Post by Pam on Sept 29, 2009 14:15:34 GMT -5
SPIRITUAL FASTING (PART 2)
Reaching Higher Levels of Spirituality
September 29, 2009
>Christian Fasting - What is it?
What is Christian fasting? Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep or sex to focus on a period of spiritual growth. Specifically, we humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life. Fasting, however, if we conceive of it truly, must not... be confined to the question of food and drink; fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose (a priority to us over God).
>The Benefits of Fasting—For the Body and the Soul
Fasting has been around since the age of our forefathers in one form on the other. Even today, a large majority of people undertake fasting because they have a hunger for God, desiring God through fasting and prayer. Then there are so many others who indulge in fasting for health reasons. Whatever the reasons that people choose for fasting, they are rewarded by multiple benefits as a result of fasting. Some of the main benefits of fasting for both health and spiritual reasons are listed below:
>Physical Benefits of Fasting
>15 Keys to Successful Fasting
Phillipians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
[2] READ THE BIBLE – Stay on our free One Year Bible Reading Plan. The Bible is your “spiritual food” during fasting. As you read and “feed” on God’s word, revelation from the Holy Spirit will begin to flood your mind.
Psalms 119:103 says, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea sweeter than honey to my mouth!
[3] ASSOCIATE WITH POSITIVE, FAITH-FILLED PEOPLE who will encourage you during your fast. Do not associate with people or in places that will drag you down, take away your faith, or tempt you with eating. It is wise to stay away from things like church dinners or restaurants. If some friends or church members are fasting with you, support and encourage them. However, you must determine that you will succeed with your fast whether anyone else does or not. Jesus will strengthen you!
[4] YIELD YOUR WILL TO GOD’S WILL – God will be speaking to you throughout your fast. It is important to lay aside anything that God reveals to you that is separating you from His will. Give all to God - Your time, money, goals, dreams, vision, and purpose. Get in unity with God! Be empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
[5] EXPECT BLESSINGS – Keep a PEN AND PAPER both with you and by your bed. Write down the revelations and dreams that God gives you. Remember, one good revelation from God can change your life forever. God wants to bless you. Visualize yourself with God’s Blessings before actually possessing them, Have Faith & Belief for Miracles! Keep a great positive Attitude! When you crucify your flesh with fasting, spiritual blessings will overflow in your life!!
[6] RECEIVE YOUR BLESSINGS – Open up and receive the many ways that God wants to bless you, and give you Favor! During Your Fast, God will begin pouring out many blessings in all areas of your life.
[7] SPEAK VICTORY – A ffirm and confess God's Words, over all other opinions or circumstances! Speak and Believe God's many Bible Promises to bless your life!
[8] PREPARATION - A few days before your fast, and at least a few days after your fast, eat and drink very healthy.
[9] DRINK - At least ONE GALLON of liquid every day - Purified water is the most cleansing of all drinks. Each night before bed, refrigerate one gallon of purified water. Have it your goal to drink the whole gallon the next day. If you are doing a juice fast, you can also supplement your water with 100% pure vegetable or fruit juice (freshly squeezed is best), herbal tea, vegetable broth, and 100% pure fruit smoothies.
[10] RELAX AND LISTEN – Get plenty of rest and sleep – Do not overdue yourself physically. Get away from the hustle and rat race of life, and get alone with God. Go for walks, take a relaxing bath, relax in a swimming pool, go fishing, etc. Get quiet so you can listen to God.
[11] INCREASE POSITIVE OR SPIRITUAL INPUT – (Positive Prayers, God's Bible Promises, Bible reading, Christian TV, Praise & Worship music, etc.). Your spirit becomes extremely open during your fast. Strengthening your Spirit will allow you to hear God's voice clearer.
[12] DECREASE NEGATIVE OR WORLDLY INPUT - (secular movies, video games, secular TV or radio, negative association, etc.). Worldly input especially weakens you when fasting. Feeding your flesh makes your flesh stronger. A strong flesh could cause you to quit your fast. Deny your fleshly desires and shut off worldly distractions. Your victories will come as your spirit is stronger than your flesh!
