Day ... 5 is it??  I'm not having so much trouble with the hunger - don't get me wrong, I have hunger and cravings for certain items.  But overall, I haven't had constant hunger or hunger headaches.  It makes me wonder if I'm doing something wrong!  And I wonder if some of the food violates the Daniel fast guidelines.  I had a baked potato (microwaved) and sauteed in olive oil onion, garlic & mushrooms - no butter!! It was really good - maybe too good?!

I'm having more trouble with expecting things to all be going better in my life, but in fact the hurdles aren't falling - yet.  Sure life is not really bad at all, but there are some really big hurdles coming up, and I'm worrying about them.  I'm a worry-wart, I admit it.  A scripture either came to me or I heard it on the radio (I listen to KDRY - great stuff there) that told me to put it in God's hands.

I think one thing I have been forgetting to do is to really focus the reason for my fasting.  One web site says "So why fast? To demonstrate that we are seeking God "with all our heart." Fasting puts things in proper focus. It is a physical way of saying, "Food and the things of this life are not as important to me now as (fill in the blank) .""  I realize that when I feel hunger, rather than think of an alternative food I can substitute to kill my hunger pains, I need to use that hunger to fuel my prayer and express my desire to "die to self" and seek God instead.  And I need to use the hunger to focus on what is more important to me right now than hunger.

Over the past couple of days, I feel like I've been getting little hints of spiritual clarity as I've prayed.  I feel sure that if I use my hunger "reminders" (hunger pains) as cues to pray and seek God, rather than to think "hmm, what could I satisfy these hunger pains with...", I think I could further that spiritual clarity, open myself up more to allow God to show me His will for me.  So I think that rather than surfing for alternative recipes or food items, I'll seek God more, and pray that He be accepting of my fast.