I told my husband I feel like a hypocrite talking about fasting. He suggested letting you know that fasting is challenging for me, so I created a helpful fasting guide to aid myself and others while fasting.
If fasting is difficult for you, too, you will find the creative “fasts” and tips in this blog post helpful.
-Guideline #1 -All or Some – You can choose “SOME” food or drink
A definition of fasting is to abstain from all or some foods or drinks, especially as a religious observance.
It is important to recognize that fasting includes abstaining from all kinds of food and drink OR SOME kinds of food or drink, and you can choose “SOME”.
Guideline #2 -Creative Fasting – Your personal sacrifice list
You can become successful by joining me in creative fasting to feel optimistic about your ability to fast. Here are some of my creative fasts:
- “No sweets” fast
- “No chocolate” fast
- “No alcohol” fast (a friend’s idea)
- “No meat” fast (a friend’s idea)
- Eating about 500 fewer calories than normal for X amount of days
- Abstaining from a favorite food or drink for X amount of days
- Fasting while drinking water
- Fasting while drinking juice
- Fasting while drinking kefir
- Fast for one or two meals
- No YouTube fast
- No TV fast
I invite you to add and subtract from these “creative fast” ideas to make them your very own that fits YOU.
A General Purpose for Fasting
The top featured photo of this blog post represents leaving the focus of the physical world behind to focus on absorbing heaven’s light to become transformed and more beautiful from the inside out.
The discipline to fast is a process to learn to master the physical body (outer body) with the intention for the spiritual body (inward body), that at least partially resides in heaven, to have command over the physical body.
Guideline #3 – Plan a Purpose when Fasting
Remember, a fast is not just going without some food or drink, be sure to plan a “fasting” purpose.
The reason(s) I am fasting is:
- To become more spiritual
- For healing of _________
- To become more healthy
- For clear guidance
- To be a better mother, father, etc.
- To know the proper steps to take to buy a home
- What to study for my life career
- For inspiration concerning _______
- To make a wise decision about _________
It is okay to have more than one reason planned if you feel peaceful about it. I usually have more than one reason in mind when I fast.
Guideline #4 – Let God Know Your Purpose(s) and Plan
Be sure to tell God about the purpose(s) of your fast. If you feel turmoil or confusion, rework your plan until you feel peace and clarity.
Guideline #5 – Talk to God about Your Inadequacies
When I began implementing my creative fasts, I still felt “less than,” so I talked to God about my inadequacies.
I speak to God like a close best friend. Here is an example of how I talk to God throughout the day.
“You gave me this weakness, and I accept this weakness as a sign to come to you in humility and gratitude, asking for help and strength. Since I haven’t been successful at fasting in the past, I present this creative solution of fasting while drinking kefir as a sacrifice to subdue my physical desires and strengthen my spiritual body. My purpose in fasting is to increase my faith that will heal my husband of the pain in his lower back and by replacing my unlovingness with your pure love.”
When talking to God (or whatever title you refer to as God), you may loosely borrow my pattern consisting of the following five things:
- Accept the weakness you have been given with gratitude
- Present an alternate plan you feel you can succeed at and ask for your sacrifice to be accepted
- If you feel peaceful, move forward as planned
- Ask to be blessed with what you desire
- Again, express gratitude for blessings received
Guideline #6 – Thoughts (Positive or Negative) – A Good Barometer
If my thoughts have become less negative, I feel my sacrifice to fast has been effective and recognized by heaven. I believe the mind is located between the spiritual body, which includes the higher-self that resides in heaven, and the physical body.
The “mind” located between the physical and spiritual bodies would be a great barometer to determine the status between the two bodies. If positive thoughts (light-filled thoughts) are more prevalent than negative thoughts (dark-filled thoughts), this is a sign the spiritual body is gaining momentum to have command over the physical body.
I wrote a previous blog and drew a simple diagram of the probable location of the mind titled, “Where is the Mind Located?” if you would like to check it out.
Remember, the real battle is not fighting hunger pains; it is mastering your thoughts.
Guideline #7 – Aiding the Poor – A Way to Complete a Fast
After completing a fast, I like to give the money I would have spent on food to someone poor or in need, as Isaiah explains in the following eloquent words.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6
Fasting and Negative Entity Removal
Does fasting help to remove negative entities? Yes, it most definitely does.
Even Christ’s apostles who left everything to follow Christ sometimes were not successful in removing a negative entity. They asked Christ why and he told them this kind doesn’t come out except by fasting and prayer.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:14-21
Conclusion
Although you may not be good at fasting, if you are like me, there are many creative ways to sacrifice to be a recipient of the blessings that come from fasting.
Top Featured Photo by Kristjan Kotar
