January 13, 2026 • 50 mins
In this interview Jenny talks with her friend and co-working,worship leader, music producer and award-winning songwriter, Bryan Boliver. In this, part 2 of our Encouragement for the Way series, Bryan shares his heart and personal experience with the spiritual practice of fasting.
We know the topic of fasting can be intimidating, but as Bryan so eloquently breaks it down, “the whole purpose is to make space for God to draw closer.”
Get all the Scripture references mentioned inthis episode: https://jennyzentz.com/podcast130
Resources in this episode:
- Bryan's free songwriting handbook
And please don’t forget to subscribe, share, rate, andreview. Together we can help more women discover practical ways to apply the power of God’s Word to our everyday stuff!
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
I feel like the whole purpose ofa fast, like I said, is to draw
closer to God because when we dothat, he draws closer to us.
So whether that is a special Bible plan or, you know, a new
Bible plan, or it's fasting fromfood or adjusted diet, basically
what we're doing or social media, whatever it is, the whole
purpose is to make space for Godto draw closer.
(00:25):
Welcome to the Intertwined Life podcast.
I'm your host, Jenny Zenz. I am a wife and a mom on a
mission. I've got a passion to help women
discover practical ways to applythe power of God's word to our
everyday stuff. I truly believe that our walks
with the Lord should be seamlessly intertwined with our
everyday lives. It should affect every move we
(00:46):
make and every breath we take. So come on, let's do life
together. You've got this because he's got
you. OK, so for those listening who
are normally part of the Intertwined Life podcast, this
is just another episode for you.And for those of you that are
(01:09):
Rock Harbor Church family and you're new to this, you're
probably showing up because we're in the middle of the Get
Fit 2026 campaign at the church where we're really talking about
not just believing and knowing who Jesus is, but literally
walking in his steps. And we're excited about that
this year. And most of you will know this
amazing person here with me today, my guest, Brian Bolivar.
Yeah, he's so humble. It's ridiculous.
(01:33):
It's amazing. It's amazing.
Brian, I'm so glad you're here. I've actually wanted to have you
on the podcast for years, reallybefore we even both found each
other again at Rock Harbor. Brian's a gifted, talented
musician, singer-songwriter, producer, all the things.
But we've known each other over 10 years, which is crazy at our
(01:54):
previous church. And I knew that Brian was a
great worship leader, but what Idid not know until God sought
that to cross our paths again atRock Harbor Church was the heart
and the spirit of passion for the Lord and following so hard
and so deep in the knowledge of his word that you have.
(02:16):
And it's been amazing to watch your heart in that aspect and to
see how you're stepping into that at Rock Harbor for our
people. I I appreciate it.
So I'm excited to have you here today to kind of pull back more
of the layers of who is Brian Bolivar.
Oh, no, no, I appreciate it. You know, I, I, I mean, because,
you know, Susie does so much with the podcast and the
(02:38):
promotional side, I feel like I'm seeing the, the episodes
every week, you know, so that's funny, you know, kind of being a
part of it is, is cool. And yeah, I, I feel honored and,
and just blessed to be a part ofwhat God's doing at Rock Harbor.
It's been an unexpected twist, but in the best way, you know,
coming from our past church experience and learning so much
(03:01):
there and then kind of stepping away from ministry for at least,
you know, like church ministry directly.
I did all the production and stuff ministry.
So it's always been music ministry has always been an
important part of the journey. But now back in full time, you
know, Sunday church ministry, it's been, it's been so I don't
know, it's just been so great toget to do stuff because post
(03:24):
COVID, there was so much of thatbecause from 2020 until 2023,
the end of 2023, I was primarilydoing remote stuff, you know,
producing for artists or songwriting or whatever.
I would take trips to Nashville for sure, but a lot of it was
remote. A lot of it was on Zoom
actually. And so to get to over the past
two plus years now to be back inministry, it's just, there's
(03:45):
nothing quite like getting to dochurch and do life with people,
you know, in 3D, as I always say.
So it's it's been awesome. Yeah, that's like a whole show
within itself, right, Is why we walk in community.
So you may have to come back andtalk about that a little bit
more later as we go through thisjourney because that is
definitely a huge aspect of the Christian life that can be so
easily taken for granted. And, and unfortunately, I know
(04:05):
there's a lot of people that here we are, gosh, it's 2026,
which is crazy. And there are people who have
still not gotten back into a community since COVID.
And I can see how that happens and I can see we also know, you
know, church hurt or just COVID in general, all the things that
keep you. But man, there's something about
walking together with others that and people who actually
(04:26):
know you and are cheering you onand that you can be there for
each other, that is very powerful.
And there's a direct correlationout to get too much sidebarred,
but there's a direct correlationbetween the rise of social media
and the rise of that and also the rise of depression and all
the, the nasty side of mental stuff.
So I I believe we were meant to kind of be in the room together.
(04:47):
Yeah. You know, and the community
aspect is so critical. So that's why I think it's cool
that we're, you know, starting off this year with this
initiative and just it's all about togetherness.
That's a big word for Pastor Kevin.
I remember when we first startedgetting involved, Rock Harbor
nervous is like, come hang out with us.
Come be. It's always about together.
It's like a big word. So yeah, we've kind of stepped
(05:08):
into that and kind of inherited that phrase ourselves.
It's so true. And I think that's something
that it's those little nuances that people don't always know
behind the scenes. But Kevin and Angie have done
such an amazing job. And again, for those of you
here, listen to the podcast who are not part of Rock Harvard
Church. That's our head pastor and his
wife, who is also our family life pastor.
And the two of them has done such an incredible job of making
(05:30):
what we do. We're all in this together and
we're all a part of this together.
And then there's no us in them. And and Kevin has since the very
beginning, you do not say join us for Sunday worship.
No, it's like, let's get together, you know, and it's all
about coming together. So it's super intentional and
it's, it's been amazing. Is it the, the what's the worry
I'm looking for? So I'm still getting over being
(05:52):
sick. It sets the whole.
Just vision, the vision. Just it.
It's such a trajectory for the entire yeah.
Yeah, trajectory, that's good. OK.
Why did that part anyway? All right, So what I want to
talk about with you today and, and he mentioned Susie, I have
to do a shout out for Susie. She's with the kids right now,
but Susie is his wife and she does social media stuff for the
(06:14):
church, but she also has been social media manager for my
podcast for the past like seven months.
So Brian does probably unintentionally get a lot more
of Jenny than he than he needs, but Susie's amazing.
So if you see me on social media, it is not actually really
me. It's Susie out there doing an
amazing job with what I give herto work with.
So she's a rock star. So one of the practices, there's
(06:39):
a lot of practices when we talk about how to walk deeper in our
walk with the Lord. And one of the ones that I know
has been very central and impactful for you and your
family and I don't know for how long.
I'm looking forward to hearing more about that for you guys is
the practice, the fasting. And that can be scary for a lot
of people. So I would love for you to just
(06:59):
take off running with that. Let me know how you came to
that, what that means for you, how you see it playing out.
Is there only one way? Are there different ways you
know, what is it worked for you and what are the benefits that
you've seen from that? So whatever direction you want
to go, go for it. Great.
Yeah. So back in 2019, so 7 years ago
(07:21):
right now was the first time we had done the Daniel Fast.
And we came to that because we actually did that as a staff in
a church at our our previous church.
So it kind of started there. And I don't really know what
that meant. It just seemed to be like, Hey,
this is what I feel spiritually LED to do.
And at that time we were kind ofgoing through a lot of different
things personally, but also, youknow, like church wise too.
(07:45):
So we stepped into that And basically what that looked like
was following the Daniel fast, which is a specific kind of diet
slash spiritual fast. There's tons.
There's a 10 day version, there's a 21 day version,
There's, there's, I'm sure there's hundreds of different
ways to, to fast. We just started with a Daniel
fast. And because I'm just the kind of
(08:06):
person that once I do something and it, and I enjoy it, I just
why, why try to do something different?
You know, I've done some 10 day versions along the way too.
And so basically, you know, likeI could go on all kinds of
rabbit trails in this, but essentially for us, what it
looks like is typically the 1st 21 days of each year or you
(08:27):
know, the first Sunday through the 3rd Sunday, you know,
because we this year we started on the January 4th, the 1st
Sunday of the year because we kind of like that starting of
the new week, you know the. New day of the week.
We adopt the Daniel diet, which essentially is plant based,
Whole Foods, vegan, you know, noprocess, no sugar, any of that
(08:49):
stuff, no caffeine. And that's, that's the dietary
portion really. The other portion is, is, you
know, much more valuable to me and important to me is this
spiritual aspect. So it's, you know, I, I do a
daily devotional every morning, you know, anyways, but this is
just kind of being much more intentional about that.
(09:10):
Now we're doing a family devotional.
So now I'm personally doing the morning one.
We're doing a nighttime 1 as a family.
And then just throughout the day, it's just the way that
fasting, because when people hear fasting, they think not
eating. I feel like that's what most
people think. And you can fast.
I mean, when I was growing up, Ihad a friend who they're Greek
(09:30):
Orthodox, actually your neighbors, and he would do lint
and they would fast. And I was like, what does that
mean? And they wouldn't eat like dairy
or I don't exactly remember whatlike, And I was like, that's
because he was in like elementary schools.
Like what do you mean? Like I don't know what that you
know, but that that's no different.
They just choosing to take something away to make more room
(09:50):
for God, whatever that is. So that's kind of when I boil it
down to the the definition, it'slike we decide we choose to
remove something from our normalrhythm.
So that way when we want that thing, we're reminded of God's
nearness. I know that's not like a super
theologian answer, but that's just what I've come to.
(10:12):
Like the reason that I like the diet is because if I'm like,
hey, I want to, you know, have ice cream today or something
like, oh, I'm not having ice cream because I'm trying to draw
closer to God because as Scripture says, when we draw
close to him, he draws close to us.
So that's sort of the whole purpose.
And usually I'll associate some kind of Bible plan in EU version
(10:34):
app, the Bible, the Bible app, which I'm sure most people know
because now they just celebrate over a billion downloads.
So I'm sure most people. Listening.
Are at least aware of it. So there's lots of fasting
plans. There's one in particular one I
think it's called fast. Like Daniel is the one that I've
done for the past six years. And actually this year I started
something different because six years, maybe this is my
(10:54):
sabbatical year, I don't know. But.
But I'm doing the the Bible in ayear through the Bible plan.
So I'm doing a little different this year.
But I think it's nice to have some kind of anchor point that
is different than your typical plan.
Because I feel like the whole purpose of a fast, like I said,
is to draw closer to God becausewhen we do that, he draws closer
to us. So whether that is a special
(11:15):
Bible plan or, you know, a new Bible plan or it's fasting from
food or adjusted diet, basicallywhat we're doing or social
media, whatever it is, the wholepurpose is to make space for God
to draw closer. So that's kind of the general
reasoning behind it. You know, like I said, you know,
people think fasting, oh, I'm not gonna, I can't not eat
(11:38):
because I'll die for one. You want you.
Won't die. You know, the reality is
actually fasting is really good for our body.
There's some like like God builtus to fast.
I believe that's why there's so much mention of it in the Bible
and from Jesus specifically is because when we fast for a
certain amount of time, our bodyliterally begins to heal itself.
(11:58):
And that's like full on water fasting.
