marylaw

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Today's devotional is from my personal journal dated April 22, 2007.

     The Lord used my husband to direct me to His Word today. This morning Chris asked me, "What do you want to put on, for church today?"  Chris likes to iron, so he irons for both of us. God bless him!
     I know God is leading me to focus on a phrase, when I hear that phrase and it reverberates inside me. It's rather hard to explain, but that's what happened when I heard Chris say, "put on." I went to my Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, which led me to Ephesians 4:21-24.
     Ephesians 4:21-24 says, "If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."
     That seems so simple:
          Put off gluttony and put on disciplined eating habits.
          Put off overeating and put on feasting in God's Word.
          Put off indulging my flesh and put on the mindset that I must offer my body as a living sacrifice.
     If this is about changing my appetite from overeating to feeding on Jesus, from gluttony to discipline, from laziness to exercise, it feels so scary to me, even though I want it so badly because, let's face it, I've failed at it over and over.
     In taking that fear to the Lord in prayer, He confirmed that it is, indeed, a total change in my makeup as a person, and that He is the only one who can do that in me. He promised the power of His grace, to change my nature and to break old, destructive habits. If I cooperate with Him, it shall be accomplished.

Today, consider that which you need to "put off."  What do you need to "put on," to accomplish presenting your body a living sacrifice?

This devotion is from my personal journal dated April 21, 2007. It was my 51st birthday, and I had no idea that God was about to give me a wonderful gift.

     This morning, the Lord began talking to me AGAIN about repentance. I cringed, which told me that I have not truly repented of the sin of gluttony. I cringed, but told Him I was "willing" to look at it again.
     I was led to Isaiah 57:14-15, "It will be said, 'Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.' For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, 'I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
     Even though I figured the focus was meant to be that God dwells with the truly repentant, I was drawn to the first part, "prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way." Perhaps it is because of the words "the way," as I am always looking for more information about "The Way of holiness."
     It is important to remove all obstacles on The Way, and surely that involves repentance and purposeful living. There's a need for humility, a teachable spirit, a lowly and contrite heart, an awe in the presence of "the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy."
     My mind was flitting from one concept to the other. I sensed a struggle, which is a sure sign that I must get honest before the Lord. I realize that, long ago, I decided I was destined to be fat. To avoid being angry at God for that, I told myself that God loves me no matter what I look like, because He looks at what's in the heart, not what's on the surface.
     Just as I finished that honest thought, God responded so gently, "That's right. I do love you no matter what, and I do look at what's in your heart. Now, you look at what's in your heart with Me."
     So, we took a good, long look at what was in my heart. I've had an "If...then..." way of thinking about this sin of gluttony. If gluttony means eating past the need for sustenance and is sin, then I must own that sin. If there is sin in my life, then I must repent of it. The trouble was that I haven't been able to get past the point of being "sorry" to true, broken-hearted repentance. It was a lot of "head knowledge," but little "heart work."
     Still looking in my heart, with the encouragement of my Father, I could see hard places here and there, in the lining of my heart. I knew they were the result of pride, selfishness, control, and much more. "And You STILL love me, Lord?" I sensed a holy nod of affirmation.
     On my knees, but with my spirit in total prostration, I asked the Lord to help me have a heart that hates all sin. I asked for the gift of tears, the gift of true repentance. I knew I would feel it when it came. I waited.
     All of a sudden, I realized I had a mint in my mouth, and I thought, "Saying I'm sorry for the sin of overeating with something in my mouth is NOT true repentance!" I know it seems silly, but the second I took that mint out of my mouth, the tears came and came, until I was absolutely bawling! It was completely unacceptable to me that my abuse of food had nailed my Jesus to the cross! Perhaps the reader will feel that's a bit melodramatic, but it is my personal revelation. I now know what it means to "rend" my heart to pieces.
     So many heart pieces, offered up to God. No tears at that moment, just sweet humility and an overwhelming sense of awe in His Presence. I knew it was done! I got up, clean before my Lord. Now I can sing, "My chains are gone! I've been set free! My God, my Savior has ransomed me, and like a flood His mercy rains, unending love, Amazing Grace!"

Today, consider any obstacles you may have in your way. Take them to the Lord, for help to remove them.

In advance of today's devotion, I want to say that we all know that God forgives the second we ask for it. However, for me, both God and I knew I needed to get to a place of true heart repentance to break the stronghold of overeating in my life, and I knew I hadn't gotten to that place of breakthrough yet.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 20, 2007.

