Throughout Scripture, fasting refers to abstaining from
food for spiritual purposes. Spiritual fasting is simply
a tool to help us change our hearts before God. On February
6, 2008 we will begin another 40 day journey of fasting
and praying. We will come together corporately and participate
in a partial fast, which includes fruits, vegetables, beans,
rice and nuts.
In our society today, gluttony has become a way of life
for a fallen man and it affects every area of our life and
opens us up to all types of temptation. We eat too much
and fasting is the only way to end this unruly obsession
with food. Fasting, in a nut shell, puts food in its proper
perspective. We should eat in order to live, not live to
eat. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Keep it
clean and free from addiction. As Richard Foster states,
“Our human cravings and desires are like a river that
tends to over flow its bank.” In every child of God
are two natures, that of the flesh and that of the spirit.
Peter calls them “fleshly lusts which war against
the soul”. Paul said, “For I delight in the
law of God after the inward man (the spirit), but I see
another law in my members (the flesh) warring against the
law of the mind and bringing me into captivity to the law
of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:22-23.
I heard so many people say, “I failed, I could not
make it through the 10th day”. I heard a great preacher
say, “Success is not in the finishing, but the starting
and not giving up”. And starting after failure takes
more courage than those who seem able to slide into home
base without a care or worry. I take my hat off to those
who fast even one day of their 40-day goal. You have taken
a bold step. If you fail, take no time for self-indulgent
guilt. Do not allow self-doubt to hold you down. Welcome
to the human race; seek God’s grace and start again.
God never grows tired of new beginnings.
During the 40 day fast you will experience some ups and
downs. Crazy stuff happens in the mind when fasting. But
greater things happen in the spirit.
The Downs:
It’s detox time. Your body cannibalizes on sick cells
and dirty fat, releasing toxins into the blood. You will
experience a cleansing crisis. That’s the bad news.
The good news is the body is finally able to rid itself
of years of accumulated toxins. This is an essential but
painful stage to healing. The Downs are hard to endure.
You may feel irritated, short-tempered or mildly depressed.
You’re in good company. Join the crowd. The Downs
usually last from one to three days, and may hit day 2 or
day 28 of a fast. Exercising authority over emotions during
detox will develop maturity. Remember that a tug-of-war
is going on in the soul between the flesh that is being
inflicted, and the spirit that is being strengthened.
The Ups:
Dr. Ehret, an avid faster describes it thus. "An indescribable
feeling that gave me great joy and happiness just to be
alive. Greater power, energy and endurance . . .All my faculties
were improved, beyond the healthiest part of my youth."
His glorious presence inside and out, washes, cleanses,
renews, strengthens. You will experience cleaner and clearer
brain functions, every cell quivering with health. During
The Ups, you will feel as if there is an endless supply
of physical energy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why do we need to fast? Jesus begins the
passage in Matthew 6:16-18 by saying “when you fast”.
He is expecting His children to fast and He is telling us
that fasting is important. He did not say; if you fast.
Why should we fast? Because God loves us and He called us
to! Jesus Christ after being baptized in the Jordan River
withdrew into the wilderness where He spent 40 nights in
prayer and fasting in preparation for His ministry. Jesus
taught His disciples to fast. Jesus is our ultimate role
model. God’s desire is for us to draw near to Him.
He paves the way for our sanctification but it is up to
you and me to make the journey. When we corporately fast,
we can collectively become likeminded and focused, entrenched
in His word. Togetherness in prayer equals powerful spiritual
synergy. (Matt. 18:19-20).
Is this fast Biblical, I can’t find it in
the Bible? Why this set of foods? A partial fast
is eliminating or abstaining from certain foods. Our visionary,
Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr., has chosen foods that allow
our bodies to go through a natural cleanse, foods that are
easily digested and eliminated. We have spent many years
eating foods with empty calories and foods that require
some times up to 72 hours to be eliminated. Examples of
partial fasts are included in I Kings 17; Elijah ate cakes
made with meal and oil. John the Baptist ate only locust
and honey (Matt. 3:4). And let’s not forget Daniel.
(Daniel 10:3)
Should I continue my medications? It is
always wise to consult your medical doctor regarding the
effects of fasting with your medication. Never stop any
medicine without your physicians notice.
Are there any restrictions that restrict fasting?
Yes! Consult your physician before beginning a fast. Certain
groups of people should not fast which includes small children,
women who are nursing or pregnant. These groups of people
can choose to fast from other items, for example, television,
fast food, candy, shopping, ect.
How much weight will I lose? Though fasting
is spiritual you will experience some physical benefits.
Weight loss for some will be as high as 1-2# per day, much
of it will be water. Some will not lose any weight because
they will continue to overeat even with the fast foods.
Portion control is very important. Your weight will level
off and start decreasing at a slower rate when your body
realizes that it can survive on small portions. Usually
between day 15- 20 you should see a leveling off.
Will I gain my weight back after the fast? Most
people, even though this is a spiritual focus, are excited
to see that they have loss some weight during the fast.
But the answer is up to you. If you re-introduce the same
foods to your body and continue with a lazy lifestyle, then
the answer is yes the weight will return. When you lose
weight you not only lose fat but you have changed your body
from the inside out. You have gained authority over food.
Fasting is just the beginning of a new you. There has to
be a continual change in your lifestyle in order to win
the fight.
Can I exercise while fasting? Exercise
oxygenates the blood. The pumping action of the muscles
flushes the lymph and cells of metabolic waste. If you experience
weakness, limit yourself to stretching or floor exercise,
light walking etc.
Will fasting cause my metabolism to slow down?
Basal Metabolic Rate will slow initially with any reduction
or decrease in calorie. The fast will cause a cleansing
which in turn will bring health increasing the metabolic
efficiency. This means, you will need less food and feel
more energetic. Digestion is improved with a clean colon.
In order to increase your resting metabolism you need to
move- Exercise.
Will I become protein deficit? Your body
has enough protein stores to sustain you through 40 days
of fasting. Legumes provide 6-8.9 grams of protein per ½
cup. Soybeans provide 14.3 grams of protein per ½
cup. Miso provides 16.3 grams protein per ½ cup.
Tempeh provides 15.7 grams of protein per ½ cup,
Nuts and seed provide 5.7-6.5 grams of protein and peanut
butter provides 7.9 grams of protein per 2 tbsp. You should
not have any problems if you incorporate your protein foods
correctly throughout the day.
Can I eat out while fasting? Yes. Choose
restaurants that offer a variety of foods. Use judgment.
Do not place so much emphasis on food that you forget that
the ultimate goal of fasting is to seek a greater level
in God.
Why can’t we have rice pasta or soy burgers?
Pastor has given us a list of foods in which to enjoy. Anything
outside that is between you and God. But ask yourself; what
is the point of the fast foods, if we substitute one food
for another.
Remember this is not a diet, stay focused on God and His
word, pray and watch God make II Chronicles 7:14 speak to
us.
Humbly Submitted
Patricia A. Jones, RD
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