And that's not necessarily for everybody, but like there's more
benefit than just scriptural. And I think people forget that,
you know, they think like, oh, Ican't do it because this, this
and this. But like the reality is you can,
you know, and I'm, I'm not a doctor, you know, but like God
made it so where when we do thatthing, our body actually heals
(12:19):
itself in a bigger way because we're not focused.
It's our body hasn't using the energy for digestion.
So, and if it needs to start offas maybe just like, hey, I'm
not, I'm going to, it might sound dumb, but it's not, you
know, I'm going to hide my Instagram app for 21 days or 10
days or three days, whatever. So seven years I've kind of
(12:41):
figured out, we've kind of figured out a way to do this to
her like this. This time I haven't really dealt
with like headaches and I haven't really dealt because,
you know, honestly what I've found is the biggest thing
coming off of like regular American diet is no sugar messes
with your muscles a lot. And I'd get like really sore for
like day three and four. And today is day four and like I
haven't had any of that. Now maybe I will, maybe it'll
(13:03):
start, who knows, but like you kind of learn how to lean into
it and I start to kind of prepare.
And that's one thing I would recommend if if anybody is
interested in starting to do like a more dietary type fast,
it's like don't do it cold Turkey.
Don't go from like drinking yourdouble triple lattes and you
know, whatever you do and then just stop like trying to wean
(13:25):
down because I actually we stopped drinking coffee last
year for the fast and we never got back on it.
So, so that wasn't an issue thisyear.
And probably that's part of the sparing of headaches.
But yeah, even before that, likewe would start to like drink
less coffee. Like the, you know, that's the
only thing that's kind of interesting about starting the
beginning of the year is like itjust comes off at Christmas,
which is like the most. Sugar all.
(13:48):
The stuff. So there is part of that and I
will say I'm probably like, Oh yeah, I'm going to eat that
because I know we're going to start the fast next week so it's
fine. Yeah, there's part of that
natural built into it, but yeah,so there's definitely a physical
preparation and spiritual preparation coming into it.
And honestly, like I start to get really excited for the
(14:09):
fasting period each year. I look forward to it, honestly,
like probably more than Christmas at this point.
Just like it's it's fun to kick off the year refresh and like
refocus and yeah, kind of lean into the whatever they were of
the year is, which hasn't been like a thing we've always done,
but the past few years it has started to become a thing.
So like, it's like, OK, God, what does that mean for this
(14:29):
year? And just, yeah, really like
pulling off the gas, trying to just like not give them my list
of hey, this is what I think. Like just trying to like
actually listen has been a big one from for us this year is
like, I have to be OK with sitting there and not thinking
or saying a word, just sitting there and not feeling like I'm
wasting time. Like, no, I'm trying to hear
(14:50):
where God is leading, and that'sreally difficult to do with how
much information we're inundatedwith, I think, at all times.
Oh my gosh, absolutely. I mean, there's so many ways and
we can talk about this later, you know, fasting.
But sometimes I feel like in ourworld today, if we can fast
input for a while, you know, the, the air, the Airpods, the
earbuds, the, the, the podcast, even though some of them are
(15:11):
great, but there's, whether it'spodcast or or TV or shows or
scrolling, there's so much input.
Even if you're totally focused on nothing but learning the word
of God, you could have 15 different people speaking to you
on 15 different topics in one day and you never have time to
sit in process. And it's like what you're
(15:31):
saying, our body shifts when we go into a physical fast and we
can go from always trying to digest the last meal to finally
breaking down, absorbing what weneed, getting rid of what we
don't. Our body can make that shift.
And when we can do that with theinput that we're getting into
our ears, into our minds, and inour eyes all the time, there's a
(15:54):
lot of spiritual detoxing, you know, but also, like you said,
making that space to hear the Lord instead of always hearing
people tell us what the Lord told them.
I think that's a thing too, you know, like I want all of us to
realize, and I kind of put a little word of caution in the
e-mail I sent out today for the Get Fit program, just saying the
(16:16):
only person, the only word that we see as absolutely true, we
are following this no matter what, is that that comes from
the word of God in the Bible. You know what I say, what Brian
says, what Pastor Kevin says, what your favorite pastor,
preacher, teacher, podcaster says, We're human, we make
mistakes, take those things to the Lord because there's so much
(16:37):
input we get. So that's another fasting I feel
like. And what do you think about that
fasting I used? I don't know.
Do you think it's a cop out to to fast things other than food?
How do you feel about that? I don't think so at all because
like I said, I think my definition of fasting is
removing something to to when wego for that thing, it's a
(16:57):
reminder of, hey, I want to be closer to God.
So I think you could stack them too, like, hey, if you want to
cut out dairy for 21 days or 10 days or three days, and also cut
out social media for the same period, you know, it's like we
don't have to. I don't think there's any wrong
way to do it. Jesus never said like hey you
(17:17):
have to give up your food for this amount of days to fast
correctly. You know, it's just all.
About fasting and praying. And yeah, we know that he
started his ministry, earthly ministry, but right before that
was 40 days nights of, of fasting.
Do you just drink water? But that that's what he did.
But he doesn't. There's no specific directions.
So I think any of it and all of it is good as long as we're
(17:39):
pursuing A deeper relationship with God.
That's that's that's the point. Mm hmm.
You know what I think when you said that, what I think is
interesting, like you're saying it wasn't like thou shalt fast
40 days every January 1st. You know, However, when Jesus
got questioned by people who were constantly trying to trip
him up, the Pharisees and they're like, well, these
disciples over here, they fast and yours don't.
(18:00):
And he said that when he was gone, they will fast like, so
he's expecting that we will do fast.
And that's something that we kind of in our standard American
church, North American church, especially outside of the high
church, we don't incorporate as to a expectation as much as
(18:23):
like, Oh yes, some really holy people do that.
You know what I mean? But like what you're saying,
this isn't something to get legalistic about.
It's not for only the Super holyholies.
And it's not something we have to say, well, if it's not
exactly like this, then it doesn't count.
It's really between you and Lord, 'cause He's looking at our
heart. It's like, what can we lay down
(18:44):
to receive more of Him? And we know more than other
people around us, whether it's the chocolate cake or the
scrolling on Instagram, you know, that is most distracting
us. And I don't know, there's
something beautiful in not getting legalistic about it.
Well, and I think, you know, oneof the things Jesus did say
(19:04):
about fasting specifically, and there's a lot, but one is don't
be like the hypocrites and go out and appear to be all down
pass. And oh, look at how holy I am
because I'm fasting so hard and wash your face.
Go out there, don't say a thing about it.
You know, like if we're out at arestaurant or something right
now, we're gonna be like, oh, wecan possibly eat that because
(19:24):
we're fasting. You know, like we just get
avocado, avocado instead of salmon on my Mel's bowl.
You know, like it's not, it's not this big thing to try to
impress people. Yeah, yeah.
You're not praying for your meal.
Lord, be with these sinners nextto me eating their steak and
fries. Yeah, because you know when and
it's it like when you do that, you already get your reward.
(19:47):
You get yourself right. Just moment where people are
like, oh, they're obviously at ahigher level.
Like that's not where I wanted to end.
I want my reward to be personal.And yeah, we're not doing it to
make God do anything. We're doing it so that we can be
more in tune with what God's doing.
That's the big difference. Oh, that was good.
Can you say that again? Yeah, we're not.
(20:08):
You don't fast to make God do something for you.
You you fast to be in tune with what God is already doing.
Oh, that is so good. That is so good and it's so
true. It's, you know, Psalm 4610 says
be still and know that I am God and I feel like in fasting in
(20:28):
different ways of fasting, you find those moments to be still
and that's when you you can actually understand and see him
at work around you and you open yourself up for that because
you're saying Lord and you don'thave to come making it work.
I think sometimes we think I'm going to do this, I'm going to
have to make it work. I'm going to get a spiritual
breakthrough. I have to get you just show up.
You just show up. You're like God, I'm doing this.
(20:49):
And if you want to give me this great spiritual breakthrough,
awesome. If not, well, I'm still here,
you know, and he'll honor that and do with that time and what
he chooses. That's really good there's.
Never a time where it's gonna belike, Oh well, I shouldn't have
done that. You know.
There's never a negative outcomefrom fasting and getting closer
to God ever. In the history of Everdome,
(21:12):
there's never been a negative outcome of getting closer to
God. That's.
So true, That is so true. That's so good.
So do you have a word of the year you mentioned that, Is that
something that you are you guys are praying towards during this
time or is that something you'regoing into this time that has
come to you guys already? Yeah.
So this this year we do have andit's harvest and.
(21:33):
Oh nice, I. Don't really, I've actually been
kind of like talking God to God through that.
Like what I know what it means, like it's like a farming
reference essentially, but it's like what does it really mean,
you know, So that is part of this season for me is like
trying to understand why, because that's not a word that I
use or think about. You know, it's not.
(21:53):
You don't do a lot of harvestingon the beach, you.
Know so Shells and Seawa, Yeah. Yeah, stuff like that.
But so, yeah, I'd say after the over the past maybe 3 or 4
years, we've we've kind of been brought to a word and Susan, I
usually kind of have those ideastogether.
I honestly think she was the onewho brought the harvest word
forward from her, her own time with God.
(22:17):
So, you know, and I guess, you know, that's a whole other
thing, but you know, like just harvesting doesn't necessarily
mean or what harvesting doesn't mean is like, hey God, just like
fill up my basket. There's still a level of effort
involved. Oh.
Yeah, I think what it is becauselast year, my word, I had a
(22:39):
actually, this is the day one ofthe fast this year God showed me
this is pretty funny. Well, not funny, just like it's
a very me thing to do that God would speak to me this way.
So basically last year by where was content?
So I was like, I was thinking about that in the first day.
I was like, OK, God, how does content and harvest work
together? Because it they almost seem like
opposite, like you'd be content after a harvest, you know.
(23:02):
And so I was, I was thinking through that or just kind of
sitting there trying to sit through that.
And and then it occurred to me kind of in my dad jokey way, I
was like, OK, well, content is also the same word as content.
And I was like, that's interesting.
And I was like, OK, well, and then the thing and the other,
(23:22):
the other element of this was like the idea of pruning.
Sometimes it's how you get a harvest is you have to cut down
the things that are kind of stealing the energy from the
tree in order for it to fully flourish.
So I was like, OK, well, if if last year I was supposed to be
content, but what if that was a pruning of content of my life?
Both like, like what I do like not doing as much, you know,
(23:45):
being more content in the content.
And the result of that is a harvest, Yeah.
You know, so it's pretty. I love it that.
Was all like day one. I was like, wow, OK, this is a
good start. Yeah.
That's that's fun. I love it and I see like you're
saying, like I was just going toask if God speaks to you in dad
jokes, because that is that is very Brian.
(24:06):
I love that personal relationship because I mean the
same thing with me. There are things like when I
read the Bible, I laugh that most people would probably
never, but God Talks does know what we're saying.
He calls them ABBA jokes though,so.
Yeah, Brian, guys, it is like this all the time with Brian.
It's like this staff meeting. It is like this at worship
(24:28):
practice. Oh my God, that's the first time
they're an ABBA joke. It's a goddad joke.
There we go that. Is pretty good.
You got to write now you got to write a book of ABBA jokes and
oh, well, this could get this could get really crazy.
