even if it's like not the miracle you thought of or the answer you thought of, you're like, oh well, he had a different plan.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_00: And if I, you know, I seek him, I he will give me the answer or like the guidance or the clarity or whatever you need, he he will be there, you know.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think that is so energizing or like makes you want to do it more, especially when you're like, I think once you finish the fast, whether you hear from the Lord or not, or once whether you get your answer or not, you're like, Oh, I did it.
• 37:40
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I did something hard and I did it with the Lord, you know.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, which is fun and cool.
• 37:45
  SPEAKER_00: That is really cool.
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_00: Perspective.
• 37:47
  SPEAKER_00: One of the fasts I was doing, I just had this, it was this like make or break moment.
• 37:52
  SPEAKER_00: And I was had two things that I was praying for.
• 37:56
  SPEAKER_00: It was really black and white.
• 37:58
  SPEAKER_00: And I was hoping for one thing, and I really actually thought the Lord would allow this option, we'll call it, you know, it's to to happen.
• 38:07
  SPEAKER_00: And it's like that, like, Lord, I'm like, I'm all in, I'm like praying, I'm fasting, seeking you, I'm getting your wisdom.
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I know you can do a miracle, and I know you want to restore things.
• 38:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so I was I was pretty confident that that's what he was gonna do.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_00: At the end of the fast, the Lord made it very clear and exposed things.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_00: I was so devastated, but I was like, thank you, God, for giving me an answer or thank you for like being there and giving me clarity and just showing me like you are still in it.
• 38:40
  SPEAKER_00: And uh if we seek you and you will give us the answers that may not be comfortable and may not be what we want.
• 38:48
  SPEAKER_00: But if you continue to seek him, he'll show you the goodness that will come out of like the bad of a situation, right?
• 38:57
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I just remember just in that moment of like finding, like discovering and just again, just devastated, but like so grateful.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_00: Like thank you, Lord, that you're here.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you that you are redeeming me.
• 39:13
  SPEAKER_00: And like there is good plans that you have for our lives and for my life, you know.
• 39:20
  SPEAKER_00: But I think that one was probably the hardest, especially because I was so confident.
• 39:24
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I was like, you know, we got this, Lord, like we we will do this together, you know.
• 39:28
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that's another example of like even if we're asking questions and we're like really seeking Him, I think we can still go in with expectations, expectations and like hopefully.
• 39:38
  SPEAKER_00: But the Lord knows again what you need and He sees things you're not seeing.
• 39:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, and He knows and He like has even bigger and better plans for us that like aren't things that we would think, but also aren't necessarily things that other people would think too, you know, and even I think that's why it's like even decision making.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_02: If you make a decision, even like for the house of like, oh, we should move, we feel like God's calling us all these things, like it might other people might be like, Why?
• 40:05
  SPEAKER_02: Like, why are you moving there?
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_02: Why are you moving now?
• 40:07
  SPEAKER_02: Like, this doesn't make any sense.
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_02: Even fasting and just being really in tune of like, okay, but I've prayed and fasted, and because I've like really seeked God, that it's like it gives you another confidence of walking forward, even if it seems crazy to you.
• 40:21
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, for sure.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_00: No, I was so I was so sure on my decision I had to make, and it wasn't the norm.
• 40:29
  SPEAKER_00: Again, it's like these voices come in, and you know, friends and mentors, and they're like saying things, and you're like, No, no, no, I'm so confident.
• 40:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I think once you have fasted and you are confident in what the Lord is speaking to you, you can you can do anything.
• 40:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, you can truly do anything, you can get through anything.
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_00: You can help.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I I also want to touch on real quick, um, when you say, or we we were both were talking about um nobody needs to know, nobody like should know what you're fasting for.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_00: I also I think that verse and what when he's talking about that, it's like nobody like you shouldn't be gloating about it or having pride about it.
• 41:09
  SPEAKER_00: But like I think it is important to invite your friends into it.
• 41:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um, don't do especially your first fast, don't do it alone.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_00: You know, grab like your couple girlfriends, your mom friends, your sisters, your family, anyone, your husband, you know, and fast together.
