Fasting for Spiritual Wellness

Posted on 06. Apr, 2010 by Angie Wyatt in Blog

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Is life moving too fast?  How will you catch your breath? Fasting is one of the best ways to regain focus in our lives. When life gets hectic and we need to slow down, fasting is a great step toward our Spiritual Wellness.

The goal of fasting is not to eat less, but rather to pray more. During a fast, we remove distractions so that we can focus more intently on our spirituality. Then, we spend extra time in prayer and meditation.

To get started, ask God to help you find your Fasting Type, Time, & Tempo.

Type. What type of fast will you follow?   There are three ways to fast:

  1. In a traditional fast we eliminate all food and drink only water.
  2. In a Daniel Fast, we eat only vegetables and drink only water.
  3. In a partial fast, we eliminate distractions.  These distractions might include foods such as coffee and desert.  Or, we might also eliminate other daily distractions such as entertainment and phone calls.

Time. How long will you fast?  Fasting may last only half a day, or up to forty days.  A typical fast is 1-3 days.  Start with a short time frame, and work your way up to longer fasting.  If you are fasting for the first time, I recommend that you start with a partial fast.

Tempo. What will be the rhythm of your fast?  Ask God to show you when and how to meditate.  The options here are endless, but these are some ideas to consider:

  1. Select a single scripture verse to meditate on for the duration of your fast.
  2. Select different prayer topics.  Pray for each topic on a different day of your fast.
  3. Try a new form of prayer.  You might paint your prayers during your fast, only praying visually.
  4. If you’re fasting during Christmas or Easter, meditate on the biblical narratives.

Remember… God is pleased by your heart, not your ability to be super-spiritual by choosing a marathon-fast!

Type. Time. Tempo.  How will you fast for Spiritual Wellness?  Share your thoughts.

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4 Responses to “Fasting for Spiritual Wellness”

  1. Rose

    13. Jul, 2010

    Why fast? Can’t we just eat less food, avoid havy food, greacy food, suger, salt. Preaying we always can to come closer to God. We can pray for every kind of circumstances, friends, family, our friends and ourselfs, that daily with or without fasting. – Blessings Rose

  2. Angie

    13. Jul, 2010

    Rose: Yes we can eat healthy and also pray despite fasting. So, why fast? Because the Bible instructs us to fast. We learn from Jesus example and from his teachings that fasting re-aligns us with His heart & draws us closer to Him. We also learn that there are times when only fasting can bring an answer to prayer. Mark 17:21 Great question! Angie

  3. Jan-Michael

    13. Jul, 2010

    I love the use of the word “fast” as the word really means “stop” and thus we say “hold-fast” (stay on course) or “fasten” (keep in place) etc!

    Your words “The goal of fasting is not to eat less, but rather to pray more” were good to read, as often fasting is thought to be just about denying food for yourself, while in prayer we are actually “Fed” spiritually.

    I know from my experience of fasting, which keeps me on course, reminded all day(s) of fasting, of God’s love and it clears not just my head and system but fills me with better thoughts.

    Whatever form the “fast” takes it leads me well and I love how it gets me away from certain compulsions like TV or whatever and takes me to a stronger sense of God’s presence all through the days! Being reminded by my body that I am “fasting”, I am thereby reminded to stay in prayer and not let life’s daily routine distract me from the presence of God all through my day!

    Thanks for a well written inspirational post, Angie,

    He is blessing all

  4. cysradill

    13. Jul, 2010

    Hi Angie: I just finished a forty day fast. I gave up one of my foods that I always say calms me and is a treat when I am feeling down. It seems hard a first then as you go along and fined you are thinking more of Jesus and how he suffered for us it seems like a very small thing you are doing. But it does connect you with the Lord more often and soon becomes a natural thing to do .
    and soon the treat does not seem as important now.
    God Bless Everyone.
    Cysradill

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