Really fast will happen. Revisit that sometime.
Oh man. I'm just afraid you're going to
walk in after a month of fastingand thinking about the word
harvest and you're going to be dressed in like overalls and
(24:49):
like have a beet farm or something.
Like Dwight Schrute? Yeah, that's my goal.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so.
But but those kind of things arewhere those moments happen
because, and I do want to say this parallel because I kind of
mentioned the, the dietary stuffof like how our bodies literally
begin to like heal themselves when they're not so focused on
(25:10):
what they're normally focused on.
So it's no different. And I believe that God has baked
his divine nature into every single aspect of every part of
existence. So it's no surprise to me that
when we fast physically, our bodies get to a deeper level of
healing in the same way spiritually it it happens in
this because I would have never have thought of that because
(25:31):
content was my word of all last year.
And that thought never occurred to me until day one of the new
year because I, I intentionally just made space and didn't try
to figure anything out. I just was sitting there and I
was like, that's interesting. So.
Yeah, I love it. I love that's that's my best
times or those. And for me, I mean, I don't know
(25:53):
about you and we talked about this in the one of the first
episodes in this series, but it's that sitting still that
making that time. Like for me, the the mornings
are so important before I start trying to figure everything.
Actually, I take that back. I start trying to figure
everything out. But before I have to start doing
it all to sit with God first, belike, OK, my mind is spinning,
(26:13):
but I'm laying this at your feet.
And in those words of the year. I did an episode about that a
couple weeks ago on this show. And I'll put that in the show
notes for my word of the year. But just leaning into those and
having scripture that I feel like the Lord gave me to support
the word right there to keep going back to and each morning
bringing all the jumble of my mind and sitting it before him
(26:37):
and having the time to be still and just let him sort out the
pieces like a jigsaw puzzle, youknow, it's like, here's my mess
and he's picking up some pieces going, this does not even belong
with this puzzle. You know what I mean?
Like Chuck. And so there's, do you feel that
way? Do you find the mornings to be
the best time for that? Or do you just find we're not
(26:58):
all the same? I know.
Yeah, I mean, I look forward to the mornings out here in our egg
chair in the back porch. That's like my spot, you know,
that's like my secret place, quiet place or whatever.
And I like to get out there early as possible.
You know, I never miss a day. That's like, it's a critical way
to start each day. And yeah, I think without that,
without that time, fasting or not, like, you know, the day,
(27:21):
it's just, I don't know, I feel like I'm just robbing myself of,
of under trying to understand the life that I've been given to
live. You know, I feel like it's that
important because if we miss outon those, you know, God
conversations, it's just verse the day you version, just
whatever worships. You know, I listen to worship
set a lot about the Spotify playlist, whatever, but it's
(27:42):
just like just that time to justsit and not have an agenda and
sometimes it's 15 minutes and sometimes it's an hour and 15
minutes. I don't I don't put like a time
on it. I try to not religify it at all.
It's sometimes I'll find myself,I'll be like returning to the
same prayer daily. I'm like, I don't even wanna do
(28:03):
that. I don't wanna make this a thing
where I have to go out there andhit certain articles or else I
didn't do it right. I want it to be like if I sit
out there and don't say a word, I still haven't got to that yet,
but that's that's my goal. And this actual 1st 21 days is
like go out there for 20 minutesand not do anything, not even
other than maybe listen to the the, you know, verses for the
(28:25):
day or whatever. But like just.
Be. Just be and just let that be,
OK, You know, because I feel like so much of optimization and
agenda fication and all the words of today's, you know,
world. There's just like you must, you
know, do 5 things and it be is so efficient and it's like, I
think we can be really efficientwith God by not trying to do
(28:46):
anything at all. Yeah.
Yeah, just making that time and giving it to him.
What he chooses to do with it isup to him and like we don't have
to we don't have to manifest anything to use another word,
you know, like we just show up. Like you said earlier, we talked
about John, sorry, James 48 drawnear to him and he'll draw near
to you. And if we show up in that time,
(29:08):
whether it's in our fasting and we are offering this, we don't
go expecting a certain thing or trying to make a certain thing
happen, trying to figure a certain thing out.
We just show up and give him what we have, which is really
filthy rags right before him. We really know how much to offer
a perfect God, but we just show up and say, God, I'm here.
(29:28):
And you do with that what you will and let him.
He will probably do something you don't expect if you're not
constantly trying to make something happen, you know, or
find out a way. And to your point, I think I
have a feeling I'm going to get some pushback with the Get Fit
program, if you will, or initiative.
I don't want to call it a full program because I'm not going to
be giving step by step every single day.
(29:49):
Do this, this, this and this because it's all a personal
journey. It's more about let's just let
the overarching theme of our life and our day be walking it
out with Jesus and it looks different for each of us and
showing up is the the key point,you know?
It should if because if there was a formula, everyone would
just do it and it wouldn't have any meaning.
You know, God so specific to each one of our journeys, even
(30:13):
individually, but also within our household, within our
church, within whatever our, youknow, work situations, like like
all of that stuff he's got worked out.
It's just up to us to try to be open handed with it all and let
him steer the ship. Because for me, honestly, one of
the biggest things that I've I've learned along the way is
(30:33):
when, when it's an idea that I would never consider, that's
almost when I always know it's God because it's like, well, my
brain wouldn't even have gone there.
And I'm glad and I'm glad for that because like if I could
think of it, it's not going to be that impressive.
You know, like even like the word harvest, like it's like I
said, it's not a word I use or really think about, but like
that's how I know that it's fromhim because it's not in my brain
(30:57):
idea. You know, even the thing I said
about content and content, sure,you know, I like to play with
words and stuff. But like even the way that that
all kind of came together about pruning and it all happened like
really quickly. It's like that wasn't a thought
I'd had. And that's how I know those are
the things that are God's ideas.Like, yeah, that's another thing
too is, you know, it says if youdon't know what to pray, ask the
ask the the Holy Spirit to pray on your behalf.
(31:19):
So like we don't even have to like think about some because I
always try to, you know, I'll have the habit of, oh, if I pray
a certain way, then it'll be theright words to unlock the thing.
It's like, that's so silly because God doesn't need any of
that. But like that's our humanness.
So like often I'm like, Holy Spirit, what do you want me to
say? And like, you know, you know the
(31:40):
words. So like just just let me hear
it. Let me see it, you know, and
then and then go from there. Yeah, and that's so good and
it's so, so true. We try to carry the burden of
our relationship with God, whichis so silly when we think about
it, you know, but it's and, and that and the fact that there's,
you know, the Scripture says that Jesus is making
intercession for us. Jesus himself is praying for us.
(32:01):
I mean, he knows what to pray. He knows what to pray in line
with this Father's will in the way it needs to be prayed.
You know, if we're good, we're good, you know, show up and be
with him and lean into that and let him just reveal that to us
more and more. So I love how how fasting is a
way that you have tapped into you and your family to see more
(32:25):
of that active leaning right into him and then just being
able to watch, you're actually making time to watch him work as
you prune other things out of your life.
And, and I do I think people maythink we're overstating that,
but if you also like the physical aspect you're talking
about, there are I've done a lotof studies on a lot of studying
(32:47):
and a lot of reading and all this on fasting.
And I've had my own health journey issues that actually has
led me to basically the Daniel diet has been my lifestyle for
the last few years with the exception of like vacation and
Christmas time. But that is because it's what's
worked best for me because I've had to go through a lot of
process to figure out that. But like you said, I've learned
(33:08):
when we stop just constantly consuming, and that can be in a
lot of different ways, but physically our bodies, when we
are not just eating, eating, eating, eating, eating, there is
a shift. And it happens usually around 17
hours where we go into a mode where now our body is starting
to actually break down and process the extra stuff that he
hadn't had time to deal with. And that's when healing happens
(33:31):
and that's when purification happens.
And that's when change happens. And whether it's in our bodies
or in our minds, if we are constantly taking, taking,
taking and never sitting back and letting that processing
process happen, we are blocking so much of that understanding
(33:52):
and that depth of knowledge and that healing.
And the fact is, the Holy Spiritcan reach through anything but
man to, to let ourselves be in aposition where we're saying,
Lord, I'm laying some of this stuff aside so I can make the
environment of my body, my soul,my mind more conducive right to
the work. You want to do it.
(34:14):
I think he really appreciates itwhen we work along in
conjunction with him. You know, in that process,
you've got a thought. Oh yeah, well, I think the term
is autophagy. That's.
Exactly the term Yep. Yeah.
So, you know, and I think that was, that's what came to me is
like, yeah, God could just, you know, heal it, give the thing,
(34:36):
whatever. But like, I think the whole
purpose of of life is learning how to walk with him and he will
allow us to go through difficultthings.
It's not like we're in the desert by ourselves.
You know, it's not like he's like, oh, you messed up, go walk
out in the desert, you're hungry, you know, whatever you
like. The reason that sometimes it
(34:58):
takes time and physically maybe,and you know, I've never had
this thought before, but maybe that's why physically our bodies
get into those states of autophagy is like, because once
we stop using energy, because reality is, you know, especially
in the American diet and modern diet, we, we, we consume more
than we need to, at least a lot of us do.
(35:19):
I know that I certainly do. But like, it just gets in the
way of our body operating in itsbest possible way.
And it's no different than when we put all this junk, all this,
you know, religion or all this content in front of our
relationship with God. It just gets in the way of us
actually being in our optimal state.
(35:40):
So it's it's no different. And yeah.
And I think that, you know, I think a lot of big reason why
people don't want to do fasting is 1, they don't know what it
is. And two, they don't want to be
uncomfortable in any way becausethey think it's going to be like
really difficult. But the just like with anything
else, when we follow God just because it's like it might seem
a little difficult or might be alittle different.
We learn and grow so much of it the more you do it.
(36:02):
No different than going to the gym, not that I do that a lot,
but working out, whatever it is when you.
Heard Yeah. I've heard from people like when
you go, you know, the first timeyou deal for a jog, it's going
to be a lot harder than the 27thtime you go, you know, and it's
fasting is no different. It is a skill.
It doesn't seem like it'd be a skill cuz it seems like, oh, you
just don't do anything, you know, but that's not the case at
(36:25):
all. It's, it's something that you do
intentionally and you'll get stronger, better at it over
time. And then you kind of add more,
you know, like we've done, we'vedone, we did like a 10 day water
fast one time or juice fast, youknow, like we've done all
different types of things, you know, and some are more intense
than others for sure, you know, but like you, you kind of gain
(36:47):
stamina and ultimately all of it, regardless of the level.
You know, I'm not trying to say the water because I'm not
recommending doing that because that's that's intense, you know,
but like, even if you just do social media for one day, I'm
just trying to think of some of the Super simple for one day.
You will draw closer to God in that one day than you probably
would have if you were looking at your phone, whatever the stat
(37:08):
is, how many times you do. So start small and just lean
into it and God will meet you where you are.
Yeah, yes, He is after our hearts and he when we come to
him with a pure heart, not saying I'll give up broccoli
since it's something I don't like anyway, you know what I
mean? Like not not doing like these
easy things like that. Because I know there are people
who go through seasons where like, oh shit, I should give up
(37:29):
something. So let me give up something I
hate. You know, if our heart is like,
I really want to draw closer to you and this is hard for me, but
I'm trying to do a little something.
