He Restores My Soul - Fasting

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” 

- Jesus, Matthew 6 : 16-18 

Jesus gave us instructions on fasting based on the assumption that fasting would be part of our lifestyle. Christians who don’t believe in fasting are like car owners not believing in having their cars serviced or flowers thinking they don’t need the rain. Sure, you can avoid giving your car a service but you know what will eventually happen if it isn’t serviced. You car will break down because the engine and other working parts will be all clogged up. Fasting is not only a powerful spiritual tool but also has significant health benefits.  Did you know that fasting can cure certain diseases including cancer and tissue and bone healing also proceed at the maximum rate during a fast.  Fasting can also slow the ageing process! 

Stop Eating Fried Chicken 

Fasting is a tool that God has given us to keep our bodies and spirits healthy. I know Christians who suffer with terrible medical conditions but refuse to fast and then have the audacity to question why God won’t heal them. It seems silly to expect God to heal your body when you are not following the instructions God gave you to maintain your body in the first place. Many times people don’t get healed because if they did, they would get sick again almost immediately after being healed. If you have high cholesterol but refuse to stop eating fried chicken and chips every day, why should God heal you? He might heal you but you wouldn’t even notice that you had been healed because your lifestyle will cause the illness to come right back again! Fasting is an essential part of healthy living, not only can we find breakthrough and freedom but we can also enjoy the benefits of great health when we fast. 

   As I always say, God didn’t give us the Bible as a set of rules to catch us out, He gave us a user manual for life. Without a user manual you will seldom get the most out of the item you don’t have the manual for. In the same way, the Bible teaches us all the features of life, showing us how we can get full use out of our time here on earth. Fasting is not a rule and not a requirement for Christians. If you don’t fast you will still get to heaven! Is life just about getting to heaven though? I don’t know about you but I want to enjoy my stay here and get the most out of life! Fasting is one of those things that God said we should do because it’s what is best for us and aids us in getting the most out of life. Fasting is a powerful tool that offers breakthrough in our body, spirit and soul. 

   On the physical front, fasting offers rest to our body as the body uses a great deal of energy to digest food. Fasting releases this energy for other uses and most importantly to heal the body. During the absence of food, the body will systematically cleanse itself of everything except vital tissue. As the toxic load is reduced, the functioning of every cell is enhanced. Waste matter is the first to go and once the body has removed these toxins and waste it will begin to remove fat, diseased and dying cells. It is fascinating what happens in our bodies when we fast. Fasting has been known to not only cleanse our bodies and strengthen them but also to cure certain diseases including cancer. 

   Tissue and bone healing also proceed at the maximum rate during a fast. Do you ever feel like you have ‘brain fog’? A massive cloud over your mind that slows down your mind? Fasting literally clears your mind, giving you mental clarity. In some cases depression and other mental illnesses can also be healed through regular periods of fasting. Regular twenty four hour fasts, with only water and no food, is valuable for resting your digestive system and cleansing your body. The result will be more energy, clearer skin, a clearer mind and a generally more healthy body. Occasional medium to long fasts, starting from three days up to twenty one days are also advisable, once or twice a year, to give your body a good rest from all the toxins that we consume in this day and age. Fasting can vary from drinking only water and abstaining from food to drinking juices and soups to abstaining from certain foods and drinks. 

This is a chapter snippet from He Restores My Soul.  Find out more about the different types of fasts in He Restores My Soul.