You
have completed a thirty-day fast. It has been a
wonderful spiritual retreat, a time of refreshment
with God. A withdrawal from the temptations of
this world. A period of inner reflection, quiet
meditation and prayer, lifted out of this world
into a lofty realm where there are no earthly
distractions from communing with your Father.
But
now the fast has ended. It is time to return to
the world of eating, a world that may have
represented addiction, bondage and control.
Breaking a fasting is more difficult than fasting.
Breaking an extended fast can be difficult. This
is especially true if you were in bondage to food.
It is often a period of attack. Satan wants
control over your life and food has been a
powerful lever. Is it possible to enter back into
the world of eating and remain self-controlled?
The answer is yes!
When waking up a slumbering digestive system, the
desire to eat will be intense. The flavors and
textures of food will be enhanced by super clean
nasal passages. Eating will be a brand new
experience. This is the time to flex your
new-found muscles of discipline and self-control.
As the body screams, I want more, wisdom
whispers, you have had enough. Fasting has
schooled you in the fact that contentment does not
come from a full belly but maintaining spiritual
fellowship with the Bread of Life.
My food is to do the
will of him who sent me (John 4:34).
Eating small amounts of raw fruits and vegetables
for the first five or six days will allow the body
to gently wake up the digestive system. The body
will continue to detoxify and cleanse during this
period. Any toxins that have accumulated will
begin to move due to the sweeping action of the
soft fibers of fruits and vegetables.
Breaking a fasting badly will cause pain.
1. For six
days gradually increase the amount of raw fruits
and vegetables in your diet. To break a fast and
gorge on meat, bread or junk food will be
disaster. Jarring the system this intensely when
the digestive system is in a sensitive state can
cause stomach cramps, nausea and weakness,
negating much of the benefits of the fast.
2. Eat slowly
and chew your food well. Saliva has enzymes that
assist in digestion. Up to 80 percent of the
starch, 30 percent of the protein and 10 percent
of the fat can be digested by the enzymes in
saliva.
3. Do not
overeat! Discover the amount of food that your
body needs to live a vibrant, healthy life.
4. Make
juices during the breaking period. Juices are
gentle nourishment to the body. Most continue to
include juice in their daily routine, for the rest
of their lives.
5. Continue
in the same prayerfulness you had during the fast.
God should be just as much a part of your eating
as He was part of your fasting.
6. Educate
yourself on how to begin a lifestyle of healthy
eating. Fasting is a wonderful new beginning, a
foundation for a lifelong, healthy diet.
7. Discern
the difference between cravings and hunger. Never
feed your emotions.
8. When
breaking a fast over ten days, the break-in period
should be extended one day for every 4 days of
fasting.
An
interesting phenomena occurs after a fast. The
years of conditioning your body to tolerate
unhealthy foods is reversed. The body is as clean
as a new-born baby. Try feeding a new-born baby
Grandma's apple pie.
When the body is full of toxins, its defense
systems are not able to operate effectively. After
a fast the natural defenses are able to perform
the way God intended. Sensitivity to unhealthy
food is increased. You will feel satisfied with
smaller amounts of food and sluggish and tired
when overeating. Rich foods, full of fat, salt,
and processed sugars will cause nausea, headaches
and weakness. A handful of fruit will be
thoroughly satisfying. Because the digestive
system has to work less, there will be boundless
energy to spare.
Breaking a fasting
correctly needs discipline.
That is why this book
series was written so you don't have to make the
painful mistakes that the author did.
Knowledge makes a big difference when you are
tacking something as difficult as fasting.
Why not get it right the first time through having
the books as a resource when you need them. They
are not that expensive considering what you will
gain in your life. |