Making a resolution on New Year's Day has become an integral part of religion. To me, its meaning fades every year.Why do people make resolutions at the beginning of the year and can't even keep it for a month?
Even in corporate fasting in churches where the whole congregation has a Daniel Fast guidelines and do it for 21 days with some modifications and after that, they go back to drinking coffee, sodas, wine, beer or alcoholic drinks; to eating red meats, high intake of carbohydrates, high-fat products, white rice, white bread, and pasta.
I'm not being a hypocrite on this matter but through the years I had witnessed many religious people do it because it has become an obligation; more like I'm going to do it too because everybody is doing it and that's a good thing to see in its superficial value.
I can only speak for me, for what I truly believe. I believe in the power of what fasting can do in your life.
I remember from a decade ago or maybe more than ten years ago, I launched my own Fasting regimen to stay physically healthy because I know I was and still is healthy considering I have already aged 10 years plus to my age to date. I never smoke, drink alcohol, do drugs or promiscuous. I just don't believe in putting toxic to my body intentionally. That was a big thing to me. If I get depressed and we all get depressed; nobody is exempted from alluring temptations of this world. But somehow I know the presence of God in my life made me who I am today.
At that time of my Fasting, I only had water for a drink, milk, and fruits to sustain me. I did it for three straight days and I was even teaching full time. I didn't do it on New Year's day but I did it in one late Summer of 2008. I was attending at New Beginnings Church at that time, a non-denominational Christian church. I was teaching Sunday School and singing at the Praise and Worship Team every Sunday morning and evening. In short, my commitment to serving the Lord was solid. I even went knocking door to door to give out leaflets/pamphlets about our church to the most impoverished areas in the city and invited to visit and join us in our Sunday and Wednesday services.
I wasn't afraid of humiliation or negative responses I've gotten from unbelievers. I still don't Today.
That Fasting that I had I believe I did because I wanted to replenish what's inside of me. My goal and sole purpose in doing that are to get closer to God; to know Him more. And because my heart was ready, that one night that I was at one of those evening Services, I came to the Altar with my heart's pure intention to praise Him and let go all of my cares and as the evangelist guest of ours laid his hand on me, I was spiritually slain on the floor. I was laying there for how long I wasn't sure. I only know how I felt at that time: I felt this unspeakable joy and this Peace that passes all human understanding came over me that when I got up I was hugging everyone close by. I thought that I felt a piece of Heaven. If this is how I felt and it was so surreal, how much more of this that we could have when He takes us to our eternal home?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can fast at any day. Just make sure your heart intentions coincide with God's Word and not your flesh doing it for the wrong reasons. And when you do it, you do it not just for a limited time but let it be permanent and it can. God has promised us that he will be with us and He is faithful.
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