He's going to meet us where we are.
But I like what you're saying. It does take and it from a very
practical physical perspective, it takes a training and an
adjustment in our bodies 100%. And so I had tried in the past
(37:52):
and I'm like, OK, I knew I should fast.
I've never fasted. I know I should fast.
OK, I'm not eating. And then literally the only time
I ever made it 36 hours, the first time that ever happened,
by the time I got up from I say I stopped eating at dinner, went
through the whole day. The next morning I wake up.
So it's been like 36 hours. I had stumbled into the kitchen.
(38:16):
I was so sick. I nearly passed out on the
floor. And I'm laying on the floor
before I could even like make coffee or a drink or something
to get me going because I was sosick.
And my body was like, what just happened?
Because I went from the SAD diet, the standard American
diet, right to nothing. And it didn't help me draw close
to God except that I was on my knees going, Lord, please help
(38:37):
me not be sick. You know what I mean?
It was because all I could thinkabout was how sick and hungry I
was. And I was this isn't this
something's wrong here, right? But then as I realized that you
step into it where you are and you step in little by little and
you train your body. And if, if that is what you feel
called to do, like you're saying, train for it, you know,
don't feel like tomorrow, you stop eating for 40 days, you
(38:59):
know it. You're probably not ready for
that. You know, that is not what we're
saying here, people. But to begin finding those
things that you can deny yourself enough that it opens
you up and your time up and yourheart up to step one step closer
and one step closer and God seesyour heart as God.
(39:20):
I'm, I'm coming, I'm coming. You know, we draw near to him,
He draws near to us and he wouldjust swoop in and meet us there.
And then sometimes we'll have that encouragement for those
bigger steps and those bigger tries and those longer fasts,
you know, whatever those are. So we're just encouraging people
here that like, let me tell you,like you or you tell me what in
your words would be your challenge for the people of Rock
(39:43):
Harbor and the people listening to this right now.
Yeah, I mean, I would say just seek God and ask him what he
would have You give up. And the problem is is you'll
probably be like. I don't want to not do that.
You know I don't want. To give up even, you know, let's
let's Netflix or something like that.
(40:04):
Like usually the first thing that comes to your mind is the
thing, like honestly, because that's the first thing you don't
want to give up. You know, like, like I love, I
love food so much, you know, andyou know, and I'm not, this is
not us giving up food, but it's,it's adjusting, you know, but,
but I will say this like, like there's, there's verses, you
know, like 1, like Matthews 1721and some, some modern
(40:29):
translations actually omitted this first because they say it's
not in the original Greek and there's a lot, but there's
another verse that's very similar to it in Mark 9, But
basically it says like certain things can only be removed
through prayer and fasting. Yeah.
So you might find yourself like God, I can't find, I can't make
it through this. I can't.
(40:49):
Where is your where's the answerfor this?
How can I breakthrough those things may require fasting and
prayer to breakthrough them. Now, that doesn't mean I have
those answers, but I would say like, if you feel like there's
something missing in your life where you're not able to get to
that place, like don't do what Jenny did and go, you know, no
(41:11):
food overnight because yeah, youmight be meeting God sooner than
you intended if if you go too. Quickly you.
Know, but you know, you can start off small and then lean
into it, but it should the purpose is there should be a
level of discomfort. That doesn't mean it's painful
necessarily or you're going to have to go to the hospital at
(41:32):
all. But even if it's something
outside of your note, because wewe're really human beings are
comfort seeking. We want to make everything
cushy. We want to make everything easy.
We don't want to be out of, you know, out of we want to have
everything is like, you know, Siri, do whatever for me, you
know, chat BT do this, whatever.Like I don't want to think like
there is that aspect where the culture is like making it harder
(41:54):
and harder to like be just be uncomfortable.
But fasting is a place to where it reminds us of like, Hey, it's
it's this is what we're doing for a reason.
When we feel that discomfort, it's a reminder of what we're
doing that's bringing us closer to God.
And sometimes, like it says in Scripture, certain things can
only happen through prayer and fasting.
(42:15):
So I would say as a believer, it's a worthy pursuit to get
used to. That's good.
I like that line. That's good, super good.
Ryan, thank you so much for doing this and for just sharing
your heart in this. I know it's so close to your
heart and it's something that you guys have, I've beautifully
walked through, but I love hearing more and more behind
(42:36):
that and how the Lord's worked that out in your lives over the
last several years. Is there anything else on
fasting that before we head to our wrap up questions that we
did not hit that you're dying tosay?
I would just say there's no right or wrong way to fast.
Don't feel pressure to do it, but seek God in it and He will
lead you to where you need to gowith it.
(42:58):
Yeah, Yeah, very good, very good.
All right. So I always wrap up the
Intertwined Life podcast with a certain set of questions for
every guest. I want to continue that through
this series as well. So the first question is always,
do you have a life verse or a verse that is especially
bringing you life right now? 2nd Corinthians 12/9 is always
(43:21):
like my go to verse which speaksto God's grace is sufficient and
his powers made perfect in our weakness.
And I think there's a, there's afew different reasons why that's
so important, but I think one, it reveals that we're not
perfect. We don't need to be perfect.
And two, it reveals that God, I would say like he works through
(43:42):
the cracks, you know, so like when the places that we can't
make it work, he will, if he's called us to it, he'll make,
he'll work through it. So that's just just always been
kind of a personal, I don't havetattoos.
I probably won't ever have tattoos, but if I did, probably
one of them that'd. Be the one, love it.
That's an. Important one to me.
No, for sure, Me too, absolutely.
(44:03):
I think, and you know what, it'sprobably both of us are on stage
a lot. And I have a feeling that that
scripture helps so many of us who are on stage and we're like
Lord in my weakness. And sometimes you're looking
really good 'cause I'm a mess uphere, you know, And it's, it's a
very helpful and powerful scripture to know that we don't
have to have to be perfect. We can't be, but that even when
(44:26):
we fall on our face, you know, he is, he's so perfect and
powerful. So I love that too.
I love that too. So what's a practical or you
could even be funny, but just a practical way that you a tip
that you would give people for intertwining their walks with
the Lord and their everyday life.
That worship is anything. Worship is a heart full of
(44:51):
gratitude directed towards God. Meaning that anything that we
do, whether it's washing dishes,singing songs, going on dates
with our spouses, you know, hanging out with our kids, it,
it's all worship if we let it be, because worship is a heart
posture and God deserves our worship at all times.
And that doesn't mean that we'regoing to be worshiping at all
(45:15):
times, even though that'd be great in a perfect world in
heaven. They do, you know.
We're not. We're not.
There yet so like I would say I actually just I know this isn't
necessarily a new thing, but I just recently saw this stat
again. We're basically in our brains,
the same place that we feel anxiety is the same place that
we feel gratitude. So essentially gratitude and
(45:39):
anxiety cannot coexist because they occupy the same part of our
brains. So anytime we're feeling
anxious, which we always do all the time or a lot of times, a
great antidote for that is gratitude.
So I think the reason that brainchemistry is there is because
when we take that gratitude and point it towards God, then we're
worshiping. So at all times, we have the
(46:00):
ability to worship him in all ways.
And I think that is something that's like really actually easy
to do because it could be as simple as, you know, God, I'm
grateful for the breath of my lungs, or it could be I'm
grateful for this promotion or grateful for this accolade or
grateful for this anything, you know, grateful for this clean
shirt that I'm hanging in my closet.
(46:20):
You know, like there is no limitto the ways that we can worship
God. And it's just comes down to
having a grateful heart pointed towards him.
I love that, love that, love that spoken like a true worship
leader and not just like in title, but in heart and, and
that's awesome. All right, So, oh, let me ask
you a resource. I sometimes I'll ask people, you
(46:42):
know, if they have a specific resource they want to share or
they want to point people to. And I don't know if you have, I
know you've written some Bible studies and different things.
If you have a resource that you would want to share or point to
that we could link to the show notes.
Do you have anything like that, Todd, to put your own spot?
I mean, I have several things asa lot of it's more music
(47:02):
focused. I actually have a worship
songwriting handbook, which is like a full PDF document of how
I kind of craft worship songs. So, and I mean, there's
definitely a lot of practical and technical things in there,
but I'd say that's probably the thing.
If anyone listening is into kindof writing worship songs, maybe
that's a cool place to start. Cool.
(47:23):
OK, you send me the link, I willput that in the web in the show
notes. 100% for sure. And you mentioned you're going
through the Bible in a year or which program or study are you
using for that? Let me see.
Oh gosh, I think it's called like one year or something like
that and it's. Yeah, the red cover, maybe.
Yeah, Chronological. Yeah.
A chronological. Actually, I've never done that
(47:44):
before. Gotcha at.
First I was like, is that OK? I was like.
It's awesome. Yeah.
So, you know, as we're going through the genealogy of Adam,
it's like throwing in other Chronicle verses and stuff like
that. Yeah, never.
I've actually never done it before.
So that's my it was between thatand the Blue Letter Bible and I
just decided to go with. Cool, I'll I'll link.
(48:05):
I know what you're talking about.
I'll link to that because Terra Lee Kabul, the Bible recaps.
She also goes through chronologically.
So I've done that with her a couple times.
It is So if you're listening to you like what's chronologically
that's a church in East word. It just means like the Bible,
the way it was put together in one physical book.
Those books were not all together to begin with and they
are not necessarily put in the order in which they happened the
way they've been put together into one book called the Bible.
(48:28):
So there's some really cool waysthat you can see what David's
going through, for example, in and Samuel when he's running
from Saul. And then there's Psalm that he
wrote when he was in the midst of that scary time.
And so they'll put them side by side and you get to connect the
dots even more. It's a really cool way to read
through the Bible and to bring more fuller, I think, under
(48:50):
contextual understanding to whatwe're reading.
So that's great. I'll definitely put links to
that in there as well. So the last thing is how can
people find and connect with youRock.
Harbor Church, of course, Of course.
Sunday mornings 8:30 and 10:30. That's right.
For now, who knows what's yeah. Gosh.
But yeah, that I mean, you know,all the Instagram at I have a
(49:13):
unique name. So at Brian Boliver is Facebook
and Instagram and TikTok and YouTube and anywhere you find my
name, search me and and I'll be there.
So and. There, you'll be.
All right. Awesome.
Brian, thanks so much. This was so much fun.
I'm glad we finally got to do this, and I'm sure we'll
probably do some more episodes later.
I have some up my sleeve about how knowing the Scripture helps
you fully dive into worship because sometimes I think
(49:36):
there's a disconnect if we don'tknow what we're singing, right?
If we don't know where it comes from, what the power behind it.
So that's kind of been a little rabbit trail of my own that
we're going to someday bring to this show.
But thanks so much for being here.
I really appreciate it and I appreciate everything you're
doing at Rock Harbor and in our community.
Thanks for having me, it was awesome to be here and yeah,
looking forward to a great 2026 and beyond.
(50:01):
Hey friend, if you enjoyed this episode and you got some good
stuff out of it, there's a few options.
You have 1, you could click thatlittle subscribe button.
And also, if you would review this podcast, Oh my gosh, if you
like what you heard, get on there.
Give it a five star review. If you didn't like what you
heard, just pretend it never happened, OK?