[13] ELIMINATION - The Standard American Diet (SAD) is filled with processed food, chemicals, and toxins. These toxins lead to heart disease, cancer, premature aging, and many other diseases and sicknesses. During your fast, your body will begin to totally cleanse itself of these poisonous toxins and bad cells. Bad breath, headaches, and tiredness are all signs that your body is cleansing and healing itself. It is important to expedite this elimination with a daily shower or bath, a dry brush message, and regularly going to the bathroom. As the poison and other bad cells leave your body, you will feel better, feel younger, and look better than ever!
[14] FAST IN SECRET - Jesus said in Matthew 6:18, "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." Your fast is mostly between you and God, so you should tell very few or no people (unless you are doing a corporate fast with other faith filled Christians). You can encourage more people and give your testimony of what Jesus did for you AFTER you break your fast. It is especially important to not tell people who have low faith and high negativity that you are fasting. They will likely discourage you. If you hear too much negativity and discouragement, it will increase your chances of quitting your fast. Always keep a positive environment during your fast.
[15] GIVE ALL THE GLORY TO GOD! - Never become proud because you are fasting. Always give all of the Praise, honor and glory to Jesus in all that you do![/ul]
Fasting is one of the best ways of getting closer to God!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
www.spiritualfasting.net/Types_of_Fasts.html
Reaching Higher Levels of Spirituality
September 29, 2009
>Christian Fasting - What is it?
What is Christian fasting? Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep or sex to focus on a period of spiritual growth. Specifically, we humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life. Fasting, however, if we conceive of it truly, must not... be confined to the question of food and drink; fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose (a priority to us over God).
>The Benefits of Fasting—For the Body and the Soul
Fasting has been around since the age of our forefathers in one form on the other. Even today, a large majority of people undertake fasting because they have a hunger for God, desiring God through fasting and prayer. Then there are so many others who indulge in fasting for health reasons. Whatever the reasons that people choose for fasting, they are rewarded by multiple benefits as a result of fasting. Some of the main benefits of fasting for both health and spiritual reasons are listed below:
- Fasting strengthens and purifies the spirit. When we cease to cater to the demands of the flesh, then we can listen to the soul and the spirit. Religious Fasting brings us closer to God. To purify our spirit and to get used to the rigors of fasting, we turn we God, Thus we get closer to God when we fast. Fasting gives strength to our prayers. It has been mentioned in the Bible that most of our prophets fasted before or during times of adversity or when they wanted to ask something from God. Even today, holy men advise that you fast in order to give power and purity to your prayers.
- Spiritual Fasting increases will power. It is extremely tough to deny the flesh, especially in a world where we are used to pampering its every whim and fancy. Controlling and curbing our natural desires gives a strength to our will that comes into play throughout different situations in life.
>Physical Benefits of Fasting
- Fasting is the best method of detoxification. It cleanses the body of toxins and impurities while healing the body from within.
- Fasting facilitates rapid and safe weight loss. Different types of fasts like the juice fast or water fast are extremely effective for weight loss.
- Fasting gives a break to the digestive system, which is one of the most hard working parts of our body. This in turn revitalizes and rejuvenates the digestive system.
- Fasting revitalizes the cells and heals the body. Energy that is generally taken up by the process of digestion on normal days is concentrated towards healing other parts of the body during fasting. It is a great method of healing and repairing different body parts that are otherwise ignored in order to carry out basic bodily functions like eating and digestion etc.
- Fasting puts a glow on the skin. Due to detoxification and rejuvenation of the body and its cells, a person’s skin starts looking healthier and better after a fast, especially if he has been on juice fasting, liquid fasting or on a detox fast.
>15 Keys to Successful Fasting
Phillipians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
[2] READ THE BIBLE – Stay on our free One Year Bible Reading Plan. The Bible is your “spiritual food” during fasting. As you read and “feed” on God’s word, revelation from the Holy Spirit will begin to flood your mind.
Psalms 119:103 says, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea sweeter than honey to my mouth!
