How fasting change my life!

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Growing up in the church, I was taught about the importance of fasting, primarily in terms of its spiritual benefits, such as a deeper connection with God, strengthening one’s prayer life, and detachment from worldly desires, among other reasons.

Fasting is a life-changer, which is why it’s mentioned numerous times in the Bible. For example, Acts 14:23 reads, “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”

Even though I always knew fasting was a spiritual necessity, it was later in life, through research and watching countless documentaries, that I discovered fasting offers many additional benefits, including physical ones. This is why I personally believe that everyone who can fast should make it a regular practice in their lives.

More recently, fasting has become mainstream within secular society due to its health benefits. High-profile individuals such as rapper Kevin Gates, and actors Terry Crews, Mark Wahlberg, Hugh Jackman, and Jennifer Aniston have endorsed the practice. This is good news, but I personally feel that, unfortunately, non-believers who fast may gain all of the physical benefits but miss out on the spiritual advantages. On the other hand, Christians who fast can receive both internal and spiritual benefits—truly the best of both worlds!

In this article, I would like to clarify that there are many ways to fast; it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. I have listed different fasting types at the end of the article. When I began fasting, I could barely manage an hour without giving in to hunger. After years of perseverance and by God’s grace, I successfully established a regular fasting routine from midnight to 6 p.m. with a dry fast. Eventually, I transitioned to eating just one meal a day, within a window from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

My most recent fast was a 72-hour (3-day) water fast. To be honest, my initial motivation was not spiritual but aimed at improving my health. Previously, I had fallen into the unhealthy habit of consuming junk and highly processed foods, including regular fizzy drinks, which was essentially poisoning my body. This habit left me feeling fatigued, looking tired, and affected my mood.

My main goal for fasting was to induce autophagy, a process where my body cleans out damaged cells and generates new, healthy ones. Additionally, I aimed to restart my weight loss journey. At first, I had doubts about whether I could complete the fast, but I was thrilled to succeed. Throughout the fast, my faith played a crucial role in keeping me motivated. I knew that hunger pangs would pass within a couple of hours, and I found strength in listening to uplifting faith affirmations. Watching inspiring clips of others who had successfully completed similar fasts, including UFC CEO Dana White, who spoke about how 84 water fasts had positively transformed his life and body, provided additional encouragement.

Here are my personal benefits from fasting:

– My mental clarity improved.
– My focus improved tremendously.
– I felt more spiritually alive.
– I was able to spend more time on my daily devotion. (Writing in my 15-Minute Devotional journal).
– I was less distracted by constantly thinking about food.
– Near the end of the fast, I felt more energetic than ever before.
– I felt detached from ungodly worldly desires.
– After the fast, I felt empowered and happy with myself.
– I demonstrated to myself that I have the discipline to achieve anything.

Below are various types of fasting you might consider if you are interested in fasting:

Intermittent Fasting (IF) Methods:

– The 16/8 Method: Fast for 16 hours and eat during an 8-hour window, such as from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
– The 5:2 Diet: Eat normally for five days a week and restrict calorie intake to 500-600 calories on two non-consecutive days.
– Eat-Stop-Eat: Fast for a full 24 hours once or twice a week, such as from dinner one day to dinner the next.
– Alternate-Day Fasting (ADF): Alternate between days of normal eating and fasting days, either as a complete fast or with reduced calorie intake.
– The Warrior Diet: Fast for 20 hours and consume one large meal at night, with small amounts of raw fruits and vegetables allowed during the day.
– The 12/12 Method: Fast for 12 hours and eat during a 12-hour window, such as from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Extended Fasting Methods:

– The 24-Hour Fast: Abstain from eating for a full day, often practiced once a week.
– The 36-Hour Fast: Extends to an entire day plus a night, from dinner to breakfast two days later.
– The 48-Hour Fast: Lasts for two full days.
– The 72-Hour Fast: Extends to three full days without eating.

Prolonged Fasting: Refers to fasting periods extending beyond 72 hours, often done for medical or spiritual reasons and usually under medical supervision.

Time-Restricted Eating:

– One Meal a Day (OMAD): Consume one large meal within a one-hour window each day, fasting for the remaining 23 hours.

Religious or Spiritual Fasting Practices:

– The Daniel Fast: Inspired by the biblical prophet Daniel, typically involves a 21-day period of eating only fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, while abstaining from meat, dairy, sweets, and processed foods.
– Lent Fasting: In Christianity, particularly among Catholics, involves giving up certain foods or reducing meals during the 40 days of Lent.
– Yom Kippur Fasting: In Judaism, involves a 25-hour fast from food and drink.

Each fasting method has its guidelines and potential benefits. It’s important to choose a method that aligns with your lifestyle and health status.

I hope this article has been a blessing to you.

God bless.

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