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Step 1
Research different types of forty day fasts. Some require you to go entirely without food and only drink water, some let you drink water and juice. Some people fast only one meal a day or fast only until sundown.
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Step 2
Decide on your fasting goal. You may be fasting for spiritual renewal, healing, guidance, specific prayer requests or for many other reasons. Choose one goal to focus on. This will help keep your willpower strong when you are tempted to quit.
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Step 3
Pray and ask God to reveal the type of fast you should undertake.
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Step 4
Prepare yourself spiritually. Repentance is the basis of fasting, so you must confess your sins to God before you fast and pray. Read Psalms 66:16-20, 32:1-6 and Proverbs 15:29.
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Step 5
Get yourself physically ready. In the month before your fast wean yourself off the use of any addictive products such as coffee, tea, nicotine and caffeine. Adopt a healthier lifestyle and diet that includes a reduction in fat and sugar and an increase in fruits and vegetables.
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Step 6
Consult your doctor before going on a forty day fast. People with certain health conditions should not fast.
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Step 7
Plan your fasting prayer time. Set aside a good amount of quiet time every day during your fast to be alone with God for meditation, bible reading and prayer.
Comments
fastinsecret said
on 9/22/2009 (cont'd)
So, for those of you that feel prompted to fast, I hope this is an encouragement!!!
One thing I might add- You CANNOT do this on your own willpower or strength. The only thing that has and is keeping me going on this, is that I prayed that God would confirm this is what He wanted me to do with a very specific affirmation. And that came. (It was a VERY odd fleece). So the power (and joy too I might add!) that is keeping me going, is to know that God has asked me to, and as He is good, there will be a great outcome out of this (aside from all the amazing physical benefits)!
I really hope this encourages some of you!! :)
Perhaps I'll repost at the 20 day point, 30 day point, and when it ends.
A brother in Christ
fastinsecret said
on 9/22/2009 I'm embarking on a 40 day fast, and today am on day 10 and ... amazingly, I feel GREAT!!
My mind is so sharp, my thoughts are in order, and I am sensing God (through His word, and actualizing it) more than before, confusion has lifted, scripture is SO CLEAR to understand, ....the hunger pangs are not strong, I don't sweat / feel icky when I wake up (I went a few days without a shower and my body was clean), I wake up immediately (no fogginess, desire to crawl back into bed), and.. amazingly, I am so full of energy! I do see my doc tomorrow to notify him and find out how I can monitor myself (dad's a doc and he isn't too fond of the idea of a 40 day fast). I also have high blood pressure and sleep apnea and today after seeing my doc, he says that I may be off my CPAP machine as my oximeter tests are good (I do another one in a week), and my blood pressure has dropped significantly.
S...
drummerboy567 said
on 8/2/2009 Difficulty easy? Have you even gone without food for over a month?
laurencahow said
on 1/25/2009 Jesus actually fasted AFTER being baptised Matt 3:16-17 & 4:1-2.
valerian said
on 12/30/2008 Actually Moses and Elijah are documented in the judeochristian tradition to have embarked on a 40 day fast:
Exodus 34:28, I Kings 19
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting
Peace