[Amanah]

For me, fasting is one of the more difficult spiritual disciplines. But it is key to apostolic power & results.

First Pentecostal Church of Palm Bay is in a season of revival, prayer and fasting. There are many each week receiving the HG, being baptized, and renewed.

During this time, the church is undertaking a 40 day progressive fast, and it has been an amazing experience that I want to share with you. The fast has been tremendously rewarding & enjoyable. Because of the time spent gradually eliminating processed foods from the diet, I've am feeling physically renewed as well as being spritually renewed.

The purpose of fasting is the seek the face of God, set the captives free, to break every yoke, humble our souls, increase our faith, ignite our ministry.

But, In this blog, I'm going to focus more on the physical aspect of this fast to show that with preparation, you can feel well while you fast.

40 day fast:

week 1 - eliminate sugar and sweets

I spent a lot of time shopping and making sure everything I brought was sans processed sugar. I was shocked to see all the foods that contained sugar: bread, peanut butter, salad dressing, tomato sauce, ect ect. It was an eye opening experience to realize that while I thought I had been eating healthy, I was still eating way to much sugar.

Week 2 - No meat, sweets, or sugar (Fish is okay)

Eliminating sugar and meat meant that I was cooking our food from scratch, even the sauces, flipping through all the cook books that I had to find healthy meals to make that my husband would enjoy. The seafood gumbo that I made was a particular hit.

Week 3 - No bread or starches, no meat, sugar or sweets (fish is okay)

This became a bit more challenging, as we are down to eating mainly fruits and vegetables, and my husband isn't really fond of fish. I found some great soup recipes, and we ate a lot of avocados.

Week 4 - Fruits and Vegetables only.

Still eating lots of avocados as they are filling and versatile. I use them in soups, salads, dressings. I know that beans aren't really a fruit or vegetable, but I've retained them in our meals.

Week 5 - Juice Fast.

There are some amazingly good tasting juices that you can buy from the store, and make yourself. I feel so well nourished & healthy at this point. lots of Kale, blueberries, apples, bananas, pears and carrots being made into juice.

Week 6 - 4 day water fast.

no headaches or withdrawals, I feel amazingly well.

I hope that others will be encouraged to seek God with prayer and fasting. Moses, David, Daniel, Jesus, and the Apostles fasted, seeking God for guidance, direction, answers to prayers.

Not only has this progressive fast been a time of spiritual and physical renewal for me, but I've had a wake up call about eating a healthy diet. My goal for the future is to retain clean eating habits so that when I feel led of God to seek him by prayer and fasting, my diet won't be a hinderance.