• 41:24
  SPEAKER_00: And um again, because then that creates that when you see a miracle, then your friend sees that miracle and it builds their faith.
• 41:32
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's super cool.
• 41:34
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so when I'm fast and pray too, I have dreams, very vivid dreams from the Lord.
• 41:39
  SPEAKER_00: That's the only time I dream.
• 41:40
  SPEAKER_00: I don't dream any other time.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_00: So I know it's from the Lord.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_00: That's cool.
• 41:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's cool, but also like, ugh, I don't want to, you know.
• 41:46
  SPEAKER_00: So I had a dream about this this girl, and she was um, we have prayer at work, and we were in that setting in my um dream.
• 41:54
  SPEAKER_00: And the Lord's like, you need to go up to her and confirm that she is okay to leave her job.
• 41:59
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, I ain't doing that.
• 42:02
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I ain't gonna tell her that the Lord's telling her to leave her job.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you're right.
• 42:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I didn't actually.
• 42:07
  SPEAKER_00: And um, six months later, she pulls me to a table and she's like, I just have to tell you that I am leaving.
• 42:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, No way, like I knew because the Lord told me.
• 42:19
  SPEAKER_00: But I I actually had to tell her that I had that dream when I was praying and fasting, and she starts like crying.
• 42:25
  SPEAKER_00: And she's like, Jersey, it is still so hard for me to actually leave this job, but you just gave me confirmation again that I'm doing the right thing.
• 42:33
  SPEAKER_00: And so it's like, okay, so I wasn't obedient the first time.
• 42:36
  SPEAKER_00: The Lord gave me a second shot of like and still used it.
• 42:39
  SPEAKER_00: So I thought that was super kind of the Lord to like redeem me not being obedient and insane.
• 42:46
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's hard when you get words and things for people because you're like, I I don't know.
• 42:51
  SPEAKER_00: This could be, this couldn't be, take it what it is, you know.
• 42:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he's so kind, he is gracious and like there's so much grace too when there's fasting, so much grace.
• 43:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think we have to remind ourselves of that multiple times during the fast, too.
• 43:05
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you know, yeah, and it's hard.
• 43:07
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I think even all this, like I think this is so cool because it's given so many practical tips and tools, but like again, it is hard.
• 43:15
  SPEAKER_02: Like, it's not supposed to be easy.
• 43:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's it's not the Lord call calls us to hard things, you know.
• 43:21
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he doesn't yeah, it's not always easy.
• 43:26
  SPEAKER_02: And and again, I feel like we've said a few times, but like it doesn't have to be perfect.
• 43:30
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's when I went into my first one.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_02: I don't really know that much about fasting.
• 43:34
  SPEAKER_02: I've heard about fasting, I think I'm supposed to fast, and so it's like Daniel fast, cool.
• 43:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I tried it and it was like so hard.
• 43:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I was like because it's no sugar, right?
• 43:46
  SPEAKER_02: And so I was literally reading the cans of beans and like every ingredient.
• 43:50
  SPEAKER_02: I was like, I can't do this, I can't, like, I need to soak all the beans, I need to do all these things.
• 43:55
  SPEAKER_02: And then I was just like so stressed out, I don't even remember if I was praying or what I was praying for.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_02: Because I was so fixated, fixated on it.
• 44:03
  SPEAKER_02: And it's like that's not what it's like.
• 44:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I think the more you fast, too, the easier it gets.
• 44:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 44:08
  SPEAKER_00: You know, so like, you know, the one and done.
• 44:10
  SPEAKER_00: You can't do just one fast and be like, this is too hard.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_00: No, like keep going, keep start small, you know.
• 44:16
  SPEAKER_00: Just yeah, it does get easier.
• 44:19
  SPEAKER_00: And again, when you do see the miracles, you're like, okay.
• 44:22
  SPEAKER_00: Or you hear from the Lord and you're like, okay, I can keep going, keep doing it.