But if you would do a review forme, just take a couple seconds
(50:23):
and do that. Not only would I be crazy
excited, but also it would just be a great way for us to partner
together, for you to help this podcast be seen by more women
out there. And you could be a part of
helping more women discover these practical ways to apply
God's Word to just everyday stuff.
So I would love it, love it, love it if you could help me out
(50:43):
in one of those two ways.
I feel like the whole purpose ofa fast, like I said, is to draw
closer to God because when we dothat, he draws closer to us.
So whether that is a special Bible plan or, you know, a new
Bible plan, or it's fasting fromfood or adjusted diet, basically
what we're doing or social media, whatever it is, the whole
purpose is to make space for Godto draw closer.
(00:25):
Welcome to the Intertwined Life podcast.
I'm your host, Jenny Zenz. I am a wife and a mom on a
mission. I've got a passion to help women
discover practical ways to applythe power of God's word to our
everyday stuff. I truly believe that our walks
with the Lord should be seamlessly intertwined with our
everyday lives. It should affect every move we
(00:46):
make and every breath we take. So come on, let's do life
together. You've got this because he's got
you. OK, so for those listening who
are normally part of the Intertwined Life podcast, this
is just another episode for you.And for those of you that are
(01:09):
Rock Harbor Church family and you're new to this, you're
probably showing up because we're in the middle of the Get
Fit 2026 campaign at the church where we're really talking about
not just believing and knowing who Jesus is, but literally
walking in his steps. And we're excited about that
this year. And most of you will know this
amazing person here with me today, my guest, Brian Bolivar.
Yeah, he's so humble. It's ridiculous.
(01:33):
It's amazing. It's amazing.
Brian, I'm so glad you're here. I've actually wanted to have you
on the podcast for years, reallybefore we even both found each
other again at Rock Harbor. Brian's a gifted, talented
musician, singer-songwriter, producer, all the things.
But we've known each other over 10 years, which is crazy at our
(01:54):
previous church. And I knew that Brian was a
great worship leader, but what Idid not know until God sought
that to cross our paths again atRock Harbor Church was the heart
and the spirit of passion for the Lord and following so hard
and so deep in the knowledge of his word that you have.
(02:16):
And it's been amazing to watch your heart in that aspect and to
see how you're stepping into that at Rock Harbor for our
people. I I appreciate it.
So I'm excited to have you here today to kind of pull back more
of the layers of who is Brian Bolivar.
Oh, no, no, I appreciate it. You know, I, I, I mean, because,
you know, Susie does so much with the podcast and the
(02:38):
promotional side, I feel like I'm seeing the, the episodes
every week, you know, so that's funny, you know, kind of being a
part of it is, is cool. And yeah, I, I feel honored and,
and just blessed to be a part ofwhat God's doing at Rock Harbor.
It's been an unexpected twist, but in the best way, you know,
coming from our past church experience and learning so much
(03:01):
there and then kind of stepping away from ministry for at least,
you know, like church ministry directly.
I did all the production and stuff ministry.
So it's always been music ministry has always been an
important part of the journey. But now back in full time, you
know, Sunday church ministry, it's been, it's been so I don't
know, it's just been so great toget to do stuff because post
(03:24):
COVID, there was so much of thatbecause from 2020 until 2023,
the end of 2023, I was primarilydoing remote stuff, you know,
producing for artists or songwriting or whatever.
I would take trips to Nashville for sure, but a lot of it was
remote. A lot of it was on Zoom
actually. And so to get to over the past
two plus years now to be back inministry, it's just, there's
(03:45):
nothing quite like getting to dochurch and do life with people,
you know, in 3D, as I always say.
So it's it's been awesome. Yeah, that's like a whole show
within itself, right, Is why we walk in community.
So you may have to come back andtalk about that a little bit
more later as we go through thisjourney because that is
definitely a huge aspect of the Christian life that can be so
easily taken for granted. And, and unfortunately, I know
(04:05):
there's a lot of people that here we are, gosh, it's 2026,
which is crazy. And there are people who have
still not gotten back into a community since COVID.
And I can see how that happens and I can see we also know, you
know, church hurt or just COVID in general, all the things that
keep you. But man, there's something about
walking together with others that and people who actually
(04:26):
know you and are cheering you onand that you can be there for
each other, that is very powerful.
And there's a direct correlationout to get too much sidebarred,
but there's a direct correlationbetween the rise of social media
and the rise of that and also the rise of depression and all
the, the nasty side of mental stuff.
So I I believe we were meant to kind of be in the room together.
(04:47):
Yeah. You know, and the community
aspect is so critical. So that's why I think it's cool
that we're, you know, starting off this year with this
initiative and just it's all about togetherness.
That's a big word for Pastor Kevin.
I remember when we first startedgetting involved, Rock Harbor
nervous is like, come hang out with us.
Come be. It's always about together.
It's like a big word. So yeah, we've kind of stepped
(05:08):
into that and kind of inherited that phrase ourselves.
It's so true. And I think that's something
that it's those little nuances that people don't always know
behind the scenes. But Kevin and Angie have done
such an amazing job. And again, for those of you
here, listen to the podcast who are not part of Rock Harvard
Church. That's our head pastor and his
wife, who is also our family life pastor.
And the two of them has done such an incredible job of making
(05:30):
what we do. We're all in this together and
we're all a part of this together.
And then there's no us in them. And and Kevin has since the very
beginning, you do not say join us for Sunday worship.
No, it's like, let's get together, you know, and it's all
about coming together. So it's super intentional and
it's, it's been amazing. Is it the, the what's the worry
I'm looking for? So I'm still getting over being
(05:52):
sick. It sets the whole.
Just vision, the vision. Just it.
It's such a trajectory for the entire yeah.
Yeah, trajectory, that's good. OK.
Why did that part anyway? All right, So what I want to
talk about with you today and, and he mentioned Susie, I have
to do a shout out for Susie. She's with the kids right now,
but Susie is his wife and she does social media stuff for the
(06:14):
church, but she also has been social media manager for my
podcast for the past like seven months.
So Brian does probably unintentionally get a lot more
of Jenny than he than he needs, but Susie's amazing.
So if you see me on social media, it is not actually really
me. It's Susie out there doing an
amazing job with what I give herto work with.
So she's a rock star. So one of the practices, there's
(06:39):
a lot of practices when we talk about how to walk deeper in our
walk with the Lord. And one of the ones that I know
has been very central and impactful for you and your
family and I don't know for how long.
I'm looking forward to hearing more about that for you guys is
the practice, the fasting. And that can be scary for a lot
of people. So I would love for you to just
(06:59):
take off running with that. Let me know how you came to
that, what that means for you, how you see it playing out.
Is there only one way? Are there different ways you
know, what is it worked for you and what are the benefits that
you've seen from that? So whatever direction you want
to go, go for it. Great.
Yeah. So back in 2019, so 7 years ago
(07:21):
right now was the first time we had done the Daniel Fast.
And we came to that because we actually did that as a staff in
a church at our our previous church.
So it kind of started there. And I don't really know what
that meant. It just seemed to be like, Hey,
this is what I feel spiritually LED to do.
And at that time we were kind ofgoing through a lot of different
things personally, but also, youknow, like church wise too.
(07:45):
So we stepped into that And basically what that looked like
was following the Daniel fast, which is a specific kind of diet
slash spiritual fast. There's tons.
There's a 10 day version, there's a 21 day version,
There's, there's, I'm sure there's hundreds of different
ways to, to fast. We just started with a Daniel
fast. And because I'm just the kind of
(08:06):
person that once I do something and it, and I enjoy it, I just
why, why try to do something different?
You know, I've done some 10 day versions along the way too.
And so basically, you know, likeI could go on all kinds of
rabbit trails in this, but essentially for us, what it
looks like is typically the 1st 21 days of each year or you
(08:27):
know, the first Sunday through the 3rd Sunday, you know,
because we this year we started on the January 4th, the 1st
Sunday of the year because we kind of like that starting of
the new week, you know the. New day of the week.
We adopt the Daniel diet, which essentially is plant based,
Whole Foods, vegan, you know, noprocess, no sugar, any of that
(08:49):
stuff, no caffeine. And that's, that's the dietary
portion really. The other portion is, is, you
know, much more valuable to me and important to me is this
spiritual aspect. So it's, you know, I, I do a
daily devotional every morning, you know, anyways, but this is
just kind of being much more intentional about that.
(09:10):
Now we're doing a family devotional.
So now I'm personally doing the morning one.
We're doing a nighttime 1 as a family.
And then just throughout the day, it's just the way that
fasting, because when people hear fasting, they think not
eating. I feel like that's what most
people think. And you can fast.
I mean, when I was growing up, Ihad a friend who they're Greek
(09:30):
Orthodox, actually your neighbors, and he would do lint
and they would fast. And I was like, what does that
mean? And they wouldn't eat like dairy
or I don't exactly remember whatlike, And I was like, that's
because he was in like elementary schools.
Like what do you mean? Like I don't know what that you
know, but that that's no different.
They just choosing to take something away to make more room
(09:50):
for God, whatever that is. So that's kind of when I boil it
down to the the definition, it'slike we decide we choose to
remove something from our normalrhythm.
So that way when we want that thing, we're reminded of God's
nearness. I know that's not like a super
theologian answer, but that's just what I've come to.
(10:12):
Like the reason that I like the diet is because if I'm like,
hey, I want to, you know, have ice cream today or something
like, oh, I'm not having ice cream because I'm trying to draw
closer to God because as Scripture says, when we draw
close to him, he draws close to us.
So that's sort of the whole purpose.
And usually I'll associate some kind of Bible plan in EU version
(10:34):
app, the Bible, the Bible app, which I'm sure most people know
because now they just celebrate over a billion downloads.
So I'm sure most people. Listening.
Are at least aware of it. So there's lots of fasting
plans. There's one in particular one I
think it's called fast. Like Daniel is the one that I've
done for the past six years. And actually this year I started
something different because six years, maybe this is my
(10:54):
sabbatical year, I don't know. But.
But I'm doing the the Bible in ayear through the Bible plan.
So I'm doing a little different this year.
But I think it's nice to have some kind of anchor point that
is different than your typical plan.
Because I feel like the whole purpose of a fast, like I said,
is to draw closer to God becausewhen we do that, he draws closer
to us. So whether that is a special
(11:15):
Bible plan or, you know, a new Bible plan or it's fasting from
food or adjusted diet, basicallywhat we're doing or social
media, whatever it is, the wholepurpose is to make space for God
to draw closer. So that's kind of the general
reasoning behind it. You know, like I said, you know,
people think fasting, oh, I'm not gonna, I can't not eat
(11:38):
because I'll die for one. You want you.
Won't die. You know, the reality is
actually fasting is really good for our body.
There's some like like God builtus to fast.
I believe that's why there's so much mention of it in the Bible
and from Jesus specifically is because when we fast for a
certain amount of time, our bodyliterally begins to heal itself.
(11:58):
And that's like full on water fasting.
And that's not necessarily for everybody, but like there's more
benefit than just scriptural. And I think people forget that,
you know, they think like, oh, Ican't do it because this, this
and this. But like the reality is you can,
you know, and I'm, I'm not a doctor, you know, but like God
made it so where when we do thatthing, our body actually heals
(12:19):
itself in a bigger way because we're not focused.
