My Fasting Experience

From Getty Images

 
This past weekend, I did a fast! No, food for 24 hours; only water. It was fasting and prayer day at the church my parents attend . My heart has been heavy for a while now and I have so many life-changing decisions to make so, I decided to participate in hopes of gaining some wisdom and guidance.

I did not think that I would be able to do it for the entire 24 hours but, I did.  It was a true learning experience! It was both physically and mentally challenging. That fast helped me to exercise more confidence in my abilities, strengthened my faith and self-discipline.

Fasting is defined as the abstinence from food for a period of time, usually 24 to 36 hours. Longer fasts should be supervised by a medical professional. Fasting has been used since ancient times for religious purposes but, it also has great health benefits.  It is sometimes used to help the body heal itself of pain and disease. You may be thinking, "How does this work exactly?" The regulatory and reparative processes of the body are encouraged when the body is deprived of food.

Here are a few of the conditions/ diseases that fasting can help with:

1. Diabetes


2. Gastrointestinal disorders


3. Weight loss


4. Breaking from addictions-- alcohol, tobacco


5. Detoxification-- great way to get rid of toxins

*If you have any existing diseases, please consult your physician before undergoing a fast.

For more information on fasting and its benefits, check out these sites:
http://falconblanco.com/health/fasting.htm

http://www.allaboutfasting.com/

Have you ever fasted?