• 44:26
  SPEAKER_02: It's so worth it.
• 44:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like I feel like this was good and like a reminder for me too, even of you saying that.
• 44:31
  SPEAKER_02: I think that is such a good and like sweet reminder of okay, but like the last time you did it, he like he showed up, he showed up big time.
• 44:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 44:43
  SPEAKER_02: And I was like pumped.
• 44:44
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 44:45
  SPEAKER_02: And was just like, it does build your faith.
• 44:48
  SPEAKER_02: It really does.
• 44:48
  SPEAKER_02: It like really, it changes your perspective too.
• 44:51
  SPEAKER_02: And not, and again, not the like the only way that you can eat from God is fasting.
• 44:56
  SPEAKER_00: No.
• 44:57
  SPEAKER_02: But I think it's just like kind of like you said, it builds your faith.
• 45:00
  SPEAKER_02: It like stretches your faith.
• 45:01
  SPEAKER_00: And we're so filled in this world with like distractions and TV and social media and sport and not sport and gotta run my kids here and there.
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_00: And it just like kind of centers you a little bit and brings you back to like spending time with the Lord.
• 45:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 45:16
  SPEAKER_00: And just being so intentional.
• 45:18
  SPEAKER_02: Romans 12, 2.
• 45:20
  SPEAKER_02: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
• 45:24
  SPEAKER_02: That by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• 45:29
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like that's really cool of like the renewal of your mind.
• 45:32
  SPEAKER_02: And I think for you, even if you're fasting like lunch or something, but you still block the other out.
• 45:38
  SPEAKER_02: Like I think that's so cool of the because even it's the transformed by the renewal of your mind.
• 45:43
  SPEAKER_02: And that by testing, you may discern what's the will of God.
• 45:46
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's like he's not playing tricks on us.
• 45:49
  SPEAKER_02: He's not like, I'm gonna see if you do this, and if you don't, like, oh, you failed totally and I'm not gonna answer that person.
• 45:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's like he's like, No, I'm gonna see like not like how strong your faith is, but kind of like how strong your faith is.
• 45:59
  SPEAKER_02: Like, how much are you willing to do, and like how much are you willing to give up to like seek me and like put me first in your life?
• 46:06
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 46:06
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, like what are you willing to do?
• 46:10
  SPEAKER_02: And then what is the will of God?
• 46:12
  SPEAKER_02: What's good, acceptable, and perfect?
• 46:14
  SPEAKER_02: And it's not our perfect, it's God's perfect, right?
• 46:16
  SPEAKER_02: And I oh that's just so cool.
• 46:18
  SPEAKER_02: It is such a great verse, and like just pray for someone else too.
• 46:22
  SPEAKER_02: I I don't know.
• 46:22
  SPEAKER_02: I think the praying and fasting for someone else is that's it's I think it's such like a selfless thing to use.
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_00: That's the word because yeah, like praying and fasting is hard.
• 46:32
  SPEAKER_00: So myself, I can I'm guilty of this.
• 46:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's like I don't want to suffer for someone else, you know.
• 46:38
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not, you know, I I have plenty of issues that I could be praying and fasting for, but to do it for somebody else, no.
• 46:45
  SPEAKER_00: But unless the Lord asks you, like and then I don't know if you have that close relationship with that friend or with that, whoever you're fasting for.
• 46:55
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know, it's like like you want to do things for your closest friends, you want to see their prayers and their their prayers answered, like especially in like bigger things and bigger decisions, which again doesn't have to be about like the biggest deal.
• 47:10
  SPEAKER_02: No, but like like are you doing life with anybody?
• 47:12
  SPEAKER_00: Who are your who are your friends that you're doing life with?
• 47:14
  SPEAKER_00: And are you willing to actually suffer for them?
• 47:18
  SPEAKER_00: And I think everybody, I guess that would be my challenge to people, is like who who are you praying and fasting for?
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_00: Are there people in your life that you feel like you are close enough to pray and fast for?
• 47:33
  SPEAKER_00: And I mean, that comes down to like your community.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and maybe we can touch on that like a different episode, but because compute community is so important, um, especially when you're walking through hard times.
