Fasting

FASTING You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Have you ever dreamed of courting God—focusing all your passions on knowing Him intimately? Oh, there is such a great need to bring the romance back between Christ and His Bride. Through indifference we have grieved the heart of God. We have romanced the enemy. We flirt with Satan. It has become difficult to spend even an hour with God in prayer. Begrudgingly, we pick up the bible to appease guilt. Fasting has become a way of the past. It has gone the way of the dodo. Life has become a whirlwind of self–fulfillment. Yet echoing through time, Father still whispers, Be still and know that I am God. In the last days, the love of most will grow cold (Matt 24:12). We have forsaken our first love (Rev 2:4) Does love inspire you to pray? In Acts, men of God spend long days and sleepless nights pouring themselves out in prayer. The result—mighty outpourings of the Holy Spirit. Today we call our time with God a devotion or quiet time, which is usually about half an hour spent in the morning before going to work. Yet our lives ought to be a devotion to Him. Christ promises that when we draw nigh to Him, he will draw neigh to you. Relearn the art of prayer, solitude and fasting.

A man reaps what he sows Fasting has been a part of the spiritual arsenal of men and women of God all through Scripture. Jesus set the example by spending 40 days fasting on water in the desert. In spite of this, fasting has a stigma of fear. My kidneys, liver and other major organs will break down! My hair will fall out, and brain cells will die!. The word fast can conjure up visions of starvation, imagining a sickly scrawny body being hurt by protein–depletion. So let’s clear up some misconceptions that cause people to fear fasting. For some, even to go a few hours without food can cause headaches and discomfort. The tongue turns yellow. The breath becomes foul, and they experience weakness and dizziness which only confirms what they already suspected—fasting is bad! The truth is, most North Americans eat in such a way that the body is never allowed to cleanse itself. What they were experiencing was the result of cleansing the waste that had built up in the body as the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. A man reaps what he sows. If we spend our whole life eating without consideration, then in fasting we will reap suffering during the detoxification stage. Two thousand years ago man lived on a sparse diet, free from pesticides, food additives, drugs and toxins. Today we consume more toxic substances than all generations before us. The level of lead built up in our bones is 200 times compared to those excavated from the period of Christ. Through air, water, food and even mother's milk, we have absorbed thousands of toxins and chemicals that exist in the environment as a result of modern technology. During fasting, these toxins are released into the blood stream which can make water fasting a difficult experience. Graciously God has provided a way to fast in spite of the abuse to the body. Juice fasting can be used as a launching board for water fasting. Human fat is valued at 3,500 calories per pound. Each extra pound of fat will supply enough calories for one day of hard physical labor. Ten pounds of fat is equal to 35,000 calories! This is equivalent to 35

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pounds of fish or 192 pounds of carrots. You get good value for your fat. We are carrying around a supermarket of reserves capable of sustaining us for many weeks. All living things have the ability to survive harsh circumstances. Organisms are able to store nutrients in the fat, blood, bone marrow and other tissues. The camel stores fat and water in its hump. Tadpoles abstain from eating when their legs are developing, subsisting on their tails which are no longer needed. The Mexican Gila Monster stores up reserves in its tail when food is plentiful, and can survive for six weeks when food is scarce. The marine iguana of the Galapagos Islands is named the Vegetarian Dragon because it lives on seaweed. It can abstain from food for over one hundred days. But for us food is plentiful, therefore we never have an opportunity to use up fat reserves conveniently stored around the waist. There is a vast difference between fasting and starving. During the absence of food, the body will systematically cleanse itself of everything except vital tissue. It continually readjusts to make minimum demands on its reserves. Starvation will only occur when the body is forced to use vital tissue to survive. Humans adapt amazingly well to lack of food. A. J. Carlson, Professor of Physiology, University of Chicago, states that a healthy well–nourished man can live from 50 to 75 days without food, provided he is not exposed to harsh elements or emotional stress. There are numerous examples of water fasts over the 75 day mark. Granted, 75 day water fasts are radical but it shows that God has wonderfully created the body to be able to live for extended periods without food.

BIBLICAL FASTS The bible is thoroughly packed with men and women who have fasted in times of trouble or confusion to obtain a greater response from God. It must be understood that fasting does not move God, it moves us from a place of carnality to a place of humility where we can hear God speak. All of the great leaders were seasoned fasters; Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Anna (prophetess), Paul, and Jesus. Why fast at all – to what purpose?