     The Lord had me "sit" with repentance again today. He drew me to Joel 2:12-13, "'Yet even now,' declares the Lord, 'Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning: and rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and relenting of evil."
     Has my heart been pierced, torn over my rebellion in the sin of overeating? The Lord just challenged me on using the word "overeating." That's a nicer word to say than "gluttony." I want to call it a "weakness" or a "lack of self-control." I don't want to call myself a "glutton"! I balk at that! I resist it, but that is what I am unless and until I repent.
     When I repent, I will experience the following blessings from Joel 2: I will be "satisfied" (v. 19), "refreshed" (v. 21-24), "restored" (v. 25), and "unashamed" (v. 27). I want that! I want it all!
     In Romans 8:13 and Colossians 3:5, Paul tells me to crucify the desires of the flesh. Overeating certainly doesn't accomplish that. Food is not evil. Eating is not sin. Gluttony, the habit of overeating and indulging the flesh, is sin. Anything that enslaves is sin, and overeating certainly enslaves. Oh, how I look forward to the day when I can sing, "My chains are gone! I've been set free!"

Today, if there are any "food chains" binding you, go to Him about them. Consider how God is gracious, compassionate, patient, loving, and kind, in response to your repentance. Express your thanks to Him.

In advance of today's devotion, I want to say that God spent a few days having me face the issue of repentance in my overeating, not because He was mad at me but because He knew I needed to "get it."
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 19, 2007.

     I've acknowledged that overeating is a sin, because it replaces God with food. Today the Lord had me "sit" with the phrase "true repentance." I've repented of the sin of overeating, but how will I know if it is "true repentance"? That's what I asked the Lord, in prayer.
     In the past, when I thought I was repenting of the sin of overeating, I now see that I just felt bad that I had failed once again. It was not true repentance.
     I know that the word "repent" means to turn from sin and turn to God. I looked for verses with the word "turn" or the phrase "turn away." I found 1st Peter 3:10-11, "For the one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it." That's true repentance. It's turning from sin, turning to God, and seeking and pursuing peace.
     If true repentance means a complete turnaround, then, obviously, I haven't been truly repentant. My turning, in the past, has been half-hearted and, therefore, lacked the power to free and transform me.
     Any sin involves Satan. I was reminded of James 4:7-10, "Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."
     It would almost be comical if it wasn't so sad that the only part of those verses I ever remember is, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." I have ignored the "submit...draw near...cleanse...purify...be [sorry]...humble yourself." No, I've never truly repented of the sin of overeating. I've never done the work, the "hard thing," nor have I stayed the course.
     In Oswald Chambers' book My Utmost for His Highest, he says, "The forgiven man...proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God's grace... The old Puritans used to pray for the gift of tears... Examine yourself and see if you have forgotten how to be sorry." I cannot as yet prove that I am forgiven for the sin of overeating, "by being opposite to what [I] was, by God's grace," but how I pray the proof comes! I have not "forgotten how to be sorry." I'm sorry much of the time, but sometimes I wonder if God looks at me and lovingly says, "Don't just be sorry, my child; be different."
     The Lord just reminded me that there's a difference in being sorry and feeling self-pity. Honesty time! I've wallowed in pity more than experienced the sorrow that leads to a heart change and ends up in a behavior change.
     Oh, I want the gift of tears. I want to have purpose, and I want that purpose to be that I honor the Lord, that I magnify His grace, that I show the power of God in my life. I desire to live a disciplined life and savor the preciousness of my Jesus.
     My prayer today is a personalized version of Hosea 6:1-3, "[I will] return to the Lord, for He has torn [me], but He will heal [me]; He has wounded [me], but He will bandage [me], He will revive [me] after two days; He will raise [me] up on the third day, that [I] may live before Him...Let [me] press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn, and He will come to [me] like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth." It's the third day! Let it rain, Lord! Let it pour!

Today, consider this topic of repentance and forgiveness in your own life. Have you experienced "being the opposite to what [you were], by God's grace?

Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 28, 2007.