• 47:44
  SPEAKER_00: Being a mom, it can be so lonely being a mom and having community to wrap around you or to even just like it's a mess in my house, but uh, can you do you just want to come sit with me and let your kid run?
• 47:56
  SPEAKER_00: I'll let my kid run, and yeah, we can, you know, be in the chaos together.
• 48:00
  SPEAKER_00: Like that's community.
• 48:02
  SPEAKER_00: And like those are the people you you you will want to fast for or be called to fast for.
• 48:07
  SPEAKER_00: And um it again, it's such a selfish, selfless act to pray and fast for someone, but the Lord like loves it and sees it and is like so I I would like to think he is proud when we fast for other people and praying and seeking the Lord for especially someone who can't, who literally cannot even think.
• 48:28
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I've again I've been through things where I'm just like, I don't know, I don't want to fast, pray.
• 48:33
  SPEAKER_00: I don't have the capacity, I don't even know, like I can't even go to the store to get my Gatorade or my body armor to fast, you know?
• 48:38
  SPEAKER_00: So no, I'm not fasting.
• 48:40
  SPEAKER_00: But and so that's when I think your people come in and support you.
• 48:45
  SPEAKER_00: So in Nehemiah 1, it talks about after they told me this, I sat down and wept.
• 48:50
  SPEAKER_00: I was very sad for many days.
• 48:54
  SPEAKER_00: I did not eat or drink anything, I prayed to God.
• 48:58
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like to how I interpret it this verse, it's like praying and fasting for your friends, you know, they they come in, they tell you this like heartbreaking news.
• 49:09
  SPEAKER_00: And just like in Nehemiah, it was like after they told me this, I sat down and wept.
• 49:14
  SPEAKER_00: And like sometimes, like when friends tell you what they're going through or what's happening to their child, and like your heart just breaks for them, or even like a child.
• 49:24
  SPEAKER_00: When your kid comes and tells you like this heartbreaking news, you're just like, oh, you just sit and cry.
• 49:29
  SPEAKER_00: And it says, I was very sad for many days.
• 49:32
  SPEAKER_00: I did not eat or drink anything, and I prayed to God.
• 49:36
  SPEAKER_00: So, like for Nehemiah, it sounds like he, you know, he's sad for his friends.
• 49:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sad for my friends, and all he did was like he prayed and fast for them.
• 49:45
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, that's what we could be doing for our friends, yeah, you know, when we hear of of their their going through.
• 49:52
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
• 49:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'm no, I love this.
• 49:55
  SPEAKER_02: Super selfless.
• 49:56
  SPEAKER_02: What would you challenge someone who's listening to this about fasting or yeah?
• 50:01
  SPEAKER_00: I think obviously the obedience of fasting and praying, whether it's social media or a food fast or shopping, whatever.
• 50:10
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I think we need to step out and be uncomfortable and push ourselves a little bit.
• 50:16
  SPEAKER_00: I think we sometimes stay in that comfortability-ness of just social media or just I'm not gonna watch Netflix on weeknights, you know, but weekday or weekends are free game, you know.
• 50:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I just would challenge you to like ask the Lord what it looks like to do a food fast.
• 50:33
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm not saying do a 21 liquid-only fast.
• 50:35
  SPEAKER_00: Like, that's nutty, you know, but like what if it is just fasting breakfast or your favorite cup of coffee in the morning, and you know, it it will be hard, you know.
• 50:47
  SPEAKER_00: Giving up coffee, you will have the withdrawals, you will have the headaches, you will be angry, you will be upset.
• 50:54
  SPEAKER_00: But that's hard, it's not supposed to be easy, yeah, you know, and so that I think that would be my challenge, especially if you've fasted before.
• 51:02
  SPEAKER_00: Try food fast, yeah, and get people around you, get people praying for you.
• 51:07
  SPEAKER_02: And again, like God has grace in it, not you haven't failed.
• 51:09
  SPEAKER_02: No, no, no, his mercies are new every day.
