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Stacy’s Fasting Testimony
Fasting and Prayer
by
Stacy Lagerquist
As a former compulsive overeater going without food
for even a single meal was a major breakthrough. Then I reached a time
in my life when I was walking very close with the Lord, spending most of
my free-time talking to Him and listening. However, during this time,
there were needs and unanswered questions in my life and the lives of
many of my family members so I decided to embark on my very first
extended water fast. Seven days. Yes, seven whole days without food!
I had water fasted and prayed for three days at the very most but never
an entire week.
I remembered my friend Lisa who went on a seven-day water fast, seeking God for confirmation on her marriage engagement. I called her up. We met at a botanical garden and she explained that God came through for her. She received her answer and today has a very happy marriage.
With fresh vigor I started my seven-day water fast. Day one was great. I spent a good deal of time in prayer and hardly even noticed the skipped meals. Day two hit with less gentleness, around 1:00PM I went home from my new job feeling sick - this was not a good thing! I didn’t tell anyone why I was sick for fear they would think I was a nutcase. I was completely alone, curled up in the fetal position on the bed in my business suit and coat. I felt like I had a horrific case of the flu, my lower back hurt so much that it felt as if someone had kicked me hard several times the day before! I wanted to throw up!
That evening I found strength enough to go on the internet and type “fasting” in the search engine, looking for some support. Upon a quick search I found Ron Lagerquist’s book on fasting. I learned about juice fasting and discovered that I was suffering from detoxification. However, I was determined to complete seven days on water and prayer only. But it was a great comfort to know why I was sick and how long it would last. I also tried my first enema during times of heavy detox and this was a tremendous relief! I was able to go back to work and only felt the typical weakness that comes from fasting.
After reading Ron’s writing on fasting I rushed out and purchased a Champion juice machine and made my very first batch of carrot/apple juice. Yumm! After seven day’s of not eating anything, this was the most delicious treat my taste buds had ever encountered! I drank juice for a couple of days just to ease my body back onto food, as I had read, but found myself not wanting to go back to food just yet. My experience with the Lord had been awesome and the juice gave me so much energy that I wanted to continue on. I completed another eight days on juice.
Breaking the fast on day sixteen, I ate a salad and a few other things, strangely in stead of being excited to eat again there was a sadness. A part of me wanted to fast forever! I felt so light, free from all my food addictions of the past! I decided to fast for a few more days, savoring God’s presence. It was an euphoric feeling, one in which I have never had before nor since.
While the phenomena of fasting and the cleansing that took place in my body was exhilarating; nothing compared to how God responded to my prayers. While on the fast the answers to my prayers felt like they were a million miles away. The extra prayer time and reading the Word drew me closer to Him but He remained silent. I heard nothing. Deep in my heart I knew He was there. It seemed as if He was observing me, waiting to see if these requests really meant as much to me as I was putting on. It felt like a test, one that I initiated but one that He was willing to grade. Although He remained silent during my fast I pressed in to Him regardless. It was not until after the fast that the floodgates of heaven opened up! I believe I got an A+!
God answered every single request in the most positive ways exceeding all I could have imagined. I had been seeing a guy that I had a gut feeling wasn’t God’s best for me, but just couldn’t seem to muster the strength to call it off. I was praying that God would show me the right thing to do. After the fast I asked him, did it ever occur to you that we might not be compatible? He said, no. I never heard from him again. Prayer answered. There were also family issues I was praying about, some very serious. God heard my cries and worked everything out in a wonderful way. In my new Real Estate job I really needed to sell some houses quickly. After the fast it seemed as though people just started walking into my office saying, I’ll take that one!
Most of all, I have two teenage nephews, I poured my heart out to God on their behalf. After my fast I asked my sister what she thought about sending them on Teen Missions for the summer. As a teen I traveled with Teen Missions and knew their Bible teaching, stringent work schedule, and strong discipline. What a way for them to spend their summer. To my astonishment, she wholeheartedly agreed! Between my mother and two sisters, we were able to raise over $9,000 US in less than two months! Those boys went to Madagascar for the summer teaching children about Jesus! We joke about this today saying that we couldn’t raise $9,000 on our own for anything. God had to be in it.
It seems the answers to my prayers were not a million miles away after all; it only felt that way. They were on their way, straight from heaven. I’ve heard many people say that fasting gets God’s attention. Based on my experience, I see it the other way around. Fasting got my attention. Not eating for several days made me very aware of His presence, the empty stomach - a second by second reminder of the interlude I am having with Him and why.