Lifestyle Change

It's been over two months since I started this crazy change in my life. Crazy because I never could have imagined the plans that God had in store for me. In my October posts I talked a little about how the Spirit of the Lord convicted me to fast: He had something amazing planned, my spirit knew it all along. When these moments come and God opens doors we can either obey and walk through them or ignore the calling and miss out on a great opportunity. My whole life I've struggled with insecurities about my weight until finally at this transforming point in my life God just woke me up and said, "it's time." All I could say was, "yes Lord," and so the story unfolded and my new journey began.

*~*~*~*~*
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

(Romans 12:1-2) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 
*~*~*~*~*

In this new season God gave me the strength to first complete the 21 day Daniel fast which consisted of fruits, veggies, and tons of water. And again, this was like sailing through fog, all I knew was that the Holy Spirit was guiding me. And thank the Lord that my mom is no stranger to fasting so she walked me through it. Literally, right after 21 days my mom got me an appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor who turned out to be an incredible woman of God who just can't get enough of God's glory. I laugh because my mom and I are exactly the same, in that respect. In addition to all of this, I also had been watching a show called "Desafio 90d" on the Spanish Christian Channel (Enlace TBN) that truly inspired me to start exercising again and for good. Can you imagine? The Lord just aligned everything so perfectly. When we obey God all of His blessings follow, but we've got to respond to Him in the exact moment when He speaks to us. Because if God is the one guiding us then He will provide us with the strength to jump through any hurdle. For anybody who's struggled with the same problem all I have to say is that with God it is possible for you to change your life. I just told my best friend a week ago, "How can we expect to be used by God if we're dead? How can the Holy Spirit move within us if we've turned our bodies into a trash can?" How much more can we give God? What more can we offer our Lord...is there really a line that we must draw? I needed a good mind renewing session with the Lord and He woke me up to conquer my reality instead of just letting me survive it.   As christians we can not let the enemy take control of our health because whether we'd like to admit it or not, this situation becomes a disability that keeps us from freely jumping during praise, attending family outings, and restricts us from so much more. Now, especially because I'm going through this I can say that it's not that God doesn't love us for who we are and how we look but God cannot accept anything that keeps us from the freedom that Jesus Christ gave to us. Our freedom was worth the blood of Jesus, we were worth it to Him. Why would we not take care of our bodies if Jesus paid for them with His body, with His whole life? One thing that spoke deeply to me was what Pastor Cash Luna said at His conference:

(Isaiah 7:14-15) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right

The blood of Jesus, his wounds, healed us. What would have happened if Jesus did not take care of His health? What kind of blood would He have been able to offer us? Jesus knew what was right for His body and He continued to live a lifestyle of true Worship in which He offered Himself as a living and breathing sacrifice. God asks the same of us. There has to be a moment in our life when we wake up and realize that we no longer live for ourselves. More than anything I want to encourage you. You can change your life, age does not matter. Choose to live a healthy life and choose to live in the freedom that was bought for you at a high price. Start conquering things in the natural (running or walking more than usual, eating healthier, etc.) and you will conquer things in the spiritual. Read the Word and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom in this area and because you are seeking you will find what you're looking for. With God ALL things are possible! I have already lost over ten pounds in these two months for the glory of the Lord so I know this to be true! I recommend that you seek professional help because each body is different and requires a different meal plan.

*~*~*~*~*

"Motivate the mind and the body will follow."

Fasting And Confirmation

Ten days!!! Today is the tenth day on my Daniel Fast and can I just say that I feel amazing! I feel, feel, feel God moving! I reached this life-changing point in my spiritual walk where God confronted me lovingly to say that He wants to give me more freedom than I already have on a platform in public as well as off a platform in the quiet and secret. Let's face it ladies and gents...when we feel insecure because of our weight we just can't jump as high as we want to or face public situations with the proper authority and confidence. God wants to take His children out of that "false-contemptment" mind set and move them into an active lifestyle. I feel stronger spiritually and physically thanks to prayer, the Word of God, and exercise. Though my flesh wants to collapse from exhaustion at times I continue toward the finish line and declare the blood of Jesus over myself each day. I have inherited my Dad's unfailing strength. If my tummy grumbles I'm almost immune to cravings. To me this is God confirming how much He wanted me to trust Him on this. Fasting and prayer are two important keys for the children of God that will unlock doors and make the gates of heaven burst open.