• 51:12
  SPEAKER_02: This isn't a pass or fail.
• 51:14
  SPEAKER_02: No, this isn't uh like wow, you can't even fast a day.
• 51:17
  SPEAKER_02: Like I mean, the enemy will try and tell you that.
• 51:20
  SPEAKER_02: I get that all the time, but that's not true.
• 51:22
  SPEAKER_02: No, it's like God sees that you tried, right?
• 51:25
  SPEAKER_00: And he's actually he might honor you more, yeah, the effort, yeah than actually you succeeding.
• 51:31
  SPEAKER_00: Like pushing through.
• 51:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 51:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he might that's actually the lesson you might need to learn.
• 51:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's like there's grace, and it's not a maybe it's something that like you've always struggled with, like, oh, I'm a failure, you know, and so then you can't complete a fast and the Satan's gonna be like, ha, right?
• 51:45
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, see, you're a failure.
• 51:46
  SPEAKER_02: And God's like, okay, but you actually tried, like a lot of people don't.
• 51:50
  SPEAKER_02: And so, yeah, I think that's another thing of like you can't fail when you're fasting.
• 51:56
  SPEAKER_02: There is no pastor fail.
• 51:58
  SPEAKER_02: There is no God isn't gonna be disappointed that you're I'm not gonna see a miracle if I have that cup of coffee or if I eat breakfast when I wasn't supposed to.
• 52:05
  SPEAKER_00: No, no, yeah.
• 52:06
  SPEAKER_00: No, but I think that's a good thing.
• 52:07
  SPEAKER_00: That's not how the Lord works, yeah.
• 52:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's not how the Lord works.
• 52:09
  SPEAKER_00: So, what would you do to like prepare for it?
• 52:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think that's a good thing to mention.
• 52:13
  SPEAKER_00: I think you need to prepare.
• 52:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not gonna be like, I'm gonna do a three-day liquid-only fast and not have any electrolytes in my house, not have any bro bone broth.
• 52:23
  SPEAKER_00: And it's um and you're like we can party or internet group and all the things, like that's not that's not wise, right?
• 52:33
  SPEAKER_00: So preparing, look at your calendar.
• 52:35
  SPEAKER_00: Like I said, our pastors look at their calendar and I think that's brilliant.
• 52:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, to see what's going on.
• 52:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, is this the best time to be fasting and praying?
• 52:42
  SPEAKER_00: Or is this or should we tweak our fast just a little bit so it can work with our schedule?
• 52:48
  SPEAKER_00: But if you're prepared uh mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for your fast, I think you you will be okay.
• 52:57
  SPEAKER_02: You will do what the Lord has asked you to do, you know.
• 53:01
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like even part of preparing too is asking God what to fast.
• 53:04
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 53:04
  SPEAKER_02: Too of like, because I think there's been times like, oh, I want to do this.
• 53:08
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 53:08
  SPEAKER_02: And it's like, oh, but I really should give up coffee.
• 53:12
  SPEAKER_02: But no, that seems too hard.
• 53:13
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna do something else.
• 53:14
  SPEAKER_02: And it's like, oh, but I really shouldn't.
• 53:15
  SPEAKER_02: It's like, no, that was totally God being like, Kristen, you really should give up coffee.
• 53:19
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 53:19
  SPEAKER_00: And I do think, like, you know, how we were saying, um, there's grace and whatever, it's like you also know deep down what you're doing.
• 53:28
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're like, I'm taking the easy road way out, like you could like fight in your you you and the Lord can fight, you know, and argue, like, no, Lord, this, that, and you know that you should be doing something harder, and you're just choosing not to, yeah, uh out of your own comfortability, you know.
• 53:47
  SPEAKER_00: No, 100%.
• 53:47
  SPEAKER_00: And again, that's up to you and the Lord, yeah.
• 53:49
  SPEAKER_00: You know, there's no judgment or anything, but you you know what you should do.
• 53:54
  SPEAKER_02: And even with that, like again, I think that's a really good point.
