Day 24 - 2 Corinthians 11:27

A Fasted Journey for Spiritual Renewal

Day 24

“In toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” -2 Corinthians 11:27

Sometimes fasting isn’t self imposed, but forced on people. We are extremely blessed in the west. Very few people go hungry on any given day when compared to human history. In today’s verse, Paul is appealing to the Corinthians by establishing some of his bonafides. He didn’t really want to do this and pointed out in verse one of the chapter that he considered it foolish.

However, the Corinthian church was really struggling and going through some difficulties. Primarily, as we see very often today, they were struggling with discernment. They had allowed apostates to take over the church in many ways. False teachers leading the church astray. Paul was doing his utmost to combat that. Since those in the Corinthian church were so eager to accept these heretics, Paul appealed to their baser instincts. One of these things he mentions is going without food. Thus, fasting out of necessity.

“Listen son. If you can’t hit the target. The village won’t eat.” These are words caught by a National Geographic camera provided by a father to his young son while practicing archery in Tanzania. Both son and father are members of the Hadza tribe in Tanzania. Before I started this fast, probably back in February or so, Heidi and watched episode three of a show called “Limitless” where Chris Hemsworth fasts for five days.

Dr. Peter Attia is prominent in the episode as well. At this part in the episode he says, “Even after days without food, people like the Hadza are stil able to find the energy to hunt because when a person fasts, when you stop eating it reveals the body’s superpower.” Hemsworth then explains, by reading off a script, that “when food is plentiful, our bodies store excess energy in the form of fat under the skin and around the internal organs. When food is scarce, that fat is sent to the liver where it’s turned into an alternative fuel source called a ketone. And it’s these ketones which provide the emergency power source. Not only for our bodies, but also for our brains.”

Some of the physical aspects of this fast have also been incredible to receive. Weight loss, which I’m sure everyone has assumed, of course. But others like mental clarity and focus, the best sleep I ever recall having, superb energy throughout the day until I go to sleep and sleep hard, calmness, and a list of others. They are all byproducts of the fast, but have had an impactful change on my life. I am interested to see what will happen once I start eating again. Interested, but not eager.

I am not a medical professional. This journal is about my spiritual path and about that which the Lord has placed on me. This is not medical advice, nor was this fast done for any medical purpose. If you have a medical interest, seek medical advice. If you have particular health concerns, seek medical advice and/or conduct your own research. Any fasting advice, effects, realizations or anything else related to my fast come from my personal reflection and experience. If you are considering fasting, consulting with a healthcare provider may be appropriate for you.