[3] ASSOCIATE WITH POSITIVE, FAITH-FILLED PEOPLE who will encourage you during your fast. Do not associate with people or in places that will drag you down, take away your faith, or tempt you with eating. It is wise to stay away from things like church dinners or restaurants. If some friends or church members are fasting with you, support and encourage them. However, you must determine that you will succeed with your fast whether anyone else does or not. Jesus will strengthen you!
[4] YIELD YOUR WILL TO GOD’S WILL – God will be speaking to you throughout your fast. It is important to lay aside anything that God reveals to you that is separating you from His will. Give all to God - Your time, money, goals, dreams, vision, and purpose. Get in unity with God! Be empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
[5] EXPECT BLESSINGS – Keep a PEN AND PAPER both with you and by your bed. Write down the revelations and dreams that God gives you. Remember, one good revelation from God can change your life forever. God wants to bless you. Visualize yourself with God’s Blessings before actually possessing them, Have Faith & Belief for Miracles! Keep a great positive Attitude! When you crucify your flesh with fasting, spiritual blessings will overflow in your life!!
[6] RECEIVE YOUR BLESSINGS – Open up and receive the many ways that God wants to bless you, and give you Favor! During Your Fast, God will begin pouring out many blessings in all areas of your life.
[7] SPEAK VICTORY – A ffirm and confess God's Words, over all other opinions or circumstances! Speak and Believe God's many Bible Promises to bless your life!
[8] PREPARATION - A few days before your fast, and at least a few days after your fast, eat and drink very healthy.
[9] DRINK - At least ONE GALLON of liquid every day - Purified water is the most cleansing of all drinks. Each night before bed, refrigerate one gallon of purified water. Have it your goal to drink the whole gallon the next day. If you are doing a juice fast, you can also supplement your water with 100% pure vegetable or fruit juice (freshly squeezed is best), herbal tea, vegetable broth, and 100% pure fruit smoothies.
[10] RELAX AND LISTEN – Get plenty of rest and sleep – Do not overdue yourself physically. Get away from the hustle and rat race of life, and get alone with God. Go for walks, take a relaxing bath, relax in a swimming pool, go fishing, etc. Get quiet so you can listen to God.
[11] INCREASE POSITIVE OR SPIRITUAL INPUT – (Positive Prayers, God's Bible Promises, Bible reading, Christian TV, Praise & Worship music, etc.). Your spirit becomes extremely open during your fast. Strengthening your Spirit will allow you to hear God's voice clearer.
[12] DECREASE NEGATIVE OR WORLDLY INPUT - (secular movies, video games, secular TV or radio, negative association, etc.). Worldly input especially weakens you when fasting. Feeding your flesh makes your flesh stronger. A strong flesh could cause you to quit your fast. Deny your fleshly desires and shut off worldly distractions. Your victories will come as your spirit is stronger than your flesh!
[13] ELIMINATION - The Standard American Diet (SAD) is filled with processed food, chemicals, and toxins. These toxins lead to heart disease, cancer, premature aging, and many other diseases and sicknesses. During your fast, your body will begin to totally cleanse itself of these poisonous toxins and bad cells. Bad breath, headaches, and tiredness are all signs that your body is cleansing and healing itself. It is important to expedite this elimination with a daily shower or bath, a dry brush message, and regularly going to the bathroom. As the poison and other bad cells leave your body, you will feel better, feel younger, and look better than ever!
[14] FAST IN SECRET - Jesus said in Matthew 6:18, "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." Your fast is mostly between you and God, so you should tell very few or no people (unless you are doing a corporate fast with other faith filled Christians). You can encourage more people and give your testimony of what Jesus did for you AFTER you break your fast. It is especially important to not tell people who have low faith and high negativity that you are fasting. They will likely discourage you. If you hear too much negativity and discouragement, it will increase your chances of quitting your fast. Always keep a positive environment during your fast.
[15] GIVE ALL THE GLORY TO GOD! - Never become proud because you are fasting. Always give all of the Praise, honor and glory to Jesus in all that you do![/ul]
Fasting is one of the best ways of getting closer to God!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
www.spiritualfasting.net/Types_of_Fasts.html