• 53:58
  SPEAKER_02: And with that, like that wrestling is good, yeah, and it's not failing to like quote unquote take the easy way out, like that's not what we're saying.
• 54:06
  SPEAKER_02: But I think it's like, okay, why is that a struggle?
• 54:08
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, like I think fighting that, yeah.
• 54:10
  SPEAKER_02: And I think God is like going to use that, like I feel like it's so cool how he uses little things as opportunity to teach us because he loves us so much.
• 54:18
  SPEAKER_02: And so it's like a little correction too.
• 54:20
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, like a little correction of like, okay, this is really hard for you because like you are more reliant on that caffeine than you're relying on me to sustain you through the day.
• 54:28
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, and it's like yeah, I am like I and I feel like we and right now I don't want to deal with it.
• 54:33
  SPEAKER_02: Like, yeah, I'm just gonna And right now I'm like, Well, I'm going through this, and you know what, I want my comfort cup of coffee, and that's gonna be my pick me up.
• 54:41
  SPEAKER_02: But it's like, I feel like I'm saying this because I've been very convicted of this lately.
• 54:45
  SPEAKER_02: But it's like, or I could get like a pick-me-up coffee midday, right?
• 54:49
  SPEAKER_02: That would just like be my little like hug and be like, This is my little treat for the day.
• 54:54
  SPEAKER_02: But what if you just sat with the Lord?
• 54:55
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 54:56
  SPEAKER_02: Like, what if I just sat with the counterfeit?
• 54:58
  SPEAKER_00: And imagine that little hug that he's like right here, you know, it's like I got you.
• 55:02
  SPEAKER_02: Or like even in the morning, he's like, Oh, I can't get through the day without a cup of coffee.
• 55:06
  SPEAKER_02: It's like, what if we like change that to like I can't get through the day without the Lord?
• 55:10
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 55:11
  SPEAKER_02: Or like, I like need my sweet treat at the end of the day.
• 55:13
  SPEAKER_02: It's like I need my quiet time with God at the end of the day.
• 55:16
  SPEAKER_00: Like, what are those things because those habits will or those yeah, those uh that fasting and praying, those minds switches will be habits and those will create create things.
• 55:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 55:28
  SPEAKER_02: No, it's so cool.
• 55:29
  SPEAKER_00: It's so good.
• 55:30
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 55:30
  SPEAKER_02: Do you have any fun stories of fasting and praying?
• 55:33
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I think the biggest one was that 21 days of praying and fasting.
• 55:37
  SPEAKER_02: I was going through like a really, really tough season and was processing some like really, really deep hurt and like trauma that like the Lord revealed to me um through therapy.
• 55:50
  SPEAKER_02: It was crazy because he revealed this, but then he also brought like he like completely restored it.
• 55:57
  SPEAKER_02: And so it was like so cool, but also my brain was like, What's what just happened?
• 56:03
  SPEAKER_02: And then our church did the 21 days of praying and fasting.
• 56:05
  SPEAKER_02: I think honestly, like I chose to do the prayer and fasting, but I don't even think I was specifically praying about that.
• 56:13
  SPEAKER_02: I think I was just praying for like, okay, what just like what's next in this?
• 56:18
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I know I need to like move forward and like give the next step.
• 56:21
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, give me the next step.
• 56:22
  SPEAKER_02: But I was really praying over like my business, sure, finances, like all the I think I had a list of like 10 things and was like, these are the things, but like in this, maybe actually that's kind of cool that you said that too.
• 56:32
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I think you can pray and fast for more than one thing.
• 56:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, it's always been like a list, yeah.
• 56:37
  SPEAKER_02: And I feel like there's been a few things that like towards the end, they kind of like drop off because like that's not really as important, or like this isn't really at the forefront of my mind anymore.
• 56:45
  SPEAKER_02: And so I did the fast and like God revealed a lot of things.
• 56:49
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, there's so many things that I was like praying for, and but like I feel like God just brought so much like healing in different areas, and then the last like three days of fast, I got the stomach flu.