     The Lord is keeping my focus on water, again today. He led me to Isaiah 55:1-3, "Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David."
     There are so many concepts in those 3 verses in Isaiah 55, yet my focus is drawn to "come to the waters." I like that the word "waters" is plural. I believe this word encompasses the Word of God, the Presence of God, the Glory of God, and the Power of God. If I allow those waters to flow over me, I will be satisfied, fed, quenched, refreshed, and transformed.
     I went back to John 4 and stopped at verse 28, with the words, "the [Samaritan] woman left her waterpot, and went into the city..." Why did she leave her waterpot? It doesn't say. Even with the "living water" that Jesus had given her, she'd still need physical water. Maybe she was in such a hurry, so excited to tell others about Jesus, that she forgot to take it. Perhaps she believed that the spiritual living water would quench her physical need for water, as well. She had come to the well to draw water. That was her intent, focus, purpose. However, once she came to know Jesus as Savior, her mind was fixed on Him. Nothing else mattered.
     For me, the waterpot represents all the moments that I've lived, trying to be filled and satisfied by that which cannot satisfy. This is my moment to lay it down, to leave it. I don't need it anymore. I know that God will enable me, that "[my] ears will hear a word behind [me] saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever [I] turn to the right or to the left. And [I] will defile [my] graven images overlaid with silver, and [my] molten images plated with gold. [I] will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, 'Be gone!'" (Isaiah 30:21-22).
     Yes, I have graven and molten images that I need to destroy and scatter. They must go, or I will turn to them again, sooner or later. I have that churning feeling in the pit of my stomach, a response to that old "It won't work" voice of fear. A voice of fear is never from God, so I quiet my mind, and soon I hear Philippians 1:6, "I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." I'm counting on that!

Today, consider any "graven and molten images," things you may have been using to satisfy in ways they cannot. Make a conscious decision to lay them down, destroy and scatter them, and look to the One who can satisfy.

Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 17, 2007.

     I went before the Lord with a heavy heart today, not only in grief for the 33 victims of the Virginia Tech shooting yesterday and for their families but for my younger daughter and how life is for her right now. I needed to choose the "garment of praise" for the "spirit of heaviness." I recognized that the enemy wants me to despair and, if nothing else, to eat in response to the churning inside me.
     The Lord led me to John 4:7-30, which is the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and Jesus' conversation with her about "living water." At first I was perplexed. This didn't seem to apply to my situation, as I've always looked at this passage as being about salvation. It is, of course, but today it opened up to me in a "new" way.
     My focus became the verse where Jesus says to the Samaritan woman, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
     I have been "thirsty" in so many ways. I've had a soul hunger, and while I tried to allow God to meet my needs in the area of emotional healing, I did not see, until now, that I have experienced a hunger and a thirst that I tried to fill and quench with food more than with my relationship with the Lord and with God's Word.
     While overeating has definitely been a habit with me, I see that I, indeed, ate to fill a need to be loved, to fill an empty space in my heart, to soothe a sense of inadequacy, to comfort my grief, to be my friend when I was lonely, to be "something to do" when I was bored, to be a stress-reliever when I was stressed, and more. If someone had asked me if that is what I was trying to do with food, I would have said "No!" and that would have been an honest answer, because my eyes were "veiled."
     I see clearly today, that I have attempted to use food in a way for which it is not designed. Food cannot meet emotional needs. Food cannot quench the thirsty heart. Food cannot fill the hungry soul. Only Jesus, the Living Water and Bread of Life, can do that. In prayer and through the Word, I come to the Well of Living Water, and if I choose to drink my fill of Him, I will be full and satisfied. I will be cleansed and refreshed, and I will no longer use food or abuse food. Truly I see that "the righteous has enough to satisfy [her] appetite" (Proverbs 13:25), in every way.

Today, think about what emotional needs you try to meet with food. How can you get those needs met, without overeating?

I want to say, in advance of today's devotion, that for me overeating is sin. I base that on James 4:17, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it" (NLT). This is not intended to condemn anyone.
The following is from my personal journal dated April 16, 2007.