Isaiah 58:5-11 KJVR Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? (6) Is not this the fast that I have chosen? [1] to loose the bands of wickedness, [2]to undo the heavy burdens, and [3] to let the oppressed go free, and that ye [4] break every yoke? (7) Is it not to [5] deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; [6] and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? (8) [A] Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and [B] thine health shall spring forth speedily: and [C]thy righteousness shall go before thee; [D] the glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward. (9) Then [E] shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; [F] thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; (10) And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall [G] thy light rise in obscurity, and [H] thy darkness be as the noonday: (11) And the [I] LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

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The pupose of fasting (1 - 6). The results of fasting (A through I) Lets look at a few of them and see the basic types of fasting that are described. The Fast of Daniel, partial fasting - Daniel 10:3 MSG

I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up. Daniel abstained from “meats and sweets” – a plain food. He also gave up bathing and shaving. This is not recommended unless you are in a sabbatical. It does not explain why he did this but it is important to note that he did this for three weeks. Daniel 10.4 shows the results of the fast. The fast of Esther – complete fast. Esther 4:16 MSG "Go and get all the Jews living in Susa together. Fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I'll go to the king, even though it's forbidden. If I die, I die." This fast is repeated in Jonah at Nineveh: Jonah 3:7-8 KJVR And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: (8) But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. This type of fast is not recommended unless the situation is extremely dire and it can only last for 3 days. The body cannot tolerate this for more than three days. There are examples in the bible of men (Moses and Elijah) going without water for longer than three days, but these are only under the direction and specific care of God. (Deu 9.9, I Kings 19.8) There is also a corporate fast for atonement (Lev 23.27) for one day in sorrow for sin and transgressions. There were also national emergency fasts in Joel (Joel 2.15) and (2 Chron 20.1). Most of the time fasting is a personal event and most commonly, a fast of food but not of water. This is the method that Jesus fasted. Luke 4:1-2 KJVR And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (2) Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. There are instances where a total abstinence from food is not a good idea, for instance a type 2 diabetic or a person that is hypoglycemic. In those instances, the total purpose of the fast is to suppress the human spirit until the spirit of God can be clearly understood. The best way would be to determine what “things” are your greatest weakness and remove them from your life for time (television, reading non-scriptural books, etc).

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How often should we fast? The New Testament does not contain any laws concerning fasting. Jesus made a number of references to “When you fast” and ‘then they will fast’ (Matt 9.15-17), as if to say that the Christian will fast and Paul’s example of fasting often is also a true sign of the necessity of fasting. The Pharisees gave the example of fasting twice a week (Luke 18.12). The early Christian church was governed by the Didache, which required fasting of two days a week, normally held on Wednesday and Friday. Jesus made it clear, that fasting was not to be a pharisaical event for everyone to see. Notice what Jesus very closely associates fasting with. Matthew 6:16-21 KJVR Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (17) But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; (18) That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Paul gives further instruction in fasting and the marital relationship. 1 Corinthians 7:5 KJVR Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

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PHYSICAL HEALING THROUGH FASTING Fasting intensifies healing. In the fasting state, tissues and organs are repaired more rapidly. Digestion involves work. To heal illness, the body must pull all its resources toward cleansing and repairing. To do so, it attempts to reduce or stop digestion by removing the desire to eat. Wounded animals will disappear into seclusion, emerging to eat only after their wounds or broken bones have healed. This is why there is little desire for food when sick—the body wants to cleanse. We need to learn to listen to our bodies! This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. When that alarm goes off at six o’clock in the morning—it inflicts pain. Dragging the carcass out of bed the first thing that greets us is a horrible representation of our face in the mirror, confirming how much our spouse must love us. Hair everywhere, swollen half–open eyes caked with greenish sleepy dirt. White pasty skin and breath that could stop a freight train. The body goes into a state of fasting while we sleep. With great patience it waits until we start dosing off, and finally in the sleep state, it begins its miraculous work of cleansing. Upon awakening from this short fast, the tongue is coated, breath is foul, skin is puffy, and the mind is foggy. These are all the early symptoms of the body in a state of detoxification. Those short little holidays that we take every night from a life of feasting. Bacon, eggs, a cup of coffee and a side order pancakes is a sure way of halting detoxification. You of course feel instantly better, attributing it to that greasy breakfast. The term breakfast is appropriately named, as we are breaking a nightly fast with a morning feast. One of the blessings you will experience on a fast is an effervescent energy when rising out of bed in the morning. No sleepy dirt, no puffy eyes, your hair in perfect place. A breath sweet as the morning midst that flows over the hills covered in spring flowers. Fasting followed by a healthy diet is a way of rediscovering the sense of God’s Spirit in the birth of a new day. MICROSCOPIC TUBES AND MEMBRANES The continuous eating of mucus–forming foods clogs the body's microscopic tubes and membranes. Internal waste builds up and the chance of illness increases. Fasting enables us to dissolve this internal mucus. A common experience during fasting is for the nose or throat to pass a sticky mucus. Within minutes the sinuses can become clogged. The person breaking a fast also may experience white strands of mucus passing with the stool after the first meal. Fasting or following a natural–food diet, cleanses the tube and membrane structure from mucoid matter and toxins. Eliminated during the cleansing process: • Dead, dying or diseased cells • Unwanted fatty tissue • Trans–fatty acids • hardened coating of mucus on the intestinal wall • Toxic waste matter in the lymph and blood stream • Toxins in the spleen, liver, and kidneys

