Spiritual Disciplines - Fasting

Our congregation-wide Sunday School class is exploring Spiritual Disciplines and different ways that we might find to connect more deeply with the Holy Spirit.  Each week's lesson provides five "exercises" from which we choose one to explore.  This week, a 24-hour-fast (lunch-to-lunch) was what I chose.  Having never fasted, I was curious what spiritual impact this might, or might not, have. 

As an American society, we do not have a healthy relationship with food.  I cannot say that the last 24 hours made the Holy Spirit well up within me more than usual, but it did bring to light how much food is apart of our daily lives.  Now, perhaps that is more true for a Mom that is constantly shopping, cooking, preparing, dispensing, and cleaning up food after 3-4 others. [Note: I do think this exercise was FAR more "simple" for Michael than for me for that very reason!]  But it's amazing how much more aware you become that food is constantly in our faces (tv, internet, billboards, etc.). 

What I expected?  It was a good exercise in discipline, self-control, avoiding temptation, etc.

What I didn't expect?  I was very tired, lethargic, cold, and quite unmotivated.  Any one of these side affects could easily be explained away by daily factors, so I'm curious to do it again another week and see if I feel the same way.

Perhaps a 40-day fast in the desert would bring me closer to God?  I don't know.  But next time I will plan ahead.  The kids will have cereal for dinner, not the delicious chicken I had to cook since it was already thawed.  AND, I'll be curious to see if they notice next time.  Not a word was spoken this time!  But of course it's not unusual that I don't sit down during a meal....