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20 Tips Before Fasting: A Dependence on Yah
Fasting is not something you just jump into. You must be purposely committed and dedicated to the fast, it is a spiritual investment. You will overcome temptation, through your secrecy and dependence on Yah (God). Planning ahead is one of the best strategies for success. During the entirety of your fast, you will prepare, study, and journal your experiences of your fast. Did you know that the Most High (God) put the desire to fast in your heart? Remember to ask him what it is he wants you to do? Now since you have an idea of what fasting is and its significance of it, how do you begin? Provided below are twenty different tips to help you start fasting and remain motivated.
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1. Identify The Purpose
The first step for any Believer to fast is discerning your reason/purpose for fasting. Are you fasting to empty yourself? To strengthen your relationship with Yah (God)? Are you fasting to be in solidarity with the poor? Clarifying the purpose of your fast is critical. It creates a frame for your experience.
2. Commit to a Time Period
Deciding on a specific time period and committing yourself to that is the second step to fasting. When being a beginner faster, it is not recommended to immediately dive into not eating or drinking anything for a long time.
Try to figure out what exactly is realistic and remain constantly awoke with your commitment.
3. Find Your Weaknesses
Try to anticipate before the fast starts what your weaknesses will be, or the times when you will feel the worst or feel most tempted to eat. Pray that Yah (God) will give You the strength you need when you need it, and He will.
4. Tell only a Few People
Like what Acts 16 says, when a believer in Christ fasts in secrecy, that is when they will be rewarded. Only inform two to three people that you are fasting. Whether that be a spouse, sibling, or friend. They could also potentially be your accountability partner.
5. Fast from Something Else
Don’t just jump into not eating or drinking for a long period of time. Try fasting from technology or something that you spend a lot of your time doing. Media, reading non-religious books, watching secular movies, or a sports game are a few examples of what you can fast on.
Try to figure out what you love to do all of the time instead of reading the Bible and praying. Also, if you ask the Lord what you should fast from, He will give you an answer.
6. Eat Very Little Before Your Fast
Before fasting, try to eat very little for the previous week so that your body adjusts to not eating a lot. You don’t want to eat nonstop and then one day randomly stop eating or drinking anything for your fasts. There are many different symptoms that could be caused if you do not properly prepare yourself before fasting.
Here are just a few of the many symptoms that could happen if you do not properly prepare your body before fasting:
Low energy levels
Headaches
Sleep Issues
Constipation
Constant Hunger
7. Drink Lots of Water When Fasting
Make sure that you also drink a lot of water during your fast. The great thing about fasting is that you get all the water you can drink! Drinking plenty of water (you can also drink diluted juice or raw, organic apple cider vinegar if you’re a beginner or want to feel more comfortable) will significantly reduce your hunger pangs and discomfort. If you feel hungry while fasting, just guzzle a half-gallon of water, and that hunger will be gone instantly.
Fruit water is also a great alternative to drinking plain water. Add fresh or frozen fruit to your water.
8. Pray During Your Fast
When you are supposed to be eating a meal, meditate on scripture and prayer. Food and drink will be a temptation, but persevere through this hard time and distract yourself with the Holy Word and your communication with the Lord. Your connection to Christ will feed you at a deeper level than you’ve ever imagined. You’ll find yourself more dependent upon and more connected to Him.
9. Read the Bible
There are many passages of Scripture that compare God’s word to food for a reason. It feeds our souls at the very deepest level. One example is in the book of Matthew.
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
10. Rest
Laziness is a problem that the Bible speaks against, but most of us today suffer from being too busy and not getting the rest we need. If you disconnect from the media and other people you will have extra time allowing you to get a full night’s sleep. During your fast, you will be forced to slow down since you won’t be needing long meal breaks. A fast will reveal to you that you have too many activities and busyness in your day-to-day routine.
11. Disconnect from People
Fasting is not necessarily a vacation, though dedicating time off and away from people during your fast can help you get the most benefit out of this precious time. Leave your email and cellphone behind. If possible, find someone who can cover your responsibilities at work and ministry. Many people fast and still carry on their normal daily activities. But if you can get away, it will give you more time in quietness and stillness with the Lord.
12. Politely Decline Dining Offers
What makes fasting extremely difficult in our culture is that everything revolves around food. We are a food-worshipping, food-obsessed culture, even in the church, and somehow we’re proud of it. As much as you live food, Yah (God) is not your stomach. When you’re inevitably invited to lunch or dinner with someone, or have unwanted food placed in front of you, simply use these words with a polite smile: “No thanks, I’m not hungry.” By using that simple phrase, you excuse yourself from the social obligation to eat and also keep your fast a secret.
13. Avoid Television and Radio
Disconnecting from TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet can help you stay focused on your purpose for fasting. You will be less tempted by the constant bombardment of advertising as you become physically and emotionally challenged. Avoiding media will give you more time to focus on the Lord and His word.
14. Find Another Activity
People are often surprised by how much time they spend preparing food, eating, and cleaning up. During a fast, all that time becomes open. Before your fast, decide how you will fill some of that open time.
You may engage in prayer, meditation, or spiritual reading. For example, pray for the hungry. You may plan an act of service, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter, church, or Butterfleye Ministry. Here
15. Stay Physically Active
Make sure that you are exercising when you are fasting. Being physically active motivates not only your body but your mind as well. Again, fasting involves dependence on Yah (God); Yah (God) will provide the energy and strength you need.
16. Record Your Fast
A good idea is to have a notebook or journal to keep the progress of your fast. You can describe the emotions that you are having and what you did to overcome those negative ones.
Also, you can write down what the Lord has been sharing with you, and one day when you’re done with your fast, you can pull out that notebook and see what all you have learned for the future from Yah, Himself.
17. Write to Yah
Writing letters to the Lord can help you vent through emotions and also give you a sense of thankfulness. Just like praying, it would be like writing to a friend. The Lord loves each and every individual human on this planet and loves that you are giving up your time of eating to spend time with Him.
18. Think Positive Thoughts
Think about the mastery your spirit is gaining over your flesh. Think about the positive effects occurring in your body as the toxins are being purged. Think about how Yah is purifying and sanctifying you for His purposes. Like Paul said in the book of Philippians, it will get you through the rough patches.
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippianss 4:8
Buttafleye Ministry Prayer Warriors, are calling you to pray and fast for the healing and reconciliation of our nation and world.
19. Have Spiritual Focus on Your Fast
whether it’s praying for someone specific or just seeking intimacy with Yah, having a spiritual focus for the fast will keep you divinely motivated and fed by the Comforter (Holy Spirit).
Make sure that you are remaining spiritually focused on Yah and remind yourself why you’re fasting in the first place, to rely on the Lord (Yahshua).
20. Try Other Different Fasts
After completing your first fast involving food and drink, consider partaking in Butterfleye Ministry Challenge for Change, monthly challenges that will change you spiritually. Try and consider if there is another fast that you would like to participate in and continue growing in the spirit. Here