The Fast of 2022: The Good, The Bad, the Ugly, the Miraculous, and the ??

Combining fasting with prayer makes a difference! Sometimes a huge difference. Whenever the New Year rolls around, I’m out in front of the church saying “lets all go hungry for 3 weeks,” As you may imagine, it is not met with shouts of joy and enthusiasm. In fact, usually people sorta turn their eyes away. “She’s not looking at me, is she?”

I once told my daughter Bethany with a sigh  “I’m not sure I should even promote a corporate fast. I feel like every year I drag them kicking and screaming into it.” 

“Mom,” she said, “I wish someone at our church would drag us kicking and screaming into a fast.”

That was what I needed to hear! And the fasts went on. Some longer than others.. some  with clear answers, others… not so much.

Did we see clear answers during our corporate 21 day fast for 2022? It was a very unique year. I  will tell you it all Coming right up in todays episode of “Storming the Gates”

Hello

I want to apologize to my regular listeners for taking so doggone long to post a new episode.

It is because it has been both a heartbreaking and a joyous season here in the Scott household. I will be clarifying that shortly.

I shared a bit of my fasting journey in the previous episode.

I encourage you to give that episode a listen, but to recap, through the years the Lord has directed me and my husband to do extended fasts the beginning of each year. It started with just a few days, and slowly grew to be as many as 21, although mostly it has been 21 day fasts. Some were intense water-only fasts, some more manageable like a Daniel “no meats no sweets” fast. Most often we have done a “liquid” fast. We will make Healthy smoothies and drink juices.

And coffee. The good Lord knows I need my coffee for survival!

This year, the what’s why’s and how’s of fasting were different from any previous year.

I had asked God what I should expect in 2022 and He replied “The waves are coming.”

First, that new Omicron variant of Covid began attacking just about everyone in our church. I had to take this before the Lord as it was clear the battle was on before we even began! How could we encourage a fast when people were home with fevers, coughs, and sinus issues? No one would even consider fasting!

Yet, as I prayed God seemed to say “No. Do the fast. Everyone can do something, no matter how small, and together it will add up.”  I sensed that this particular fast would be “significant” in some way. My impression was that it was necessary.

Secondly; We have become familiar with Satans reign of terror on our appliances each year as we fast. In fact, we often joke about the “demon of appliance break down” and such things during a fast. This year, the attacks were emotional and personal. Just as we were entering the fast, a number of serious family needs erupted. In fact,each day leading up to the fast we felt like the enemy had  sucker punched us once again. We were in emotional pain as a friend died, sickness prevailed, and marriages around us floundered.

Finally: In previous years,  the church grew in attendance and enthusiasm during the fast and just after.

Well… that was not to be this year!

In fact, just as I feared as we began, the viruses malicious path through our congregation caused most of them to stay home! When even the Church staff came down with the virus, Wednesday night services were canceled. That was a sucker punch to the fast because Wednesday services are where we spend time praying and seeking God during a fast! That is where we find encouragement among one another!

Besides all that, The 21 day prayer and fasting journal designed for the church languished in Amazons “in review” category. Soon it was obvious it would not be ready in time. Another blow to this years fast! I could only make the PDF link available. 

I did however, have a Facebook group where I tried to faithfully post the days verse and journal prompt.

A little side note: Something to keep in mind when fasting: Be open to Gods direction. He may change what and how you fast. He may turn your attention to something unexpected. He may shorten or lengthen it. 

Success is not determined by the extent of your tenacious grit to cross the finish line, it is counted by your obedience to His call.”

The month of January was terribly, terribly cold! Here in the north the temperatures each morning as I headed out the door were well below zero. And it was dark. The sun hid behind thick grey clouds the few hours here in the North we can even  hope to expect it! I drove my bus along Lake Superiors shoreline as wind gusts flew across the icy surface and slammed into my bus, like the waves God had told me were coming.  The snow and high winds produced little visibility. My lack of road vision matched my vision for what God was doing. It all seemed cloudy and difficult.

  My husband, bless his heart,  was one of the masses sick with Covid when the fast began, but thankfully he’s a die-hard. “I’m fasting no matter what!” He declared.

“Ok,” I said, concerned for his health, “But let’s eat soups instead of having smoothies.” He ate as much soup as he wanted until he felt better, then joined me in eating 1 bowl of soup a day. 

We also decided to take communion each day. That was a new addition.

Thus we went through those 21 days.

I kept driving my school bus and Charlie returned to work after ten days off.

1) A few days into the fast, my ex husband, Bill’s, wife called us asking my nurse husbands opinion on treatment. Bill was rapidly growing worse. And worse! Fearing where it might go Charlie and I  took my youngest to visit his dad a few hours south of us. ( We had all recently overcame Covid and Bill had it long enough we no longer thought he was contagious) 

It turned out to be a surprisingly good visit. My ex husband, Bill,  was welcoming and friendly, despite his weakened state, and we all enjoyed a meaningful visit. The years of animosity have slowly dissolved to a point I could honestly say Bill and his wife, Petunia, are my friends. That alone was a true gift from God in those long cold days.

But after that visit, his health rapidly declined.