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• Mucus from the lungs and sinuses • imbedded toxins in the cellular fibers and deeper organ tissues • Deposits in the microscopic tubes responsible for nourishing brain cells • Excess cholesterol Fasting removes cellular waste. About 600 billion cells in your body are being replaced daily. Approximately one–quarter of your cells are either dying, old or need to be replaced. Unless the body gets rid of the dying cells, it cannot build new ones. In the fasting state, the body scours for dead cells, damaged tissues, fatty deposits, tumors, abscesses—all of which are burned for fuel or expelled as waste. MUSCLES MAINTAINED DURING FASTING Another unwarranted fear of fasting is that strength is diminished from the catobalization of proteins from the muscle fibers. Even during long fasts, the number of muscle fibers remain the same. Although the healthy cells may be reduced in size and strength for a time, they remain perfectly sound. On December, 1903, under the supervision of Mr. Macfadden, eight athletes entered an athletic contest in Madison Square Gardens. Amazingly, all were on the seventh day of water fasting. Joseph H. Waltering, one of the eight, won both the 50–yard dash and the 220–yard run. Another member of the eight, Gilman Low, won first prize in the strength contest. The following day on the eighth day of his fast in front of 16,000 well–fed spectators munching on popcorn and peanuts, he established nine world records for strength and endurance that would stand for years. Some of these records were: • deadlifting 950 lb. three times in four seconds • leg lifting 1,800 lb. 18 times in 18 seconds • back lifting 2,500 lb. five times in ten seconds After the competition instead of going home and watching TV he thought he would work off extra energy by lifting a ton 22 times in the presence of physicians to demonstrate that there was no deterioration of strength after a week of fasting. During the fast, the athletes were guarded to ensure authenticity. Even more astonishing, are parents who have been sighted spending whole days, cleaning house, doing laundry and feeding hungry children, while fasting! Dr. Ehret who was an avid faster, walked for ten days through the mountains fasting on water. Bragg, another fasting enthusiast, walked 30 miles across Death Valley in July during a fast. It was invigorating walk for Bragg, but for the ten athletic college students that went with him through the blistering heat, it would be an experience they would never forget. Enjoying his first stroll so much, he decided to hike another 30 miles the next day. Not bad for a great–grandfather! METAMORPHOSIS The butterfly is a magnificent example of catabolism (tearing down) and anabolism (building up). During metamorphosis the butterfly’s muscles and organs dissolve into a thick yellow solution. All internal structures are torn down and rebuilt into another form with different organs. It emerges from the chrysalis, unfolding its wings, a new creation. The miraculous aspect of metamorphoses, is that it occurs while fasting. All the substances needed for rebuilding come from within.

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Why does fasting have such a powerful effect in healing the body? Fasting dissolves diseased cells in a systematic manner, leaving healthy tissue. The result is a thorough cleansing of the tube, membrane and cellular structures. There is a remarkable redistribution of nutrients in the fasting body. It analyzes its reserves and distributes them according to need. It hangs on to precious minerals and vitamins while disposing excess elements and inferior materials. During a fast a metamorphosis occurs. The body undergoes a tearing down and rebuilding of damaged materials. For this reason, fasting is famous for its ability to rejuvenate and give the body a more youthful tone. During fasting: • mental clarity is improved • rapid safe weight loss is achieved without flabbiness • the nervous system is balanced • energy level is increased • organs are revitalized • cellular biochemistry is harmonized • the skin becomes silky, soft, and sensitive • there is greater ease of movement • breathing becomes fuller, freer and deeper • the digestive system is given a well deserved rest There should be no doubt that fasting is not only healthy, but a tremendous physical blessing. Yet this healing is just a fringe benefit to the true value of fasting. Fasting can reach down to affect the very core of our relationship with God. There is much to be said for the effects of fasting on the brain and senses. It is common knowledge that the brain is sharper when hungry. When University of Chicago students fasted for seven days while attending classes; mental alertness increased and their progress in school work was cited as remarkable. The universal testimony of fasters is that their thinking is enhanced. The mental and physical senses are heightened and often there can be a feeling of euphoria, especially during longer fasts. For the first time some will experience emotional stability. There can be a number of reasons for this. The first being the elimination of the emotional dependence on food. Secondly, the elimination of stimulating foods. This includes caffeine, processed sugars and trans–fatty acids which have a devastating effect on the chemical balance that affects emotions. Therefore it is easy to understand how people can mistake these liberating experiences to involve something of a spiritual nature.