It's our body hasn't using the energy for digestion.
So, and if it needs to start offas maybe just like, hey, I'm
not, I'm going to, it might sound dumb, but it's not, you
know, I'm going to hide my Instagram app for 21 days or 10
days or three days, whatever. So seven years I've kind of
(12:41):
figured out, we've kind of figured out a way to do this to
her like this. This time I haven't really dealt
with like headaches and I haven't really dealt because,
you know, honestly what I've found is the biggest thing
coming off of like regular American diet is no sugar messes
with your muscles a lot. And I'd get like really sore for
like day three and four. And today is day four and like I
haven't had any of that. Now maybe I will, maybe it'll
(13:03):
start, who knows, but like you kind of learn how to lean into
it and I start to kind of prepare.
And that's one thing I would recommend if if anybody is
interested in starting to do like a more dietary type fast,
it's like don't do it cold Turkey.
Don't go from like drinking yourdouble triple lattes and you
know, whatever you do and then just stop like trying to wean
(13:25):
down because I actually we stopped drinking coffee last
year for the fast and we never got back on it.
So, so that wasn't an issue thisyear.
And probably that's part of the sparing of headaches.
But yeah, even before that, likewe would start to like drink
less coffee. Like the, you know, that's the
only thing that's kind of interesting about starting the
beginning of the year is like itjust comes off at Christmas,
which is like the most. Sugar all.
(13:48):
The stuff. So there is part of that and I
will say I'm probably like, Oh yeah, I'm going to eat that
because I know we're going to start the fast next week so it's
fine. Yeah, there's part of that
natural built into it, but yeah,so there's definitely a physical
preparation and spiritual preparation coming into it.
And honestly, like I start to get really excited for the
(14:09):
fasting period each year. I look forward to it, honestly,
like probably more than Christmas at this point.
Just like it's it's fun to kick off the year refresh and like
refocus and yeah, kind of lean into the whatever they were of
the year is, which hasn't been like a thing we've always done,
but the past few years it has started to become a thing.
So like, it's like, OK, God, what does that mean for this
(14:29):
year? And just, yeah, really like
pulling off the gas, trying to just like not give them my list
of hey, this is what I think. Like just trying to like
actually listen has been a big one from for us this year is
like, I have to be OK with sitting there and not thinking
or saying a word, just sitting there and not feeling like I'm
wasting time. Like, no, I'm trying to hear
(14:50):
where God is leading, and that'sreally difficult to do with how
much information we're inundatedwith, I think, at all times.
Oh my gosh, absolutely. I mean, there's so many ways and
we can talk about this later, you know, fasting.
But sometimes I feel like in ourworld today, if we can fast
input for a while, you know, the, the air, the Airpods, the
earbuds, the, the, the podcast, even though some of them are
(15:11):
great, but there's, whether it'spodcast or or TV or shows or
scrolling, there's so much input.
Even if you're totally focused on nothing but learning the word
of God, you could have 15 different people speaking to you
on 15 different topics in one day and you never have time to
sit in process. And it's like what you're
(15:31):
saying, our body shifts when we go into a physical fast and we
can go from always trying to digest the last meal to finally
breaking down, absorbing what weneed, getting rid of what we
don't. Our body can make that shift.
And when we can do that with theinput that we're getting into
our ears, into our minds, and inour eyes all the time, there's a
(15:54):
lot of spiritual detoxing, you know, but also, like you said,
making that space to hear the Lord instead of always hearing
people tell us what the Lord told them.
I think that's a thing too, you know, like I want all of us to
realize, and I kind of put a little word of caution in the
e-mail I sent out today for the Get Fit program, just saying the
(16:16):
only person, the only word that we see as absolutely true, we
are following this no matter what, is that that comes from
the word of God in the Bible. You know what I say, what Brian
says, what Pastor Kevin says, what your favorite pastor,
preacher, teacher, podcaster says, We're human, we make
mistakes, take those things to the Lord because there's so much
(16:37):
input we get. So that's another fasting I feel
like. And what do you think about that
fasting I used? I don't know.
Do you think it's a cop out to to fast things other than food?
How do you feel about that? I don't think so at all because
like I said, I think my definition of fasting is
removing something to to when wego for that thing, it's a
(16:57):
reminder of, hey, I want to be closer to God.
So I think you could stack them too, like, hey, if you want to
cut out dairy for 21 days or 10 days or three days, and also cut
out social media for the same period, you know, it's like we
don't have to. I don't think there's any wrong
way to do it. Jesus never said like hey you
(17:17):
have to give up your food for this amount of days to fast
correctly. You know, it's just all.
About fasting and praying. And yeah, we know that he
started his ministry, earthly ministry, but right before that
was 40 days nights of, of fasting.
Do you just drink water? But that that's what he did.
But he doesn't. There's no specific directions.
So I think any of it and all of it is good as long as we're
(17:39):
pursuing A deeper relationship with God.
That's that's that's the point. Mm hmm.
You know what I think when you said that, what I think is
interesting, like you're saying it wasn't like thou shalt fast
40 days every January 1st. You know, However, when Jesus
got questioned by people who were constantly trying to trip
him up, the Pharisees and they're like, well, these
disciples over here, they fast and yours don't.
(18:00):
And he said that when he was gone, they will fast like, so
he's expecting that we will do fast.
And that's something that we kind of in our standard American
church, North American church, especially outside of the high
church, we don't incorporate as to a expectation as much as
(18:23):
like, Oh yes, some really holy people do that.
You know what I mean? But like what you're saying,
this isn't something to get legalistic about.
It's not for only the Super holyholies.
And it's not something we have to say, well, if it's not
exactly like this, then it doesn't count.
It's really between you and Lord, 'cause He's looking at our
heart. It's like, what can we lay down
(18:44):
to receive more of Him? And we know more than other
people around us, whether it's the chocolate cake or the
scrolling on Instagram, you know, that is most distracting
us. And I don't know, there's
something beautiful in not getting legalistic about it.
Well, and I think, you know, oneof the things Jesus did say
(19:04):
about fasting specifically, and there's a lot, but one is don't
be like the hypocrites and go out and appear to be all down
pass. And oh, look at how holy I am
because I'm fasting so hard and wash your face.
Go out there, don't say a thing about it.
You know, like if we're out at arestaurant or something right
now, we're gonna be like, oh, wecan possibly eat that because
(19:24):
we're fasting. You know, like we just get
avocado, avocado instead of salmon on my Mel's bowl.
You know, like it's not, it's not this big thing to try to
impress people. Yeah, yeah.
You're not praying for your meal.
Lord, be with these sinners nextto me eating their steak and
fries. Yeah, because you know when and
it's it like when you do that, you already get your reward.
(19:47):
You get yourself right. Just moment where people are
like, oh, they're obviously at ahigher level.
Like that's not where I wanted to end.
I want my reward to be personal.And yeah, we're not doing it to
make God do anything. We're doing it so that we can be
more in tune with what God's doing.
That's the big difference. Oh, that was good.
Can you say that again? Yeah, we're not.
(20:08):
You don't fast to make God do something for you.
You you fast to be in tune with what God is already doing.
Oh, that is so good. That is so good and it's so
true. It's, you know, Psalm 4610 says
be still and know that I am God and I feel like in fasting in
(20:28):
different ways of fasting, you find those moments to be still
and that's when you you can actually understand and see him
at work around you and you open yourself up for that because
you're saying Lord and you don'thave to come making it work.
I think sometimes we think I'm going to do this, I'm going to
have to make it work. I'm going to get a spiritual
breakthrough. I have to get you just show up.
You just show up. You're like God, I'm doing this.
(20:49):
And if you want to give me this great spiritual breakthrough,
awesome. If not, well, I'm still here,
you know, and he'll honor that and do with that time and what
he chooses. That's really good there's.
Never a time where it's gonna belike, Oh well, I shouldn't have
done that. You know.
There's never a negative outcomefrom fasting and getting closer
to God ever. In the history of Everdome,
(21:12):
there's never been a negative outcome of getting closer to
God. That's.
So true, That is so true. That's so good.
So do you have a word of the year you mentioned that, Is that
something that you are you guys are praying towards during this
time or is that something you'regoing into this time that has
come to you guys already? Yeah.
So this this year we do have andit's harvest and.
(21:33):
Oh nice, I. Don't really, I've actually been
kind of like talking God to God through that.
Like what I know what it means, like it's like a farming
reference essentially, but it's like what does it really mean,
you know, So that is part of this season for me is like
trying to understand why, because that's not a word that I
use or think about. You know, it's not.
(21:53):
You don't do a lot of harvestingon the beach, you.
Know so Shells and Seawa, Yeah. Yeah, stuff like that.
But so, yeah, I'd say after the over the past maybe 3 or 4
years, we've we've kind of been brought to a word and Susan, I
usually kind of have those ideastogether.
I honestly think she was the onewho brought the harvest word
forward from her, her own time with God.
(22:17):
So, you know, and I guess, you know, that's a whole other
thing, but you know, like just harvesting doesn't necessarily
mean or what harvesting doesn't mean is like, hey God, just like
fill up my basket. There's still a level of effort
involved. Oh.
Yeah, I think what it is becauselast year, my word, I had a
(22:39):
actually, this is the day one ofthe fast this year God showed me
this is pretty funny. Well, not funny, just like it's
a very me thing to do that God would speak to me this way.
So basically last year by where was content?
So I was like, I was thinking about that in the first day.
I was like, OK, God, how does content and harvest work
together? Because it they almost seem like
opposite, like you'd be content after a harvest, you know.
(23:02):
And so I was, I was thinking through that or just kind of
sitting there trying to sit through that.
And and then it occurred to me kind of in my dad jokey way, I
was like, OK, well, content is also the same word as content.
And I was like, that's interesting.
And I was like, OK, well, and then the thing and the other,
(23:22):
the other element of this was like the idea of pruning.
Sometimes it's how you get a harvest is you have to cut down
the things that are kind of stealing the energy from the
tree in order for it to fully flourish.
So I was like, OK, well, if if last year I was supposed to be
content, but what if that was a pruning of content of my life?
Both like, like what I do like not doing as much, you know,
(23:45):
being more content in the content.
And the result of that is a harvest, Yeah.
You know, so it's pretty. I love it that.
Was all like day one. I was like, wow, OK, this is a
good start. Yeah.
That's that's fun. I love it and I see like you're
saying, like I was just going toask if God speaks to you in dad
jokes, because that is that is very Brian.
(24:06):
I love that personal relationship because I mean the
same thing with me. There are things like when I
read the Bible, I laugh that most people would probably
never, but God Talks does know what we're saying.
He calls them ABBA jokes though,so.
Yeah, Brian, guys, it is like this all the time with Brian.
It's like this staff meeting. It is like this at worship
(24:28):
practice. Oh my God, that's the first time
they're an ABBA joke. It's a goddad joke.
There we go that. Is pretty good.
You got to write now you got to write a book of ABBA jokes and
oh, well, this could get this could get really crazy.
Really fast will happen. Revisit that sometime.
Oh man. I'm just afraid you're going to
walk in after a month of fastingand thinking about the word
harvest and you're going to be dressed in like overalls and
(24:49):
like have a beet farm or something.
Like Dwight Schrute? Yeah, that's my goal.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so.