He was taken by emergency ambulance out of state to a hospital with the facilities to handle his many life-threatening symptoms. And then the thing we all wanted to avoid happened: He was placed on a ventilator. 

     Now I cried. The fast seemed as useful as a pebble against a great giant. (Wait? Haven’t I heard of that somewhere before?)

Yet,  it seemed whenever I took refuge in my prayer closet, God poured encouragement on my soul.

I wrote down a few of the verses I ran across and used as prayer:s

• “Oh Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from the grave, thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” Psalm 30:3-5

•  “This sickness is not unto death” John 11:4

•  “For He hath not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither hath he hid his face from Him, but when he cried to Him he heard.” Psalm 22:24

One of my daughters started a prayer chat on Facebook, which became a spiritual lifeline as we closely followed Bills progress or lack thereof. We shared encouraging verses and prayer. But In the natural… hope was fading as fast as Bill.

2) During the same time my son, who lives in El Salvador, asked to do a video chat with me and his adorable El Salvadorian girlfriend, Gabriella. Or, Gaby. They shared that Gaby was having pain, cramping, and other symptoms that were a source for concern. Especially since both her grandmother and mother had once dealt with ovarian cancer. Gaby was scheduled to see a doctor in the upcoming week.

That was hard to hear. Hoping and praying for the best, We assured them we loved them and would be praying. Soon we heard the test results confirmed the worse. Cancerous cells and a large tumor lodged within her. The doctors would be operating soon and giving her various treatments. Our hearts were broken. I hurt for my son and his feisty girlfriend in far off El Salvador.

           Now, more verses joined me in prayer:

“God is within her. She will not fall. God will help her at break of day.” Was another verse I held onto through the weeks.

“If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole,” (Matthew 9:20-22) was another verse that I felt was for Gaby.

One of my prayer cards boldly stated “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:22) I wrote it down and reminded God of this as often as I sat before Him in prayer. One day, as I asked God for a verse, my eyes once again fell on this prayer card. Opening my journal, I landed right where I had written that verse, and my eyes hungrily devoured its truth. Yet, I figured God had already given me that verse. I wanted a new one! That particular day I was unthinkingly reading in Matthew 19, just randomly going through the book of Matthew, and there, like a firework igniting and making the dark sky glow red, I read “With God ALL things are possible.” It hit me like a bolt from the sky. Oh Alright, Lord! I had to admit that WAS God’s verse du jour!

With three major issues on my mind, (wave three during the fast came in the form of a private family matter I cannot speak about.) I was overwhelmed and asked God which one He would address? Which one should I pray MOST for?

That day I read the verse in Matthew that says He healed them ALL.” (Matthew 12:15) As I read it I had a revelation of God’s overflowing love for His children. He WANTS to heal us all! He singles out no one for special treatment. The Bible says “As many as touched Jesus were made perfectly whole.” (Matthew 14:36) 

I have found that during a fast Gods word comes alive like at no other time. That was pretty much true this year as well. Except, the desperate sadness and family’s needs encroached on my faith and I felt more like I was clinging to a shard of wood among the roaring sea rather than flying above earths weight with fresh revelation.

Each morning, I left the prayer room encouraged and full of faith, only to read  my text messages which brought more bad news. I struggled to maintain the assurance I felt mere moments before. At times, I contemplated taking off work. My kids needed me. They would need help planning their Dads funeral…

God interrupted my thoughts.

“No. By faith you will keep working. He will not die but he will live. You will work as the evidence you believe that.” God also gave me 2 Corinthians 2:7. We walk by faith, not by sight. I tried to keep the promises I received in the prayer room in my heart even when I was outside the prayer room, but it was an intense battle to do so! 

I want to add, if people relied only on Charlie and I’s prayers for answers they would probably be in trouble! While we certainly played a role God gave us, we were no where near the only ones deeply burdened and praying for these people. It was obvious God was touching many, many, hearts to join in prayer for his suffering children.

I kept working while my phone was blowing up with discouraging texts. I did my best to focus, but I admit I drove past a couple of my school bus stops as I was lost in thought, concerned about the outcomes. I circled back to bring the kids home as God prodded me forward and the fast dragged on. I longed to escape the months darkness and emotional pain. I wasn’t as hungry as much as I just wanted to go on an emotional eating binge. Because of the fast I was forced to take such thoughts captive, and choose to believe, despite the lack of evidence, that God was “hearing” the fast.

21 days felt like 21 months, but at last the fast came to an end.

It ended on Wednesday, 2-2-22. That felt significant. I  related it to Isaiah 22:22 

So he shall open, and no one shall shut;

And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Despite the prayer, nothing had changed. In fact some things seemed to have gotten worse. I chose to believe God was about to open some doors that appeared to be completely shut.

The sickness had died down some, and the final day of the fast we were at last able to hold a small communion service at church. I am usually well-prepared for leading that service, but that night I was not. I had hoped for a fresh revelation. Or a miraculous healing story! It almost seemed like I had led the church down a wild goose chase. 