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The New Age Movement has embraced fasting because it has such an impact on the brain's ability to function clearly. There are many groups that consider fasting to be innately spiritual. It is considered part of the pathway to higher understanding. The question is... WHAT IS SPIRITUAL ABOUT FASTING? To decide whether something is spiritual or not, we must look at it from God's vantage point. For instance, sex can be spiritual. When a husband and wife share their love for one another using sex as a tool of expression, it becomes a sweet aroma before God. In contrast, sex can also be wretched and sickening to God. Homosexuality, rape and incest are common examples of sex being twisted into a tool for self–fulfillment rather than an expression of love. Fasting, like sex, can be used either as a tool of expression or of self–fulfillment. As a tool of expression, the focus is on God. In self–fulfillment, the focus is on self. What can fasting do for me? This is the most important distinguishing factor of what separates true spiritual fasting from your run of the mill fasting. Isaiah 58 is the classic passage that distinguishes the difference between true spiritual fasting and vain fasting. The Israelites fasted regularly. It was a part of their culture. As with so many things, fasting had become so ingrained in tradition that it lost its true meaning. The problem is when something becomes an empty ritual, it no longer has the power to affect our hearts. This is what fasting had become to the Israelites. "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for a bowing of one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? (Isa 58:5) "For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right, that has not forsaken the commands of God." Isaiah 58:2

Notice the emphasis on as if and seems eager. It is tough to pull the wool over God's eyes. We can pull the wool over our own eyes and other people's eyes, but not God's—He sees the heart. What was the Israelites motivation for fasting in Isaiah 58? At first glance, their fast seemed noble. It seemed they were eager for God to come near to them. They seemed eager to seek God out and know His ways. They would lie down dressed in sackcloth and ashes, wailing and crying to God. A vivid picture of humility and supposed brokenness. But as with the modern church, ancient Israel was plagued with religiosity—a disease of convenience. This comes from the misunderstanding that we can wrap something up in a pretty little package, offer it to God and hope it would be pleasing to Him. But the Lord says all our works are as filthy rags. God does not want our works or pretty little gifts. He wants our hearts, and that is where the Israelites blew it! That is why their fasting was an insult to God's intelligence. What God is saying in Isaiah 58 is: Do you really think you can appease Me by offering your little fasts and expect Me to turn a blind eye to the corruption and rebellion in your heart? That corruption and rebellion was oozing out in the fabric of their society. How can a tree bear two different kinds of fruit? The answer is—it cannot. All we are doing is doctoring up some of the fruit to make it look like something it is not. Someone who fasts because they sincerely long to know Jesus will reflect that in everything that they do. It will be reflected on every level of relationship they have. ...is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the chords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderers with shelter—when you see the naked, to cloth him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? ...Do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and

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malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfying the needs of the oppressed,..." Isaiah 58:6–10 What God is saying to the Israelites is, your heart has to change. God does not respond to the things that we do, He responds to a change of heart and it is here we come to the true purpose of spiritual fasting. Spiritual fasting is a tool to help us change our hearts before God. Fasting is not something we are offering up to God but instead it assists in offering ourselves up to God. We are a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom 12:1–2). When a chef is preparing food, he uses many tools of the trade: pots and pans, slicers and dicers, spoons and spatulas. All these tools are to create his tasty culinary delights. Could you imagine sitting in a restaurant and having the chef come out of his kitchen, plunk down all his dirty pots and pans on your nice clean table, as he smiles with pride and delight. The reaction would be negative. Yet we do the same thing with God. Going to church, fasting, speaking in tongues, reading the Bible—we offer these things up to God as being pleasing to Him. Yet these are the tools that assist in giving to God what He truly wants—our body (Rom 12:1). Our life is the dish that delights the heart of God. RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE God weeps. His love is beyond searching out. More than anything, He desires spiritual communion with His church, and will pay any price. The path that Christ has paved to your heart is marked by His own blood. All He asks is for a response. A response of surrender. Opening the door of our heart so that He may come in and have friendship with us. The problem is that so many are unable to respond to God, to realize the fullness of His love. We are crippled and wounded inside. Fearful to trust. We hang on to destructive security blankets that are familiar. These wounds may have come from an experience in childhood. An oppressive father who belittled you, making you feel worthless. And so you learn to escape into a world where there is no pain. A world of your own creation. Putting steel walls around your heart, locking in a hell of suffering. Some of these experiences have been helpful, having a positive effect on who we are. Others have been destructive, shaping us in a way that God never intended us to be. God does not force us to give these hurts up. He will not barge into the dark rooms in the heart, which we are so fearful to expose. He understands that most need help in properly responding to His unbelievable gifts of love.

