How do I fast?

  

Fasting is an opportunity to humble ourselves before the Lord and to devote ourselves to a season of prayer and seeking His face.

1. Determine the type and length of your fast.

Choose a fast that is appropriate for your physical condition and daily demands of work, etc. Be led by the Holy Spirit, not through guilt or condemnation.


There are some great verses in Isaiah 58 to encourage and give you focus.

       Different types of fasting:

  • Total fasting or water only fasting--NO FOOD or JUICE.

  • Juice only fasting--NO FOOD, but allow fruit and vegetable juice or clear vegetable broth.

  • Partial Fasting--Daniel type fasting, vegetables and water fast, no meat and other delicacies.

2. Tell the least number of people that you are fasting.

Fasting is an exciting event and it is easy to share with others that you are on a fast, especially when you begin to experience the incredible benefits.
Your fast is between you and God and no one else. The key to a great fast is to stay fixed on Jesus, not people or circumstances. Keeping your fast between you and God will help you stay focused in times of temptation.

3. Turn off the TV.

Watching TV while on a spiritual fast will become increasingly distracting. Commercials bombard you with food advertisements. Most of all, it destroys your Christ-focus.

4. Get alone with God.

Fasting and solitude have always gone hand in hand. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit away from the crowds into the desert. (Luke 5:15)

5. Focus on His Word.

Saturate yourself in His Word. Use every available means possible--tapes, books, videos, Christian television, but most of all, the Bible.

6. Meditate.

Many believers have lost the art of meditation. In fact, we almost consider it a pagan practice. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:2).

7. Take a phone break.

Clear your schedule. Take a break from the phone. No interruptions! This is a period of time to minister to Christ and your own spiritual need for deeper intimacy with Him.
Withdraw from people's lives for a time of intimacy with God. Jesus did it often. He would wander the desolate hills and valleys, the no-man's land of Israel. It must have been hard to leave those who were sick and emotionally shipwrecked, those searching for some meaning and purpose, but he left them repeatedly. If Christ needed to refresh His spirit, then even more so do you.

8. Be quiet.
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:7)

Tame the tongue. Bring it into submission. Be silent. There is humility in silence. The literal interpretation of the word fast is “to cover your mouth.” Experience the awesomeness of God, an experience of majestic greatness that transcends the emptiness of words.

9. Avoid needless temptation.

During a fast, you will be surrounded with the hostile world of food, especially in a country that has become addicted to eating.
The smells and sight of food can be difficult during a fast. Do all you can to separate yourself from these temptations.

10. Sleep well.

During a fast it is essential that you get enough sleep. Come home from work, take a shower, and allow yourself time to quietly and restfully meditate and pray.

    

 

How to Start

Start slowly and gradually.

Prepare your body by gradually eating smaller meals prior to starting the fast.  Take at least 3-4 days. 

  • Total fast:
  • By 3rd or 4th day, only consuming water and juice or clear vegetable broth before starting on fast
  •  Juice fasting:
  • By end of 3rd or 4th day, only consuming small amounts of vegetables and juice.  Drink fresh fruit and/or vegetable juice rather than bottled juice. 
  • By the end of 3rd or 4th day, only consuming limited amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables and water.  Eat fruits and vegetables raw if possible. 

You also need to take a few days to eliminate some foods or food habits from your diet such as:

  •  caffeine containing foods (coffee, coke) high fat and high sugar foods, refined foods, red meats and other animal foods, milk and milk products, eggs.  If you are taking dietary supplements, it is recommended that you stop taking these prior to starting the fast. 

While Fasting

  • Exercise only moderately.  Remember to drink plenty of fluids.  Limit activity when tired.  No one on a water only fast should be exercising without consultation and supervision of a fasting specialist.

  • Expect some physical discomfort

  • Bad breath. Resist chewing gum or mint.  Brush tongue with toothbrush and rinsing with mouth wash may help.

  • Diarrhea.  Particularly if on partial or juice only fasting as fruit and fruit juices have a laxative effect.  Dilute fruit juices with water.

  • Nausea due to liver functions adapting to changing diet and eating habits.  Drink water will help.

  • Tiredness is normal so rest or increase the amount of juice if on juice or partial fasting.

  • If in doubt, please consult your doctor and pray.

  • If on Juice only or partial fasting, add lemon slices to the water or a teaspoon of honey to a cup of hot water.  Clear vegetable broth can be made by boiling vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, celery for ½ hr in water, drain off water and drink.  Do not add salt.  

  • Vary the types of vegetables eaten.  Eat most of them raw if possible.

How to break the fast.

  • SLOWLY and GRADUALLY

  • DO NOT EAT SOLID FOODS IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR FAST.

  • Need to take several days as a rule of thumb: take 1.5 days for every 10 days fasted.

  • If on a total fast, your digestive tract has been resting while you fast so you need to prepare your digestive tract with diluted vegetable juices and broths beginning with a few teaspoons of juice from a glass and gradually progress to stronger mixture by the end of the day.  Its suggested that diluted grape juice will stimulate digestion.

  • Transition from a Juice only fast to normal diet is slightly easier.

  • Start with small amount of raw or cooked vegetables such as spinach or other greens

  • Start slowly.

  • Chew food well.

  • If on partial fast, start with simple vegetable meals, salads or soups.  From there progress lowly through the grains, starchy vegetables.  Avoid eating too much at any one time.

How will fasting affect my body?

 

Consult your doctor first particularly if you are taking prescription medication or have a chronic illness.  If you have the following health conditions, do not fast without adequate supervision from your GP.

 

If you suffer from any of the following conditions, fasting may be harmful to your health:

  • Underweight

  • Pregnancy

  • Lactating mothers

  • Cancer

  • Diabetes- particularly if taking insulin or suffering from hyperglycemia

  • Low immunity

  • Chronic illness affecting the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs or other important organs

  • Nutritional deficiencies - anemia

  • Pre and Post surgery

  • Ulcers

  • Mental illness

  • Please consult your doctor before deciding on the type of fasting (indicated above) to go on.

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