Comments on Julie Gillies - Words to Soothe, Refresh and Strengthen Your Soul: What I Learned on a 21-Day Daniel Fast

Thanks for sharing your thoughts like this Julie! ...

2010-04-28T04:10:02.113-04:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts like this Julie! I really appreciate you!
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my favorite part is trading the temporal for the e...

2010-02-22T21:59:32.757-05:00

my favorite part is trading the temporal for the eternal...especially in a lifestyle of abstaining. i have been feeling led to adopt the Daniel lifestyle. great post!

I have never fasted before because of hypoglycemia...

2010-02-15T12:51:02.446-05:00

I have never fasted before because of hypoglycemia, but the Daniel fast is one I could do, and in fact, being a vegetarian, could shift to, just mostly giving up my beloved sugar! Reading your post and the experiences shared here makes me want to try this to experience it myself. Thanks for the information. I, too, suffered childhood hunger. I never thought of it before, but those memories are tied to painful emotions. Another thing to work through with God!

Wow Julie...congratulations. It's amazing wha...

2010-02-12T09:25:17.052-05:00

Wow Julie...congratulations. It's amazing what God can teach us when we trully focus on Him. Thanks for sharing and being so encouraging. I have done a Daniel fast for 10 days, but not the 21. I want to though. Just curious...did your family participate? (I did mine by myself, and that was hard.)

I have never willingly fasted but I know those who...

2010-02-11T19:23:46.463-05:00

I have never willingly fasted but I know those who have are happy they did:)
The funny part of this is the diet you used is about how I eat all the time!

I've fasted on my own a number of times and I ...

2010-02-11T01:52:11.847-05:00

I've fasted on my own a number of times and I find it healing and hard, but always worth the sacrifice. I loved what you shared about your fasting this time around. I've had some amazing visuals come to mind during times of fasting. It's like God speaks louder and I'm more apt to listen and respond.

God bless your journey.

Hugs from Colorado!

Wow, great stuff, Julie! Because of my health cond...

2010-02-09T16:15:59.207-05:00

Wow, great stuff, Julie! Because of my health conditions, I feel like I am on a never-ending Daniel fast. Sometimes, I get really depressed. Why can't I just eat like a normal person? But I also know that God has taught me a tremendous amount through it -- discipline, willpower, denying myself, depending on Him for strength. I must admit, though, I really long to dive into a big ol' piece of chocolate cake now and then without knowing I'll pay the price! I'm sure YOU can relate to that! ;0)

What an accomplishment. You did learn a lot. I h...

2010-02-09T14:39:17.270-05:00

What an accomplishment. You did learn a lot. I have done longer fasts where I give up certain things. It always brings me closer to God and helps me see how ungrateful I am for the things He has given me.

I've done the Daniel fast before. Talk about ...

2010-02-09T14:02:51.058-05:00

I've done the Daniel fast before. Talk about killing the flesh!

I learned a lot about how fasting and prayer can make a huge difference in our life situations. I also realized that there are more things to eat that are better for me besides the junk that I had been eating.

This was a wonderful post and it reminded me once again of the importance of regular fasting.

Have a blessed day!

Such a powerful honest post. I would love to say t...

2010-02-09T10:45:43.661-05:00

Such a powerful honest post. I would love to say that I have fasted for reasons other than medically demanded ones.
Thank you for sharing your heart and thoughts on this.

Love, love, love this post! You are so eloquent wi...

2010-02-09T09:12:51.183-05:00

Love, love, love this post! You are so eloquent with words.

Your words have helped me solidify some of what I received as well. I guess that’s a good sign of a writer when you can speak the heart of others. 

One of my biggest prayers through the fast was just greater intimacy with Him because from that all things line up and flow. Having this in mind, I kind of felt spiritually off throughout the fast and couldn’t figure out “why” I didn’t feel moved by Him. Then I remembered it’s not about the “feeling” or “movement of the Spirit”, but more about obedience and a heart toward Him. So I persevered out of obedience.

A week or so after we had finished I woke up one morning just feeling “buzzy” (I have no other word). It seemed like I had went through spiritual metamorphous while I was sleeping and I awoke feeling like I was ONE with Him, and not just the cliché of the phrase “one with Him”, but I sensed it to my very core. I had such an array of emotions that wanted to surface all at once that I was just simply “buzzy”. I wanted to run tell everyone, “can you feel it?”...it was so sweet and good I wanted to share it and for everyone to sense His presence that brings ALL things relevant to YOU...PERSONAL, UNIQUE, INTIMACY!