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Starting the Fast Spiritual preparation In preparation for this special time with God, I strongly urge you to examine your heart, and detect any unconfessed sin. Scripture records that God always requires His people to repent of their sins before He will hear their prayers. King David said: Come and hear, all of you who reverence the Lord, and I will tell you what he did for me: For I cried to him for help, with praises ready on my tongue. He would not have listened if I had not confessed my sins. But he listened! He heard my prayer! He paid attention to it! Blessed be God who didn't turn away when I was praying, and didn't refuse me his kindness and love. (Psalm 66:16-20) In your prayers, confess not only obvious sins, but less obvious ones as well; the sins of omission as well as the sins of commission experiences. These may be experiences leaving your first love for our Lord: worldly-mindedness, self-centeredness, spiritual indifference, and unwillingness to share your faith in Christ with others, not spending sufficient time in God's Word and in prayer, a poor relationship with your spouse, your children, your pastor, or other members of your church. Another great way to prepare for your fast is to practice what I call "Spiritual Breathing." The concept is simple, but it has changed my own life and that of millions of others. Like physical breathing, Spiritual Breathing is a process of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure. If you knowingly sin, breathe spiritually to restore the fullness of God's Holy Spirit in your life. You exhale by confessing your sins immediately when you become aware of them, and you inhale by inviting the Holy Spirit to re-take control of your life. As an act of faith, trust Him to empower you. During the fast, spiritual breathing-constant reliance on the Holy Spirit-will enable you to resist temptation, not only to sin but to abandon your fast.

Physical preparation Although fasting is primarily a spiritual discipline, it begins in the physical realm. You should not fast without specific physical preparation. If you plan on fasting for several days, you will find it helpful to begin by eating smaller meals before you abstain altogether. Resist the urge to have that "last big feast" before the fast. Cutting down on your meals a few days before you begin the fast will signal your mind, stomach, and appetite that less food is acceptable. Some health professionals suggest eating only raw foods for two days before starting a fast. I also recommend weaning yourself off caffeine and sugar products to ease your initial hunger or discomfort at the early stages of your fast.

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Managing Schedule While Fasting How long you fast, the kind of fast you undertake, and how you adjust your work schedule depends mostly on your occupation. Persons with office jobs, pastors, or homemakers may find it easier to continue their duties and fast for longer periods of time. In fact, on the basis of my personal experience, worldwide travels and the many letters, which I have received, I am confident that many, many thousands of pastors and lay men and women have already completed a 40-day fast! Though there are many who engage in strenuous physical labor and have enjoyed their extended fast, if you are so engaged, you may wish to fast only one or more days of the week, limiting yourselves to partial fasting if you are so engaged. Or you may look to weekends as the prime time to abstain from food. Remember, too, fasting during major holidays is not always a good idea. Families may be inconvenienced, and temptations to eat can be overwhelming. Reasons for schedule adjustments, especially during an extended fast, are two-fold... The first is physical. Throughout your fast, you may feel somewhat weaker than normal. During the first few days, you may feel tired and irritable. Lightening your workload and cutting down on strenuous exercise would be a very good idea to maintain your health and your morale. The second reason is spiritual. Fasting is not just denying yourself food. It is exchanging the needs of the physical body for those of the spiritual. Long times of prayer and reading God's Word will be very essential if you are to enter into a more intimate communion with God to maintain your fast to its completion. While fasting, if you dissipate your energy on numerous errands or busy-work to the neglect of spending special time with God, you will starve both physically and spiritually. You will find yourself becoming discouraged and frustrated with your fast instead of being benefited and uplifted and blessed. I don't want that to happen to you.

The more time you spend with God in fellowship, worship, and adoration of Him, and the more you read and meditate upon His Word, the greater your effectiveness will be in prayer and the more meaningful your fast will be. So I encourage you to arrange your schedule accordingly!