     This morning the Lord so gently talked to me about overeating, continuing to eat past the point of receiving all I need to sustain my life. I realize that whenever I give in to cravings, I choose to gratify my flesh over enjoying the presence of God.
     While I recognize that overeating is a sin, in general, it is much harder to "own" it as MY sin. I took that to God in prayer, and He reminded me of the cross.
     God lovingly reminded me that my sin of overeating was nailed to the cross, along with all the other sins of the entire world--past, present, and future. He gently told me that I can "own" my sin then lay it down before the cross, for the price has been paid and reconciliation assured.
     My Father led me to Colossians 1:22, "He has now reconciled [me] in His fleshly body through death, in order to present [me] before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."
     He also led me to 1st Peter 2:24, "He Himself bore [my] sins in His body on the cross, so that [I] might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds [I am] healed."
     It is God's work to remove my sin from me and to heal me from going astray (even in overeating), and He has done that work through the sacrifice of my precious Savior, Jesus Christ. Just as there is no other way to solve the sin problem than Jesus, and just as there can be no healing outside of Jesus, He is the answer to my sin problem of overeating and my need for healing from gluttony. The work's been done. All I have to do is choose the answer. I choose Jesus!
     God asked me if I could picture myself before Him as holy, without blemish, and free from accusation. I have accused myself for SO long, which I now see was the "accuser of the brethren" [Satan] at work. In prayer, I pictured myself at the foot of the cross, with grace flowing down like thick, anointing oil, onto my head, into my mind, onto my body, into my heart. In praise and thanksgiving, I just basked in His Holy Presence, in His Love, and in His Healing Mercy.
     I am reminded of the precious promise found in Deuteronomy 4:29, "From there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart." I'm in my "from there" place, and I know I have found that which I have sought for so long...my Lord, my God, my Healer, the All-Sufficient One.

Today, when you have a craving, make a conscious choice to either give in to the craving or enjoy God's presence.

Blessings,
Mary

Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 15, 2007.

     I've been looking at scripture that includes references to food, which has been an interesting adventure. Today I read John 6:25-29, and part of it (verse 27) jumped out at me, "...Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you..." I took that to the Lord in prayer, and I "heard" Him say, "Change your focus from the physical to the spiritual, from food to Me."
     I remember the verse in Matthew 4:4, where Jesus quotes from the Old Testament, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Physical food (bread) is found in the physical realm. Spiritual food (the Word, the Bread of Life) is found in the "mouth of God," the Bible.
     God is impressing upon me that feeding on His Word will enable me to resist the devil's attempts to lure me into the same old sinful habit of overeating and using food as a comfort or to fill a void that only God can fill.
     Not long ago, I prayed about John 10:10, "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." I knew that through Christ's death on the cross and believing in Him and accepting Him as my Savior and Lord, I have eternal life, but I had to admit that I did not consider my life as truly "abundant." I asked Him to show me how to have abundant life, for I didn't want to die before I die, which was what I felt I had been doing for a long time.
     Through a sermon of Pastor Scott's, I realized that no matter what I do, no matter how small and insignificant, I could do "all for the glory of God." I had been looking for something great that I could do for God, and it wasn't happening. When I realized that everything I do, if I do it for God, is significant, I began to feel like I was living a more abundant life.
     I feel now that God is showing me more of how to have an abundant life. He has shown me that, as a Christian, when I overeat, I deny the sufficiency of Christ, thereby missing out on the abundant life which Jesus gives. Every bite that I take that is more than what my body needs, Jesus asks, "Am I not enough?"

Today, make a conscious effort to focus more on the spiritual food than on the physical food.

Today's devotion comes from my personal journal dated April 14, 2007.

     Today I thought about all the diets I've tried. I thought about all the "no no" foods and how I've tried to avoid them in the past. The more I tried to avoid them, the more I wanted them! Self-denial has not been my strongest area! It's as if I feel entitled. Perhaps because of all I've been through in my life, somewhere along the line I decided to comfort myself with food.
     The Lord led me to Colossians 2:20-23, "If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch'? (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."
     That's what I have done in the past! I tried to rely on the "teachings of men," experts in the area of nutrition and weight loss, and tried to deny myself, all without the power to affect real change. There was little value in any of that!
     Now I know that the real problem is not food (or certain foods). The real problem is indulgence of my flesh. My flesh cries out to be gratified, and I, lacking self-control, indulge it. I have so spoiled my flesh that it demands more and more. I realize that now. It's like I have a spoiled brat inside my body.
     What do I do with that new knowledge? That's what I asked God in prayer. This is what He "told" me. "Receive food with thanksgiving and with discipline." The first part I get. The second part, I was not so sure. That required more prayer.
     I realize that eating in a disciplined manner involves choices. It's not really what to eat (which is what I focused on in the past), but when to eat and how much to eat. Making those choices proves that I have taken the time to receive the food with thanksgiving and discipline.
     I went back to Colossians 2:20-23, and I read some of the preceding verses. That's when I noticed that in verse 16 it says, "Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink..." Wow! Is that freeing or what! This is such a "new" way of looking at food and consuming food; I know that it will take time to truly understand what it all means.
     I know God's plan (whatever that ends up being) will work for me in ways I've never dreamed. He is unfolding that plan daily to me. It's exciting!
     I was reminded of another verse, and I found it in Ist Timothy 4:5, "Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." You mean, God, I can eat anything I want, as long as I receive it in gratitude and prayer? No list of "good" and "bad" foods? Yikes!
     So...I eat in a disciplined manner. I eat in moderation, which is self-control. I eat with thanksgiving and prayer. Why is it that seems so simple and so hard, all at the same time? Help me, Lord, to understand AND to do it.

