The Power Of Fasting

It can help you overcome

We hear about fasting as part of our spiritual walk. There are many benefits to fasting. But, I am just focusing on a simple one in this article.

Fasting helps us with self-control.

Let me explain, and give some examples of how it can help us heal or change our lives.

When we fast. And I’m talking about real fasting. I’m talking about going without food for a period of time. Let’s say 24 hours or more.

You will come to a point where you will want to eat. Your mind and body will start to scream. “Let’s eat!!”

But you refuse. You wait. Go have a drink of water to calm the pain in your stomach. and keep going with the fast.

Understand, that it is a fact that humans can go 3 or more weeks without food. You are not going to die. All that screaming your body is doing, will not kill you. (We will discuss health conditions at the end.)

Your body and mind are demanding food, because it is used to it or wants it. Not because it needs it. This is like when you meditate and you are trying to clear your mind. But your mind keeps bringing thoughts to you. It is just noise.

You learn to push it away. You learn to ignore it. You learn to go get a drink and find something else to focus on instead of your hunger.

This is one of the things fasting does. It teaches self-control. Self-control is power. You tell yourself, “No. I’m not going to eat.” Then you keep resisting. Go drink water. Change the focus.

It doesn’t matter if you fail in your fast. There are no fasting police. Let’s say you couldn’t make it 24 hours. Who cares. You made it as far as you could and you will do better next time.

It’s like lifting weights. You go to muscle failure, then a little farther. Each time you do better, and you grow over time.

Fasting is a great safe way to practice self-control, and train yourself to resist temptations. This is one reason why so many religions and spiritual paths call for it.

So let’s look at some practical examples.

Let’s say you noticed that you’re drinking a lot of alcohol lately and you are concerned that you’re getting addicted. You want to cut back, and get it under control, so it doesn’t ruin your life.

When the desire to drink comes up, or a friend appears and asks if you wanna go party. You say no. You resist and refuse.

Fasting has given you the practice, so you are strong enough to resist the urge. It will at least help you to overcome.

Let’s say you run across that person who gets you excited. You want to have sex with them, and you know they are willing. It’s all laid out there for you. But, you have a spouse. or you know it will lead to trouble in some way.

Your practice in fasting will help you say no. That burning you feel is the same fleshly burning you feel when you want to eat food. It is flesh. Fasting can help you be able to say no, or turn it around into something good.

Let’s say someone pushes your buttons and you want to tell them off or react violently. Let’s say people have told you about your anger. You know your anger hurts you and others. You know it can destroy your life.

Again, fasting practice can help you to resist the explosive flash of anger. It can help you control your reaction and turn it toward good things. Even if your mind is seething, you have learned to not respond.

Fasting teaches us to have self-control over the flesh. It can help us remain calm when needed. It is like meditation, and works well with it.

Some things to consider about fasting; is that if you are going to fast for long periods of time and you are drinking water. Stay near a restroom. If you feel the urge to pass gas. Go to the bathroom. Trust me. Water in=Water out…

If you have certain medical conditions you might have trouble fasting, or it could be dangerous. BUT… make sure you actually have the condition. Some times our mind and body will scream so loudly, and make us think we are dying or going to pass out. Then, we look it up on WebMD and self-diagnose a problem that is not really there.

I cannot tell you what to do with your health. You need to be safe. But, for me I believe in being free from entanglements. I ask myself, what would happen if the world collapsed and I had to go without food? Would I run and cry to my doctor? No. Because there won’t be any doctors if the world has collapsed.

So, I practice muscling through. And I discover that I can overcome, with prayer, faith, and common sense.

But again. You need to be safe. You do you.

Fasting is a powerful tool. Give it a try.

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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Photo by the writer, a pizza in Chicago.