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Managing your time How long you fast, the kind of fast you undertake, and how you adjust your work schedule depends mostly on your occupation. Persons with office jobs, pastors, or homemakers may find it easier to continue their duties and fast for longer periods of time. In fact, on the basis of my personal experience, worldwide travels and the many letters, which I have received, I am confident that many, many thousands of pastors and lay men and women have already completed a 40-day fast! Though there are many who engage in strenuous physical labor and have enjoyed their extended fast, if you are so engaged, you may wish to fast only one or more days of the week, limiting yourselves to partial fasting if you are so engaged. Or you may look to weekends as the prime time to abstain from food. Remember, too, fasting during major holidays is not always a good idea. Families may be inconvenienced, and temptations to eat can be overwhelming. Reasons for schedule adjustments, especially during an extended fast, are two-fold... The first is physical. Throughout your fast, you may feel somewhat weaker than normal. During the first few days, you may feel tired and irritable. Lightening your workload and cutting down on strenuous exercise would be a very good idea to maintain your health and your morale. The second reason is spiritual. Fasting is not just denying yourself food. It is exchanging the needs of the physical body for those of the spiritual. Long times of prayer and reading God's Word will be very essential if you are to enter into a more intimate communion with God to maintain your fast to its completion. While fasting, if you dissipate your energy on numerous errands or busy-work to the neglect of spending special time with God, you will starve both physically and spiritually. You will find yourself becoming discouraged and frustrated with your fast instead of being benefited and uplifted and blessed. I don't want that to happen to you. The more time you spend with God in fellowship, worship, and adoration of Him, and the more you read and meditate upon His Word, the greater your effectiveness will be in prayer and the more meaningful your fast will be. So I encourage you to arrange your schedule accordingly!

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Make your spiritual experience the best it can be Receiving God's best blessing from a fast requires solid commitment. Arranging special time each day with God is absolutely crucial in attaining intimate communion with the Father. You must devote yourself to seeking God's face, even (and especially) during those times in which you feel weak, vulnerable, or irritable. Read His Word and pray during what were mealtimes. Meditate on Him when you awake in the night. Sing praises to Him whenever you please. Focus on your Heavenly Father and make every act one of praise and worship. God will enable you to experience His command to "pray without ceasing" as you seek His presence. As you enter this time of heightened spiritual devotion, be aware that Satan will do everything he can to pull you away from your prayer and Bible reading time. When you feel the enemy trying to discourage you, immediately go to God in prayer and ask Him to strengthen your resolve in the face of difficulties and temptations. The enemy makes you a target because he knows that fasting is the most powerful of all Christian disciplines and that God may have something very special to show you as you wait upon Him and seek His face. Satan does not want you to grow in your faith, and will do anything from making you hungry and grumpy to bringing up trouble in your family or at work to stop you. Make prayer your shield against such attacks. My major reason for fasting is for personal revival, revival for our nation, for the world and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission by the end of the year 2000. But praying for our own needs and interceding for others are also important reasons to fast and pray. Bring your personal needs before the Lord, intercede for your loved ones, your friends, your church, your pastor, your community, your nation, and the world. By your prayers of humility, as you fast, you will help the Great Commission be fulfilled. However, do not become so caught up in praying for yourself and others that you forget about simply reverencing and praising God. True spiritual fasting focuses on God. Center your total being on Him, your attitudes, your actions, your motives, desires, and words. This can only take place if God and His Holy Spirit are at the center of our attention. Confess your sins as the Holy Spirit brings them to your attention and continue to focus on God and God alone so that your prayers may be powerful and effective. A renewed closeness with God and a greater sensitivity to spiritual things are usually the results of a fast. Do not be disappointed if you do not have a "mountaintop experience," as some do. Many people who have successfully completed extended fasts tell of feeling a nearness to God that they have never before known, but others who have honestly sought His face report no particular outward results at all. For others, their fast was physically, emotionally, and spiritually grueling, but they knew they had been called by God to fast, and they completed the fast unto Him as an act of worship; God honored that commitment. Your motive in fasting must be to glorify God, not to have an emotional experience, and not to attain personal happiness. When your motives are right, God will honor your seeking heart and bless your time with Him in a very special way 13

