Surrender 21

Consecration is the act of making or declaring something sacred. We are consecrating our bodies and our minds for the use of the Holy Spirit.

During these 21 days, we are incorporating the two most important principles of fasting:

sacrifice + surrender

1. I am sacrificing as a remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Our individual sacrifices may look different, but the goal is to choose a real sacrifice that you will use as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for you. When choosing your fast, make sure you choose guidelines that you know you will be able to follow. This is about remembering what Jesus did, not trying to earn something from God or appear extra holy in front of people.

2. This is a time to deepen your relationship with Jesus. This only happens by giving Him dedicated, uninterrupted time every day. If you don't do this already, these 21 days are a great time to start this habit.

Suggested Levels of Fasting:

Beginner: Avoid all sugary and fried foods. You may want to consider avoiding all processed foods as well. 

Intermediate: The Daniel Fast, which consists of eating only fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. There are many variations of the Daniel Fast, so settle for yourself how you choose to fast.

Advanced: Juice fast. No solid foods of any kind. No added sugar. No caffeine, or other additives. A water fast is a fast where you do not eat or drink anything but water.

Final note: Do not attempt to fast from both food and water for more than 3 days as your body will become severely dehydrated and may end in hospitalization or even death. It's probably not a good idea to begin the fast at an advanced level if you have not tried it before to know how your body responds. It would be better to try this at the end of the fast unless you already have experience.

Regardless of the level you choose, keep your focus on the goal of knowing Jesus better, and when those cravings hit, that's your reminder of the day Jesus spent on the cross to purchase you back from death, and when you overcome the temptation, you are joining Jesus in His victory over temptation.

As we present this information, let's keep the focus on helping individuals succeed in keeping their commitments rather than 'policing' what can/cannot be eaten. Let's remember Romans 14:1-4

"Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One persons faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone elses servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand."