A testimony of the fast

I suppose I've always just fasted out of obedience. I've never had a huge prayer answered due to fasting or had any other experience that really hit me hard as to why we fast. As Adam can probably attest to, it can be quite the challenge for me to fast. I always get the shakes and I've almost passed out a few times. My face is always very pale right before I end my fast (blood pressure drop)... I wouldn't survive long if we were to starve. So I tend to ask myself, why not just pray?? Doesn't it do the same thing? But I still fast, happily, because I know it pleases the Lord and that's basically my main goal in life :)
So today, I decided to fast for Alec since he's starting chemo this month and I know (via classes and watching my friend Brenna suffer) what it can do to the body and how miserable it must be. At first my thoughts were completely Alec-oriented. Like my suffering without food for one day would show that I cared for him as he suffers for the next year (ha, feeble? indeed).
As the day went on, I started to think more about what the Lord means for us to learn by fasting. I started to think about what we learn in the temple and how our body needs constant nourishment, both physically AND spiritually. In a way, by fasting, the Lord is reminding us of our Sprit's need for nourishment. The body is loud, it screams when it's hungry... but the Spirit is subtle, and if we're not careful, we could starve ourselves spiritually. Just by going without food for one measly day, our bodies start trembling, our blood pressure drops like crazy, the body almost goes into a state of shock (at least my whimpy 115 pound body does). But how often do we starve our spirit for a day? Thankfully... I can say not terribly often, but I KNOW my Spirit would love more nourishment a little more regularly.
So today, I have learned for myself WHY we fast. It may be like a power prayer, due to the sacrifice attached. But really, it is a reminder that our Spirit needs fed just as much as our body does. If we can feed ourselves spiritually (with real intent) as much as we do physically, I really believe Satan would have very little power over us.
I love you guys!! Thanks for being such a wonderful family! I'll miss being just a 4 hour drive away!