*~*~*

Right now I'm reading in the second Book of Samuel and what is making me relate and meditate is this:

{Background Story: Saul's son, King after his father's death, has also been killed. David has been anointed as King and is going up against a tribe who inhabits Jerusalem.}

(2 Samuel 5:1-3) Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’” So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.

(2 Samuel 5:6-7) David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Jebusites thought they were safe. But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.

(2 Samuel 5:10-12) And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies was with him. Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace. And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 

Whenever God speaks to us He will always send confirmation. God spoke over David the plans of royalty and leadership that He had over him and thus, activated David's true purpose. Many years later David comes to be handed the position and responsibility of King of Israel. For more than seven years David knew the plans that the Lord had for Him but during his "waiting period" he ruled over what God gave him for that particular time and season. He did it exceptionally, loved and adored by many. This is what God is showing me right this very second. The palace being built confirmed to David what the Lord had activated many, many years ago. During this "waiting period" God is calling us to reign over that which is momentary until He hands us our true destiny and ministry. Keep on moving forward my friends as I will do also. God has spoken over your life and will fulfill each and every promise. The confirmation is coming! 

New Season {Daniel Fast}

So many little and big things are changing all at once. Do you ever have any of those moments in your life when the ordinary just isn't the same? You're being drawn in deeper and deeper and deeper into something that you can't even imagine. It's about that time around here in my life and all I can do is seek God's plans and tune into His comforting voice. Exactly four days ago, on Monday, I felt God just snap His finger. I could clearly hear with my heart God saying, "It's time for a new season...get ready." If words could express my every emotion pages and pages would cover the face of the earth. I know, I know, a little too dramatic but in all sincerity I know, that I know, that God is getting ready to surprise me again and this time  my hands are going to be to small to sustain such a blessing and my cup won't even stand a chance against God's loving out pour. When these moments come we have two choices: either embrace them with open arms or run away and miss out on God's purpose. I choose the first one. 

So again, four days ago I began the Daniel fast, just seeking God's perfect direction. It's almost like I reached that crossroad and realized that taking another step is useless without God's sweet, sweet presence and guidance. I've dealt with being stripped of all that I held near and dear but this, this is different: I'm looking for true worship and communion that no human can ever take away. A beautiful relationship. I want more and more of God each day, hour, and second. So far, the fast has been going great because I feel the Lord's strength, otherwise this would not be possible. These past four days I have embraced fruits and veggies and now call them friends. Thank God for our local Farmers market and my 1.5 liter water bottle is not too shabby either. The plan is to do a 21 day fast with prayer and word as my true food source. Some might view a fast as torturous, I know I used to. I would bring up any emotion or medical excuse to why this was illogical (apparently I thought myself more brilliant than God at 13). Ever since I fell in love with Jesus all my inhibitions and doubts went down the toilet because I would follow Him with eyes wide open anywhere. The truth opens your eyes, it does not bind you and blind you more and more. Why would the devil want the children of God to fast and pray? The result is excuse after excuse. But in all honesty when God calls us to do something He provides us with the strength to overcome all obstacles. I'm a full-time student and still have the energy to walk to and fro from my classes and then exercise every night. I give all the glory to God for this. Medically this is impossible but with God all things are possible. I don't care what the world frowns upon because I am not of this world. Because we are here for a purpose we have to strengthen and feed our "spirit man" so that we have the faith and conviction needed to move mountains, love one another, forgive, and rejoice. It's possible my friends and if God is tugging at your heartstrings then fall into His arms with eyes wide open. I just wanted to share with you all a little of what's been going on in my personal life. Hopefully this'll inspire somebody out there to know, I mean really know, that we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us.

(Daniel 1:17) God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.