• 56:59
  SPEAKER_02: And honestly, this might sound crazy, but I feel like every time I've gotten the stomach flu, it's a hundred percent spiritual.
• 57:06
  SPEAKER_02: Sure.
• 57:07
  SPEAKER_02: And because John never does, but I do.
• 57:10
  SPEAKER_02: Oh yeah, and I'm like, that's the most contagious thing ever.
• 57:13
  SPEAKER_00: One gets it, we're all getting it.
• 57:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 57:16
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but I got it at the end of the fast, and I remember I was like, oh my gosh, I like got to the end of this fast, like, I'm so excited.
• 57:24
  SPEAKER_02: Like, what's God's gonna reveal to me at like the last day?
• 57:26
  SPEAKER_02: And then I was sick for like the whole week.
• 57:30
  SPEAKER_02: And like I like got over it, but then you're just like so weak.
• 57:33
  SPEAKER_02: And I was just like, this sucks.
• 57:36
  SPEAKER_02: Like, what is going on?
• 57:38
  SPEAKER_02: And I was just so discouraged and was just like the 21 days of praying fasting was for nothing, or week after fasting, I had therapy session, and my therapist does like intensive like prayer therapy sessions, and that's when like God brought like full circle healing and like forgiveness and like healing over my mind, and I saw like all these things of like all these younger versions of myself being like healed, and but then even she said she's like, I think just because you've been like praying and fasting, God like recognizes that and is like honors that, yeah, and I was just like, What?
• 58:13
  SPEAKER_02: But even but it's such a crazy because yeah, because then it's like, but that isn't even what I was praying and fasting for.
• 58:20
  SPEAKER_02: Like I was praying over other areas and God revealed different things, but even but then it's funny too, because even during that, I remember I was like, but I failed my fast.
• 58:30
  SPEAKER_02: Like I didn't last the whole 20 years.
• 58:32
  SPEAKER_02: Well, that's the enemy, and that's like the enemy comes.
• 58:35
  SPEAKER_02: So, how would you recommend to someone I've tried fasting, or like I did it for a day, but as you are, and I quote unquote failed, or I stopped, or I needed to restart.
• 58:43
  SPEAKER_02: What would you like to speak to them?
• 58:44
  SPEAKER_02: Totally.
• 58:45
  SPEAKER_00: I would be like, What could you succeed at?
• 58:47
  SPEAKER_00: Like, what is one thing you know, one fast that you know you could actually succeed at, right?
• 58:53
  SPEAKER_00: So is that maybe skipping breakfast or skipping lunch and going and praying and fasting during your lunch hour instead of going and sitting eating with your coworkers or whatever?
• 59:03
  SPEAKER_00: But if you could succeed, and what does like succeeding even mean or being successful in a fast?
• 59:08
  SPEAKER_00: Because if you're like following everything, but that's legalistic, you know, and there is grace, there's tons of grace.
• 59:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I would just recommend to you finding one thing that you know you could, and maybe even start not 21 days, go to three days.
• 59:21
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 59:22
  SPEAKER_00: Start with your three day and be like, I'm gonna skip lunch three days and then do that and make it a win, you know.
• 59:28
  SPEAKER_00: And so then it gives you your you confidence and kind of tricks your brain of like, oh, I can do this.
• 59:33
  SPEAKER_00: I can do this.
• 59:34
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, but it's like he's gonna meet you where you're at, even if it's a day fast for something that you're like, hey, I'm meeting with someone tomorrow that I'm a little nervous about, and like it's not gonna be a make or break it conversation, but like I just feel a little eerie about it.
• 59:47
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm just gonna fast for it.
• 59:48
  SPEAKER_02: Or um, yeah, he just is like wants to meet you where you're at.
• 59:53
  SPEAKER_02: He sure does.
• 59:53
  SPEAKER_02: That's really cool.
• 59:54
  SPEAKER_02: Such a kind God, Serb.
• 59:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 59:57
  SPEAKER_02: What would you say?
