Fasting is a term that somehow conjures up intense feelings of discomfort and deprivation which would steer many away from the very activity.Pictures of gaunt little children with distended tummies or perhaps a picture of Mahatma Ghandi comes to the minds of most when the word fast is mentioned.
The fasting I'm referring to is termed Biblical Fasting which is a very challenging task to undertake even by the most avid dieter or the most disciplined health enthusiast.
Careful inspection needs to be given to the whole purpose of the fast before partaking in it.We should not neglect or underestimate the physical,mental,emotional,and most importantly the spiritual changes that will occur as a result of fasting.
Physically, fasting will effect you in many ways depending on how your body reacts to the toxins that are being released.You should consult a medical professional before beginning any fasting regiment and have them give the ok,especially if you have any health concerns that could possibly be compromised during this time. YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT,that's a given to anyone who has ever had the privilege to experience one of the most rewarding benefits that fasting has to offer :) .Dig deeper there is so much more ;) ...
Your mental state can be altered severely depending on the length of your chosen fast and again, depending on how many toxins you may or may not have floating around that body of yours.The thing is, our bodies are finely tuned machines that have an innate nature to respond to whatever stimulus we expose it to.If goodies like sweets,coffee and other unmentionables are suddenly taken away from us our bodies go into shock.Our minds have to then resist the urges our bodies are screaming for-not an easy thing to do by any stretch of the imagination.Discipline my friend is the keyword in the success of your fast.
Emotionally you will be on a roller coaster,stopping off to occasional bouts of self praise;"yippee I'm fasting,why didn't I do this sooner",can quickly turn to ,"this fasting thing sucks,I'm done",in a nano second.Yes crankiness and perhaps the proverbial pity party can be the spice of the day when fasting but it's only temporary and will pass as your body's PH levels settle down.
The Spiritual aspect for me has been the most rewarding part of fasting and is the only reason I do it.Yes I know there are other amazing benefits but what fasting does for you spiritual man is priceless and everything else falls to the floor-period!.No kidding I can write an entire book when it come to the spiritual advantages alone of the fast.
You are so much more in tune with the Holy Spirit when you fast,more than at any other time in your life.It's not because the Lord draws nearer to us when we fast but rather,it's because we are drawing nearer to Him.Much more on this in later posts....
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