My Testimony About Fasting

Fasting, for many people, is a difficult and arduous thing. Fast Sunday...a day to "get through".

I beg to differ however and this is why...

After I went through the temple, and Todd was having such a hard time with my decision, I decided I would fast every single Sunday until things changed. And I did. I fasted every Sunday for about 7 months. At first it was difficult. I would dread them and barely get through. But as time went on, I learned much about my own spirituality, my tolerance and the power of fasting.

Each time I would fast, I swear something monumental would happen. Something that could not be explained just by coincidence or by the passage of time. Todd and I would have an enlightening conversation...he would confess he believed...he forgave me...our fights became discussions...love returned more quickly than anticipated... and all of these things may sound trite and inconsequential but they're not. If you were living my life, you'd understand that each and every occurrence was a miracle for me. And my testimony and spirituality grew leaps and bounds in those months. I felt so close to the Lord and his Will. It's as if it flowed through me and I walked on air.

About a year later, I happened to stop by a girlfriend's house who evidently was having a bad day. She was very frustrated about her child and his behaviors and didn't know what to do. I recommended that she spend a day and fast about the resolution. I told her how I felt about fasting and she said it was really hard for her but she might do it anyway. And she did. Later, she told me that she received an answer to her prayers from the fast and she was going to visit her pediatrician, which she did. Her pediatrician told her that she needed to be referred to an occupational therapist. And so she called me...because that's what I am! I saw her son, developed a treatment plan for him which she complied with very carefully and she reported back a few months later that he was doing great. This was the answer to her fast. I felt very humbled because not only did I counsel her to fast, I was able to help her in another way too.

I believe fasting can bring about miracles. I believe it can expedite the answers you need from your prayers. I believe that fasting can help you become closer to the Lord than you ever hoped to be. I believe it is one of the most wonderful tools that He has given to us.

I wrote this tonight because I had forgotten how much I loved it and I haven't been able to fast since I was pregnant and then nursing. But I'm finished nursing now and now can fast again. I am very excited because I have much to fast for.

If you are needing answers in a big way and feel that some extra effort is needed on your part, fast. Fast with your soul. Fast for 24 hours. Start and end with a prayer. Have a purpose to your fast and state it to the Lord. Pray often during your fast especially when you can't stop thinking about food. Read your scriptures and church magazines. These are the guidelines for fasting. He will respond...he covenanted with us that he would.

My Newest Calling

I got a new calling a couple of months ago but forgot to blog about it. We had a change in the presidency of the Young Women and I was kept in but shifted to the Personal Progress Specialist, a calling that will enable me to be much more one on one with the girls than the Secretary could be.

So far, I've been able to visit with most of the girls about where they are with their PP and our bishop has encouraged us to make good use of the summertime to get as much done as possible. I plan to host an activity that will enable some girls to pass off one of their Value experiences, or at least part of it. I have yet to think of the right thing.

I'm also in charge of Young Women in Excellence in November. If anyone has any great ideas for this, I'm open to anything. It is my first experience with this program since I was a Young Woman myself and I never finished my PP anyway. I think I'll finish it when my daughters go through the program.

In my interviews with the girls, I've come across a couple of lost souls, so to speak. Both get themselves in a lot of trouble and I am doing my best to be available to them and help them through these rough times.

One girl in particular I've tried to take in under my wing. She's been in a lot of legal trouble and also thinks currently that she might be pregnant. I can relate to this girl in many ways. Although her difficulties far out-spanned the ones I caused for myself, I can still understand her feelings of being misunderstood, lonely, confused etc. I've had her over to my house making jewelry, hanging out, going for drives, and generally trying to be a friend. But not the kind of friends she's used to. Her friends get her into bad situations like robbing homes and stuff like that. I, on the other hand try to just listen to her, not judge her and give her gentle guidance. She's asked me to help her break the news to her parents if she finds out that she really is pregnant. I took her to the store and bought her some pregnancy tests because she was afraid to ask her mom to. I know her mom would be grateful that I did this if she knew but I won't tell her yet. I think that it is up to this girl to be honest with her mother. Her mom does like me a lot and thanks me frequently for doing what I can. Honestly, I'm just grateful that I can give back to girl that was like me (remember my letter to my Young Women's leader?) I want to be that leader that really makes a difference and with this girl, I might just do that. Hopefully the Lord will help me know what I need to do to make the most difference.