It all started when our church did a fast in January to start the year off.

Before I could even ask God what He would like for me to fast, He had already placed it on my heart to do the Daniel Fast — which is, in my opinion, one of the hardest fasts. I mean, I love food! It sounds silly, but I even tried bargaining with Him: "What about social media? Or sweets? Or Netflix?" But we all know Who won that one.

I've attempted and failed this fast far too many times, so I told God, “Lord, You and I both know that I am not strong enough to do this, so I'm really going to need strength, strength and more strength.”

The 21 days of doing the Daniel fast felt like a year, and even though I didn't do the most perfect job, I was able to finish the 21 days. However, when it was over, I felt the Lord tell me, "Keep going.”

“Ummm…what? Lord, I barely got out alive in the 21 days!"

*silence*

"There's no way, I'm sorry!"

*silence*

"Ugh. Okay, fine, but for how much longer?"

"Longer."

"How long am I fasting for, Lord?"

"It's not going to be a fast, it's going to be a lifestyle."

"What? No!"

*silence*

“Why?"

His next response, He showed me through His Word with Paul, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is. His good, pleasing, and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2)

There are no words to describe how perfectly those words filled every space in my heart. It moved my soul and I felt my spirit intertwine with His. It was then that I knew He was revealing another side of Himself to me, but also, that side of Him had already been planted in me for He created me in His image.

Suddenly, I wanted to only eat food He grew. I felt icky thinking about processed foods. Don't get me wrong, I'd still crave Wingstop, Olive Garden's chicken Alfredo and other yummy foods, but I wanted to do my very best to be a living sacrifice for Him.

The next thing He is instructing me to do is to take care of my health by eliminating meat and processed foods.

Months later, I flew to California from Texas to spend time with family during the crazy 2020 times we found ourselves in. I felt nervous because my family are huge meat eaters. They strongly believed that, as humans, we need to consume meat to get the proper amount of protein our bodies need. I was nervous to tell them about the whole being Plant-Based thing, because it could lead to arguments.

Then one day, I stumbled upon a documentary on Netflix called, "The Game Changer," where they explain why meat is not necessary for humans to consume in order to have protein. I fell asleep while watching it, but I woke up to the sound of my mama coming in the room.

"What are you watchin?" she asked.

"Oh," cue nervousness. "It's a documentary about what meat does to the body..." Yup. I'm leaving it vague like that.

She sat next to me and watched with me. Suddenly, I could see from my peripherals that she was drawn in..."Call your dad and your brother. They've gotta see this!" She and I were amazed at what we were watching and learning! But I was also amazed at what I'm hearing my mom say! Is the Lord workin right now? Oh, I think so!

My dad and brother came in and watched with us, and at the end of the documentary, my mom said, "Okay, from now on, we've gotta really be smart with what we eat. We cannot eat so much meat anymore. Wow, I had no idea how much protein is in nuts and lentils…”

That afternoon, I offered to make us dinner. I made tacos with amazing ingredients and no meat, and they loved it. I could not believe it!

After a few days, they started eating meat again. However, it’s not as much as before which I think is still incredible. I'm sticking to eating plant-based foods, trying to get creative with recipes and it's so much fun.

Back in January, I had no idea why He asked me to switch up my lifestyle, but I'm glad I did it, even without Him answering my, "Why's?" And months later, He answered that question. See, the thing is, the more we build our relationship with God by trusting Him and thanking Him, the more the "why's" become irrelevant.

I love that not only did God show me the significance of changing my diet for my health, but He filled up my heart even more by shifting my family's heart to be on this journey with me. They weren't forced or anything, they genuinely want to do this with me. God knows how huge of a deal this is for me. Yes, this is the kind of God we have...a God Who truly cares about every single detail of our lives.

In saying yes to His instructions, I am able to connect with Him in a brand new way. He is peeling back layers and layers of Who He is in me!

Romans 12:1-2 are not just Bible verses meant to be applied in a spiritual way. God is in all the realms and He is working in all of them. In the physical, in our minds, in the spirit...and His desire is to transform us by renewing. Out with the old, in with the new!

Foodie Newbie