But but those kind of things arewhere those moments happen
because, and I do want to say this parallel because I kind of
mentioned the, the dietary stuffof like how our bodies literally
begin to like heal themselves when they're not so focused on
(25:10):
what they're normally focused on.
So it's no different. And I believe that God has baked
his divine nature into every single aspect of every part of
existence. So it's no surprise to me that
when we fast physically, our bodies get to a deeper level of
healing in the same way spiritually it it happens in
this because I would have never have thought of that because
(25:31):
content was my word of all last year.
And that thought never occurred to me until day one of the new
year because I, I intentionally just made space and didn't try
to figure anything out. I just was sitting there and I
was like, that's interesting. So.
Yeah, I love it. I love that's that's my best
times or those. And for me, I mean, I don't know
(25:53):
about you and we talked about this in the one of the first
episodes in this series, but it's that sitting still that
making that time. Like for me, the the mornings
are so important before I start trying to figure everything.
Actually, I take that back. I start trying to figure
everything out. But before I have to start doing
it all to sit with God first, belike, OK, my mind is spinning,
(26:13):
but I'm laying this at your feet.
And in those words of the year. I did an episode about that a
couple weeks ago on this show. And I'll put that in the show
notes for my word of the year. But just leaning into those and
having scripture that I feel like the Lord gave me to support
the word right there to keep going back to and each morning
bringing all the jumble of my mind and sitting it before him
(26:37):
and having the time to be still and just let him sort out the
pieces like a jigsaw puzzle, youknow, it's like, here's my mess
and he's picking up some pieces going, this does not even belong
with this puzzle. You know what I mean?
Like Chuck. And so there's, do you feel that
way? Do you find the mornings to be
the best time for that? Or do you just find we're not
(26:58):
all the same? I know.
Yeah, I mean, I look forward to the mornings out here in our egg
chair in the back porch. That's like my spot, you know,
that's like my secret place, quiet place or whatever.
And I like to get out there early as possible.
You know, I never miss a day. That's like, it's a critical way
to start each day. And yeah, I think without that,
without that time, fasting or not, like, you know, the day,
(27:21):
it's just, I don't know, I feel like I'm just robbing myself of,
of under trying to understand the life that I've been given to
live. You know, I feel like it's that
important because if we miss outon those, you know, God
conversations, it's just verse the day you version, just
whatever worships. You know, I listen to worship
set a lot about the Spotify playlist, whatever, but it's
(27:42):
just like just that time to justsit and not have an agenda and
sometimes it's 15 minutes and sometimes it's an hour and 15
minutes. I don't I don't put like a time
on it. I try to not religify it at all.
It's sometimes I'll find myself,I'll be like returning to the
same prayer daily. I'm like, I don't even wanna do
(28:03):
that. I don't wanna make this a thing
where I have to go out there andhit certain articles or else I
didn't do it right. I want it to be like if I sit
out there and don't say a word, I still haven't got to that yet,
but that's that's my goal. And this actual 1st 21 days is
like go out there for 20 minutesand not do anything, not even
other than maybe listen to the the, you know, verses for the
(28:25):
day or whatever. But like just.
Be. Just be and just let that be,
OK, You know, because I feel like so much of optimization and
agenda fication and all the words of today's, you know,
world. There's just like you must, you
know, do 5 things and it be is so efficient and it's like, I
think we can be really efficientwith God by not trying to do
(28:46):
anything at all. Yeah.
Yeah, just making that time and giving it to him.
What he chooses to do with it isup to him and like we don't have
to we don't have to manifest anything to use another word,
you know, like we just show up. Like you said earlier, we talked
about John, sorry, James 48 drawnear to him and he'll draw near
to you. And if we show up in that time,
(29:08):
whether it's in our fasting and we are offering this, we don't
go expecting a certain thing or trying to make a certain thing
happen, trying to figure a certain thing out.
We just show up and give him what we have, which is really
filthy rags right before him. We really know how much to offer
a perfect God, but we just show up and say, God, I'm here.
(29:28):
And you do with that what you will and let him.
He will probably do something you don't expect if you're not
constantly trying to make something happen, you know, or
find out a way. And to your point, I think I
have a feeling I'm going to get some pushback with the Get Fit
program, if you will, or initiative.
I don't want to call it a full program because I'm not going to
be giving step by step every single day.
(29:49):
Do this, this, this and this because it's all a personal
journey. It's more about let's just let
the overarching theme of our life and our day be walking it
out with Jesus and it looks different for each of us and
showing up is the the key point,you know?
It should if because if there was a formula, everyone would
just do it and it wouldn't have any meaning.
You know, God so specific to each one of our journeys, even
(30:13):
individually, but also within our household, within our
church, within whatever our, youknow, work situations, like like
all of that stuff he's got worked out.
It's just up to us to try to be open handed with it all and let
him steer the ship. Because for me, honestly, one of
the biggest things that I've I've learned along the way is
(30:33):
when, when it's an idea that I would never consider, that's
almost when I always know it's God because it's like, well, my
brain wouldn't even have gone there.
And I'm glad and I'm glad for that because like if I could
think of it, it's not going to be that impressive.
You know, like even like the word harvest, like it's like I
said, it's not a word I use or really think about, but like
that's how I know that it's fromhim because it's not in my brain
(30:57):
idea. You know, even the thing I said
about content and content, sure,you know, I like to play with
words and stuff. But like even the way that that
all kind of came together about pruning and it all happened like
really quickly. It's like that wasn't a thought
I'd had. And that's how I know those are
the things that are God's ideas.Like, yeah, that's another thing
too is, you know, it says if youdon't know what to pray, ask the
ask the the Holy Spirit to pray on your behalf.
(31:19):
So like we don't even have to like think about some because I
always try to, you know, I'll have the habit of, oh, if I pray
a certain way, then it'll be theright words to unlock the thing.
It's like, that's so silly because God doesn't need any of
that. But like that's our humanness.
So like often I'm like, Holy Spirit, what do you want me to
say? And like, you know, you know the
(31:40):
words. So like just just let me hear
it. Let me see it, you know, and
then and then go from there. Yeah, and that's so good and
it's so, so true. We try to carry the burden of
our relationship with God, whichis so silly when we think about
it, you know, but it's and, and that and the fact that there's,
you know, the Scripture says that Jesus is making
intercession for us. Jesus himself is praying for us.
(32:01):
I mean, he knows what to pray. He knows what to pray in line
with this Father's will in the way it needs to be prayed.
You know, if we're good, we're good, you know, show up and be
with him and lean into that and let him just reveal that to us
more and more. So I love how how fasting is a
way that you have tapped into you and your family to see more
(32:25):
of that active leaning right into him and then just being
able to watch, you're actually making time to watch him work as
you prune other things out of your life.
And, and I do I think people maythink we're overstating that,
but if you also like the physical aspect you're talking
about, there are I've done a lotof studies on a lot of studying
(32:47):
and a lot of reading and all this on fasting.
And I've had my own health journey issues that actually has
led me to basically the Daniel diet has been my lifestyle for
the last few years with the exception of like vacation and
Christmas time. But that is because it's what's
worked best for me because I've had to go through a lot of
process to figure out that. But like you said, I've learned
(33:08):
when we stop just constantly consuming, and that can be in a
lot of different ways, but physically our bodies, when we
are not just eating, eating, eating, eating, eating, there is
a shift. And it happens usually around 17
hours where we go into a mode where now our body is starting
to actually break down and process the extra stuff that he
hadn't had time to deal with. And that's when healing happens
(33:31):
and that's when purification happens.
And that's when change happens. And whether it's in our bodies
or in our minds, if we are constantly taking, taking,
taking and never sitting back and letting that processing
process happen, we are blocking so much of that understanding
(33:52):
and that depth of knowledge and that healing.
And the fact is, the Holy Spiritcan reach through anything but
man to, to let ourselves be in aposition where we're saying,
Lord, I'm laying some of this stuff aside so I can make the
environment of my body, my soul,my mind more conducive right to
the work. You want to do it.
(34:14):
I think he really appreciates itwhen we work along in
conjunction with him. You know, in that process,
you've got a thought. Oh yeah, well, I think the term
is autophagy. That's.
Exactly the term Yep. Yeah.
So, you know, and I think that was, that's what came to me is
like, yeah, God could just, you know, heal it, give the thing,
(34:36):
whatever. But like, I think the whole
purpose of of life is learning how to walk with him and he will
allow us to go through difficultthings.
It's not like we're in the desert by ourselves.
You know, it's not like he's like, oh, you messed up, go walk
out in the desert, you're hungry, you know, whatever you
like. The reason that sometimes it
(34:58):
takes time and physically maybe,and you know, I've never had
this thought before, but maybe that's why physically our bodies
get into those states of autophagy is like, because once
we stop using energy, because reality is, you know, especially
in the American diet and modern diet, we, we, we consume more
than we need to, at least a lot of us do.
(35:19):
I know that I certainly do. But like, it just gets in the
way of our body operating in itsbest possible way.
And it's no different than when we put all this junk, all this,
you know, religion or all this content in front of our
relationship with God. It just gets in the way of us
actually being in our optimal state.
(35:40):
So it's it's no different. And yeah.
And I think that, you know, I think a lot of big reason why
people don't want to do fasting is 1, they don't know what it
is. And two, they don't want to be
uncomfortable in any way becausethey think it's going to be like
really difficult. But the just like with anything
else, when we follow God just because it's like it might seem
a little difficult or might be alittle different.
We learn and grow so much of it the more you do it.
(36:02):
No different than going to the gym, not that I do that a lot,
but working out, whatever it is when you.
Heard Yeah. I've heard from people like when
you go, you know, the first timeyou deal for a jog, it's going
to be a lot harder than the 27thtime you go, you know, and it's
fasting is no different. It is a skill.
It doesn't seem like it'd be a skill cuz it seems like, oh, you
just don't do anything, you know, but that's not the case at
(36:25):
all. It's, it's something that you do
intentionally and you'll get stronger, better at it over
time. And then you kind of add more,
you know, like we've done, we'vedone, we did like a 10 day water
fast one time or juice fast, youknow, like we've done all
different types of things, you know, and some are more intense
than others for sure, you know, but like you, you kind of gain
(36:47):
stamina and ultimately all of it, regardless of the level.
You know, I'm not trying to say the water because I'm not
recommending doing that because that's that's intense, you know,
but like, even if you just do social media for one day, I'm
just trying to think of some of the Super simple for one day.
You will draw closer to God in that one day than you probably
would have if you were looking at your phone, whatever the stat
(37:08):
is, how many times you do. So start small and just lean
into it and God will meet you where you are.
Yeah, yes, He is after our hearts and he when we come to
him with a pure heart, not saying I'll give up broccoli
since it's something I don't like anyway, you know what I
mean? Like not not doing like these
easy things like that. Because I know there are people
who go through seasons where like, oh shit, I should give up
(37:29):
something. So let me give up something I
hate. You know, if our heart is like,
I really want to draw closer to you and this is hard for me, but
I'm trying to do a little something.
He's going to meet us where we are.
But I like what you're saying. It does take and it from a very
practical physical perspective, it takes a training and an
adjustment in our bodies 100%. And so I had tried in the past
(37:52):
and I'm like, OK, I knew I should fast.
I've never fasted. I know I should fast.