Until the moment I stood up front with Charlie, I had no idea what direction I would go. Yet God was faithful as we discussed and prayed the Lords Prayer based on the journal prompts. (Be sure to check that out Ill talk about it at the end of this broadcast) I closed the service by thanking God for the prayers He had answered and the prayers He was about to answer! I was encouraged as many people told me how much they got out of the fast and the final service.

That’s it. I thought that night as I enjoyed a pizza and dessert with my husband.

The fast is over! The Pizza sure tasted good. 

But nothing has changed.

Not that I can see… 

I chose to be content knowing that God hears and answers. I was thankful Bill was still alive. Thankful the family with the private difficulties were doing much better. Thankful Gaby would soon be receiving surgery for the tumor.

The next morning I drove my bus up the long country road. For the first time in these long months, the sky grew brilliant with morning light as the sun rose. It was a combination of clouds dissipating and seasons changing, but it felt like God was letting me know He was rising to deliver in some way. Like any modern woman, I snapped a photo for my IG feed, of course, before picking up a student and heading back to town for the rest of my kids.

On the drive the Lord began speaking to me about the Authority of the believer.

I have often prayed about this “authority of the believer” I can’t say I understand it, honestly, but I had an overflow of revelation.

I saw that we take God at His word and then sometimes, we have to FIGHT- but the enemy is doomed to fail if God has spoken it. Part of God’s Word is His “Rhema” or His spoken word for today. Right now.  and I heard Him say “The congruency of His written word and His spoken word enables us to take the authority given to us and wage war. The victory will be ours! And that Satan does not want us to understand this. He will fight against us believing or trusting God to keep His word. 

Honestly, I had to look up the word “congruency.” It means to agree, align, and to be in harmony together. When the Lords written word agrees with what the Spirit is whispering to your soul, then you know it is Gods will to enter the prayer battlefield until victory is obtained!

It was so clear, such a “whoa” moment, I told the Lord “If all this fast did was equip me with this truth it was worth it all!”

That very day, for the first time in the long scary weeks of prayer for Bill, we heard good news! The pneumonia had dissipated slightly, and his organs were beginning to function better.

As my kids and I celebrated this small but important change in Bill on our Facebook group, my son Luke dropped a photo of two x rays.

“Praying for Dad today,” he wrote, “and wanted to share this as another sign of miraculous healing.”

What?

I looked at the x-rays, unsure what he was saying or what I was seeing before his next message popped up. “Gaby had her first operation today, burning the cells. The Doctor also performed another ultrasound to verify the tumor once again as 10 years ago she cut into a patient to discover there was no tumor. Today, for the first time in 10 years- second ever for the doctor, the tumor has disappeared and the ovary looks very healthy!”

I was astounded. I began to weep.

During the fast, while I was praying, worrying, clinging to Gods word… He was at work. 

Luke went on “Image on the left is the tumor, completely blocking the ovary you see on the right one which is a perfect black circle.” Now I saw it. It was obvious and… amazing. It was a real miracle! 

He explained there would be another doctor appointment to confirm the tumor was gone, but, he said “The doctor has no idea what has happened and everyone is in disbelief!”

A few days later Doctor number two searched diligently but found no tumor.

And in those few days, Bill continued to improve. We were so hopeful! Because Gaby no longer required surgery my son was able to come up to see his dad who was beginning the process of being weaned off the vent. We were rejoicing! Excited with Gods miraculous deliverances.

Except…

As Luke was packing my truck to head to the hospital where his dad is…new messages came through. More blood clots. New bacterial pneumonia. Blood pressure rising.

And our mood turned as grey as the snow bearing clouds that were moving in.

Today it is 2-22-22. It’s TWOs day. Much like the 2-2-22 day 10 days ago when our fast ended.

Bill is alive.

He needs a miracle.

Gaby is well.

Family otherwise is well.

We pray for a miracle even as we leave it in the hands of God.

My pastor says “Things happen when you fast that would not happen if you didn’t fast.”

A fast is not a guarantee.

It’s an act of faith. 

I know that things have happened because of the fast that would not have otherwise.

The church is full again. 

And perhaps… something was averted. An unknown danger.

No one can know for sure, but I am certain that in the provision of God He utilized the fast to bring about changes. He used many things. I guess the word “Congruency” would work here as well. He used Doctors, and  x-rays, and medicine, or foods. He used people praying together over Facebook, and in private, as well as a determined woman named Petunia who tenaciously fought in prayer for her husbands health. 

He also used a powerful form of prayer called Fasting.

One of Petunias recent messages to the prayer group emphasizes this: Petunia wrote: “I’m in Bills room. His vitals looked very good, even surprisingly good to the nurses and doctors. You prayer warriors and God, together, have brought about as perfect a scenario as I could hope for! You all are really moving invisible mountains, and I am in awe.”

We still wait. We still pray.

We are thankful for Gaby’s incredible healing. 

Although the current situation does not look promising for Bill,  I have seen the hand of God at work, and I would gladly endure those 21 cold dark days again to see medical miracles and deliverance for people 

I am certain: Even when it seems NOTHING is happening.

God is happening.

UPDATE: This post was written 2-22-22. Bill went to be with the Lord 2-26-22

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