Today, each time you eat, pay attention to how you're eating. Are you eating with thanksgiving and with discipline? Work on anything that is lacking.

NOTE: As WLS pre- or post-ops, there are some foods we must avoid. That is part of our eating with discipline. In a later devotion, God addressed that issue with me, even though I was not considering WLS at the time.

Today's devotional topic may be new to some, controversial to others, and "old hat" to some. However you feel about the topic, I believe that God will use something in this devotion to speak to you. I look forward to hearing from you.
The following is from my personal journal dated April 13, 2007.

     Today God spoke to me about fasting. I have fasted before...a day, several days, 11 days.
     It was at the end of the 11-day fast that God told me, in answer to my prayer about how to get this weight off, "There is a way." That was NOT what I wanted to hear. I wanted to know the way! I was not a happy Christian camper! Finally, I surrendered. "Okay, Lord," I said, "there is a way. Show me the way."
     Several weeks later, as I was taking a bath, the Lord popped a reference into my mind. I love when He does that! I kept repeating over and over, so I wouldn't forget, "Isaiah 35:8, Isaiah 35:8."
     When I got dressed, I went for my Bible and looked up Isaiah 35:8, which says, "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness..." That's when I knew "The Way is holiness." Even though I wasn't sure exactly how that would relate to weight loss, I just knew in my spirit that it was the key. Now, with this journey, with the Lord teaching me, I know it will all become clear.
     I've read about fasting in the Bible and in other books. I know its benefits, both physicially and spiritually. I know about the different fasts that are written about in the Bible. I know that when I fast, I should not draw attention to myself. I know, also, that I must couple fasting and prayer, for maximum benefit.
     The Lord led me to Isaiah 58:6, "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?" I've read that verse before, I've thought of it in relation to fasting and prayer, but always as in the breaking of bondage in other people. Today, however, God showed me that fasting once a week will help my bondage to food be broken, my yoke of self-loathing loosed, and true freedom realized. When that hit me in my spirit, for the first time in a LONG time, I can honestly say that I feel hope springing up within me, and it feels SO WONDERFUL! I am overwhelmed with gratitude to my Father, the Giver of all good gifts, for this gift of hope.
     I was reminded of Daniel, so I went to the Book of Daniel and looked for passages about when he fasted. I found Daniel 9:3-5, "So I [Daniel] gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, 'Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.'"
     Those verses in Daniel 9:3-5 show me that when I fast, I must incorporate prayer, fasting, and confessing of sin. It is an overall heart attitude of seeking the Lord earnestly. I will be able to fast in a way that pleases God ONLY if I crave Him and His Word.
     The Lord told me that when I am tempted to eat at a time when I am not truly hungry, I can open His Word, feast on Him, and He has promised to fill me up and give me a way out of that temptation.
     Today I had lunch with my friends, Connie and Debra. It was my day to eat 1/2 of what I would normally eat, and it was so wonderful and freeing to eat 1/2, be satisfied with that 1/2, and take the other 1/2 home. When Debra talked about her instantaneous deliverance from addiction to cigarettes, I wanted to say that God has delivered me from addiction to food, but I was afraid that it was just "my" thought, not from God, that the motivation would be to draw attention to myself, and that if I said it, it wouldn't be true or it would "jinx" this whole thing.
     I went to God in prayer over that. He showed me that Satan was behind all those thoughts, and He reminded me to "take every thought captive to the mind of Christ." I talked to the Lord about what I will do, what I will say, when people start to notice that I'm losing weight. It came to me so clearly, that I will say (and mean it), "By the mercy of God, for the glory of God." If I write a book someday, that is what the title will be.

Today, ask the Lord if He would have you incorporate fasting in your life. If so, ask Him what kind of fast would be good for you. (One of the hardest and most rewarding fast times for me was a one-week fast from all technology. After the first antsy day, I was able to get quiet before the Father. But that's another story.)

Blessings,
Mary