I feel like God has so much more to reveal to me in response to those 21 days, but I definitely feel closer intimacy with Him.

SO powerful!!! I have also fasted and found that ...

2010-02-08T14:18:27.982-05:00

SO powerful!!!

I have also fasted and found that all of the truths you have listed to be evident in my own life. Even now, not in a fast, I found your #1 screaming: "I reach out for food far more than I reach out for Jesus."

I am not really hungry, therefore I don't really want food...or at least the food that only fills my stomach.

Wonderful, wonderful post!

I did a 3 day fast near the first of the year. I ...

2010-02-08T09:42:44.763-05:00

I did a 3 day fast near the first of the year. I had a dream on the 3rd day of Jesus being so close to me. He was in the room. He let me ask Him question after question. He wanted me to know He cared about all the things I did. I have thought about doing the Daniel fast. I have no doubt I would discover many of the same things you did. Thanks for sharing.

I have only done day-long/prayer-based fasts. Ever...

2010-02-08T09:19:12.028-05:00

I have only done day-long/prayer-based fasts. Every time I felt hungry, it just reminded me to look up, be still, get focused and pray. It took any attention of me, my needs, and placed it all on Him and His healing power to work in another.

Can we take the lessons learned from a fast and continue to apply them, whether in plenty or in want? As you continue forward from this point, I pray that God will continue to remind you of your lessons learned, that you can see Him working more and more.

I have never fasted. I am considering doing the D...

2010-02-08T08:41:29.382-05:00

I have never fasted. I am considering doing the Daniel fast, but am also worried that I will fail. Thanks for the insights.

What a great post! I so appreciate your heart towa...

2010-02-08T08:27:04.933-05:00

What a great post! I so appreciate your heart toward fasting, both in approach and in the takeaways. So many times, it seems people use a fast as a way to manipulate God into doing what they want. (If I FAST, then He has to... 'cause then He'll see how serious I am.)That blessed intimacy with God- what a wondrous awesome things. May the blessings continue!

Enjoyed your post, Julie I found myself,and this ...

2010-02-07T22:08:27.723-05:00

Enjoyed your post, Julie

I found myself,and this is typical of me during a fast,thinking of foods I wish I could it that I never thought about before. And we were already eating this way as it was, pretty much.

But, the main this for me was this. The things I thought I had dealt with in my heart I found some were still hanging out there. Just like Pastor spoke about this Sunday concerning the "little foxes" that rob the vines, well I still had some and the Holy Spirit was gently showing me that and removing them from my "heart vineyard".

God is faithful to complete the work He has begun in is...IF WE LET HIM!

Perfect way to start a year. I did this with my ch...

2010-02-07T19:47:56.164-05:00

Perfect way to start a year. I did this with my church last year and wish I had joined in this year. I learned #4, fasting is powerful.

I have fasted before but only for 12hrs,lately I&#...

2010-02-07T19:07:55.385-05:00

I have fasted before but only for 12hrs,lately I've been giving this Daniel fast some thought.

Thank you for sharing the things that you have learned.

Julie, your list of principles learned is amazing....

2010-02-07T17:21:56.712-05:00

Julie, your list of principles learned is amazing. God will do a great work from that. Oh, man, I would have to pray a LOT more if denied chocolate! I could feel your heart and passion in your post. Thanks dear one.

Julie, I loved reading your perspective and lesson...

2010-02-07T17:19:25.120-05:00

Julie, I loved reading your perspective and lessons learned from the fast. Those are some powerful things!

I went gluten-free for January. I knew God wanted me to do it for January, but I tagged on February and very quickly learned that the grace had lifted and January was enough.

I agree that when we deprive our flesh of something it makes us reach out and hunger for God more. He fills the places the food would have filled before. Also, the simple act of obedience leads us to a new place in our relationship with the Lord.

Thanks so much for sharing. Next time I fast I'll stop by and remind myself of the benefits.

Having done the same fast with you, I can really a...

2010-02-07T16:51:09.549-05:00

Having done the same fast with you, I can really appreciate the things that you've learned from it. I've also learned many of the same things, but the whole reliance on surplus of food that we have here was the big thing for me. Between my mission trip to Kenya and Uganda last year and things like this fast, I cannot help but to think of Americans (generally spoeaking) as being quite gluttonous.

Myself included.

Sad really...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts like this Julie! I really appreciate you!

That is a powerful list of things you learned. I ...

2010-02-07T15:25:05.141-05:00

That is a powerful list of things you learned. I do find myself emotionally eating at times instead of turning to God. Good reminder to just pause and head toward Him and not the kitchen! :O)