Someone once insinuated on social media that coffee is the only legal drug [sic] that Christians proudly consume. Is the greatest drink ever really a drug? Another story, another post I guess.
A more relevant question to ask would be:
What happens when you strip coffee from a Christian brother like me?
What happens when you stop your daily supply of coffee in order to commune with God?
Prayer and Fasting
Every year, I partake in these fasting and prayers that are usually orchestrated by my local church. Of course, I do not fast every single time the church mandates members to fast, but I know for a fact that the timing and mandate for the New Year fasting is very crucial and essential to me.
It has proven to be the most effective time to fast because it has worked for me over and over again. I usually experience a shift in my life every year I discipline myself to fast.
This year I decided to join DayStar’s week long fast in order to get amped up for 2015. Also decided to fast so I can start the year by laying my goals for the year before the feet of Jesus.
Fasting from Coffee
After the Christmas holiday, my office officially reopened for the year on the 5th of January. The first Monday of the year also happened the day I started my fast. Needless to say, surviving that day without my daily shot of caffeine was a mini-miracle on its own. Though my productivity level could be called into question, it really didn’t matter because I had an awesome time with Christ while working.
Today, I strolled past KFC, and it had no effect on me, neither did the delicious aroma of freshly baked cake and bread that bombards my office vicinity.
However, daily, by the break of dawn, I find myself struggling up until the minute I close from work. My biggest nemesis?
A hot cup of coffee. A hot delicious shot of espresso.
I am just a couple of days in, and I am already thinking how to survive the remaining days without my coffee drink.
How to Cope
Truth be told I am just one of the thousands that struggle from symptoms of coffee withdrawal from coffee when fasting. I decided to ask a few coffee-loving friends how they cope while fasting and I recovered that it was the major reason they were not big fans of fasting. I was glad that they shared their thoughts on it and without judging me for my coffee (or lack of) struggles.
Here are five reasons why hardcore coffee lovers hate fasting:
- Deprivation of their daily coffee intake (thought we start with the most obvious reason).
- Fear for loss of productivity and creativity.
- Symptoms of withdrawal that may result in crankiness and built-up tension.
- The feeling of incompleteness.
- The thought that the brain is still in a state of hibernation.
While this may be a tough thing for Christian coffee lovers, skipping your daily morning coffee shot and food is indeed paramount in our journey as Children of God. A very much-needed sacrifice. A denial of the flesh (or the brain) in order to fellowship and communion with God on a deeper and spiritual level.
When it is all said and done; Jesus is enough, and nothing on earth can replace the satisfaction He gives to us. So here is to dethroning coffee as your idol (of course that could be a thing).
Are you fasting?
Do you struggle (with coffee or food) when fasting?
So here is a caffeine-free me signing out and wishing you an amazing 2015.
[Coffee cup image via markus spiske via Compfight cc]
Eric Dye says
I know this feel.
Christa says
I’m late but this is me to the “T”.
?