[lead]We asked some of our VOUS family to document their journeys throughout our 21 days of fasting. Today, Melissa shares her #PrayFirst story.[/lead]“No, I just can’t do it!” I screamed inside my head when I heard about our #PrayFirst fast.After three months with a stomach illness, I began a strict diet to help cure something that, although not life-threatening, took away all my energy and focus. With this diet, there weren’t many options of foods I could give up. The ‘NO’ was so vivid in my mind that I didn’t have the energy to come up with something just to participate in the fast. Still, I wanted to be part of what God was going to do. I knew it would be big, but I felt limited.Then, Pastor Erwin McManus came to VOUS the Sunday before #Prayfirst. He shared his own story about a stomach illness, which caused him to fast for two weeks. Once done, he decided to fast for two more weeks, taking control of what tried to control him. What an “ah-ha” moment! Why say ‘NO’ to God, when I could say ‘YES’ using what I had? This time, I would present my, already-established, fast to Him. This illness would no longer control me—I would control it. Additionally, I decided to fast from TV viewing and from social media. I wanted to remove as many distractions as possible and draw near to God so He would draw near to me, as James 4:8 says. I would fast for: a spiritual breakthrough, physical healing, and clarity for the next steps in my career and life.The first week started and I didn’t miss anything I had given up. Great! Then came week two, and it was yes after yes. Yes to a little TV, yes to a quick Facebook check, yes to heading to bed without praying. I saw the fast quickly slipping away from me. I realized I was saying yes to too many things, and once again, saying ‘NO’ to God. I understood then that this fast, much like my physical healing, was about endurance, and not about winning the gold medal.See, I wanted my spiritual breakthrough the way I wanted my physical healing: Immediate and effortless. I didn’t want to put in the work that I needed to get better. Sometimes I still don’t. I want nothing more than to say yes to a delicious slice of pizza, to a succulent steak, and to delightful cup of coffee (oh how I miss you, coffee) regardless of how harmful they can be for me. But, our lives are the sum of our decisions. As Paul says, we’re allowed to do anything, but not everything is good or beneficial to us. So, if I want this season to mean something, I have to focus on the choices I made.Week three is closing and my focus is still on one thing, saying ‘YES’ to God and to my health. Maybe this is my breakthrough, not that I gained the courage to say no to everything else, but that I have lost the fear of saying yes to God.