Fasting Once A Month

Almost a decade ago, I went to a writer’s conference in Glorieta, NM.  I had felt, for more years than I can tell you, God had a call on my life to write.  I was writing children’s books and stories at the time, and I had gone to the conference to learn more and make connections with publishers.

There was a speaker there who presented one night.  I wish I could remember her name to give her credit for this, but I don’t remember her name.  I remember she hosted a radio show, had blonde hair, and was skinny.  Does that help?  Not really.  Sorry!

She shared one night, that along with her husband, she would fast one day a week and pray for her son.  I remember thinking at the time how hard it would be to commit to fasting one day a week.  It was probably because I was 7 weeks pregnant with Lauren that I could not fathom skipping any meals at the time!  I did however feel it was a huge and great act of faith and intercession to do for your kids.

I also made my 10 & 10 commitment that night as well with the same speaker.  The 10 & 10 is where you commit to read your bible for 10 minutes and spend 10 minutes in prayer minimum every day.  You can read more about the 10 & 10 commitment here.

Well, I never forgot about her weekly fasting and wondered if she was still doing it every week without fail? 


I mentioned the lady who fasted once a week to pray for her child to my sweet friend, Shelly, as we hiked up a trail one brisk Montana morning.  We decided on that trail to take up the torch and start fasting for our kids.  We decided to fast once a month and get together to pray over our kids.

I don’t know about you, but I am scared to death for my kids.  I am probably sinning by being afraid, and I am trying to let go, give it over to God, and confess when I am not trusting Him fully.  Between Facebook and movies and Snapchat (worst app ever!) and texts and peer pressure and drugs in the schools, there are days I wonder how long Christ will delay His return.

We get together once a month to fast and pray and put our kids into the hands of God where they belong. 
 
I can’t be with them every moment of the day, but I know my Lord is.  I also know that God is able to allow for good as well as the bad to come into their lives to shape them more into who He wants them to be.  We pray for ourselves as parents and for our husbands.  We pray for the schools, our nation, and our church.  It is truly a sweet time.


I want to encourage you today to take up the torch to pray for these young people.  From not having unlimited texting or the right kind of cell phone or the movies they are not allowed to watch that all of their friends have already seen, I can’t imagine the stresses they face which I never had to fathom or imagine or deal with at their age.  I try to imagine so I can be more empathetic to what their struggles are.  The end result I want for them is for them to be sold out to Christ. It is a path I have to walk down for these kids, and I cannot do it without Christ.  I am so thankful that I can pray at any time to make intercession for my husband, my kids, my friendships, my church, etc.

Imagine what could happen through prayer!

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18, NIV