Fasting Your Addictions

My Fellow Sippers,

As I sit here in the warmth of my home, I can't help but to take a moment to pray for all of those who did not enjoy the warmth of their home last night. I also pray for those who are still trying to get home today. I pray for the parents and children who were reunited today, after the children had to spend the night at school. The severity of this snow/ice in Georgia is something that many people can't understand. Many are trying to figure out who to blame. Instead of playing the blame game, I recommend we just stop and thank God for the blessings of being home and off the icy streets. We fail to realize that in the midst of treacherous circumstances, that our Father is trying to reveal something to us. We're still blindsided and distracted to see what He's trying to reveal.

This brings me to my post for today...
I spent 21 days fasting this month. From January 5-26, I gave up what I thought was my biggest addictions.....SODAS and INSTAGRAM. I don't know, nor do I understand why I am addicted to Instagram, but I would find myself spending a good portion of my day refreshing and scrolling. So here's some things that I learned on my fast.

-My soda addiction was mental. I had gotten to the point where I was jeopardizing my health just to have a soda (sometimes multiple sodas) every day.

-Water isn't as bad as I had convinced myself. In fact, I found myself not even wanting sodas. Drinking water all day for 21 days was refreshing. I didn't struggle those first few days of the fast. To be perfectly honest, it took me a few days to want a soda after my fast ended.

-Drinking nothing but water is good for weight control. I lost inches! I can't say pounds because I refuse to step on a scale for a few months. I knew that I lost inches because all of my clothes were falling off of me. It got to the point that I could just pull my dress pants straight down, without unbuttoning and unzipping. (TMI?)

-Instagram creates jealousy. I officially despise the sublime brought forth through social media. Instagram for one has caused people to become someone else. Everyone is trying to be better than the next person, but they are going about it the wrong way. You are a "nobody" if you don't have at least 1000 followers (I guess I am a super nobody). You are a "nobody" if you don't have the latest fashion, the latest cars, you don't spend countless hours in clubs or bars throwing money that you should be saving to invest in your future. Indeed I officially hate social media for such reasons. It has caused so much hatred, and I am sure that it is the cause behind a number of murders and robberies. But of course, we're blinded by this addiction to portray to be something that we aren't, that we won't even admit how evil social media is.

I've decided to use my social media outlets as sources to spread inspiration, love, and more importantly Christ. So what that I don't have what everyone else has? Guess what? So many people don't have what I have, which is JESUS CHRIST as their Lord and Savior. They don't have the personal relationship and endless faith. They aren't so radical for Christ that they're willing to lose the fame that social media has brought them. But I am! I've learned from my fast that I'm OKAY being YOUNG, BOLD, & FREE!

With all of that being said, I am also excited about what the Lord has revealed to me during this fast. He has instructed me to fast every month. Therefore, I am inviting all of my fellow sippers to fast every month with me. Some months the fast will be longer or shorter than other months. February's fast will begin February 1-February 14. I encourage you to fast something that is distracting you from spending time with our Father, or even an area in your life that you need to learn discipline. For myself, I will be giving up sweets!

Don't forget, Sunday is our last discussion for January. We will be discussing Thessalonians, and what I've learned thus far is that a contextual study is essential in order to understand why certain things are being said. The February schedule will be posted by Sunday as well!!

As always, TAKE A SIP WITH THE KING!

-The King's Daughter