Healing through Fasting and prayer

By: Shaila Touchton | April 12, 2017 The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart: Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins. Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4). Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15. Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master - refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2). Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others (Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13). Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6). Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15 NKJV). For Him, it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it. Before you fast, decide the following: How long you will fast - one meal, two meals, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts). The type of fast God wants you to undertake (such as water only, or water and juices - what kinds of juices you will drink and how often). What physical or social activities you will restrict. How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God's Word Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life's pressures tempt you to abandon it. Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Consult your physician first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. Some persons should never fast without professional supervision. Physical preparation makes the drastic change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer. Do not rush into your fast. Prepare your body. Eat smaller meals before starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods. Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days before starting a fast Drink full body juices or pureed fruits and vegetables. Be fully hydrated, drink at least 48 to 64 ounces of water a day for three days prior to starting your fast. Here are some guidelines that I would like for you to consider: If this is your first fast or you have medical reason to do so; 1. Fast from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 A.M. this means you may eat between 5:01 A.M. and 8:59 A.M. 2. Start your fast with a juice fast only - therefore you can have juice any time you feel the need. If you have fasted before after preparing yourself for the fast, drink only water. It is my practice to take no food or water for the first three days and afterwards only water. Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider: Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies. Medication should be withdrawn only with your physician's supervision. Limit your activity. Exercise only moderately. Walk each day if convenient and comfortable. Rest as much as your schedule will permit. Prepare yourself for temporary personality changes, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety. Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. You may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the "blahs." Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness. The first two or three days are usually the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger pains, increase your liquid intake. For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be. During meal time, replace the meal with prayer! Morning Begin your day in praise and worship. Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably on your knees. Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to will and do His good pleasure according to Philippians 2:13. Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you his will for you in your life - how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your country, and beyond. Pray for His vision for your life and empowerment to do His will. Noon Return to prayer and God's Word. Take a short prayer walk. Spend time in intercessory prayer for your community’s and nation's leaders, for the world's unreached millions, and for your family or special needs. Evening Get alone for an unhurried time of "seeking His face." If others are fasting with you, meet together for prayer. Avoid television, radio, ipods, the internet or any other distraction that may dampen your spiritual focus. When possible, begin and end each day on your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God. Longer periods of time with our Lord in prayer and study of His Word are often better spent alone. A dietary routine is vital as well. Dr. Julio C. Ruibal - a nutritionist, pastor, and specialist in fasting and prayer - suggests a daily schedule and list of juices you may find useful and satisfying. Modify this schedule and the drinks you take to suit your circumstances and tastes. 5 a.m. - 8 a.m. Fruit juices, preferably freshly squeezed or blended and diluted in 50 percent distilled water if the fruit is acid. Apple, pear, grapefruit, papaya, watermelon, or other fruit juices are generally preferred. If you cannot do your own juicing, buy juices without sugar or additives. 10:30 a.m. - noon Fresh vegetable juice made from lettuce, celery, and carrots in three equal parts. 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Herb tea with a drop of honey. Avoid black tea or any tea with caffeine. 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Broth made from boiling potatoes, celery, and carrots with no salt. After boiling about half an hour, pour the water into a container and drink it. Tips on Juice Fasting Drinking fruit juice will decrease your hunger pains and give you some natural sugar energy. The taste and lift will motivate and strengthen you to continue. The best juices are made from fresh watermelon, lemons, grapes, apples, cabbage, beets, carrots, celery, or leafy green vegetables. In cold weather, you may enjoy a warm vegetable broth. Mix acidic juices (orange and tomato) with water for your stomach's sake. Avoid caffeinated drinks. And avoid chewing gum or mints, even if your breath is bad. They stimulate digestive action in your stomach. When your designated time for fasting is finished, you will begin to eat again. But how you break your fast is extremely important for your physical and spiritual well-being. Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid foods immediately after your fast. Suddenly reintroducing solid food to your stomach and digestive tract will likely have negative, even dangerous, consequences. Try several smaller meals or snacks each day. If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued good health. Here are some suggestions to help you end your fast properly: Break an extended water fast with fruit such as watermelon. While continuing to drink fruit or vegetable juices, add the following: First day: Add a raw salad. Second day: Add baked or boiled potato, no butter or seasoning. Third day: Add a steamed vegetable. Thereafter: Begin to reintroduce your normal diet. Gradually return to regular eating with several small snacks during the first few days. Start with a little soup and fresh fruit such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Advance to a few tablespoons of solid foods such as raw fruits and vegetables or a raw salad and baked potato. If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek God's face, if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers. A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many Christians. It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or you may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness Category: Healing and Deliverance Tags: Healing through Fasting and prayer