• 59:58
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, we've kind of covered this, I feel like multiple times, but what is like your last word of encouragement for someone who's like, you know what, I'm gonna do it.
• 1:00:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, find a friend, find a friend and do it with them, invite somebody into it.
• 1:00:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and just start, just actually do it.
• 1:00:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, that's actually good.
• 1:00:16
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I love when I have aha moments in myself, but just just start and the Lord will honor it wherever you go, wherever you do, whatever you're praying for.
• 1:00:24
  SPEAKER_00: It might change, it might switch.
• 1:00:26
  SPEAKER_00: There are seasons where I am not in the Bible every single morning when I am praying and fasting.
• 1:00:35
  SPEAKER_00: A mentor told me that I she she was like, I finally asked for God to speak through me through the everyday dizziness.
• 1:00:44
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a mom of three that works full time.
• 1:00:47
  SPEAKER_00: I carve out time for my time with the Lord, but not always do I get there.
• 1:00:52
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm like, Lord, just give me a word for somebody, give me words for people that need it, speak to me while I'm in my garden, speak to me while I'm mowing the lawn, speak to me while I'm doing the dishes because these dishes have to get done, or my kids aren't gonna have a spoon in the morning to eat cereal or whatever, you know.
• 1:01:08
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like it doesn't have to be sit down, reading 20 minutes, journaling for an hour, soaking in the in worship.
• 1:01:17
  SPEAKER_02: If you're like soaking in worship while you're driving to work store, or to work, yes, or to yeah, pick up your kids, or like be like, nope, we're not listening to the say we're listening to worship music.
• 1:01:27
  SPEAKER_02: Totally, or like like you said, I love that it's like you have worship music playing in the house.
• 1:01:30
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I think that's so cool too, because that sets the tone.
• 1:01:33
  SPEAKER_02: It does switch the atmosphere for like your family, yeah.
• 1:01:36
  SPEAKER_00: And it's like he sees us and he knows exactly where we're and I mean your kids are your like biggest calling too.
• 1:01:42
  SPEAKER_00: So like praying and fasting as you're changing, yeah, yeah, and changing his diaper and doing the things, like it it's so special, I think.
• 1:01:51
  SPEAKER_02: You know, just and how cool is it that the uh mundane things, quote unquote, are like just the daily things that's like you were in prayers, like and like even mystery, yeah, and like your kids, it's like yeah, you're hanging out with them and you're just praying.
• 1:02:04
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, like that's that's so cool.
• 1:02:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, that's so cool.
• 1:02:08
  SPEAKER_02: Jackson's so lucky.
• 1:02:10
  SPEAKER_02: So your kids, thank you so much for talking about this.
• 1:02:13
  SPEAKER_02: This is so cool.
• 1:02:14
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like that this just encourages anyone who's listening to try it and just like I feel like it's gonna be a good challenge too, and I hope it is a challenge of try it, right?
• 1:02:23
  SPEAKER_02: You know, try it like can't fail.
• 1:02:25
  SPEAKER_02: No, yeah, it's just like the Lord will on it.
• 1:02:27
  SPEAKER_02: Kind of like this, it's like it's an experiment.
• 1:02:29
  SPEAKER_02: Be like, see what God see what God does.
• 1:02:31
  SPEAKER_02: See what God it's okay to have like expectations too of like God, like I'm expecting you to show up and speak to me.
• 1:02:37
  SPEAKER_02: Not like God, you're going to tell me that this is right, not that type of expectation, but like be excited and like have the expectation of like, you know what, God, like I'm doing this, and I fully believe that you're going to reveal something to me.
• 1:02:49
  SPEAKER_02: And so I'm excited to see, you know, and kind of like speaking that over, like this is gonna happen, and I'm excited, and might not be what you think, but he is gonna show up, yeah, and it's gonna be really cool.
• 1:03:00
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 1:03:00
  SPEAKER_02: Well, thanks for having me.
• 1:03:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, thanks for doing this.
• 1:03:03
  SPEAKER_02: This was so fun.
• 1:03:04
  SPEAKER_02: So fun.