Maintaining nutritional balance I know the prospect of going without food for an extended period of time may be of concern to some. But there are ways to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs so you can remain safe and healthy during your fast. For an extended fast, I recommend water and fruit and vegetable juices. The natural sugars in juices provide energy, and the taste and strength are motivational to continue your fast. Try to drink fresh juices, if possible. Off-the-shelf juice products are acceptable, as long as they are 100% juice with no sugar or other additives. If you are beginning a juice fast, there are certain juices you may wish to avoid and certain ones that are especially beneficial. Because of their acid content, most nutritionists do not advise orange or tomato juice (these are better tolerated if mixed with equal portions of water). The best juices are fresh carrot, grape, celery, apple, cabbage, or beet. They also recommend "green drinks" made from green leafy vegetables because they are excellent "de-toxifiers." Fruit juices are "cleansers" and are best taken in the morning. Since vegetable juices are "restorers" and "builders," they are best taken in the afternoon. I usually dedicate a portion of my 40-day fast to a special liquid formula, which I have found to be effective over many years. A few recipes and my comments are on this page, as well as a helpful schedule. One gallon distilled water 1-1/2 cup lemon juice 3/4-cup pure maple syrup 1/4-teaspoon cayenne pepper. The lemon juice adds flavor and vitamin C, the maple syrup provides energy, and the cayenne pepper-an herb-acts to open small blood vessels which, I believe, helps the body as it cleanses itself of stored toxins. (A word of caution: although I use this formula with no ill effects, cayenne pepper could cause severe physical reactions in persons with a specific allergy to this herb.) My favorite juice is a mixture of 100% pure white grape juice and peach juice. The juice is available in frozen cans under the Welch label. Most knowledgeable nutritionists recommend: • • •

Watermelon-just put it in the blender without adding water. Fresh apple juice Green juice-blend celery, romaine lettuce, and carrots in equal proportions. (Vegetable juices like this one are important, for they supply the electrolytes necessary for proper heart function!)

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Some nutritionists recommend warm broth, especially if you live in a colder climate. You may find their recipes helpful: Boil sliced potatoes, carrots, and celery in water. Do not add salt After about a half-hour, drain off the water and drink. Gently boil three carrots, two stalks of celery, one turnip, two beats, a half head of cabbage, a quarter of a bunch of parsley, a quarter of an onion, and a half clove of garlic Drain off the broth and drink up to two or three times daily. You may find the following daily schedule helpful during your fast. I recommend you print it and keep it handy throughout your fast. 5:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Fruit juices, preferably freshly squeezed or blended, diluted in 50 percent distilled water if the fruit is acid. Orange, apple, pear, grapefruit, papaya, grape, peach or other fruits are good. 10:30 a.m. - noon Green vegetable juice made from lettuce, celery, and carrots in three equal parts. 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Herb tea with a drop of honey. Make sure that it is not black tea or tea with a stimulant. 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Broth from boiled potatoes, celery, and carrots (no salt). I suggest that you do not drink milk because it is a pure food and therefore a violation of the fast. Any product containing protein or fat, such as milk or soy-based drinks, should be avoided. These products will restart the digestion cycle and you will again feel hunger pangs. Also, for health reasons, stay away from caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, or cola. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it has a more powerful effect on your nervous system when you abstain from food. This works both against the physical and spiritual aspects of the fast. Another key factor in maintaining optimum health during a fast is to limit your physical activity. Exercise only moderately, and rest as much as your schedule will permit (this especially applies to extended fasts). Short naps are helpful as well. Walking a mile or two each day at a moderate pace is acceptable for a person in good health, and on a juice fast. However, no one on a water fast should exercise without the supervision of a fasting specialist.

Physical Affects Although fasting can be an indescribable blessing, it is not always easy for everyone. In this time of discipline, self-sacrifice and reflection, do not be surprised if you experience mental and physical discomforts. To begin, you may experience some inner conflict when you deny yourself the pleasure of eating delicious food. Any sort of fast may sometimes leave you feeling impatient and irritable. During a 3-day fast, this struggle can intensify toward the end of the second day. That seems to be a favorite time for the "self" to rise up and say, "This is as far as I want to go. I have done enough." 15

Physical Effects Hunger Pangs These are greatest usually during the first three days of the fast. Your body is adjusting from using the food in your digestive tract (which remains about three days) to consuming stored fats.

Reliefs Psyllium Bulk Help eliminate hunger pangs and also aids in cleansing the body. Several capsules can be taken throughout the day with plenty of water. Silymarin tablets may also be helpful, for they are believed to protect and enhance the cleansing of the liver.

Coldness, bad breath and heightened body odor, changes in elimination (constipation or diarrhea), light-headedness, changes in After the first two weeks of an extended fast, many of these symptoms sleeping and dreaming patterns, aches and subside. Continuing aches in a certain area of the body usually means pains. elimination of fatty tissue is going on in that area, which is not harmful. A white-coated tongue at the beginning of However, any extensive pain should be examined immediately. a fast may be a part of the body's pattern YOU SHOULD STOP FASTING IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING of throwing off toxins. SEVERE PAIN OR SWELLING. Also expect to go the the bathroom often (you will be drinking lots of water!) Headaches or stomachaches may be a result of salt, sugar, or caffeine withdrawal.