OK, I'm not eating. And then literally the only time
I ever made it 36 hours, the first time that ever happened,
by the time I got up from I say I stopped eating at dinner, went
through the whole day. The next morning I wake up.
So it's been like 36 hours. I had stumbled into the kitchen.
(38:16):
I was so sick. I nearly passed out on the
floor. And I'm laying on the floor
before I could even like make coffee or a drink or something
to get me going because I was sosick.
And my body was like, what just happened?
Because I went from the SAD diet, the standard American
diet, right to nothing. And it didn't help me draw close
to God except that I was on my knees going, Lord, please help
(38:37):
me not be sick. You know what I mean?
It was because all I could thinkabout was how sick and hungry I
was. And I was this isn't this
something's wrong here, right? But then as I realized that you
step into it where you are and you step in little by little and
you train your body. And if, if that is what you feel
called to do, like you're saying, train for it, you know,
don't feel like tomorrow, you stop eating for 40 days, you
(38:59):
know it. You're probably not ready for
that. You know, that is not what we're
saying here, people. But to begin finding those
things that you can deny yourself enough that it opens
you up and your time up and yourheart up to step one step closer
and one step closer and God seesyour heart as God.
(39:20):
I'm, I'm coming, I'm coming. You know, we draw near to him,
He draws near to us and he wouldjust swoop in and meet us there.
And then sometimes we'll have that encouragement for those
bigger steps and those bigger tries and those longer fasts,
you know, whatever those are. So we're just encouraging people
here that like, let me tell you,like you or you tell me what in
your words would be your challenge for the people of Rock
(39:43):
Harbor and the people listening to this right now.
Yeah, I mean, I would say just seek God and ask him what he
would have You give up. And the problem is is you'll
probably be like. I don't want to not do that.
You know I don't want. To give up even, you know, let's
let's Netflix or something like that.
(40:04):
Like usually the first thing that comes to your mind is the
thing, like honestly, because that's the first thing you don't
want to give up. You know, like, like I love, I
love food so much, you know, andyou know, and I'm not, this is
not us giving up food, but it's,it's adjusting, you know, but,
but I will say this like, like there's, there's verses, you
know, like 1, like Matthews 1721and some, some modern
(40:29):
translations actually omitted this first because they say it's
not in the original Greek and there's a lot, but there's
another verse that's very similar to it in Mark 9, But
basically it says like certain things can only be removed
through prayer and fasting. Yeah.
So you might find yourself like God, I can't find, I can't make
it through this. I can't.
(40:49):
Where is your where's the answerfor this?
How can I breakthrough those things may require fasting and
prayer to breakthrough them. Now, that doesn't mean I have
those answers, but I would say like, if you feel like there's
something missing in your life where you're not able to get to
that place, like don't do what Jenny did and go, you know, no
(41:11):
food overnight because yeah, youmight be meeting God sooner than
you intended if if you go too. Quickly you.
Know, but you know, you can start off small and then lean
into it, but it should the purpose is there should be a
level of discomfort. That doesn't mean it's painful
necessarily or you're going to have to go to the hospital at
(41:32):
all. But even if it's something
outside of your note, because wewe're really human beings are
comfort seeking. We want to make everything
cushy. We want to make everything easy.
We don't want to be out of, you know, out of we want to have
everything is like, you know, Siri, do whatever for me, you
know, chat BT do this, whatever.Like I don't want to think like
there is that aspect where the culture is like making it harder
(41:54):
and harder to like be just be uncomfortable.
But fasting is a place to where it reminds us of like, Hey, it's
it's this is what we're doing for a reason.
When we feel that discomfort, it's a reminder of what we're
doing that's bringing us closer to God.
And sometimes, like it says in Scripture, certain things can
only happen through prayer and fasting.
(42:15):
So I would say as a believer, it's a worthy pursuit to get
used to. That's good.
I like that line. That's good, super good.
Ryan, thank you so much for doing this and for just sharing
your heart in this. I know it's so close to your
heart and it's something that you guys have, I've beautifully
walked through, but I love hearing more and more behind
(42:36):
that and how the Lord's worked that out in your lives over the
last several years. Is there anything else on
fasting that before we head to our wrap up questions that we
did not hit that you're dying tosay?
I would just say there's no right or wrong way to fast.
Don't feel pressure to do it, but seek God in it and He will
lead you to where you need to gowith it.
(42:58):
Yeah, Yeah, very good, very good.
All right. So I always wrap up the
Intertwined Life podcast with a certain set of questions for
every guest. I want to continue that through
this series as well. So the first question is always,
do you have a life verse or a verse that is especially
bringing you life right now? 2nd Corinthians 12/9 is always
(43:21):
like my go to verse which speaksto God's grace is sufficient and
his powers made perfect in our weakness.
And I think there's a, there's afew different reasons why that's
so important, but I think one, it reveals that we're not
perfect. We don't need to be perfect.
And two, it reveals that God, I would say like he works through
(43:42):
the cracks, you know, so like when the places that we can't
make it work, he will, if he's called us to it, he'll make,
he'll work through it. So that's just just always been
kind of a personal, I don't havetattoos.
I probably won't ever have tattoos, but if I did, probably
one of them that'd. Be the one, love it.
That's an. Important one to me.
No, for sure, Me too, absolutely.
(44:03):
I think, and you know what, it'sprobably both of us are on stage
a lot. And I have a feeling that that
scripture helps so many of us who are on stage and we're like
Lord in my weakness. And sometimes you're looking
really good 'cause I'm a mess uphere, you know, And it's, it's a
very helpful and powerful scripture to know that we don't
have to have to be perfect. We can't be, but that even when
(44:26):
we fall on our face, you know, he is, he's so perfect and
powerful. So I love that too.
I love that too. So what's a practical or you
could even be funny, but just a practical way that you a tip
that you would give people for intertwining their walks with
the Lord and their everyday life.
That worship is anything. Worship is a heart full of
(44:51):
gratitude directed towards God. Meaning that anything that we
do, whether it's washing dishes,singing songs, going on dates
with our spouses, you know, hanging out with our kids, it,
it's all worship if we let it be, because worship is a heart
posture and God deserves our worship at all times.
And that doesn't mean that we'regoing to be worshiping at all
(45:15):
times, even though that'd be great in a perfect world in
heaven. They do, you know.
We're not. We're not.
There yet so like I would say I actually just I know this isn't
necessarily a new thing, but I just recently saw this stat
again. We're basically in our brains,
the same place that we feel anxiety is the same place that
we feel gratitude. So essentially gratitude and
(45:39):
anxiety cannot coexist because they occupy the same part of our
brains. So anytime we're feeling
anxious, which we always do all the time or a lot of times, a
great antidote for that is gratitude.
So I think the reason that brainchemistry is there is because
when we take that gratitude and point it towards God, then we're
worshiping. So at all times, we have the
(46:00):
ability to worship him in all ways.
And I think that is something that's like really actually easy
to do because it could be as simple as, you know, God, I'm
grateful for the breath of my lungs, or it could be I'm
grateful for this promotion or grateful for this accolade or
grateful for this anything, you know, grateful for this clean
shirt that I'm hanging in my closet.
(46:20):
You know, like there is no limitto the ways that we can worship
God. And it's just comes down to
having a grateful heart pointed towards him.
I love that, love that, love that spoken like a true worship
leader and not just like in title, but in heart and, and
that's awesome. All right, So, oh, let me ask
you a resource. I sometimes I'll ask people, you
(46:42):
know, if they have a specific resource they want to share or
they want to point people to. And I don't know if you have, I
know you've written some Bible studies and different things.
If you have a resource that you would want to share or point to
that we could link to the show notes.
Do you have anything like that, Todd, to put your own spot?
I mean, I have several things asa lot of it's more music
(47:02):
focused. I actually have a worship
songwriting handbook, which is like a full PDF document of how
I kind of craft worship songs. So, and I mean, there's
definitely a lot of practical and technical things in there,
but I'd say that's probably the thing.
If anyone listening is into kindof writing worship songs, maybe
that's a cool place to start. Cool.
(47:23):
OK, you send me the link, I willput that in the web in the show
notes. 100% for sure. And you mentioned you're going
through the Bible in a year or which program or study are you
using for that? Let me see.
Oh gosh, I think it's called like one year or something like
that and it's. Yeah, the red cover, maybe.
Yeah, Chronological. Yeah.
A chronological. Actually, I've never done that
(47:44):
before. Gotcha at.
First I was like, is that OK? I was like.
It's awesome. Yeah.
So, you know, as we're going through the genealogy of Adam,
it's like throwing in other Chronicle verses and stuff like
that. Yeah, never.
I've actually never done it before.
So that's my it was between thatand the Blue Letter Bible and I
just decided to go with. Cool, I'll I'll link.
(48:05):
I know what you're talking about.
I'll link to that because Terra Lee Kabul, the Bible recaps.
She also goes through chronologically.
So I've done that with her a couple times.
It is So if you're listening to you like what's chronologically
that's a church in East word. It just means like the Bible,
the way it was put together in one physical book.
Those books were not all together to begin with and they
are not necessarily put in the order in which they happened the
way they've been put together into one book called the Bible.
(48:28):
So there's some really cool waysthat you can see what David's
going through, for example, in and Samuel when he's running
from Saul. And then there's Psalm that he
wrote when he was in the midst of that scary time.
And so they'll put them side by side and you get to connect the
dots even more. It's a really cool way to read
through the Bible and to bring more fuller, I think, under
(48:50):
contextual understanding to whatwe're reading.
So that's great. I'll definitely put links to
that in there as well. So the last thing is how can
people find and connect with youRock.
Harbor Church, of course, Of course.
Sunday mornings 8:30 and 10:30. That's right.
For now, who knows what's yeah. Gosh.
But yeah, that I mean, you know,all the Instagram at I have a
(49:13):
unique name. So at Brian Boliver is Facebook
and Instagram and TikTok and YouTube and anywhere you find my
name, search me and and I'll be there.
So and. There, you'll be.
All right. Awesome.
Brian, thanks so much. This was so much fun.
I'm glad we finally got to do this, and I'm sure we'll
probably do some more episodes later.
I have some up my sleeve about how knowing the Scripture helps
you fully dive into worship because sometimes I think
(49:36):
there's a disconnect if we don'tknow what we're singing, right?
If we don't know where it comes from, what the power behind it.
So that's kind of been a little rabbit trail of my own that
we're going to someday bring to this show.
But thanks so much for being here.
I really appreciate it and I appreciate everything you're
doing at Rock Harbor and in our community.
Thanks for having me, it was awesome to be here and yeah,
looking forward to a great 2026 and beyond.
(50:01):
Hey friend, if you enjoyed this episode and you got some good
stuff out of it, there's a few options.
You have 1, you could click thatlittle subscribe button.
And also, if you would review this podcast, Oh my gosh, if you
like what you heard, get on there.
Give it a five star review. If you didn't like what you
heard, just pretend it never happened, OK?
But if you would do a review forme, just take a couple seconds
(50:23):
and do that. Not only would I be crazy
excited, but also it would just be a great way for us to partner
together, for you to help this podcast be seen by more women
out there. And you could be a part of
helping more women discover these practical ways to apply
God's Word to just everyday stuff.
So I would love it, love it, love it if you could help me out
(50:43):
in one of those two ways.
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