Fastlane“Then I proclaim
a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before
our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and
all our possessions.” (Ezra 8:21) There are various kinds of fasts that can get you in the Fastlane. The corporate fast is the kind that turned God’s wrath away from the wicked city of Nineveh and America needs one badly. Certain types of food are eliminated for weeks by a group of people. The Daniel or partial fast is when you consume no fancy food but only vegetables and water, very practical for people with anemia, diabetes, or hypoglycemia. You can dilute juices, eliminate meats and desserts. You may want to eat only fruits, legumes, nuts, and vegetables. The normal fast, which Jesus observed in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, involves no food but only water. You could substitute green tea or add lemon to the water. The complete fast is a total fast in which you eat and drink nothing, and should last no more than three days and nights (Ezra 10:6, Esther 4:16). Begin one day a week with a water-only fast, unless you have a pre-existing condition. You may supplement with non-citric fruit and vegetable juices. Begin after dinner and fast until dinner the next day. You may get a headache, nausea, or feel dizzy because there are toxins in your body that are purged when you rest your digestive tract. After three days, you should begin to feel good. Weakness is a part of the fasting discipline, so you can master your desires for worldly things. Even if you break the fast, you have accomplished much and God is pleased with your spiritual hunger for more of Him. You may feel weak so don’t abuse your body. Rest, relax and create more down time. A fast gives you a chance to tell your body that your spirit and God, not Bruce Springsteen, is The Boss. Start small and move slowly toward longer fasts as fasting is a discipline that is focused on intimacy with God. Don’t begin with a 21 day fast, for it is just as Biblical to go on a one day fast. The time spent preparing and eating meals, eating out or ordering in should be spent in prayer and meditation on God’s Word. Expect attacks from the devil in the form of depression but God has promised in Isaiah 61:3 to give you the oil of joy for mourning and beauty for ashes. End the fast by treating your body kindly and gently, and don’t grab the biggest slab of prime rib you can find. Gradually digest fruits, salads, and eggs in small portions and you’ll outFox the devil every time.Copyright © 2002 Eddy Ministries. All rights reserved. Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
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