An inspiring and convicting, heartfelt, email from one of the internationals fasting for my new Zondervan project: Your Secret Name.

Dear Kary and all the fast team,

First and foremost, I want to thank you for responding to the promptings of the holy spirit to set a year for fasting and also, and also setting up a call for all nations to join you in both prayer and fasting for your new book.

When I first read your email and the request, the lord quicken my spirit to say, Yes, go for it. To be honest, since this year began, I had not fasted for a single day and no one had asked me or hold me accountable about my spiritual discipline, even my fellow pastors.

In my spirit, I was quite dry and not fully connected with the lord. I had even lost my daily devotions of waiting upon the lord. Am passing through a transition in ministry and the process has brought a lot of pain, disappointments etc.

So, when my day was approaching I was quite worried if I will manage to finish the fast at midnight but again I could feel, the holy spirit cheering me, to go for it. Yesterday morning I started with prayer and when I went to my office, I had not much things on my table to do, so I started reading From Isaiah 50 to 59 through my Message bible and the lord clearly spoke to me through Isiah 58 about the true fasting and what to do when we fast.

I had to forgive the key people I was holding in my heart, especially my spiritual leaders and my director and I believe, forgiveness, this time was so real and it was at a heart level. I repented of blaming them and stopped passing judgments. In the evening, the lord led to visit a patient who was admitted dying of Aids, I prayed and encouraged her in the Lord and I left her with a big smile. When I came home, I gave much of my time speaking to my two teenagers and it was good. And then spent two hours praying for Kary and his new book.

I ate my first meal after midnight, All in all, I feel more refreshed today, my faith has been reawakened and relieved from the burdens I have been carrying and today I had a meeting with my director and it was tension free. It has really worked for me and I would encourage to go for it.

I am waiting for another day for fast AND I would love it to do it more often probably once a week.

Yours in Christ.