Eliminating those items from your diet prior to fasting is the best way to avoid these pains.

Lower back pain may indicate that you are dehydrating

Drink more fluids

Dizziness may be caused by a sudden change in position, such as rising suddenly from a chair.

Stop for a second or two, then recover. Move slowly. (A word of caution: these conditions may be symptoms of other problems requiring medical attention.)

Minor fasting discomfort

Take one teaspoon of psyllium seed powder morning and evening. Mixed in lukewarm water, it becomes like Jell-O. This powder will hasten the elimination of toxins from your colon and help to prevent headaches and dizziness for most healthy people. Alfalfa tablets can help control bad breath and cleanse the system. Two tablets at a time can be taken several times a day.

In my desire to be absolutely faithful to my first 40-day fast, I stopped taking my usual vitamins and minerals. However during subsequent fasts, I have felt strongly impressed to continue my vitamin and herbal therapy and also using psyllium. I do this to keep my "temple" healthy while continuing to deny myself the pleasure of eating solid food.

During your fast, you may have your struggles, discomforts, spiritual victories, and failures. In the morning you may feel like you are on top of the world, but by evening you may be wrestling with the flesh-sorely tempted to raid the refrigerator and counting how many more days are left in your fast. This is especially true if you are new at fasting. To counteract temptations like these, take extra time with the Lord to spend with God. Step outside for fresh air and a moderate walk of a mile or two, and talk to the Lord as you walk along. And in the process always keep on sipping water or juice frequently during your waking hours.

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Breaking Your Fast All the experts agree that "breaking the fast" is the critical phase of fasting. While your body is in the resting mode, your stomach shrinks and your intestines become idle, so solid food must be re-introduced very slowly to avoid kidney failure or digestive distress. In fact, after a 40-day fast, you should make a careful transition for at least three days before returning to eating meats or fats or normal foods. Further, if you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will linger for days. But if you rush into solid foods, you may lose much of your deep sense of peace and experience physical problems such as diarrhea, sickness, fainting, and frankly even death in some cases, due to shock! Dr. Paul Bragg and his daughter Patricia have conducted fasting clinics for many years. Their book, The Miracle of Fasting, gives a specific daily food plan for breaking a 7-day fast that could be adapted and stretched out over several more days for a 40-day fast. Breaking a Seven-Day Fast 5 o'clock as you end your 7th day of the fast Peal four or five medium-sized tomatoes - cut them up, bring them to a boil and then turn off the heat. When they are cool enough to eat, have as many as you desire. Morning of the 8th day Salad of grated carrots and grated cabbage, with half an orange squeezed over it. Bowl of steamed greens and pealed tomatoes (spinach, Swiss chard, or mustard greens). Bring the greens to a boil, then turn off the heat. You may eat two slices of 100 percent whole-wheat bread, which has been toasted until it is thoroughly dry-this is called "Melba toast." After it has been cooled, the toast should be so dry that it would powder if you squeezed it in the palm of your hand. As I have stated, this first food should be in the morning. During the day, you may have all the distilled water you wish to drink. For dinner, you may have a salad of grated carrots, chopped celery and cabbage, with orange juice for dressing. This will be followed by two cooked vegetables, one such as spinach, kale, shard, or mustard greens, and one such as string beans, carrots, steamed celery, okra, or squash. You may have two pieces of whole-grain "Melba toast." These meals are not to contain oils of any kind. Morning of the 9th day You may have a dish of any kind of fresh fruit, such as banana, pineapple, orange, sliced grapefruit, or sliced apples. You may sprinkle this with two tablespoonfuls of raw wheat germ, and sweeten it with honey, but not over one tablespoonful At noon you may have a salad of grated carrots, cabbage, and celery, with one cooked vegetable and one slice of "Melba toast."

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At dinner you may have a salad dish of lettuce, watercress, parsley, and tomatoes, and two cooked vegetables. Most experts agree that breaking a fast with vegetables, either steamed or raw, is best. Your stomach is smaller now, so eat lightly. Stop before you feel full. Stay away from starches like pastas, potatoes, rice, or bread (except for "Melba toast") for at least a week. Also avoid meats, dairy products, and any fats or oils for a week or more. Introduce them very slowly and in small amounts. Extended fasts are not the only fasts which need to be ended with caution. Even a 3-day fast requires reasonable precautions. It is wise to start with a little soup - something thin and nourishing such as vegetable broth made from onion, celery, potatoes, and carrots - and fresh fruits such as watermelon and cantaloupe. In terms of resuming any sort of exercise routine, the advice is the same. Start out slowly, allowing time for your body to re-adjust to its usual regime

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